Your voice counts event a success
Update on our influencing local policy decisions event and 10 top tips for how your organisation can make its voice heard
Around 35 members from Brighton and Hove explored how VCS organisations can share their views and expertise to help influence local policy decisions at our recent event.
Throughout the session members explored:
- What policy and influencing means
- Understanding and influencing Brighton & Hove City Council decision-making
- Community Works’ policy work and how you can get involved
- Understanding and influencing NHS decision-making
Event speakers:
- Giles Rossington, Scrutiny Manager, Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) – Understanding and influencing BHCC decision-making
- Maria Antoniou, Partnership & Policy Development Manager, Community Works – Policy and Influencing at Community Works and how to make your own policy plan (with input from Community Works Reps)
- JP Schofield, Strategic Lead (Brighton and Hove), Sussex Voluntary Leaders Alliance (SVLA); plus SVLA Reps Dr Anusree Biswas Sasidharan and Joanna Martindale – Influencing NHS decision-making through the SVLA
Community Works and the SVLA
Through our policy work, Community Works and the Sussex VCSE Leaders Alliance (SVLA) represent the knowledge and interests of the sector to local councils, the NHS, and other partners, working hard to build relationships and trust. Our shared aim is for the VCS, councils, and the NHS to work together in co-designing services and solutions that better meet local needs.
Top 10 tips for influencing local policy decisions
Learn more about the structures you want to influence, how decisions are made and the official routes for raising questions and concerns
Build relationships of trust with decision-makers e.g. by inviting them to events, sharing updates, offering your expertise
Create a set of key messages that reflect the voice of your organisation and of the people using services
Gather data to back up your messages e.g. statistics from your services, wider local data, case studies and quotes
Align your messages to local plans and priorities e.g. the Brighton & Hove City Council plan 2023 to 2027 refresh 2025
Offer solutions rather than just focusing on problems or making requests; highlight how your organisation can help
Partner with other similar organisations, to present a collective voice
Keep up to date with local information and policy discussions e.g. by joining Community Works e-lists, or signing up to the SVLA intranet
Use the influencing routes offered by Community Works and the Sussex Voluntary Leaders’ Alliance (SVLA) intranet
Create your own organisational Policy & Influencing Plan, to include:
- What are you trying to achieve
- What are your key messages?
- Who are you trying to influence?
- How will you influence them?
- How will you measure your success?