UK Moderators Manual

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Moderators Manual
Freecycle - UK Faq

UK Manual - Updates

Freecycle® U.K. Frequently Asked Questions - Publicity

Contents

5. PUBLICITY

5. PUBLICITY

5.1 Fund-raising - can we do it?

As a registered charity there are a number of procedures that need to be followed when money is being raised in the name of Freecycle in the UK. If you are interested in raising money for Freecycle activities it is important that you contact Neil Morris, Director of Freecycle UK. His email address is uk@freecycle.org.

Please note that local groups can not apply directly for funds or fundraise in their own name. Freecycle UK is working to develop a system where our local leaders/groups, as part of the overall organisation, can be empowered to gain funding with minimal bureaucracy. Please be aware, for now, that the infrastructure of Freecycle UK is still developing and is staffed by volunteers who are also running their local groups.

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5.2 Inviting a member - how is it done?

Go to the boxed list on the left-hand side of the website, and to Promote/Invite near the bottom of the list

Follow the instructions.

Don't forget to scroll to bottom and "Submit Invite."

Note: need to limit to a few invites at a time, or Yahoo! has a problem. Also it is important to mention that only the person invited can use the invitation, because the new member will always be set up with the invited person's email address.

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5.3 Posters, fliers, cards - anywhere I can get some?

All kinds of example publicity materials are available at the UK Mod Squad:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKmodsquad/files/

If you decide to produce your own material be careful to use appropriate logos so that you do not risk damaging the Freecycle® logo. Information and what you have to do is available here:

http://www.freecycle.org/faq/manual/eu_trademark

The graphics team may be able to help with designing these too: graphics

Do share whatever you have done with the rest of the moderator community at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKmodsquad/

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5.4 Press release - how do I write one; are there any examples?

Working with the press is difficult. Reporters as a breed are idle and shiftless. If you do their work for them you are more likely to get results. There are example press releases available in the UK mod squad files at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKmodsquad/files/

There is some good advice about what you can do and what works in the promotion and publicity files at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKmodsquad/files/

We have a group of volunteers who work on media issues who may be able to help you with publicity for your group. They can be contacted by emailing: ukmedia@freecycle.org

If you are interested in joining this team of volunteers please email this address as well.

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5.5 Promoting my new group - tips please?

How much time you spend on promoting your group is entirely a personal decision. There are plenty of ways you can promote your group. For hints and tips, please follow the link below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKmodsquad/files/

Many groups contact their local Council for support and get differing responses. Some Councils will welcome their local group with open arms and give free publicity in magazines, newsletters and their website; others show little interest. Although the Council is a good place to start, please don't get disheartened if you don't get the response you'd like. Your Council’s recycling officers are a great place to start.

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5.6 Public liability insurance – do we need this for events?

When promoting the group at a public event, it is your responsibility to ensure you are covered with public liability insurance. If on council ground, the council insurance should cover you but a risk assessment form may need to be completed prior to the day. Otherwise, please discuss prior to the event with the organizers exactly what you intend doing. Face painters need their own insurance and a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - COSHH sheet. A Certificate in Food Hygiene is required where appropriate.

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5.7 Publicity - how can I get this for my group?

Publicity for your group is great but it's not easy. Speaking to the media is an important element of getting publicity. It often helps to send them a media release.

Make sure you have a 'hook'. Be creative and have an environmental theme! Watch out for members who do interesting things with their Freecycle items, like making sculptures or house renovations; they may agree to be featured in a press article.

Aim for Headline news and you're more likely to get good exposure for your group, even if it is on page 11.

Some groups run events especially to give the media an opportunity to take photos. See:

http://www.freecycle.org/faq/faq/faq_contactmedia

For more hints and tips, please follow the link below.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKmodsquad/files/

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5.8 Using the Freecycle logo in publicity - do we need permission?

Yes, official permission is required for each individual instance of the logo about to be used by anyone other than ourselves.

Whoever is proposing to use the logo -- the council, the reporter, etc needs to receive direct and specific permission from freecycle.org. In each and every instance that the logo is to be used, please ask the reporter (for example) to write in person to stephanie@freecycle.org, requesting permission to use the logo. Any subsequent use by the same person for the same purpose needs to be authorised once again.

This may sound frightful, but is a formality with which they will be familiar and takes very little time.

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