Storytelling for non-comms professionals Tue, 3 Nov

This session – a taster, not the full toolkit – is designed to give a first, practical taste of how storytelling and plain language can make policy and research work land with councillors and the public.

Key outcomes

• Understand why story and plain language make work land with members, councillors and the public – not just accurate, but understood and acted on.
• Learn a simple framework (Problem → Learning → Change) for turning research or policy work into a story.
• Learn a structuring technique for impact – leading with the outcome, not the chronology.
• Practice tightening a real piece of your own writing using what's covered in the session.

Who should attend?

Anyone who writes or presents as part of their role but has had no communications training – for example, policy and research officers, and membership and events colleagues. Works well for a mixed group; no prior knowledge is assumed.

Trainer

Christine Cawthorne, Content Strategist and Director, Crocstar.

Christine is an experienced trainer who has been teaching people to write for the web since 2009. She joined the Government Digital Service in 2013 and trained thousands of people on how to understand user needs, write in clearer language and use the GOV.UK style guide. As well as giving training, Christine works as a content strategist helping public sector and non-profits with their content.