Presented on Tuesday 6 September at NCVO Campaigning Conference 2016. Heather Kennedy, Campaign Manager, Quaker Social Action Jane Cox, Director, Principle Consulting Tom Baker, Head of Campaigns and Engagement, Bond (chair) If you would like to find out more about our training and events, visit our website at https://www.ncvo.org.uk/training-and-events.

1. Exhibitors:
Sponsor:
HOW TO BUILD A CAMPAIGN
COALITION AND MAKE IT LAST
CHAIR:
TOM BAKER
HEAD OF CAMPAIGNS AND ENGAGEMENT, BOND
SPEAKERS:
HEATHER KENNEDY
CAMPAIGN MANAGER, QUAKER SOCIAL ACTION
JANE COX
DIRECTOR, PRINCIPLE CONSULTING

2. How to build a campaign coalition and
make it last
NCVO Campaigning Conference 2016

3. Why build a coalition?

4. Case studies

5. Coalition structures
Partnership
Collaborative
Flotilla
Secretariat-led

6. What works?
 Clearly defined goal that all coalition members are in agreement with
 Analysis of strengths of coalition members and play to these, and make
the most of unusual suspects
 An agreed coalition and decision making structure can aid leadership and
trust
 Insightful and nimble political strategy – making most of context, timings,
opportunities
 Shared ownership of decisions and achievements
 Balance, diplomacy and good-will
 Build momentum, energy and action – enjoy it!

7. Dispatches from the frontline:
Coalition frustrations
“One thing I’ve learnt the hard way, plan additional capacity to cope with working
in partnership. The simple fact of working with others will create an additional
layer of work.“
“Years ago at Oxfam I remember trying to get sign-off in a coalition on a refugee
manifesto before the 2001 General Election. At the eleventh hour, I thought I had
got agreement – but then an email came in from one of the coalition asking for a
greater focus on children. Despite my enthusiasm for this initiative – I knew then
that this manifesto was not going to happen – and it didn’t! So no matter how
simple – it will always take longer than you think!”
“Vastly different theories of change can be difficult to navigate. Some times some
organisations shouldn't be let in - we let in some organisations to our current
coalition and they just moan and chunter and do nothing.”
“Can lower ambition. You end up by inertia, or ”our organisation can't say that" so
dropping things.”

8. Dispatches from the frontline:
Best things about coalitions
“Coalition work can leave me frazzled but it is immensely satisfying knowing
we’re singing from the same hymn sheet when we successfully come together.”
“Change only really happens when organisations or groups come together,
ideally from different sectors, with a common vision of both the problem and the
solution and then push for change in a sustained way. This is one way in which
campaigning is different to marketing – here we are focused on the external
change we want as opposed to just promoting our own organisation. All of us
campaigners need to be aware of that despite the internal pressure to do
differently!”
“Helps you see different perspectives. We work a lot with UN agencies who see
the world totally differently. Equally, some grass roots charities really energise
me with their passion.”

9. Jane Cox
jane@principleconsulting.org.uk
www.principleconsulting.org.uk