UM help to strengthen the voices of London’s Equality sector on #UMImpactDay

UM London are used to working with some of the world’s biggest brands. As part of their annual #UMImpactDay the team decided to tackle some marketing and communications briefs with a difference.

On Thursday 19 July they opened their doors to six London-based equality organisations, each armed with their own unique communications challenge for UM’s army of volunteers. The organisations included: Agenda, Communities Empowerment Network, Claudia Jones Organisation, Galop, Sickle Cell and Young Stroke Survivors(SCYSS) and Telefono De La Esperanza UK. Each equality organisation was given their own dedicated team of UM staff who spent the day sharing their marketing and communications expertise.

The Stronger Voices programme

All six organisations are taking part in our Stronger Voices programme run in partnership with Equality and Diversity Forum and funded by City Bridge Trust.  The programme provides communications training and mentoring to a number of London-based non-profits working in the equality sector. By boosting communications skills as well as building connections between the media industry and equality groups, the programme aims to strengthen the voice of the wider equality sector.

So with limited resources and no big budget to work with, what did the volunteers from UM think? Senior Analyst, Tatiana Shashou who was volunteering with SCYSS said: “Today really shone a light on how rewarding it can be to share our knowledge to make a difference. It made me realise that even what I do each day can be used to help someone else.” Senior Publishing Executive Serena Wynter added: “I found today super educational and rewarding. It was also great to give a voice to SCYSS, a charity that mostly works with minority communities.”

UM CEO Rachel Forde who was working with LGBT+ anti-violence charity, Galop said: “Today was very uplifting and worthwhile. As I said to the Galop guys, ‘Thank you. You have made us feel so good about ourselves because we are helping.’ I often say in Media, ‘we are not saving lives’ but today I do believe we might actually help save one if our campaign helps raise more funds.”

What did the six equality organisations think?

Jessica Southgate, Policy Manager at Agenda, a charity who provide support and protection to women and girls at risk of abuse, poverty and poor mental health said: “It’s been a great opportunity to reflect on our communications and messaging outside of the office and a chance to get the perspective of the experts UM on how to address our challenges.”

It doesn’t stop there. The UM volunteers are continuing to offer marketing and communications guidance, providing each organisation with a communications strategy to take forward with the support of a UM mentor.