Capacity Building | John Lyon's Charity

Capacity Building and Support Available from Goodwork

John Lyon’s Charity has been working with PR and Communications Agency, Goodwork since 2018.

Goodwork is the first social enterprise PR and Communications agency in the UK. It was set up with a simple aim: to use their communication skills to celebrate good work in the world. Goodwork’s team consist of experienced media professionals and journalists who come from a News background. As a social enterprise, their profits are reinvested in the charities and organisations they support. They work with large and small charities, non-governmental organisations and companies to improve their communications.

An increasingly significant part of the Charity’s work is delivered under our Capacity Building Fund. This Fund gives organisations access to the tools, knowledge and expertise with which to become fitter and more robust. John Lyon’s Charity is delighted to announce a new strand to the Capacity Building Fund by providing communications support delivered by Goodwork to its groups across the Beneficial Area. The Charity will provide funding to help charitable organisations learn and grow from a PR and Communications perspective.

If you need help with writing, interviewing, shooting, editing, pitching your stories to the media, as well as training in how to communicate with the media in promotional, or crisis situations, Goodwork can offer you support. They can also give guidance on how best to use social media to promote your achievements.

To find out more, click on the options below. Each of the options represents a one-off training session, which will vary in length depending on the session.

Story Telling

Do you have stories you would like to tell but are unsure how to tell the story, let alone share it?

If yes, you will benefit from Goodwork's session that helps your Organisation to tell its story. This includes:

Interviewing, writing and producing your stories
Content will be produced to sit across your website/social media/other media of your choice

TIMING – will depend on volume of content, but 90 minute online sessions will cover how to do strong, impactful interviews, write clearly and powerfully and how to re-version the content you create for your various outlets and platforms.

RESULTS

Knowing how to elicit the best information you need to write your stories in an informative and entertaining way
Story structure and technique
Subbing and checking skills
Writing for different media – long and short formats

Bespoke Media Outreach & Press Release Creation

Do you lack the PR skills to promote important topics or news stories about your organisation?

If yes, you will benefit from Goodwork’s Bespoke Media Outreach & Press Release package. This includes:

Writing and distributing customised press releases on demand
Giving guidance on how to reach out to the media
Make and build contacts specific to your Charitable Organisation
Pitch stories across a variety of national and regional networks

TIMING – Goodwork can turn this offering round fairly quickly. They are flexible around writing and distributing press releases, depending on content and volume.

RESULTS

Clear, concise and consistent content produced for press releases
New skills learned on how to “pitch” organisation’s stories and messages to targeted news editors and reporters
Increase relevant contacts to pitch potential stories to
Build ongoing relationships with journalists

Bespoke Advice

Do you want to do more PR and Comms outreach but don’t know where to start?

If yes, you will benefit from Goodwork’s Bespoke Advice Sessions. This includes:

Online advice sessions on how to pitch causes and stories to relevant media outlets
Feedback on initial story narrative
Guidance on general media “outreach”

TIMING - Guidance on Media Outreach, Contacts and Pitching - 90 minute session.

RESULTS

New pro-active skills learned about who to approach in the Media
How and when to approach them
How to “sell” your stories and causes, or highlight your campaigns/initiatives

Media Training

Could you handle the pressure of media spotlight whilst getting across your Organisation’s message clearly and concisely?

If no, you will benefit from Goodwork’s Media Training. This includes:

Online courses on how to speak to the media (2 trainers) for up to 4 participants
Interview training across TV, Radio & Online
Webinars including Q and A Session for up to 30 participants

TIMING

Online Media Training - 4 hours.
Webinars - 60 mins or 90 mins (With Q and A)

RESULTS – By the end of Media Training, you’ll know how to:

Prepare well for interviews, on and off camera
Understand and inform your audiences
Shape and deliver your key messages with authority
Know how to produce strong soundbites, which make an impact
Use tone, style and body language effectively
Take control of interviews to make the points you planned to make
Handle difficult questions and controversial issues
Manage stress before and during interviews

Crisis Comms Session

If your Organisation is facing a crisis, do you feel worried you don’t have the resources to respond the correct way both internally and externally?

If yes, you will benefit from Goodwork’s Crisis Comms Session. This includes:

Online courses in Crisis Communications (2 trainers) for up to 4 participants
Webinars in Crisis Communications, including Q and A Session for up to 30 participants

TIMING -

Crisis Comms Courses+Exercises - 4 hours.
Webinars - 60 mins or 90 mins (With Q and A)

RESULTS – By the end of Crisis Communications Training, you’ll know:

How to establish a Crisis Communications Team in your workplace
How to structure a “fit-for-purpose ”Crisis Communications Plan
How to create and deliver powerful key messages
How to improve staff communications during crisis and beyond
How to establish efficient notification and monitoring systems
How to effectively manage social media during a crisis
How to reduce the negative impact of a crisis and turn it to advantage

Organisational Messaging Training

Are you in need of a training programme that specifically focuses on key messaging to reach your priority audience?

If yes, you will benefit from Goodwork’s Organisational Messaging Training. This includes:

Online sessions in devising, delivering and placing organisational key messaging for up to 4 participants
The option of a 4-hour session, which includes creating organisational messages and identification of delivery platforms
The option a 2-hour session, which creates overarching and core organisational messages ready for use

TIMING – A 2-hour or 4-hour session available

RESULTS

To identify your over-arching and core message for your various identified priority audiences
Review, test and refresh these as appropriate
Learn how to disseminate your messages via various media platforms

Video Editing

Do you have various pieces of important footage that you would like to use but don’t have the funding to hire a qualified editor?

If yes, you will benefit from Goodwork’s Video Editing opportunity. This includes:

A professional video editor to edit raw video footage shot by charities, YPFs, or other organisations
Craft them into useable content for websites or social media use

TIMING – Half or Full Days determined by volume of video material; its quality will determine how much work needs to be done to make the content useable.

RESULTS

Well-edited footage produced to the highest professional standards immediately ready for use
A standard edited video to sit on your website
Social alternative to sit across Instagram, Twitter & other well-known social platforms

How to apply

If you are interested in pursuing any of the above funding opportunities, please fill in the application via the Portal. You can apply for up to one option and will need to provide your rationale. Please note – these micro-grants are only available for organisations that have already received funding from John Lyon’s Charity, are a registered charity and have an income of £1million or less.

If you are unsure as to whether you are eligible to apply for a grant, please click here.