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Summary diagram based on workshop and different key elements on research specificity potentially and audiences

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Article by David Owen

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Around a quarter of the world's population have now experienced lockdown, with many still living under its restrictions. Over the past few months, we have witnessed a fundamental (if potentially temporary) reorganisation of how we live and work. This has brought positive changes to our natural environment, but it has also brought significant personal insecurity, upheaval and vulnerability. The elderly and those with underlying health conditions are having to undergo stricter social distancing measures, with many already socially isolated. The constant news about the pandemic is already taking its toll on people's mental health, particularly those living with conditions such as anxiety and OCD. Research has shown that low-paid workers, people from BME background, young people and women are more likely to be hardest hit by the current economic shut-down. Adults with young families are now struggling to juggle the competing pressures of home-schooling, working and providing support for relatives and communities.

Researchers and public engagement professionals have been finding new ways of working and responding to the crisis. In the early phases of lockdown, there was much attention on the adoption of online technologies. Imperial College London, one of the institutions widely reported to have influenced the governments thinking on lockdown, launched an online community involvement initiative that sought rapid, early insight from members of the public to help inform COVID-19 research. Other institutions, such as the Science Museum Group and the Natural History Museum, have been developing their online offer to existing audiences. UKRI has launched a public-facing website with the latest research related to COVID-19.

While initiatives such as these are welcome, several social commenters and researchers alike have suggested that the social distancing measures will exacerbate those already isolated and vulnerable. Clearly an over-reliance on online engagement will leave those without the means to engage with this content digitally with little or no opportunity to participate. As we entered lockdown, the Director of Wellcome, Jeremy Farrar, highlighted the need to maintain social interactions, communications and sharing; the essence of what 'binds us together'. However, the challenges in maintaining these interactions on a person to person level are many, and both researchers and public engagement professionals have been working hard re-prioritising projects originally built for a different world (one where face to face engagement was still possible), whilst also getting drawn into other priorities (such as delivering teaching online), and facing the specific challenges of partnerships, where priorities and contexts have dramatically changed.
So, what role is there for public and community engagement with research? Is it all going to be online from now on?
In a health emergency setting, much of the traditional institutional 'machinery' of grant funding (outputs, outcomes, indicators, evaluation reports) gets temporarily suspended. Yet, at a community level, we have seen glimpses of what public engagement in a physically distanced world might entail. Across the world, many have taken inspiration from people in Italy singing and playing music through open windows to keep spirits up. In Stockport, a mysterious figure dressed as Spiderman has been cheering up isolated children, appearing for an hour each day in different neighbourhoods to the delight of children and families alike, while another household has brought life to their street by dressing up life-size bears in different costumes each day and arranging them in their front garden. Meanwhile, a streets across the UK have hosted a socially distanced tea party for VE Day and in London, residents, theatre producers and musicians have collaborated to perform Romeo and Juliet from their balconies.

The common factor uniting these activities is that they are, by nature, hyperlocal; that is to say, they take place within a small geographic community, often a street or a neighbourhood. There is also a playfulness and participatory nature to them: people can clap or take part, or conduct their own performance, or they can dress up and join in. We have seen that lockdown has created a burst of creativity in young people, families and the wider public. People have become producers. Whether a spoof video or meme, a self-organised pub-quiz or a socially distanced performance, these activities offer insights for public engagement with research at the time of lockdown.

It need not be analogue vs digital engagement either, as some of the best examples integrate the two. Brighton People's Theatre has been inviting people to unlock the theatre in their homes, attracting 200 people to take part in turning their homes into the stage, and sharing this online over ten weeks. While I am not asking researchers to become actors and performers, I am fascinated by how we can translate these techniques to public engagement with research, to engage citizens in participatory ways during lockdown. These examples are participatory while also providing opportunities for creativity. And while they are hyperlocal in terms of addressing a need, many become global in their reach, shared by millions and inspiring others to take part and run their own activities locally.

Over the past few weeks, I'm beginning to find work where the predominant mode of delivery is not necessarily online. In my local city, the University of Bristol has set up a dedicated community inbox in order to hear about the circumstances their partners and communities are facing, and find ways to respond. They have also redirected existing funding towards COVID-related challenges. One of the successful projects here in Bristol is Medicine on the Wall, a collaboration between researcher Dr John Lee and The People's Republic of Stokes Croft.

