Handy Hints for Planning Events
Where?
Of course you might already have a venue planned, but if not, here is a list of venues (44 KB, DOC) in and around Norwich, with contact details.
What?
If you don't already know what you want to do, here are a few possible ideas:
- fairtrade food tasting
- wine tasting
- coffee morning
- fairtrade football
- street theatre
- a debate
- showing a film
- cookery evening
- fashion show.
The Fairtrade Foundation's Action Guide includes further ideas on what you can do, and details of how to do it.
For further inspiration, you might want to look back on our events listings for Fairtrade Fortnight 2006 and Fairtrade Fortnight 2007.
Alternatively, you may want to run an event as normal, and serve fairtrade refreshments, perhaps with a display board explaining what fairtrade is and does. You can get posters and resources from The Fairtrade Foundation.
Media & Publicity
If you are planning an event, the most important thing is to let everyone else know about it. Our website features the following resources to help you:
- Advice - How to write a press release (42 KB, DOC)
- Contacts - a list of local (Norfolk) media contacts (67 KB, DOC)
- Examples - past press releases for ideas and inspiration (feel free to copy and paste from them).
- Images - a poster or press release needs good pictures. These can be found on our own Photographs page or within the Fairtrade Foundation's Photo Library.
We suggest
- that you get initial posters up around three weeks to a month prior to an event
- that you then, with a week to go, markedly increasing the number of posters up locally.
- that press releases should be sent (easiest by email) at least 10 days in advance of the event, and then, if possible, that they be followed up by a telephone call.
- that you submit your event to our website.
Who?
This is somewhat obvious, but do consider your target audience. If they are working people, then events that take place during the daytime may be inappropriate. This ties in with publicity: consider where you should advertise in order to attract those at whom you are aiming your event.
How?
If you need information, ideas or volunteers to help you, then please contact us and we will try to help. The Fairtrade Foundation also offers support: telephone 020 7405 5942 or email mail@fairtrade.org.uk.
