Training
We believe that anyone can be a force for change
Something for everyone with our three types of training
Campaign Carousel™: building the complete campaigner
Our Campaign Carousel™ is an exciting and flexible way for campaigners to hone their skills across a broad range of areas. This comprehensive package trains those at or near the start of their campaigning journey in a rounded set of campaigning skills and approaches.
Open Training Programme: honing your specialist skills
This wide-ranging programme of campaigning skills workshops will provide you with the basic building blocks of effective campaigning, as well as more specialist sessions that take a deep dive into specific skills and approaches. Workshop themes range from influencing in parliament to community organising.
Commissioned Training: supporting organisations to develop
We offer diverse training on a commissioned basis for teams, organisations and coalitions. Our off-the-shelf packages include workshops, events and programmes. Bespoke training is designed in partnership with you. Whatever your needs, we aim to meet them.
More opportunities for campaigners and changemakers
2 new action learning sets from January 2025
We know from listening to leaders in charities, that there are particular challenges in leading campaigning programmes. In the new year, we are partnering with Josephine Knowles to run a new series of sets for senior leaders and for emerging leaders in campaigning organisations.
Free Changemakers' Toolkit
With the support of Wikimedia UK, we have launched an open access toolkit to empower people to campaign effectively. We know that campaigners, activists, and changemakers of all types are stepping up to address injustices, improve conditions in their communities, and draw attention to neglected issues.
Let the change begin – start now!
Deep Dive sessions in 2025
In today’s ever-evolving campaigning landscape, understanding complex topics is essential. SMK’s Deep Dive sessions, led by experts, provide campaigners with intensive, focused sessions that explore specific subjects in depth.
Deep Dive: How to develop effective campaign strategies here >
Building confident campaigning governance
– new offer for trustees
Our recent research with Governance & Leadership magazine found that support for campaigning amongst trustees is high, but levels of confidence do not match.
In response, SMK has produced a free short guide for trustees called Navigating charity campaigning that points to five essential conversations board should have to develop confident campaigning governance. It can be used alone, or as the starting point for a board conversation guided by SMK. Our one-hour or three-hour sessions will help boards explore campaign governance together. Full details in this blog.
Take the first step to building campaigning governance confidence in your organisation. Register your interest by emailing SMK Head of Programmes Kath Christie.
Training blogs: a deeper dive into our training
Guiding you through campaigning governance
In this blog, SMK Associate, Rosemary Forest, gives an overview of her involvement in the design of a session for trustees on guiding you through the campaigning governance landscape. SMK undertook a survey of trustees, with Governance & Leadership magazine in...
Stepping up support for changemakers
In this blog, SMK’s Head of Programmes, Kath Christie lays out why now is the time for senior changemakers to consider strengthening their organisation’s support for campaigning and the different packages that are on offer. As a new political landscape unfolds, this...
Every new government minister and leader needs one: The power of the Action Learning Set
In this blog, Dr Kate Paradine reviews the first programme of SMK's Action Learning Sets which she co-created for CEOs and senior leaders in campaigning organisations. Having recently completed the facilitation of the last meeting of an SMK action learning set and...
Introducing the Changemakers’ Toolkit: your go-to, free training resource
Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) in collaboration with Wikimedia UK, have launched an open access toolkit which empowers people to campaign effectively. Across the UK people are working to change things for the better. Campaigners, activists, and changemakers of all...
The power of succinct questions in Action Learning Sets
Josephine Knowles is facilitating SMK’s current action learning sets for senior leaders and emerging leaders in campaigning organisations. Midway through the series, she considers one of the key skills for participants. Change is possible, but by no means easy. ...
Reflections from a rider: Kerry Postlewhite
Great insights on SMK’s Campaign Carousel™ from participants reflecting on their learning journey. This week we hear from campaigner Kerry Postlewhite. ‘’I've found that taking part in the Carousel is helping with the funk, recharging my enthusiasm’’. Campaigning is...
Social Change Library
Deepen your knowledge about change.
Keen to take your learning even further? Here are resources we think are well worth a read or listen for those new to social change and those looking for something new.