Even as we take tentative steps out of lockdown, until a vaccine is found, there is no certainty over what the future holds. While digital engagement is valuable and vital, hyperlocal activity also sits in the ecosystem of approaches that have a role to play. It is not without its drawbacks: for example our tendency to live and work with those that are just like us, or the risk that activities take on a life of their own, with participants overstepping social distancing rules and putting lives at risk.

However, I hope that we can take inspiration from each other's efforts. I have partnered with the NCCPE to put a call out for evidence. We want to look at activity that is deliverable under lockdown conditions and does not take place predominantly online. Perhaps you're organising a socially distanced cafe-scientific, sidewalk science, or something no-one has thought of or tried just yet. We're interested in examples from all disciplines including the arts, community development, business, health, humanities, science etc.

Because of the nature of lockdown, in particular the social distancing laws, we're expecting many of the examples to be hyperlocal, to take place within a street or neighbourhood. The activities you provide do not need to be public engagement with research, but they might act as an inspiration to others looking to explore the possibilities in this field. They might be projects you are doing now, or ideas of things you would like to do.

You can use this template to share activities or resources - from your own practice, or work that has inspired you from elsewhere. For example:

listening exercises

research that seeks to find out what people are experiencing and their needs

an activity that is inspired by wanting to share skills, time or knowledge within your community

insights from other sectors (e.g. arts, civil society, industry)

We are looking to use these examples to share with others in an online resource. All contributions will be credited, and links provided. Please note that anyone with a link to the Google sheet will be able to see what you submit. If you would like to share your work, but want to remain anonymous, please let me know via email: David@gurukula.co.uk

Acknowledgements

The following people have helped to shape this blog by providing ideas, examples and editing support.

Jana Wendler, Playfuel Games CIC,

Shaaron Leverment, Explorer Dome

Ed Stevens, King's College London

Dee Smart, University of Bristol

Lewis Hou, Science Ceilidh

Sophie Duncan, NCCPE

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Hyperlocal engagement during the time of lockdown

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Around a quarter of the world's population have now experienced lockdown, with many still living under its restrictions. Over the past few months, we have witnessed a fundamental (if potentially temporary) reorganisation of how we live and work. This has brought positive changes to our natural environment, but it has also brought significant personal insecurity, upheaval and vulnerability.

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NON-DIGITAL Isolation Engagement Open Source Document

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Promising Approaches to deal with Loneliness  

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Promising Approaches to deal with Loneliness  

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Including offline and underrepresented groups

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Creative postcards via (Mobile) Libraries going house-to-house to tackle social isolation

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Led by the community partners - Young Edinburgh Carers with Dynamic Earth

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with Arts packages

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The National Day of Arts in Care Homes took place on Thurs 24 September. This year's theme was #CreativeCommunities. Thanks very much to everyone that took part. We will be sharing our evaluation soon.

This website has many resources to help busy care staff. See our HOW TO GUIDES, TOOLKITS, APPS and ONLY CONNECT sections. You can also find more information and resources on the NAPA website.

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The National Day of Arts in Care Homes took place on Thurs 24 September. This year's theme was #CreativeCommunities. Thanks very much to everyone that took part. We will be sharing our evaluation soon. This website has many resources to help busy care staff.

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Leith police-box recording stations to document stories - especially those easily ignored. Part of the Festival of Social Science

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Apply to speak at Soapbox Science

The speaker call for Soapbox Science 2024 events is NOW OPEN! Want to share your research with the public in a fun, informal setting? Find your nearest event and apply here.

What is Soapbox Science?

Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women and non-binary scientists and the science they do. Our events transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate; they follow the format of London Hyde Park's Speaker's Corner, which is historically an arena for public debate. With Soapbox Science, we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy, learn from, heckle, question, probe, interact with and be inspired by some of our leading scientists. No middle man, no PowerPoint slide, no amphitheatre - just remarkable women and non-binary scientists who are there to amaze you with their latest discoveries, and to answer the science questions you have been burning to ask. Look out for bat simulators, interactive experiments or giant pictures of volcanoes. Or simply hear them talk about what fascinates them, and why they think they have the most fantastic job in the world!

