CAMPAIGNING FORUM

8-10 April, 2025 | Oxford, UK

Convening leading and emerging campaigning practitioners since 2002

APPLY FOR ECF 2025 IN OXFORD

Key event links: Apply | Overview | Participants | Agenda | Sessions | Speakers | Curators |  | Facilitator

Apply for an early bird place for another

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Testimonials

“The Campaigning Forum is the most useful event in my calendar. If you’re interested in learning from passionate, informed, dedicated people, then you shouldn’t miss it!”

Jean O’Brien
Digital Charity Labs & Digital Consultant

Testimonials

It has made my everyday job easier. I have a place to go to for ideas, advice, and experience.

Andrew Khan-Gordon

Testimonials

This is a great gathering of campaigners that gives you a very comprehensive idea of emerging trends, as well as common problems and possible solutions. It’s a very interesting event that is also very effective for networking.

Anastasia Kavada
University of Westminster

The Campaigning Forum is different: participants set the agenda

At the Campaigning Forum, you set your agenda and we help you find others who share it. Speakers and workshops are there to provoke thought. Result: you learn more and connect with more people. This is the way events should be.

Key event links: Apply | Overview | Participants | Agenda | Sessions | Speakers | Curators |  | Facilitator

Key information

  1. Who: Campaigners, fundraisers, media officers, volunteer managers, digital experts, managers, etc.
  2. Where: St Anne’s College, Oxford, United Kingdowm
  3. Capacity: 100
  4. Cost: £550 until 9 March, then £650 + optionals (£80/115 per night on-site accommodation, £50/dinner)

Persuade your boss to send you

  1. Making the case for joining the Campaigning Forum event by Anya Pearson (Contentious)
  2. How I (and my staff) benefited from the Campaigning Forum event by Alison Goldsworthy (Which?)
  3. The best piece of advice I ever ignored by Rachel Collinson
  4. How to make the most of Campaigning Forum events by Duane Raymond

How do we ensure it is a safe event?

  1. Immune vulnerable & Covid safety policy
  2. Code of conduct: a safe inclusive event
  3. Privacy: photos, confidentiality, online
  4. Terms: cancellation, substitutes, etc.
  5. Physical disability: venue, accommodation, etc.
  6. Visual / hearing disability: let us know and we will instruct presenters on how to increase accessibility
  7. Mental health: we will allocate quiet rooms to retreat to and in 2024 there is a coach with mental health training
Questions? Get in touch

Key event links: Apply | Overview | Participants | Agenda | Sessions | Speakers | Curators |  | Facilitator

Participants in 2024
(2025 list added Jan 2025)

Key event links: Apply | Overview | Participants | Agenda | Sessions | Speakers | Curators |  | Facilitator

Campaigning Forum, 8-10 April, 2025. Oxford, UKThe Agenda

At the 2025 event, there will be a dedicated slot for presentations and open space sessions about having a campaigning impact, specifically:

  1. Allyship and inclusion of underrepresented and marginalised communities
  2. Countering disinformation and fake news
  3. Deepening and building political engagement amongst supporters
  4. Effective digital transformation strategies
  5. Campaigning before, during and after elections

Tue 8 April
Oxford

Arrival: Campaigning Forum 2025

until 18:00
Conference Office (Ruth Deech Building)
Free sessions with the coach are available if organised in advance. Take the opportunity for private, confidential conversations about anything you need.
18:00-19:30
Lower Common Room

‘ECF Participation’ briefing

Meet others, propose agenda topics, learn how open space works, get settled for two days of great learning.

Open to all and it prepares you to be a confident, engaged participant from day one.

19:00-20:30
Dining Hall
Dinner: Kick-start connections and conversations with Campaigning Forum participants
21:00+
St Anne’s Bar
Connect to kick-start connections and conversations

Wed. 9 April, Oxford

Day One: Campaigning Forum 2025

08:30
Foyer B (Ruth Deech Building)
Registration, coffee/tea, informal discussions
09:00
Outreach Room (New Library)

Welcome, introduction and agenda review

09:15
Foyer B (Ruth Deech Building)

Warm-up activities and speed networking

09:45
Foyer B (Ruth Deech Building)

