We’ve heard lots of examples of Incredible Edible groups achieving Incredible things by working together with other groups and organisations. This might be where the local timber merchant has given free wood to build planters or could be where joint events have been held to reach more people.
So it’s important to build up your network as well as your reputation – if you’re the ‘award winning’ Incredible Edible group, it’s amazing who will want to be associated with you.
Here are some ideas for raising awareness across your community of what your group is doing and what it wants to do:
This is the ‘go to’ communication tool mainly because it’s free and also because it’s a very effective method. Frequent posts can help to build up your social media following and forms a doorway for a whole new group of people to see what you are doing. Also importantly it is a communication device for others to connect with you and ask questions so hopefully you can convert the browsers into active group members. See our page on Online communications to give you more advice.
there will be various award schemes which are local to you, for example run by your local council, and there are national award schemes too. The award may be for how you’ve changed the look of your area while working with your community (for example the RHS Britain in Bloom or the Keep Britain Tidy Green Flag Award), or for the amazing work of your volunteers (for example the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service). Keep an eye out for different award schemes local to you, which might be organised by the council or your local council for voluntary service (find your local organisation by country England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales)
We know our groups are all doing Incredible things in their community, but getting that recognition from others can help motivate your group members (or encourage more people to get involved), gain publicity and open up conversations with individuals or organisations who want to be associated with your award winning work.
Local papers are usually your friend and keen to support community action. Be very clear and correct about the information you give them as once it’s printed there is no way of changing it.
You could write a press release or get someone with some experience, to do it for you. Give them a good clear high-resolution photograph for more impact. They may even turn up on the day to report it.
Make use of any free advert space in your local papers. Quite often the community news section carries free space for community meetings and events.
If you feel able to give a presentation then many groups and associations would welcome you and you may be offered a speaker’s fee. Use the Communicating in the real world section for lots of advice on how to give a great talk and the power point template to give you a head start. A presentation can be a good tool to use at a public meeting for displaying information.
ZIP | 1.1 MB
ZIP | 7.1 MB
connect with other organisations, find out where and when local festivals, markets and fetes take place, they don’t usually charge for community organisations to be present but sometimes they may ask you to donate to a charity they support.
These sorts of events give you a great opportunity to talk to people in an informal setting, plus you might get to meet people who would usually be sitting behind a desk and hard to access. Be ready to give your ‘elevator pitch’ of what it is your group wants to do, just in case the local councillor, CEO of a local business or the school head walks past who might be key to your Incredible new ideas coming to fruition.
PowerPoint Resources:
ZIP | 1.1 MB
ZIP | 7.1 MB
Things to consider when you hold a stall
- Will the event will attract an interested audience?
- Will be plenty of footfall?
- Have details of your next meeting – make a poster to display
- Collect potential ‘members’ contact details to add to your mailing list – remember to ask for permission
- Have some giveaways to draw attention and start a conversation. The Toolshed resources in the Get connecting section has lots of ideas for great give-aways.
- Smile because you are doing a great job!
