Step 5

Sustaining Engagement and Participation

Regular Communication and Updates for Stakeholders, Supporters, and Members of the BOVF Living in Your Local Branch Country

Consistent and transparent communication is essential to keeping stakeholders, supporters, and members of the BOVF engaged and informed.

Regular updates help foster a sense of community, strengthen trust, and ensure that everyone remains aligned with the branch’s goals and campaigns. To effectively manage communication, it’s important to establish a monthly newsletter that highlights recent events, upcoming activities, progress on key issues, and ways for members to get involved.

This not only keeps your audience informed but also makes them feel like they are an integral part of the movement.

For Full Members, consider offering exclusive updates on advocacy efforts, such as policy group discussions or important meetings with UK political leaders.

For supporters, a more general communication style that highlights the broader impact of BOVF campaigns and ways they can help will keep them engaged.

Additionally, make use of social media channels for more frequent and casual updates, including reminders about events or timely calls to action.

Personalized communication, such as thank-you emails or direct outreach following an event, further strengthens the connection between your branch and its members.

With regular and thoughtful communication, your branch will build a stronger, more unified community that is deeply invested in the success of the BOVF’s mission.

Organizing Consistent Meetings, Events, and Campaigns

Consistency is the backbone of a successful and engaged BOVF branch. Regularly organizing meetings, events, and campaigns keeps members motivated, strengthens community bonds, and helps your branch build momentum over time.

Start by scheduling monthly meetings where members can come together to discuss the branch’s progress, brainstorm ideas for local initiatives, and update each other on national BOVF campaigns. Depending on how ‘spread out’ your cohort is, it might be more practical to have online meetings.

Where you have a few or more members in any given city, it might be possible to organise informal meet-ups to chat about the issues and then update the rest of the branch at a more formal meeting.

These meetings provide a platform for collaboration and are a great opportunity to welcome new members and ensure everyone is aligned on key goals.

In addition to meetings, organizing community events—both social and information-giving —helps keep members engaged and active.

Host events like voter registration drives, educational workshops on British expatriate issues, or social mixers where members can network in a relaxed environment. You can even think about having a BOVF stall at someone else’s event if you know British expats will be in attendance.

These events help members feel connected, not just to the BOVF but also to one another, strengthening the sense of community in your branch. Finally, plan campaigns around key issues relevant to your local community.

For example, a petition or social media campaign advocating for better voting access for British citizens abroad can energize your members and give them a tangible goal to work towards. With consistent efforts in organizing meetings, events, and campaigns, your branch will stay vibrant and focused, ready to make meaningful impacts on behalf of British citizens abroad.

Encouraging Volunteer Participation and Leadership Roles

Volunteers are the heartbeat of any successful BOVF branch, driving initiatives and campaigns forward with their time, passion, and expertise. Encouraging volunteer participation not only empowers your branch to accomplish more, but it also fosters a sense of ownership and belonging among members.

To inspire participation, start by making it clear that everyone has something valuable to contribute, regardless of their background or experience.

Common roles at a local branch level includes:

Local Branch Chair
Local Branch Secretary
Local Branch Events Organiser
Volunteer Social Media Influencer
Community Engagement Volunteer

Highlight the range of volunteer opportunities available—from helping with events and outreach to taking on more specialized roles like social media management.

In addition, those involved in local branches might also like to volunteer with the global Policy Groups related to the BOVF Key Issues.

By offering a variety of roles that cater to different interests and skills, you’ll make volunteering more accessible and appealing to your members. People get involved for lots of different reasons and their motivation is important.

Additionally, leadership roles play a key part in the long-term success of your branch. Identify members who show enthusiasm and commitment, and invite them to take on leadership positions.

Provide clear paths for leadership development, offering training or mentorship for those who are new to managing teams or campaigns.

Regularly recognize and celebrate the contributions of your volunteers and leaders, whether through public acknowledgment in meetings or small tokens of appreciation.

By creating a culture where volunteerism and leadership are not only encouraged but celebrated, you’ll build a strong, active community ready to drive meaningful change for British citizens abroad.

We hope this page has been informative.

If you have any corrective or improvement suggestions, please email webmaster@bovf.org.uk