Birmingham Back to Basics Training

6.07.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 7th Aug 2005

Today saw the Back to Basics 'tour' go to Birmingham. This time Dr. Dave Radcliffe, Mike Dixon, Richard Stevens and myself trained members from Birmingham and also from outside, with a trainee from Wolverhampton and a trainee from Halesowen. Turnout was sadly quite low, not sure if this was because it was a Sunday (although they have working in Birmingham before) or because it was the the Final Day of the Test at Edgbaston, which I did not know about when we booked the session.

The training again went again well, in two weeks the tour carries on Warwickshire to the County Hall in Warwick on Saturday 20 August, we will then have completed half the sessions.

The Modules were as follows:

Module One - The Role of Local Parties and Local Party Officers - What is the role and responsibilities of Local Parties and Officers.

Module Two - Building a Winning Team and ensuring it stays together - Membership recruitment, retention, members newsletters, social events and fundraising.

Module Three - Communication - Literature (Focus and Surveys etc) - What makes good literature and how best to produce it. Working the media - What makes a good news release.

Module Four - Canvassing and EARS - What data do we want, how do we get it and what do we do with it and use it for.

Module Five - PPERA - The rules and responsibilities that apply under PPERA legislation.

Module Six - Agenting/Organising and Staying Legal - The basic role of an Agent/Organiser and how to avoid any legal pitfalls.