Quarterly report Feb 2016 Summary This is a short quarter, due to a later November board than is planned for future years and to the festive season. Significant items include the strategy review, web support selection and coordinator recruitment to replace several who have resigned due to illness, ending of a visa or moving to organizations more in line with their career aspirations. Other activities have included the biannual governance benchmarking and risk review and supervising campaigning within the climate change movement and on a range of policy issues relating to fertility reduction. We are marking the Malthus anniversary in various ways. We are progressing CiviCRM and exploring the use of Office 365 for shared working and other purposes. Advocacy Increase opinion formers understanding of population growth impact We shall achieve: Three journalist & three stakeholder (opinion former/ policy maker) briefings Three to four proactive news stories, two opinion/ editorials and four outreach online blogs Reactive comments on related issues Forty new honorary members from sympathetic opinion formers One hundred contacts with civil society, such as environmental groups, asking that they acknowledge the detrimental impact of population levels and growth in their materials The raising of population at relevant NGO alliances, marches and public meetings. had a letter published in the Independent had article published in Huffington Post been quoted in the Daily Express ned for the forthcoming quarter review our public relations strategy explore lobbying opportunities plan for a parliamentary event Become seen as an organization with an open and conversational tone We shall seek to maintain an open, positive and conversational tone. Started publishing human interest stories Reviewed the website for gender bias Added introductions and subheadings to website pages for improved readability ned for the forthcoming quarter Quarterly report Feb 2016 1
revise the design of the website pages for improved presentation. Support relevant policies, including improved sex and relationships education and sexual and reproductive health and rights Support campaigns to improve sex and relationship education and family planning provision Call on the international community to devote more resources to family planning provision Support campaigns on specific causes of unintended pregnancies Support campaigns to promote gender equality, particularly where inequality is greatest Support equal access for women to careers at all levels Sent letter to ministers urging them to pursue the two child tax credit limit Sent letters to members of the House of Lords urging them to support the two child limit in the second reading campaigned against cuts in public health, affecting sexual health programmes, including member involvement supported the Lucas bill on compulsory sex education, including member involvement called on the government to dedicate 10% of overseas development aid to family planning, including membership involvement and demonstrated at DFID written to other campaign groups in relation to policy campaigns ned for the forthcoming quarter Follow up these campaigns with policy makers and others Work with other organizations to meet shared goals We support joint working, as recommended by most authorities. Seek opportunities for joint working with other population concern groups Participate in NGO alliances to promote shared goals The raising of population at relevant NGO alliances, marches and public meetings. Continued to attend meetings of NGO alliances planning for autumn activities Commenced review of international liaison opportunities Participating in public event commemorating the ratification of the SDGs Took part in Light the Way event about the SDGs ned participation in lobbying of Paris conference Written to other campaign groups in relation to policy campaigns Been accepted to membership of the Post Growth Alliance ned for the forthcoming quarter continue to work within selected alliances Quarterly report Feb 2016 2
Education and awareness Promote changes to preferences and behaviours by communicating the social, environmental and personal benefits of smaller families Promote the benefits of smaller families, including making them part of a sustainable lifestyle We shall prioritize, as having the widest resonance, messages that population growth: contributes to the UK s housing crisis; puts extra pressure on public services, and harms the environment. Invest more heavily in developing the reach of our social media channels Increase activity in schools, including promoting our material to teachers and promoting our speakers in schools and elsewhere, providing speakers on forty occasions and exploring Intervention in Personal, Social and Health Education. Promote our PopOffsets programme, which links carbon emissions with unintended pregnancies. been interviewed by BBC Northampton and BBC Three Counties Radio (twice) Asked members to promote awareness of the Malthus anniversary Issued a student newsletter Attended Light the way sustainability event, climate change march and Paris climate change conference Held speaker training Revised presentations on website ned for the forthcoming quarter expand outreach enquiries and offers, particularly in higher education develop PM members interest groups in professions and civil society promote awareness of UK subnational population projections launch the congestion film propose an videographic film. Research Commission research to improve understanding of population issues Research provides the basis for better understanding of the issues. Publish at least one briefings or research reports and send them to relevant decision- makers Use our Journal to develop academic coverage, promoting it to relevant institutions appointed a new Journal editor ned for the forthcoming quarter prepare the next issue of the Journal commence planning subjects for LSE papers Quarterly report Feb 2016 3
Resourcing and governance Maintain a delivery model of staff, contractors, agencies and volunteers We find a mixed model provides us with flexibility and value. We shall continue to use a mixed model, exploring the use of further personnel Appointed web maintenance agency (ukcentric.com) Replaced departing coordinators Engaged additional volunteers ned for the forthcoming quarter recruit additional staff following completion of the strategy and business plan Depend mainly on our members, while seeking funding elsewhere Our income has almost doubled over the last four years, partly due to our increased membership. We shall continue to seek to increase both. Advertise on line and in relevant publications Encourage recruitment activity by local groups, supporting them with material and advice Be represented at public events, attending at least one event Seek to increase youth and ethnic minority membership through dedicated programmes Make an annual fundraising appeal and create programmes for presentation to funders Seek opportunities to invest in expanded activities and to improve our professionalism. Adopt the Statement of Recommended Practice on Practice on financial reporting, enabling activity based reporting Review allocation between cash and equities/ bonds continued contractual discussions with CiviCRM installation consultants engaged experienced fundraising volunteer to support the fundraising coordinator developed approaches to corporates and high net worth individuals proposed family membership Income, expenditure and funds are all above both budget and last year. ned for the forthcoming quarter run a 25th anniversary fundraiser work on income diversification, including grant applications Adopt best practices in governance wherever this is beneficial Conduct regular governance/ board reviews and continue to strengthen governance. Quarterly report Feb 2016 4
participated in strategy brainstorming revised governance best practice benchmarking revised risk register been scored as best small NGO for transparency amongst those Bond looked at ned for the forthcoming quarter continue strategy and plan development continue low intensity board member recruitment exercise Quarterly report Feb 2016 5