You can find out more about our upcoming and past events, or to get a feel for what an event is like, watch our video

Find out more about the Soapbox Science Team and local event organisers here.

Are you a journalist looking for experts in STEMM subjects? We have a database of past speakers on a range of topics, who have taken part in our training and who would be happy to be contacted with press opportunities. If you would like to find an expert in a certain discipline, please get in touch with us: soapboxscience@gmail.com

What happened so far?

Since 2011 we have featured over 2500 scientists and reached 300,000 members of the public! Soapbox Science was commended by the UK Prime Minister in 2015, and was awarded a Silver Medal from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in June 2016. Both Soapbox Science co-founders were also invited to provide oral evidence at a 2016 Parliamentary inquiry on science communication.

Funders & Sponsors

We couldn't run events without the generous logistical and financial support of our sponsors and funders. Soapbox Science has been supported from the start by the Zoological Society of London.

Between 2014-2018, our whole initiative was moreover supported by STFC.

To find out more about individual event sponsors, please visit the local event pages

Partners

Since 2016, Soapbox Science works in partnership with Speakezee. Speakezee is a searchable database of academic expert speakers. They are a not-for-profit community interest company supported by the University of Bristol and other partners.

Want to contact us?

Drop us an email at soapboxscience@gmail.com for any general inquiry

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Across the Highlands as part of Maths Week Scotland

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From left: Scott O'Hara (west), Aileen Simmonite (north), Dawn Gillies (Inverness), Emma Robertson (project manager) and Fionnadh Carroll (Dingwall). Picture: Gillian Frampton

New outdoor maths kits are being sent to all primary schools in the Highlands.

The Science Skills Academy (SSA) has put together the packs, each with 17 outdoor maths activities for children to enjoy as part of Maths Week Scotland in the context of the pandemic.

SSA is a partnership project led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help increase the number of young people with the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills needed for future economic growth in the region.

Maths Week Scotland - taking place from September 28 to October 4 - is part of the Scottish Government's drive to encourage positive attitudes to numeracy and maths and is developed and delivered by National Museums Scotland.

The kits contain a range of numeracy, problem-solving and data-handling games including Get Your Bearings - a game where pupils measure angles and distance to plot a course around obstacles.

Make a Bolt For It gets children to gather data about their stride and height, using stopwatches to test their pace. There is also a Maths Trail and Scavenger Hunt as well as ideas for reinventing traditional games such as hopscotch and ladders to help with numeracy.

With guidance set by the Scottish Government for schools to maximise the use of outdoor spaces, the activities allow maths to be taken to the playground while making it fun and active and at the same time, boosting numeracy and improving wellbeing.

April Conroy, STEM engagement manager at SSA, said: "This year, with the ongoing challenges, many activities are focused on outdoor engagement. We wanted to give teachers a resource they could grab and go. The set of practical and fun tasks include everything from tape measures to stopwatches.

"Outdoor spaces provide all sorts of opportunities for real-world problem-solving and practical maths. We hope pupils will see the relevance of maths learning and skills to their lives, now and in the future."

The resources will arrive in schools this week, packed full of items for stimulating activities to engage young people.

The maths kits are joint-funded by SSA and Maths Week Scotland.

The packs feature 17 outdoor maths activities for children to enjoy. Picture: Gillian Frampton

Katie Oldfield, co-ordinator at Maths Week Scotland, said: "We want people to be enthusiastic, confident and engaged in numeracy and mathematics.

"Maths Week Scotland provides opportunities across Scotland to engage with maths in new ways. We have enjoyed working with the SSA to bring these kits to Highland schools for their use during Maths Week Scotland and beyond."

April Conroy of Science Skills Academy said: "Maths is at the heart of so many STEM careers and our mission is to help inspire more young people to become interested in these subjects."

The SSA was set up in 2016 to help increase the number of young people with the STEM skills needed for future economic growth in the region.

The project received £3m from the Scottish Government as part of the £315m Inverness and Highlands City-Region Deal, which is funded by the Scottish and UK governments and regional partners.

The SSA has also been leading on a project to create Newton Rooms in the Highlands to encourage more young people to study STEM subjects. The Norwegian-style learning centres have already opened in Fort William and Thurso and the next one is due to open soon in Dingwall.

Once the fitting-out of the Newton Room is ready, schools from Ross and Cromarty will be welcomed as soon as Covid-19 restrictions allow.

Although initially focused on the Highland region, due to city-region deal funding, the SSA hopes to expand its activity across all areas in the Highlands and Islands.

SSA brings together key organisations including HIE, Highland Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands, Skills Development Scotland, High Life Highland and NHS Highland, all working together to demonstrate this model of STEM delivery in a large rural area.

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Highland primary school children get outdoor maths kits

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New outdoor maths kits are being sent to all primary schools in the Highlands. The Science Skills Academy (SSA) has put together the packs, each with 17 outdoor maths activities for children to enjoy as part of Maths Week Scotland in the context of the pandemic.

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Luminate Scotland's Creative Ageing Offline Resource

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Luminate Scotland's Creative Ageing Offline Resource

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Dr Danna Staaf http://www.dannastaaf.com/p/home.html

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Many arts and community-based activities which support local connections, the majority of which are optimised for offline (e.g. printable on A4 to be shared locally and in care packages)

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We have always said that Fun Palaces are about the tiniest of connections, person to person - and that the process of creating a Fun Palace is easily as important as what happens on the weekend. As we say in our Manifesto:
We believe we can do this together, locally, with radical fun - and that anyone, anywhere, can make a Fun Palace.
Now it's time to give it a try ...

We are sharing practical suggestions, tiny steps anyone can take to connect a little more in their local community or simply pass time creatively in self-isolation. These steps are both online and OFFline - while a great deal of connection is moving online right now, this is not available to everyone and we want Fun Palaces, as ever, to be for anyone who wants to connect.

Try out these ideas (all of which are great for a Fun Palace) and send us your suggestions (email Stella) - we can share these as blogs, videos or audio. Keep it brief, 300 written words or 2-3 mins maximum of recorded material, that way we'll have space to share even more.

We have made dozens of Tiny Revolutions into PDFs so you can download and print to share with people offline. Or we can print & post them to you if you'd like to share in your community with vulnerable or isolated people. Let us know.

The Tiny Revolutions below are activities to do at any time - in isolation, lockdown and when we're safe to connect in person again, maybe at a Tiny Fun Palace in October?

#TinyRevolutions - tadpole update!

refilling the pond

TinyRevolutions - MaskerAid

#TinyRevolutions - frozen flowers

#TinyRevolutions - seed papers

tiny revolutions of connection

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Tiny Revolutions of Connection - Fun Palaces

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We have always said that Fun Palaces are about the tiniest of connections, person to person - and that the process of creating a Fun Palace is easily as important as what happens on the weekend. As we say in our Manifesto: We believe we can do this together, locally, with radical fun - and that anyone, anywhere, can make a Fun Palace.

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Linking engineers with Syrian men's group to local universities and industries help support English learning  and broader skills https://www.scienceceilidh.com/newscots

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Long-term science and arts residency in a shopping centre with post-cards from shoppers guiding future activities!
https://twitter.com/LeithLabs

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Eden Court embedded with local council services

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Eden Court embedded with local council services

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When the lockdown started, many of the team embedded with the local council services by phone and using their skills to fill gaps

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Creative thinking and problem solving are skills being drafted into every work force across the planet as the world lives through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restaurants quickly adapting to offer a delivery service in order to survive, gyms and fitness studios developing programmes that people can access online, families looking into how technology can keep them better connected, not to mention the core services that have had to dramatically evolve in order to continue. So too then, for a Scottish highland based theatre workforce of 200 being asked to stand by to assist our local authority's COVID-19 Resilience Response. Let me start by admitting outright that the words redeployed, resilience and response leave one with a sense of heroism before on has actually done anything at all... where's my cape?!

Lucy McGlennon, Head of Engagement, home office is all set up and ready for calls.
The Engagement Team, an excellent crew of 10 creatives, artists and producers, were deployed almost as soon as Eden Court closed. Initially to a new Highland Council Helpline, alongside some of our colleagues from the Visitor Experience team. The logical thinking at the time was that as we have experience of working in schools, we'd be well suited to help with enquiries of an educational nature. Sound logic indeed, and after a few hours of familiarising ourselves with the packs of information we had been given we were ready to go. We helpfully passed on the advice and signposted callers to the relevant services, however, we weren't exactly inundated with calls - a credit to the Education Service within the council.

In fact, the highest volume of calls we received in the first few days of the Helpline being live were people volunteering to help- how amazing is that?! I think the volunteers all need capes too.

After a few days of the Helpline being active, it was felt that it could work with reduced staff, and just as well, because the Education Service, now speedily setting up Key Worker Hubs (providing childcare to enable Key Workers to continue with their work) were on the phone looking for a little help; re-deployment was calling!

Nothing beats a good cuppa.
As of this week, some of our Producers and Arts Practitioners are making their way round the Highland Key Worker Hubs delivering (socially distanced) dance and drama workshops with the young people there. And whilst all of that is going on, we're working on our first programme of digital creative content that can be shared across Highland for young people and their families to participate in together at home, or indeed for the Hubs to make use of when term resumes on the 13 th of April.

I'm so proud to be part of the resilience response in this way, and I'm proud of my colleagues who are embracing new ways of working every day. Capes for everyone!

This blog was written by:

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Creatively Supporting Highland Council | Eden Court

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Creative thinking and problem solving are skills being drafted into every work force across the planet as the world lives through the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants quickly adapting to offer a delivery service in order to survive, gyms and fitness studios developing programmes that people can access online, families looking into how technology can keep them better connected, not to mention the core services that have had to dramatically evolve in order to continue.

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Local heart charity asked us to create an activity sheet about our science on heart for local hospital to give out to kids having heart surgery

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Sending out clip on microscopes and work booklets to a community group we work with (includes a feedback / question postcard)

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Science @Home is a brand new series of simple, hands-on activities for families to do at home. Every activity is linked to real-life research, explores how science is done, encourages curiosity and is fun!

This article was published on

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Science @Home is a brand new series of simple, hands-on activities for families to do at home. Every activity is linked to real-life research, explores how science is done, encourages curiosity and is fun! This article was published on

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Blueprint deliveries for bunting with Dr Kirsty Ross for Fun Palaces

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Blueprint deliveries for bunting with Dr Kirsty Ross for Fun Palaces

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Alongside science communication activities (for Glasgow Science Festival led by Graeme Eddolls)

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A new Bristol mural in the Stokes Croft area of the city is providing an accessible and inclusive way of representing and communicating issues surrounding healthcare.

This approach, known as Graphic Medicine, ' resists the notion of the universal patient and vividly represents multiple subjects with valid and conflicting points of view'. Graphic Medicine is intended to stand alongside more academic discourses and, at times, to enrich them, as new images and stories of illness and health emerge.
A picture of health
The mural, titled Wall #1, is by Brighton-based physician, comics artist and writer, Ian Williams. His graphic novel, The Bad Doctor was published in June 2014 and he is behind the website GraphicMedicine.org. He has written book chapters, articles and papers for various medical, humanities and comics publications and has contributed a weekly Guardian comic strip, Sick Notes.
New arts-science collaborations
The wall art was commissioned by the Centre for Health, Humanities and Science at the University of Bristol, with the support of the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute. The Centre exists to promote work at the intersection of humanities, medicine, health and science and, with the support of Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, is helping open the door to new arts-science collaborations by connecting researchers with clinicians and external partners for research focusing on philosophy and humanities.
The human touch
The artist was keen to see how a comic strip would work on an elongated wall and chose a series of wordless panels to give a sense of the passing of time and the kind of things a doctor might see during a surgery. Touch features heavily in Ian's graphic work, probably because it features quite heavily in a GP's practice. "Healthcare professionals," he says, "are privileged to be granted permission to touch other people in their work - indeed, most patients expect it. Touch can be diagnostic, communicative, or healing."

