Association of Colleges
Campaigns
Welcome to the campaigns section of AoC website
This section provides you with the resources to promote current national campaigns and details of the partner organisations joining us in campaigning for our sector.
Public campaigning is an important component for AoC’s overall representative and lobbying activity, complementing a range of other work undertaken by AoC to promote the sector and influence the decisions of Government, public agencies and other stakeholders. It enables Colleges to serve their communities, employers and students effectively, retaining their world class standards and reputation.
College involvement
We actively encourage you to get involved with AoC campaigns and ensure that your local media and your local MPs know what your College cares about.
MPs
You should remind the MPs who serve your College that you are not only an important provider of education and training to both young people and adults in their constituency, but also a major employer and a valuable community asset.
There are many ways in which you can engage both your local MPs and the media;
- Arranging visits to the College, these could be formal or informal private meetings between the MP and the Principal
- A hands on experience with plenty of opportunities to meet students and find out more about College life.
Even if your MP has been to the College before it is a good idea to provide them with some headline figures for your College, including the number of students, adults and young people, apprenticeship figures and success rates for example.
Important things to remember when arranging visits for MPs is to think about what they need to get from the visit, whether its a better understanding of what your students do or a specific issue to raise with a Government Minister.
You might want to send them away with a job to do for example table some written questions, ask for a debate or talk privately with a Minister.
AoC can help with suggestions for questions and debates and you can use the MP Matters briefings for the latest hot topics.
Media
The local media can be a useful tool to raise the profile of your College within the community and a good way of attracting your MP to the College. You should always let your MP know if you have invited the press to their visit and make sure that they agree.
It is a good idea when inviting the media to have your College branding clearly visible in photographs, including on t shirts and banners. You should also think about providing a pack with key facts about the College and a preparing a press statement in advance.
Again you will need to think about what the media need from a visit and try to arrange visually interesting photo opportunities.
If you are using case studies you will need to get their permission beforehand for their names to be used in the press and also contact details if the media need to follow them up.
Contact:
Chris Walden, Public Affairs Director
Piran Dhillon, Public Affairs Officer
Tahmina Begum, Publications Officer
Telephone: 020 7034 9900
For advice on how to maximise your coverage in the local media please contact Helen Galley, AoC Media and PR Manager.
