Welcome to the Planning Stage!

You have identified your issue and done your research. Now it’s time for the most important part of your Citizenship Community Action Project: the plan! Think of this as your "mission map." Without a clear plan, even the best ideas can get lost. In the exam, you will be asked to reflect on how you organized your project, so keeping track of your planning is vital for success.

1. Identifying the Target and Setting Goals

Before you take action, you need to know exactly what you want to achieve and who you need to influence.

Who is your Target?

The target is the person or group that has the power to make the change you want to see. For example, if you want more recycling bins in your school, your target is the Headteacher. If you want to raise awareness about global plastic pollution, your target might be your local community or fellow students.

Setting Success Criteria

How will you know if your project actually worked? You need to set criteria for judging success. These are specific markers that tell you "mission accomplished."

  • Example: "We will know we are successful if at least 50 people sign our petition."
  • Example: "Success means raising \(£100\) for a clean water charity."

Quick Tip: Don't be too vague! Instead of saying "I want to help people," say "I want to educate 30 students about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

2. Creating Your Action Plan

A good plan is like a recipe; it needs the right ingredients and the right order.

Key Steps and Sequencing

You must break your project down into key steps and put them in a logical sequence (the order they happen). For example, you can't hold a protest until you have made the posters!

Setting Priorities

Some tasks are more important than others. These are your priorities. If you are running out of time, you focus on the priorities first to make sure the project still happens.

Time and Resources

You need to be realistic about what you have:
- Time: How many weeks do you have before the project must end?
- Resources: Do you have access to a computer, paper, money, or a meeting room?

Key Takeaway: A plan must be realistic. If you only have two weeks and no money, don't plan to build a new school in another country! Keep it manageable.

3. Roles and Tasks: Who Does What?

If you are working in a group, you must decide roles and tasks. This prevents everyone from trying to do the same thing at once. Common roles include:
- Leader/Coordinator: Keeps everyone on track.
- Researcher: Finds the facts and figures.
- Communicator: Writes the emails or social media posts.
- Resource Manager: Looks after the equipment or budget.

Analogy: A football team doesn't have eleven goalkeepers. Everyone has a specific role so the team can win. Your project is exactly the same!

4. Expecting the Unexpected

Even the best plans face hurdles. The examiners want to see that you can anticipate difficulties. This means thinking about what might go wrong before it actually does.

Common Difficulties:
- A team member is ill on the day of the event.
- The target person (like a local MP) refuses to meet with you.
- You don't raise as much money as you expected.

Did you know? Identifying a difficulty isn't a "fail." In your exam, explaining how you overcame a problem shows great critical evaluation skills!

5. Recording Decisions and Progress

You must keep a record of what you decide and how the project is moving along. This could be a logbook, a diary, or minutes from your meetings.

Why is this important?
1. It helps you stay organized.
2. It provides evidence for your Section A exam answers.
3. It allows you to see how much you have learned as a global citizen.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't wait until the end of the project to write down what you did! You will forget the small details, and those details are exactly what the examiners look for.

Quick Review: The Planning Checklist

Before you move to the "Action" phase, make sure you can answer "Yes" to these questions:

  • Have I identified a clear target and goal?
  • Is there a sequence of steps with priorities?
  • Does everyone know their roles and tasks?
  • Have I thought about difficulties that might pop up?
  • Am I recording my progress as I go?

Cross-reference: Once your plan is ready, you will move on to the next stage: Collaboration, negotiation and influence, where you actually carry out your event or campaign!