Stronger voice: achieving policy change

*We are now oversubscribed for this session and have closed the booking system. If you would like to be added to a waiting list please email events@clinks.org*

This training is designed to build on influencing policy knowledge to support people working for voluntary organisations in the criminal justice system to better understand how to achieve policy change related to their work.

The training will provide participants with a deeper understanding of levers for influencing policy within and outside government and will support organisations to start to develop their own strategic approach for impactful policy change. 

Participants will gain:

• Understanding of which levers voluntary organisations might use to influence policy centrally and locally
• An introduction to developing a strategy for policy change
• An understanding how to create an approach tailored to your organisation.

Who is this session for?

This is aimed at a beginner and intermediate level, for organisations working in the criminal justice system who might rarely engage with government policy and want to learn how they can influence decision makers; or have some experience but want to expand their knowledge.

For example, you know government policy impacts you but don’t know how to influence it; you have had some engagement with government before but want to improve your impact; or you have identified new decision makers to influence and want to ensure your policy asks land.

Training opportunities for organisations more experienced in policy and influencing will be made available later in the Stronger voice programme.

About the trainer

Gemma Buckland is Director of Do It Justice, a research and advocacy consultancy. Gemma has more than twenty years’ experience working with government, MPs, and in academia, including for twelve years as an advisor to the Justice Select Committee.

Eligibility criteria

As Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales are funding this programme of work, we are asking for the following criteria to be met:

• These are open to any voluntary organisation working in the criminal justice system, though each event has a different capacity of attendee numbers to ensure the training is effective
• Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, subject to eligibility and availability, though Clinks will reserve specific spaces for organisations working with people in contact with the criminal justice system that are led by and focussed on racially minoritised people
• Please only book one ticket per organisation as we expect there to be high demand for these events.

About Stronger voice

The Stronger voice training programme brings together experts across policy, campaigns and communications to support organisations of all sizes to influence decision makers. This programme is being delivered as part of Clinks’ three-year Stronger Voice programme, funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, and aims to help the voluntary sector working in criminal justice to develop a unified and influential voice, at both a national and regional level.