The reality for many charity and voluntary groups today is that they battle for survival within a fiercely competitive market. Today's bleak economic climate, causing funding bodies to make significant cut backs, means the competition is only going to grow.
Unfortunately, long gone are the days where a big pot of funds was divided accordingly and handed out to all charitable organisations which needed support. The current situation means charities are having to do more and more to secure funds, gain support and attract volunteers, not to mention service-users.
In all likelihood the charities which will flourish in the future are those with high visibility and enhanced profiles. On a national scale organisations such as OXFAM and Breakthrough Breast Cancer continue to thrive, at local level charities like the St Nicholas Hospice and The Tree House Appeal have been very successful in the East of England.
A common theme running through all these groups is that they have a high profile and regularly secure positive publicity, hence attracting further support and forging stronger influence when bidding for funds.
Professionally implemented PR tactics and communications activities can help charities in a number of ways. For example promotional activities can help to raise awareness and understanding of the organisation and the work it does and media campaigns can be used to attract supporters, service users and volunteers or to help raise funds.
The charities and voluntary groups which promote the work they do are the ones which are likely to survive in the long term. One of the most effective ways for any organisations to promote itself is via clear and concise communications and professionally implemented PR activities.
Patrick Lowman is a former journalist with more than 15 years experience in the PR and communications industry. He has worked with many public sector and charitable organisations helping them to maximise their PR and communication activities.
For a free consultation please contact Patrick Lowman on 01787 370120 or 07792 428555 or by email at patrick_lowman@sky.com
