Get creative

Videos are a great way to promote a campaign, and can be made with little more than a laptop or a phone. With the right know-how it’s easy to produce something that looks professional and will help you share your message with thousands of people.

To get your message across, you’ll probably have to speak to the camera. Showing a little of your personality in your video is a great way to engage your audience. However, remember to stick to your message. Make a list of the main points rather than a full script as this will make you sound more natural while helping you make sure you cover all your key points. Practise what you are going to say a few times before you hit record, to make sure it sounds good spoken out loud.

Posters have an immediate visual impact and give you a chance to show your creativity with some eye-catching designs. They’re simple to make and can easily be produced by anyone who can draw and/or has access to a printer.

Another major benefit of posters is their flexibility. A poster’s message can easily be changed to suit a specific audience, and you can display them in places where that audience gathers; for example, posters encouraging young people not to accept a lift from friends who have been drinking or taking drugs could be put up in local colleges or community centres.

This also gives posters a guaranteed reach that social media posts may not have, especially if they’re put up where people will have to spend a lot of time in one place such as supermarket checkouts.

It’s a good idea to write to your local MP or police force to make them aware of your activities and see if they can lend a hand.

Formal letters or emails have a defined structure that your reader will probably expect you to use. Look up some letter-writing templates online.

If you want to get involved by running an assembly, start by writing to the school’s headteacher introducing yourself and explaining what you want to do. Clearly explain what you can offer the school and what the pupils will learn from taking part in your assembly. For example, you could point out how you will promote the health and environmental benefits of regular cycling.

You might also want to share some ideas for an assembly plan in your letter. Consider the age group you will be presenting to and how you could adapt your message to engage them.

Include a short section explaining who you are and why you are speaking, before a presentation about your chosen campaign topic, focusing on positive aspects rather than trying to warn or shock the pupils. You could also think up some short games or role play activities that you could use to involve the children. Finally, give them a chance to ask any questions they might have and stress the importance of ‘pester power’ — how children’s voices can be incredibly persuasive in achieving road safety change.

Remember:

• ‘Pester power’ is an important campaign tool
• Focus on benefits as well as risks
• Adapt your message to suit your audience
• Games and role play are great to engage young children

You don’t need to be an expert graphic designer to make something that looks fun and effective — just be creative, and think about how you can illustrate each point in a way that will make people notice.

First, identify the reason you want to make an infographic. Are you trying to convince drivers to put away their phones, or to get more people walking and cycling?

Once you’ve got your goal, make a list of relevant facts that will help you achieve it. These should be impactful but remember, it’s often more effective to use positive messaging than relying on ‘scare’ tactics when trying to get people to change their behaviour.