Journal

Charity webinar: mastering digital and social advertising for your charity

Creative Concern and Root Media have teamed up to offer a free webinar for charities on 10th September.

When it comes to using using digital to increase fundraising, increase awareness and engagement and build a charity’s brand, there’s a huge range of options that you can take advantage of. But many of us stick to the same few approaches, time and again, because we don’t have the time or knowledge to explore other (potentially far more impactful) routes.

We're inviting charities to register for a 90min, interactive live webinar on 10th September 2.30pm-4pm to bring you up to speed on the latest opportunities available to charities across digital platforms, and give you a chance through questions and group discussion to explore the potential for your organisation. We’ll get stuck into: 

 

- social platforms; does it really have to be all about Facebook? Ways to expand your profile effectively across other social platforms

- integrating your off and online efforts, so they work together and help you build momentum

- how you can ensure that your digital activity doesn’t just drive traffic to your website or social channel, but actually leads to meaningful engagement 

- how to maintain high levels of creativity, even when working with strict formats

There are limited places. Please get in touch with Faith on faith@creativeconcern.com to reserve your space. See you there!

Tips from our team... proofreading

This week, our Senior copywriter, Rebecca shares some top tips for tip top proofreading:

"Proofreading is an important part of any job – it picks up those typos and grammar mistakes that can often slip through earlier drafts. It’s always a good idea to get someone else to proofread your work, a pair of fresh eyes can be key. If you’re proofreading your own work, here are three top tips to spot those mistakes:

1. Don’t rely on spell check. Even when words are spelt correctly, they may be being used incorrectly or be a simple typo (‘an’ instead of and’, ‘dairy’ not ‘diary’). For example spell check won’t pick up ‘What is there name?’ as it’s all spelt right, but it should be ‘What is their name?’.

2. Read aloud. You’re more likely to spot mistakes and awkward sentences if you read them out loud. If you stumble over the words, chances are your reader will too.

3. Check it twice (at least). You’ll do well to spot everything in just one proofreading session. There will be checks for consistency, cross referencing (page numbers etc.) and so on that you’ll need to check back over after the first run through.

Good luck!"

Tips from our team... providing amends to your designer

This week, Faith (our Business Director) shares some tips on how to provide amends and feedback on drafts of creative work.

"We know there's always going to be amends on creative drafts and we build in time to cover these of course!  But there's some simple, practical ways to make sure that your designers really understand what you mean, and rounds of amends are kept to a minimum. 

1. Think about three key areas: content, accuracy and design, when you're reviewing creative drafts. Ask:

Are all the written and visual elements that you expected to see in the draft included (as occasionally, images or lines of writing may be accidentally cut when being added to the draft)?

Are you completely happy with how the document reads?

Are you happy with how the images and graphical elements in your draft appear?

Are all contact details (telephone numbers, email addresses, web addresses etc) included in your draft are correct?

Are all figures (statistics, quantities etc) included in the draft correct?

Are all references and photography credits correct?

2. If you're marking up PDFs, try to use the correct markup tools; there are specific commenting tools for text deletions, replacements, insertions etc. Sticky notes should ideally be kept for general queries or design changes, as it can be difficult to locate exactly where in the text the amend is. There is helpful advice on the Adobe website: https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/using/commenting-pdfs.html

3. If you're supplying replacement copy for any part of the document, please supply this as a typed version on email or word document and provide the page and paragraph number for each amend (so we’re clear about what we’re amending)

Super practical - but helps to speed the amends process up and get the final result ready for you much quicker!"

Happy amending! Faith 

CC webinars; sharing insights and helping each other

The Creative Concern team has been putting together a series of short and sweet pre-recorded webinars, on subjects that we think might be useful for our clients, as well as the wider world of charities, the public sector and all others who are commited to making this world a better place.  We hope you enjoy them and find something useful. And if you know someone else who might be interested, please share them on!

Watch our webinars here

Creative breaks: ideas to keep you (and your family!) feeling creative

Here at Creative Concern, we're all about keeping ourselves thinking as creatively as possible, and sometimes that means taking a break, and trying something simple, and fun.