Just prior to the wall's creation, students on the intercalated BA in Medical Humanities held an exhibition of their work. This year they were curating the work of others, as well as showing their own. 'Touch' was the exhibition's theme. The exhibition was taking place off-campus in Stokes Croft, to try to engage with a different set of audiences, and Ian was invited to talk about the Graphic Medicine movement. Hearing about his work, the exhibition building owners, the People's Republic of Stokes Croft, suggested Ian might like to paint a mural on an outside wall used regularly for street art; consequently Wall #1 was created.
Taking to the streets
Dr John Lee, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Research Strand Co-lead, University of Bristol, said: "The Wall is in a very public position, surrounded by street art by famous names, including Banksy, which constantly draws tours of visitors into the area. Given the fame of the city for its street art, taking Graphic Medicine out of a book and putting it onto a wall seemed a fitting way to reach the public and communicate messages around healthcare. Promoting Graphic Medicine here could be a kind of super-charged 'Open Access' publication."

Wall #1 nicely captures the Centre's ability to facilitate 'intersectional' collaborations in novel ways, in this case to use Graphic Medicine as a means to communicate and engage with the public.

Making a time-lapse film of the painting process helped to take this bit of Graphic Medicine from one street in Bristol into wider circulation (an audience of more than 1.5k on Twitter alone).
To be continued...
CHHS is looking at the possibilities of commissioning further walls, especially ones which include healthcare narratives of local communities.

Further information

Contact Dr John Lee to discuss.

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A new Bristol mural in the Stokes Croft area of the city is providing an accessible and inclusive way of representing and communicating issues surrounding healthcare. This approach, known as Graphic Medicine, ' resists the notion of the universal patient and vividly represents multiple subjects with valid and conflicting points of view'.

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Dr Kirsty Ross

https://funpalaces.co.uk/fun-palace/online-quilts-4-cancer-fun-palace/

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Collective Spreadsheet on Hyperlocal Engagement

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Collective Spreadsheet on Hyperlocal Engagement

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Compiled by David Owen

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What is a Window Wanderland?

It's a chance to see your neighbourhood in a brand new light. We help communities run window-based-display walking trails that are fun and open to all...

Find out more

As the name suggests, Window Wanderland is seasonal. These fabulous events happen around the UK, and the World, as the evenings get longer and darker towards the end of winter.

Explore our map to find out more.
Wanderland Map

Find an event near you

Search for your nearest Window Wanderland and see what magic you can uncover in your neighbourhood.

Take a wander

Create your own event

No Window Wanderland in your area? Then why not put one on! We've brilliant toolkits to support both professional, and completely novice, community organisers.

Light up your neighbourhood

Make a window display

Put your windows on the Wanderland map. It's fun, as simple as you want it to be, and can take any form your like. Just let your imagination run wild.

Become a Window Maker

"Window Wanderland gives a glimpse into the lives of those that make it, but it's also a reflection of what we can achieve when we come together"

Which event sums up community and creativity better than Window Wanderland?

We're a non-profit organisation, which aims to bring people together by helping them to put on community events. We want to build relationships, strengthen neighbourhoods, create pride and spread friendship, positivity, happiness and goodwill. Putting on a Window Wanderland takes time, but the benefits make it totally worth it. Our role is to promote your event and to provide the tools that make it much easier to put on, so it can run in your area for many years to come.

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What is a Window Wanderland? It's a chance to see your neighbourhood in a brand new light. We help communities run window-based-display walking trails that are fun and open to all... Find out more As the name suggests, Window Wanderland is seasonal.

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Local artist Ross MacKay encouraging people to make their own festival scenes in Fife - source: https://twitter.com/MrRossMacKay/status/1287057218483957761?s=20

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Phone trees, befriending

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A phone tree is a prearranged system for activating a group of people by telephone. The phone tree system can help you spread a brief message quickly and efficiently to a large number of people.

Once your phone tree system is set up, you can use it multiple times to:

Quickly mobilize members and/or supporters in situations such as when a vote on key legislation is pending and a barrage of calls, e-mails, and letters are needed).

