When August Goes Quiet: Why Charities Still Need Communications Support

August has a bit of a reputation for being quiet. It certainly did when I used to work in radio newsrooms.

"Can we find ANYONE different to talk about the ongoing heatwave??"
"Is there any way we can spin this boring press release into a lead story?" 
"Can we just play more music until some news happens?"

But while newsrooms are desperately looking for stories, communications teams are still busy creating them.

The inbox in a charity press office doesn't stop because it's the school holidays. Journalists don't stop calling because someone has an out-of-office on (see above!). And September campaigns don't magically plan themselves.

If anything, quiet news days make journalists MORE likely to jump on the stories they might overlook at other times of the year. That's why summer can actually be a really important time to have experienced communications support.

So if you're in a charity, CIC or faith organisation and August is going exactly to plan, you probably don't need me.

BUT if someone's unexpectedly off... If you're juggling three jobs because colleagues are on leave... If September suddenly feels much closer than you'd like... That's where freelancers can be really useful.

And to be honest, as a freelancer I'd rather be helping organisations over the summer and take my own holiday when the kids are back at school (sorry parents!) So if you are looking for an extra pair of hands or some consultancy over the summer, then I'm your girl.

That can be:

- Crisis communications advice and reviewing or stress-testing crisis communications plans
- Media spokesperson and interview training
- PR support, media enquiries and communications consultancy
- Planning and creating social media content
- Communications planning ahead of autumn campaigns
- Providing extra cover during annual leave or maternity leave
- Acting as an extra pair of hands when things are simply busier than expected.

Sometimes all you need is someone experienced to step in, lighten the load and help keep things moving until everyone is back in the office.

Whether you need someone for a day, a couple of weeks or a specific project, I'd be happy to help. Feel free to drop me a message for an informal chat.

A little throwback pic to my newsroom days - where finding stories in the quiet weeks was all part of the job!