We've put some activities together that are great for adults and children alike. If you're feeling bogged down and struggling to find the creative spark at any time, feel free to download and give one of these a go – we hope they help!

Find all the Creative Breaks activities to download here

Greater Manchester Green Summit

The Innovation Zone was one of three main breakout areas for the second Greater Manchester Green Summit. The area was co-ordinated by The Growth Company, the North West Business Leadership Team, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Creative Concern, with the opening panel chaired by Andy Burnham.

The objective was to engage business, academics, policy makers and other delegates in a creative dialogue to discuss innovation programmes for Greater Manchester to nurture in the immediate future. Professor Michael Shaver from the University of Manchester’s Henry Royce Institute delivered a keynote talk on the topic of plastic waste and material sustainability.

Following up from the Summit, we are co-creating a report that will chart our route to a zero carbon city, supported by the kind of innovation the city of Manchester is famous for.

See more photographs

Sustainability showcase

We were delighted to be commissioned by the Environment Agency to produce a series of short films showcasing best practice from around the world.

The films were featured as part of Manchester’s Green Summit and covered themes including natural environment, energy, green buildings and sustainable travel. The themes introduced the audience to a range of ambitious projects designed to encourage the audience to think big and take bold actions in Greater Manchester.

Watch the film here

The Roundtable on Responsible Soy Association

The Roundtable on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) is an internationally recognised organisation doing great work promoting the responsible production, processing and trading of soy from the farms of Brazil to the supermarkets of Europe. Creative Concern has been proudly working with RTRS for a number of years helping them communicate complex issues around the value of sustainable soy to their supply chain stakeholders across the globe – from major supermarkets and global agribusinesses to researchers and governmental organisations.

We are currently working with RTRS on their RT14 conference taking place in Utrecht, The Netherlands in June. This year we’re busy creating case studies, a promotional film, raising brand awareness through PR activity and supporting their first ever RTRS sustainability awards.

Each year the RTRS conference welcomes hundreds of senior industry delegates who take part in workshops, keynote speaker sessions and panels that help shape the strategic objectives of the whole soy industry as it moves towards a more sustainable future. This is a vital to create future security for the natural environment including the Amazon rainforest and The Cerrado tropical savanna.

For further information on RT14 or to attend the conference visit the RTRS website.

Watch the film

Merseytravel Arrive Happy

Over the last year and a half we’ve been working with Merseytravel on a grassroots walking and cycling campaign targeted at workers right across the Liverpool City Region. The aim of the Arrive Happy project has been to encourage people to change their travelling habits, whether for their daily commute or leisure journeys.

We’ve reached tens of thousands of people in that time through workshops, social media, viral videos and PR, creating a network of ambassadors who reinforce the core belief that a health commute is within everyone’s reach.

Whether getting off the bus a few stops early each day, cycling to work once a week or walking part of your journey home with a friend there are so many things people can do that will make them feel healthier and happier.

Arrive Happy has made the people of Liverpool City Region into the heroes of the campaign, reflecting a reality and a feeling of aspiration that is really changing the way people engage with their travel choices. Find out more on the Merseytravel website.

Meet Felicity - Together Trust

Together Trust is a charity providing special education, residential services, fostering, family support and community services. The charity commissioned our film team to showcase the positive impact their Newbridge service can make to people aged 18 to 30 and their families.

We were delighted to work with the amazing Felicity and her family to find out more about how the Together Trust is supporting people, providing a diverse range of services and making a real difference to their quality of life. The film was used for a fundraising ball and for online promotional use. 

Watch the film

The Anne Frank Trust UK

We’ve been working with the education charity The Anne Frank Trust UK over the last year on some of their key communications materials, including an animation to promote their Ambassador programme.

The charity uses Anne's life and diary to educate and empower young people to challenge all forms of prejudice and discrimination. Some are trained by the charity to become Anne Frank Ambassadors, and go on to spread Anne's message of social justice and equality for all in their schools, local communities and online.

The animation tells the story of Sam – a bespoke illustrated character – who brings to life the Ambassador journey and the key learning it instills: that everyone is equal and your voice can make a difference – no matter who you are or where you’re from.

Watch the animation