If you do decide that a campaign is the best way to create your change, it is time to start planning. 

Aims and Objectives

The first thing you need to do is define your campaign aim and objectives.

Your aim is the overall change you want to make. For example: 

“To reduce the cost of eating on campus”

Your objectives are specific goals that will help you to achieve this general aim. For example:

“The cost of hot drinks to be reduced to £1.30 at Newcastle University catering outlets by the end of this semester.”

“The Robinson Library to install a microwave for student use by the end of the academic year”

The number of objectives should be determined by what you think is necessary to achieve your aim. However, when devising your objectives you want to try and make them SMART.

You also need to think about how you will measure your achievements. When it is a change to a process, procedure or policy, this is often easy to measure. However, if it is a change in attitudes and ideas, you might have to be more creative, perhaps by running surveys, getting quotes or taking photos.

Planning your Activities

Once you have your aim and objectives sorted, you need to decide how you are going to achieve them. When planning these you want to make sure that they are always linked to helping you to achieve your aim and objectives.

Suggested Campaign Activities

Here are just a few examples of what NUSU Officers and students have used to campaign with in the past. Videos / Petitions / Keynote speakers / Panel  discussions / Demonstrations / Craftivism / Posters / Stalls / Events

If you are looking for some inspiration, reflect on effective campaigns that you have seen or heard about in the past or let us know what you are thinking of doing and we can help.

For example:

• If you are part of a Society you may want to apply for a Special Grant.
• If you are looking to run a student-led volunteer project, check out Go Volunteer’s grants.
• If you are looking to campaign and you are not supported by a Society, Sports Club or Go Volunteer project, check out our Campaigns Fund  where you can apply for up to £300 and support for your campaign.

When applying for this funding, you will need to break down the costs of your campaign. Think about the different activities that you want to undertake and itemise the costs associated with each of these. This, plus any overall costs (such as promotion), will give you a good idea on how much you will need. Remember to explore ways to keep costs down and don’t forget to look around for the best price.

• Societies: particularly if the Society is linked to what you are trying to change. For example, if you want to run a campaign about conserving the environment, you may want to contact the Eco Society. 
• Sports Clubs: especially if you want to run an active campaign. For example, at NUSU we have supported the This Girl Can campaign with a number of Sports Clubs offering taster sessions.
• Your Reps: there are Reps on your course, in your halls and out in your local community. They all meet with some of the big decision makers for the areas they are represent, so they could have a lot of influence in helping you achieve the change you want to see.
• NUSU Officers: your Full-Time Officers and volunteer Liberation Officers can be a strong source of support for your campaign, particularly if it relates to their role.
• University Staff: if you know of any University staff that support what you are trying to change, then they could be a great ally. They may be able to help spread the word, particularly amongst other staff, who may well be the ones you need to convince.
• External Groups or Organisations: may be able to offer support, expertise or guidance related to your Campaign. In some circumstances, they may even want to be part of it. It is often worth showing that the change you want to see happen affects those outside of the University as well and some of these external organisations can be powerful allies.

The more people supporting and backing your campaign the more influence and opportunity you have.

You may also want to consider the support of NUSU Student Council. Student Council is great place to gain support for your campaign. By submitting a motion you can publically announce your campaign aims and potentially gain the support of Student Council members. The University sees Student Council as a representative student group and tends to listen to their views on student concerns. You can also use motions to mandate a NUSU Officer to support and promote your campaign in the meetings they attend.

• Website articles
• Social media promotion
• Images on NUSU digital screen
• Features in emails
• Support to setup promotional stalls around campus

When you plan you campaign, it is worth coming to speak to us in the Your Voice department so we can discuss how to best promote it. If you are part of a Society, you can submit promotion requests here.

• Did you achieve your aims and objectives?
• Were there any other positive benefits to running the campaign?
• What went well and why?
• What could have been improved and why?
• Did you engage who you needed to engage with the campaign?
• If you were to run your campaign again, what, if anything, would you do differently and why?
• Are you going to continue with your campaign? If so, what are your next steps?