Contents
General
Speaking in schools and universities is a great way to spread the word and recruit the next generation of activists. But it's not always straightforward to actually book the talks, or to know what level to pitch them. The purpose of these pages is to record our experiences and learn from them, and to archive the material we've used, so that the whole process becomes easier with each iteration.
Schools
Booking talks in schools is hard work. PL has a contact at People and Planet, Rose Cairns (rose@peopleandplanet.org), who is in charge of 6th form outreach. She counts on one booking for every 20 requests - and P&P are a well-known outfit. So far our cold contacts have returned nothing, but we have demonstrated that the talks are worthwhile with successful events at Winchester and Tonbridge, and we will be using this as a selling-point when we recontact schools shortly to request slots in the autumn.
Issues need to be presented very clearly to 6th form audiences, and a lecture followed by questions is not necessarily the ideal format for holding the attention. We hope to develop more interactive formats and material in due course.
Usually promotion for the talk will be handled by the school, but it is a good idea to suggest ways of broadening the audience.
- Booking Process
- Identify target schools - within easy reach of Cambridge/London
- Find contact details online
- Call. You will speak to a secretary; explain your purpose, without launching into a description of the OKF; suggest relevant heads of department/6th form/community service (this will vary from school to school); request that she forward your e-flier to these people.
- Send e-mail inc flier and yr contact details.
- (Call again if you have not heard after a fortnight.)
- Be patient but persistent!
- Aim to establish a relationship, and talk, say, once a year.
SchoolsMaterial - archive of promotional and educational material.
SchoolsContacted - school-by-school record of who we have spoken to. Always consult this list before contacting a school, and always update it after doing so.
Universities
Universities are good places to recruit activists, and they have numerous societies (with varying levels of activity) that can be contacted for the purpose - Linux, Development, Environmental, Legal societies are just a few of the possibilities. In addition the Pugwash Society, a group of 'concerned scientists' whose roots lie in opposing nuclear weapons but which now works on broader social and environmental issues, has a number of university groups, at Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial where we are building a strong relationship.
Booking talks at Universities is easier than at schools, as one deals directly with the target audience, cutting out the teacher middlemen, but equally students can be busy, particularly at exam time, and not always reliable. The task of advertising the talk will fall to them also, so it is wise to supply promotional material, press your contact to advertise with posters and round e-mail lists, and ask for contacts in related societies.
It is possible to pitch these talks at a more specialist level, depending on the bent of the audience. Lecture and questions is a format students will be familiar with.
- Process
- Identify relevant societies at suitable Universities.
- Approach secretaries directly with appropriate promotional material - really stress the importance of the issue, eg AIDS drugs.
- Book early.
- Advertise widely.
- Follow up.
Follow-up: students like to go down to the union bar and discuss things afterwards. This is a great way to interact with the keenest members of the audience: for instance articles in the Imperial College student newspaper were arranged over a post-talk pint. Recruit them to help out on projects. Find out what else is going on at the Uni. Book another talk for next term.
NB Students come and go, and secretaries are often in their final year. It's important to be aware of when your contact is leaving, and to press him/her for contact details for the incoming secretary.
UnisMaterial - fliers, notes, slides etc.
UnisContacted - record of our activities and contacts. Please keep this list up to date.