How to speak to power when you're not feeling powerful

Hi

If you’re a small charity, community organisation or social enterprise trying to be heard in policy spaces, the odds can feel stacked.

You know what needs to change. You have the stories. But you're often underfunded, overstretched, and up against systems that speak in acronyms and gatekeeping.

You’re not alone.

This week, I want to share some practical ways you can influence policy even when you don’t feel powerful—without losing your voice or your values in the process.

Enjoy

Ellen

---

One of the most common things I hear from organisations is:

“We want to influence policy, but we don’t know where to start—and we don’t have time to figure it out.”

Here’s what I always say:
You don’t need a 20-page strategy to start showing up with influence. You just need to get clear, consistent, and courageous.

Yes, relationships with politicians matter.
Yes, understanding the process matters.

But here’s what matters more in the beginning:

• Do you know exactly what you're asking for?

• Can you explain it in one or two sentences—without jargon?

• Can you link it to a real person, place, or story that shows why it matters?

Because here’s the truth: policymakers are overwhelmed too.
If you make it easy for them to understand the issue and how they can help, you're already ahead of most.

---

🧭 Hints & Tips: Advocacy Without a Comms Team

1. Have one clear ask
   → Not five. Not “support our work.” One specific, do-able thing you want them to do (fund something, table a question, attend your event, raise a concern).

2. Use a real-world hook
   → Connect your issue to something topical (a debate in the Assembly, a media story, a recent funding cut). Show why it matters now.

3. Write like a human, not a policy robot
   → No one was ever moved by a logic model. Use plain language, one real example, and an invitation to talk.

4. Start with who you know
   → You don’t need to go straight to the top. Start with a local councillor, an MLA you’ve crossed paths with, or someone already aligned with your cause. Influence builds from connection.

5. Follow up, even if it feels awkward
   → One email isn’t enough. Be warm, be persistent, be human. Power often responds to consistency more than cleverness.

---

🤝 What I Can Do to Help

I work with organisations to:

• Shape messages that get noticed by decision-makers

• Develop practical advocacy strategies (even if you're starting from scratch)

• Write consultation responses and campaign content

• Build confidence in engaging politicians without needing to “know someone”

• Turn real stories into smart, strategic asks

If that sounds useful, reply to this email or get in touch: hello@policy360.co.uk

You don’t need a comms team to get started. Just a bit of support—and a willingness to speak.

---

Toolbox for the Brave

For when you're ready to do more.

• 🎧 Need inspiration while walking the dog? → [Listen to the podcast here]

• 🧠 Need strategy with backbone? → [Book a chat: hello@policy360.co.uk]

💡 P.S. The podcast earns you CPD points—because yes, listening counts as professional development.