Formalise your plan of action

For any activity, event or project, you should write down your action plan and then circulate it to everyone involved, making sure their roles are clear. You should also welcome comments so that you can improve your plan and give everyone involved time to feedback!

Tips for presenting your plan!

You may well want to use a chart of action - it contains four main categories:

• A 'steps' column: This should contain a list of the preparation, planning and practical steps needed to carry out the activity. Be sure to order it in sequence and include the name of the person/people who are responsible for carrying each step out.
• A 'deadlines' column: This is where you should write down the date and perhaps even the time by which each step should be achieved.
• A 'cost/budget' column: This should provide the approximate cost of each step (if any).
• A 'effects/impacts' column: This should list the likely effects or results an activity will have.
• Remember, the effects/impacts and objectives should be connected!
• A ‘markers of progress’ column: This is a measurement, something that tells you whether you are making progress in achieving your goal or not. Putting markers in place is important because they set a target for what you are trying to achieve, and they determine whether you are on track or not

This is just one way of presenting your plan. Whatever format you choose, just be sure it works for you and the people involved in your project too!

The tools and resources in this section are designed to help you get organised so that your campaign can be as successful as possible. Another key ingredient to success is being able to communicate your messages clearly, in the right way to the right people.