Training

Providing better information for the public

Who is it for?

This 1 day course is designed to enable you to produce effective information for the public on rights and legal issues, catch up on the latest techniques, and share ideas. It will enable participants to produce information that better helps the public at no extra cost (our emphasis is always on the changes organisations can make for free).

It is an essential course for anyone involved in commissioning, editing or writing information for the public on the law or issues of everyday life – whether for a local authority, government department, advice service, charity, or a community organisation.

In the current climate, it is particularly important that information is as effective as possible, in order to make the most of limited resources and reduce avoidable strain on services.

What this course will cover

This course is about the issues you need to consider when producing information for the public in order for it to be as effective and helpful as possible. Our focus is on what organisations can do to improve their information for free.

It will help participants to commission or prepare, plan and produce law-related information that meets the needs of their target audiences, without going over budget.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Discuss the qualities of better information.
• Understand the needs of your target audience and how that should affect the information you produce.
• Understand how to design material to meet the needs of your target audience.
• Understand the importance of using a variety of presentation techniques and how to do this.
• Understand how to choose an appropriate style and tone to make your information more effective.
• Be familiar with Advicenow’s Better Information Handbook and use it as a learning resource.

Content

• What do Advicenow mean by 'Better Information'?
• Planning - looking at if/how you can make the process you use to create or update information more effective.
• Preparation - importance of clarifying objectives, getting to know your target audience, understanding what they need and how to reflect that in your information.
• Planning the material – including how to select a format, structure and presentation techniques that will help you achieve your aim and meet the needs of your audience.
• Producing the information – including how to create the right style and tone, decide what to leave in and what to take out, pilot your material, and the editorial role.
• Design - how to make information attractive to your audience and more effective.
• Delivery - Tips for distribution, monitoring and evaluation.
• Action points, feedback and support going forward.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Time: 10.00 – 16.30

We prefer to only have two people from any one department or organisation on the same course. If you have a number of staff who would like to attend, we also offer in-house training that can be tailor-made to your needs.

Please contact us for the latest available dates and venues. Use the comment box below.

Fees

Voluntary sector £152.75 (including VAT)
Government department, local authority, or private practice £ £223.25 (including VAT)

Book now!

Better Information training booking form (74 KB)

The course was designed and written by Mike Phillips and Chrissie Wright of the Directory of Social Change based on material from ASA Advicenow’s Better Information Handbook.