The document discusses planning an effective campaign and influencing others. It recommends using the SMART framework to develop ideas that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely. An example of a SMART idea is provided that targets training student committees. An example of a non-SMART idea involving giving all students a free apple each day is also provided. The document also discusses identifying different levels of support for an idea from active opponents to allies and focusing efforts on engaging supporters. Methods for students to get involved, such as voting online or attending Union Council, are outlined.

3. • Understand the effective methods of planning a campaign
• Understand methods of influencing others

5. As part of your role you may wish to put forward an idea, run an event or organise
a campaign on something you have mentioned within your manifesto/key
messages that you would like to see enacted.
We have already touched upon methods of speaking to students and collating their
feedback, we will now look at the art of campaigning in more detail to help
ensure that your activities are successfully delivered.

7. Your manifesto points or ideas and proposals need to be considered before
presenting them to Council.
We encourage you to think SMART when putting this together. This is an effective
tool to use when putting together your idea, it helps to shape it into a
campaign/idea that students can engage with.

8. Target a specific area for improvement or change
Can the impact be measured and do you have a target?
What results can realistically be achieved
Will it impact your chosen cohort?
Can it be done in a specific time frame?

9. We would like you to consider all of these aspects when creating your
idea/campaign. If you feel it falls down in any of the five SMART points it may be
that it needs to be refined. If you have hit all five, it generally suggests that this
is a functional and effective campaign.
In the actioning groups this will be discussed in more detail to ensure all of the
finer points are considered before the implementation stage.

11. We feel that this is a SMART idea because of the following:
Specific – It targets a specific cohort of students
Measurable – It can be measured by students completing the training and all of this being
tracked by the Students’ Union
Achievable – 75% makes this a realistic and achievable target
Relevant – This is relevant as student committees are a massive part of the student
experience, if they are trained properly and on time it can help to improve the student
experience
Timely – The time frame is realistic and fits specific nature of the proposal. If committee
members are trained by freshers, we then would hope that they can go on to put on fantastic
events throughout that academic year

13. We do not feel that this is a SMART idea because of the following:
Specific – An idea to ensure that all students get a free apple is specific
Measurable – How could this feasibly be measured?
Achievable – The use of ‘All’ students makes this incredibly difficult to be achievable. How
would distance learners get access to their free apple? Do we have the budget to afford the
apples and distribute them daily?
Relevant – Students eating fruit and looking after their diet is seen as a positive
Timely – The time frame may be realistic but due to the issues with the measurable and
achievable points, we could not really be able to put a time frame on to this

15. You will speak to students who could sit anywhere on the spectrum below,
when they are considering your campaign or idea. It is important to know who
you are speaking to and how you may engage them.
Opposition
Active
Opponents
Passive
Opponents
Neutrals
Passive
Supporters
Active
Allies
Part of the
Movement

16. It is believed that you are able to influence people into action by telling them a
story, appeal to their own attitudes, values and beliefs. If they are opponents
and staunchly against your idea you may be better served to engage with
supporters and allies to gain the numbers and actions you desire.
Opposition
Active
Opponents
Passive
Opponents
Neutrals
Passive
Supporters
Active
Allies
Part of the
Movement

17. • Students can vote for your idea on the Ideas System page
• Students can attend Union Council, utilising the 20 free spaces at Council (not guaranteed
as this will be first come first served)
• Students can help with your campaigning and increase the numbers you are able to
influence

18. • Understand the effective methods of planning a campaign
• Understand methods of influencing others