strategy, campaigns and storytelling for change
consultancy services provided by Justin Woolford
School children help complete a giant cod sculpture made from old EU fisheries reports in WWF's fisheries campaign
on Strategy
If a vision without action is a dream, a campaign or content without strategy is a waste of time.
Asking better questions, clarifying purpose, understanding how change happens, creating great content, and giving people agency are at the core of what I offer.
Developing and delivering communications, campaigns and content targeting political, business and public audiences, I provide strategic insight, advice and support to NGOs, foundations, community groups and the private sector.
Stop campaigning and communicating on a wing and a prayer. Start a conversation with society.
my Approach
combining three ingredients for change
Purpose
establishing what you want to change and why, and setting clear objectives
Strategy
conducting power and issue analysis, understanding how change can happen, and formulating strategy
Agency
creating instrumental communication and giving people agency to drive change
British Youth Council members visit Parliament in The Co-operative's Votes at 16 campaign
useful Services
making your communications, content and campaigns more effective
Campaign Strategy & Planning
campaign strategy development, power analysis and issue mapping, goal and objective setting, activity planning
Content Strategy & Storytelling
content strategy, features, articles, blogs, opinion pieces, press releases, position papers, messaging, editing and proofing
Co-ordination & Delivery
campaigns and communications co-ordination, delivery and project management
Facilitation
group work, meeting planning, preparation and facilitation, creative idea development
Smallholders, acacia and certification in Vietnam with WWF
my Storytelling
Good stories move and motivate. They bind us together. And like prayers, help us make common cause. They go beyond facts and figures and show us what really matters.
I write about (and also photograph) people, nature, change and sustainability.
Finding and telling stories that make a difference is my passion.
From profiles, opinion pieces and propositions to investigative features and in-depth essays, I can help you create stories and content that deliver insight, impact and engagement across digital and social channels.
With expertise in sustainability, conservation and environmental campaigning, I am an experienced writer and editor (and half-decent photographer) able to create engaging character-led content.
Check out some of my words and stories below ...
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"He's looking after your future, will you look after his?"
WI members lobby MEPs in Brussels for safer chemicals in WWF UK's Safer Chemicals campaignsome Clients & Projects
My clients include WWF, The Co-operative, MAVA Foundation, The Global Ocean Commission, Bristol Green Capital, and Transition Montpelier.
Investing in People & Nature
for the MAVA Foundation
Crafting short inspiring copy and conservation stories and content for the MAVA Foundation's new website.
Partnership Advocacy & Communications
for WWF
Offering strategic communications and advocacy for WWF International's Global Partnerships team, supporting corporate stewardship and business engagement with corporate partners like IKEA and Mondi.
Conservation Stories
for the MAVA Foundation
Researching and writing inspiring conservation stories and related content for the MAVA Foundation's summary annual reviews - enjoy the latest set of stories here!
Mission Ocean
for the Global Ocean Commission
Strategic communications for the Global Ocean Commission, an independent international commission on ocean governance, working with partners Brand Union and Communications Inc to deliver the Commission's final report, together with a change.org global petition and a call on government, business and civil society to join Mission Ocean.
Stop Bankrupting Our Oceans
for WWF
Co-ordinating innovative European campaign for WWF on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Working with partners and other NGOs to galvanise action on overfishing and help reframe the debate on the fisheries crisis. Lots of online activity – see Stop Bankrupting Our Oceans, Paint A Fish, All Aboard! and read all about it here.
"When WWF started its European-wide campaign on the Common Fisheries Policy in 2012, the challenge was to moderate campaign strategy and bring together activities across six different offices. Impressively, Justin coordinated the team with heart and soul, kept our feet on the ground, and helped us realise and deliver good ideas and plans.”
Daniel Goliasch, WWF Germany
Sustainable Economy
for the MAVA Foundation
Strategic research and development for the MAVA Foundation informing the creation of a brand new programme on consumption and sustainable economy.
"Justin was a great help to us in developing our thinking on a new sustainable economy programme. He kick-started the process with an insightful scoping exercise and accompanied us through various steps in shaping what is now a successful new programme in our portfolio."Lynda Mansson, Director General, MAVA Foundation
Frack Free Future
for The Co-operative
Designing and helping deliver part of a major climate change campaign for The Co-operative exposing the risks of shale gas exploitation, engaging UK communities in frack free campaigning and promoting community renewable energy through a civil society alliance in collaboration with Forum for the Future.
BYC members discuss democracy and voting reform with Caroline Lucas MP in The Co-operative's Votes at 16 campaign
my Social
for the latest content, go straight to the source @TheChangeCo
WWF UK blood tests whole families looking for inter-generational chemical contamination
my Story
I am a strategist, campaigner, writer and storyteller with over twenty years’ experience across various issues including climate change, renewable energy, forests, young people, marine and fisheries, toxic chemicals, forests and sustainable tourism.
I learnt my 'trade' in the early 2000s at WWF UK where I had the opportunity to collaborate with Chris Rose of Campaign Strategy to design and lead a groundbreaking campaign for safer chemicals in collaboration with the Women's Institutes and The Co-operative Bank - a middle England coalition par excellence. For the campaign, we conducted various waves of blood testing, looking for hazardous and persistent chemicals in people's bodies, and then we took our results to MEPs in Brussels to demand better control of chemicals through new EU wide legislation known as REACH. The campaign was built on a 'survey-discover-act' model - Chris has written about it here.
Later, I moved to WWF International in Switzerland to campaign on European fisheries and also coral reefs, supporting WWF's Coral Triangle initiative, including commissioning Jürgen Freund to document the region in a photographic expedition with the aim of putting the Coral Triangle on the map and establishing a new natural global icon akin to the Amazon or the Great Barrier Reef.
Then in 2009, I joined The Co-operative in Manchester to run their ethical campaigns team as was where I helped develop and run campaigns on lowering the voting age, climate change, tar sands, shale gas and renewable energy. During this time we kicked off various local community-led 'frack free' campaigns that are still going strong today.
Since 2011, through The Change Co., I have been offering a range of consultancy services in support of campaigns and communications for social and environmental change, as well as developing online content, stories and editorial.
I work both independently and with a number of collaborators depending on the needs and demands of the project at hand.
I am based in Montpelier in Bristol – gateway to the west country! When not campaigning, I like to cycle, walk and spend time in Nature, take photographs and play guitar. I also work occasionally as a Nature-based rites of passage guide and mentor.
Before I became involved in environmental and social campaigning, I worked in television documentaries for almost ten years learning something about visual storytelling - which is important in a good campaign.
On the qualifications front I hold Bachelor’s degrees in History and Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Global Environmental Change & Policy as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Studies.
© 2015