Ubuntu Network: Co-creating a communications strategy
Based within the University of Limerick, The Ubuntu Network is a community of educators in post-primary initial teacher education who work to support global citizenship education (GCE).
They didn’t have a communications strategy but knew that their existing approach needed greater focus to enable them to achieve their outreach, communication and advocacy goals.
Image: Ubuntu Network members at one of their recent events
They were looking for a strategic approach which would help them to:
Identify the types of content which resonated with their audiences and what channels to use for what purposes
Understand how to most effectively build awareness and engagement with future and current contacts
Find their voice, establishing an authentic and relatable voice to reflect the organisation and connect with their audiences
They initially approached Pickle Jar Communications looking for a training workshop but, based on our conversation, we decided to adopt a more collaborative co-creation approach to make best use of their limited budget and appetite for learning.
Co-creating the communication strategy
Pickle Jar Communications provided the framework and expertise to guide The Ubuntu Network team through the process of creating their own communications strategy over the course of five months.
We did this through:
3 structured workshops focused on discovery, strategic development and implementation
Set ‘homework’ for the Ubuntu team to complete between workshops. For example the Ubuntu team were set the task of conducting their own audience research to inform their strategy
3 check in calls to discuss progress
Outcomes
As a result of the project, The Ubuntu Network had developed their own communications strategy. This project:
Clarified their strategy goals, communications objectives and audience insights
Identified priority content types, which was used as basis for their future content plan
Increased the confidence, knowledge and skills within the team
“We cannot praise PJC enough for the help provided in the development of our strategy.
Working with Pickle Jar Communications has been a transformative experience for our organisation. With their expertise and guidance, we developed a dynamic and targeted communications strategy that aligns with our goals and responds to the needs of our target audiences.
Their meticulous step-by-step workshops and check-in calls helped us to gain deep insights into core aspects of our work and clarity around the key messages we want to share. This thorough understanding formed the bedrock of our new strategy which has become a living, breathing part of our day-to-day operations.
We are excited about the future with our new strategy in hand. We are truly grateful to the team at Pickle Jar for their expertise, dedication, and for transforming the way we communicate.”
~ Deirdre Hogan, Ubuntu Network Coordinator, University of Limerick
Let us support you
Need to develop a more strategic approach to your comms or content?
Limited budget?
Want to develop your team’s skills and expertise?
Contact us today and see how we can help you with a co-creation project.