Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) faces funding issues as a charity that relies on donations. Without public awareness and donations, SAS cannot create large advertising campaigns. SAS also does not receive media coverage or support from the UK government and councils, as protecting oceans is not seen as an immediate priority. To influence industries and government to make real changes, SAS needs substantial resources that donations alone cannot provide. SAS must pitch environmental benefits rather than short-term gains to attract funding for their important work campaigning on sewage pollution issues.

1. Aims and Considerations sheet
Existing Products:
How many existing artefacts do you feel you will need to look at?
I feel I need to look through 3 or 4 existing artefacts to get a good grasp on what is going
to be created. It is from this where I can see and interpret different aspects from them and
incorporate them into my design.
Without looking at existing artefacts I could create something way off from what is
needed. Such as, miss out on vital information or include information and pieces of text
that might cause offense.
Looking at many different pieces and seeing how they compare can give me the ability to
create something of a similar look. This will allow a greater interaction with the reader.
What kinds of artefacts are you expecting to look at?
The types of artefacts I am looking for are that of leaflets, posters at bus stops, billboards.
As well as these it is worth looking into the digital world and exploring websites, social
Media sites and online billboards. Online blogs can also be a way of finding out peoples
thoughts on the topic.
A variety of artefacts will allow me to compare and contrast the information in all of them
and this will provide me with a clear indication and platform on where to go next.
What elements will you look at to help you with your research?
The elements I am looking out for in these artefacts are that of different shades, colours,
imagery and text. To explore them and see how they engage the reader.
This will help with the research at a later date because it is starting to look at what entices
the reader from an early stage. From this the primary research can be much more
successful.
Looking into the composition of a leaflet and how it has displayed the information can be
important, Whether or not it is full with text and little imagery.
To see how the colours used affect the reader, elements such as shade can determine
whom it is aimed towards.
Having gender neutral colours to apply for both genders and to tie in with the information
is important. A leaflet for Surfers would be something of a blue, green or yellow shade.
Something that is loud and exciting and reflects the colours of the ocean.
Surfers against sewage would be something of a green shade to focus on the recycling
element and that of saving the environment from waste. The text is important because

2. you do not want to fill the reader with large amounts of information and you do not want
to come across as informal.
Having clear and concise text that explains the points and what people can do to prevent it
is all that is needed. Looking out for specific areas where text has been used to describe an
issue in all various artefacts will help in the production stage.
Considerations:
Why might you need to be sensitive when carrying out research on social action issues?
It is important to be very careful when approaching research into social action. Asking
people for their thoughts on subjects to do with preservation and sustainability can result
in a variety of responses.
Being able to conduct research well is a skill and to ask questions in the correct way
without causing offense is somewhat of an art.
Asking questions to do with science, education and the natural world in general can be a
delicate topic. When carrying out research and asking people, it is important to not judge
their opinions or point out if it clashes with what you believe.
Answers could reveal prejudices. Asking a question that science, religion and mythology
have different answers for can cause conflict, but you must respect peoples beliefs.
Asking questions that are not too personal can avoid any upset. However qualitative data
is still needed in order to produce a detailed campaign for myself.
Showing images of what the sewage has done to the environment can cause upset. When
challenging the industries it is important to not come across as a campaign against them
individually and instead offer them alternative standards they could use.
Changing people’s attitudes can be hard as it may be a way of life that has been taught by
family members or at various social clubs.
Persuading people of an older age that do not understand the damages waste such as
llitter, sewage pollution, climate change, toxic chemicals can be hard however it is
important to raise awareness.
They may have different beliefs, as it was something not publicised in the past. It is
important to not disregard their beliefs only to challenge them to look at a different way
of thinking.

3. Could you face any problems when trying to research social action issues? If so, is there a
way to overcome these?
Problems you could face when researching social action issues could be that of people
who do not wish for campaigning in the area. There may be a local group or authority that
does not want disruption or education on social action.
A way of getting out of problems such as those are to explain the cause and what it is for
to the local council and be given permission to take part in research using the public from
that area.
Other problems could be that of those who you are asking. Asking children under the age
of 18 on their thoughts could be a sensitive area. A way of getting around this problem is
to ask a parent of guardian of the child on if they are allowed to take part in the research.
A problem could be that of getting the information on the amount of waste a specific
industrial site produces; they may be reluctant to give away information.
A way in overcoming this issue is to explain the campaign and how helping the people
running the improvement scheme can be a benefit to all involved. Showing that the
business is working with Surfers against sewage could entice more people and see that it is
a loyal and helpful business.
Where would you expect your finished pieces to be displayed and distributed?
The finished pieces I expect to be displayed for the audience to see. This will be through
online distribution. As the typical surfer is of a young age range, using digital promotion
can be a better way of being seen by the specific audience.
Having small online billboard located on the side of social media sites raising awareness to
the people would be a good way of showing the work. Using a hashtag in the work can be
a way of the audience finding out much more information and what their fellow audience
have to say on the matter.
The finished pieces will be created in print form as well and located in all tourist
destinations, leisure clubs and notice boards. Having posters located at bus stops can raise
awareness to those who like to preserve the environment.
Having volunteers to distribute the leaflets would be a good way of managing the message
first hand. People are less likely to turn away and ignore the information when presented
to them alongside a speech.

4. What funding issues might an organisation like Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) face?
The funding issues SAS face are that of being a charity and all the money they receive
being from donations. Without awareness from the public, they cannot donate and
without money from the public they cannot create large amounts of advertisements.
It is from this why placing the small pieces of promotional products in areas where it can
make a difference.
With it not being one of the main concerns for the council and UK government, there is no
media coverage to the damages of sewage.
By giving environmental benefits as part of a pitch instead of what it can offer people in
the short term is one of many reasons why an organisation as important as this is not
given full attention.
Protecting the UK’s oceans is not enough to entice anyone in power to make a change.
Offering no monetary benefits makes it less likely to get funding.
Without funding the organisation cannot succeed, the resources needed in order to make
a real change when campaigning cannot be raised through donations alone. To influence
the government and industries, they need a good deal of resources.