Notify members of meetings, hearings, actions, and last-minute changes.

Increase turnout by providing personal invitations to reinforce mailed or e-mailed notices.

Save printing and postage costs involved with communicating brief notices by mail. (Phone trees are not effective tools for disseminating a high volume of information.)

As coordinator of the phone tree, the only things you need are: people to make the calls, anywhere from five to 30 minutes of time to make the calls, and money for long-distance charges where applicable.

Setting Up the Phone Tree

1. Make a list with current phone numbers of all the people you want the tree to reach. These people could be branch members, past volunteers, potential members, etc. Be sure to include home, cell, office, and other numbers to locate people.
If you are calling branch members, ask your branch membership chair to keep you informed of changes in branch membership so you can keep your list up to date.

2. From that list, recruit a smaller group of reliable people who will be responsible for calling and activating the other people on the list. This small group will be your "Key Group" that will form the skeleton of your phone tree.

The Key Group does not need to be big since each person will be responsible for calling several other people on the list.

Impress upon ALL members of the Key Group the importance of completing all their assigned calls and letting you know the results of those calls. It is critically important that the members of the Key Group are reliable!

3. Divide the people on your list among the members of the Key Group so that each member of the Key Group is responsible for calling three to eight of those people.

4. Keep track of Key Group members and the people you have asked them to call. Distribute that information to the Key Group so that everyone is on the same page. See image at right for a sample way to keep track.

5. Ask members of the Key Group to notify you when they are going out of town or will otherwise be unavailable.

Activating the Tree

1. As coordinator, you will start the tree. Write out a brief script complete with the specific action each person needs to accomplish (calling their members of Congress, writing a letter to the editor, coming to the next planning meeting, etc.).

2. Call the members of the Key Group using the script, or activate your phone tree by bringing together the members of the Key Group for a calling party where each person can eat snacks, enjoy the group's company, and make their assigned calls. Make sure that Key Group members understand what they need to do and the time frame in which they should do it. Give them a copy of the script and remind them to report the results to you and to keep trying each person on their list until they make contact.

3. Spot-check the tree's effectiveness by calling a few people down on the list to be sure they have received an accurate and complete message from their assigned person in the Key Group. Or you can prearrange with people down the list to contact you once they have received the message.

4. Once all the calls have been made, make sure to thank the members of your Key Group for a job well done! Keep them excited and motivated for the next time when you need to activate your phone tree.

Key Points

Have an organization chart for your phone tree.

Make sure that your Key Group members are reliable and that they understand the importance of making all of their calls within the specified time frame and letting you know the results of those calls.

Have multiple ways of reaching the people you want to call (home, work, and cell numbers are key).

Related

Resources to guide activists in advocacy efforts.

Since social media are such a large part of everyone's lives, it makes sense that AAUW should have a strong presence online.

Build relationships and draw attention to AAUW priority issues and events you are planning.

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A phone tree is a prearranged system for activating a group of people by telephone. The phone tree system can help you spread a brief message quickly and efficiently to a large number of people.

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Uddingston Craftbomb exists to make the village smile through the process of crafting and adorning our outside spaces in visual art

Uddingston Craftbomb 2019

Food Fiesta

It's nearly here! A crafty celebration of food and world cuisine that all the community can enjoy. We have so

many events for everyone to enjoy.

Uddingston Community Centre

In 2017 Uddingston Craftbomb led the charge to sponsor a hippo from the Big Stampede in Hamilton. After a long journey our hippo has now had a makeover and found a new forever home.

Community crafting, using re-loved materials, brings people of all ages and abilities together, knitting connections and bringing to life our vibrant community tapestry.

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Uddingston Craftbomb | Uddingston Craft Group| Uddingston

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Uddingston Craftbomb exists to make the village smile through the process of crafting and adorning our outside spaces in visual art Uddingston Craftbomb 2019 Food Fiesta It's nearly here! A crafty celebration of food and world cuisine that all the community can enjoy. We have so many events for everyone to enjoy.

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Creative use of commercial and open spaces

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Creative use of commercial and open spaces

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From Fun Palaces weekend - a community gossip switch using paper cups and a mask fashion show