Open Space introduction and agenda setting

10:15
various rooms TBC

Open Space knowledge exchange A

  1. To-be-determined based on participant input

Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

  1. Diversity and inclusion: creating community allies
  2. What campaign or initiative am I proud to be part of (and want you to know all about)
  3. Shifting gear: Amending campaign plans halfway through a campaign
  4. Value of getting celebrity / politician endorsements
  5. Election strategies and election agenda
  6. Campaign tactics for impact
  7. Is Just Stop Oil et. al. helpful or counterproductive?
11:15
Foyer B (Ruth Deech Building)
Coffee/tea break
11:45
Outreach Room (New Library)

Featured speaker:

To-be-determined based on participant input 

Examples from past events include:

  • 2024: Why community power matters, regardless of the political weather
    (Benali Hamdache, Head of Campaigns & Organising, Save the Children + Green Party Councillor)
  • 2023: A personal journey, practical steps to how we’re re-building the agency to shift power (Alex Kent and Kate Muhwezi, co-CEO of Restless Development)
12:30
Dining Hall
Lunch
13:30
various rooms TBC

Peer workshops / presentations

  1. To-be-determined based on participant input.

Peer workshops/presentations in 2023 & 2024:

  1. Diversity stream: Amplifying Authentic Voices: Supporting inclusive storytelling
  2. Outreach room: Facing down disinformation: A success story in local elections – Aleksandra Meshkova (Greenpeace Bulgaria). See presentation details
  3. Seminar Room 10: Digital transformation for nonprofits: What it is, what are the benefits and how can they be understood better by our sector – Brani Milosevic (LinkedIn). See workshop details
  4. Seminar Room 11: SCN – Mobilising Community Power through Fiscal Hosting, Saoirse Barry (Social Change Next)
  5. Podcasting workshop: Exploring how we at the Transnationals Institute (TNI) put together our podcast, share experiences and brainstorm other ways to make a podcast successful. (Denis Burke, Transnationals Institute)
  6. Graphic design secrets (Jean O’Brien, Digital Charity Labs)
14:30

Open Space knowledge exchange B

To be determined based on participant input.

Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

  1. What matters in an election: are people voting on issues or do issues move voters?
  2. Are awareness campaigns relevent in the 21st century?
  3. Media relations: getting media coverage and working with journalists effectively
  4. How to set-up your own grassroots campaign / campaigning group or organisations
  5. Stopping shrinking civic space
  6. Going beyond petitions to convert leads into supporters
  7. Disinformation: how to tackle it and communicate in a polarised society
  8. Artificial Intelligence
15:30
Foyer B (Ruth Deech Building)
Coffee/tea break
16:00

Open Space knowledge exchange C

To be determined based on participant input.

Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

  1. Disinformation
  2. Tackling internal politics to support campaigning
  3. Why do we use tactics that don’t work?
  4. What can NGOs expect to acheive during an election campaign?
  5. Creating positive, solution-oriented campaigns in a world of crisis fatigue
  6. How to measure success when trying to reach people’s hearts and minds?
17:00
Outreach Room (Ruth Deech Building)

Ignite talks (7 min each)

  1. To be determined based on participant contributions. See what it takes to deliver an ignite-style talk.

Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

  1. How we at ShareAction have used AGM activism – Isabella Salkeld, Kelly Shields, Jeanne Martin (ShareAction)
  2. Campaigning at the time of social media reactions – Paolo Gerbaudo (Complutense University Madrid)
  3. Forming a trade union within your workplace – Conor McGurran (Trades Union Congress)
  4. Multi camera livestreaming for covering protests and marches – Zoe Broughton
  5. Humor and Social Change – Brian Fitzgerald (Dancing Fox)
  6. The Peat-za box: ‘It’s pizza, but not as we know it’ which is an engagement tool to get people interested in peatlands! (Sara Booth-Card, Wildlife Trusts)
  7. The Rooftop News: a news site which aims to platform positive news stories, to amplify maligned voices and offer an alternative to the constantly negative mainstream news cycle (Lizzie Lewis, Campaign Collective)
  8. How to get rid of your website’s consent banner (Juri Maier, wegewerk)
  9. UK Online Safety Bill, and the implications of its proposals for campaigners (Pam Cowburn, Open Rights Group)
18:00
Seminar Room 8 (Ruth Deech Building)

Pre-dinner social and speed pitching

Service providers and consultants tell you what they offer, answer your questions and/or take your feedback. 5 minutes per table then rotate. Free drinks (wine, beer, soft drinks)

    Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

    1. Campaign Collective (Lizzie Lewis and Ian Morton)
    2. PostBug.com (Duane Raymond)
    3. Nick Chowdrey (WaterAid): I’m going freelance!
    4. Care2, Rhiannan Sullivan
    19:30
    Dining Hall
    Dinner
    21:00+
    St Anne’s Bar
    Social

    Thu. 10 April, Oxford

    Campaigning Forum 2025 – Day Two

    08:30
    Foyer B (Ruth Deech Building)
    Registration, coffee/tea, informal discussions
    09:00
    Seminar Room 8 (Ruth Deech Building)

    Day two agenda review, pulse check and agenda setting

    09:30

    Open Space knowledge exchange D

    Based on participant contributions

    1. Influencing a (potential) Labour government
    2. Starting an orgasnising network from scratch

    Examples from 2023 event include:

    1. How to counter the alt-right: appropriating and twisting of progressive causes?
    2. How to engage Western European audiences in Eastern European naure conservation campaigns?
    10:15

    Open Space knowledge exchange E

    Based on participant contributions:

    1. Tackling internal politics to support campaigning
    2. Stunts and creative campaign ideas

    Examples from 2023 event include:

    1. How do you evaluate the success of a campaign? e.g social media, going beyond numbers
    2. How to push for change despite being blocked by more conservative parties and media?
    11:15
    Coffee/tea break
    11:45
    Outreach Room (New Library)

    Featured speaker

    To-be-decided based on participant input.  Learn more about featured speakers.

    Past featured speakers include:

    • 2024: Allyship for the long term for marginalised communities, Hannah Àjàlá is an international journalist and presenter. See presentation details
    • 2019: State of the nation – Just how divided are we, and how do we build bridges? Rosie Carter, HOPE not Hate
    • 2018: Reaching beyond the choir, Léane de Laigue is Head of Communications at Climate Outreach
    12:30
    Dining Hall
    Lunch
    13:30

    Peer workshops / presentations

    1. To-be-determined based on participant input. Learm more about the Peer workshop/presentation format.

    Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

    1. Countering Disinformation Stream Peer Presentation: Story vs Disinformation
    2. Lessons from a year of increased strike action and our campaign to protect the right to strike – Conor McGurran (Trades Union Congress)
    3. Fail tales: confidential sharing of cringeworthy yet amusing failure stories
    4. Newsletters: how, why, when
    14:30
    Foyer B (Ruth Deech Building)
    coffee/tea break
    15:00

    Teach-in: share skills or knowledge with others

    1. To-be-determined based on participant input. Learn more about the Teach-in format.

    Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

    1. Hands-on workshop using video to create great content
    2. Campaign strategy 101 – how to develop your strategic approach, set objectives and choose tactics. Bring your issue to workshop. – Michaela O’Brien (U. of Westminster)
    3. Recording and editing video on your phone for quick easy content – Zoe Broughton
    4. Social storytelling method workshop (Jean O’Brien, Digital Charity Labs)
    5. Adventures with AI: Using ChatGPT and other AI tools in your day (Duane Raymond, FairSay).
    16:30
    Outreach Room (New Library)

    Ignite Talks (7 min each)

    1. To-be-determined based on participant input. Learn more about the Ignite talk format.

    Examples from 2023 & 2024 events include:

    1. ‘Message for Change’ campaign action – Erin Ekins (Versus Arthritis)
    2. Staying abreast of new ideas in a time poor and resource poor context. – Michaela O’Brien (U. of Westminster)
    3. Using printed postcards for campaigning and winning elections – Duane Raymond (PostBug)
    4. See what it takes to deliver an ignite-style talk.
    5. The case for reuse (Keira Roth, The Developer Society)
    17:30
    Event formally ends
    17:30+
    Ad-hoc social and dinner and drinks in near venue – self-organised (usually closest pub: Royal Oak – 100 m down Banbury Road = left out the gates) for those staying around
    Get in touch

    Key event links: Apply | Overview | Participants | Agenda | Sessions | Speakers | Curators |  | Facilitator

    Contact FairSay

    Do you have questions about the Campaigning Forum? We’d love to hear from you

    Tel: +44 207 993 4200

    Email:

    Skype: fairsay

    On Social Networks: