Talking about people on the move during a pandemic
Introduction
This document highlights talking points that promote a “Larger Us” narrative, instead of “them and us”.
We need to repeat narratives to make them stick. This document pulls out some of those key messages advised by all the brilliant messaging guides that leading experts have produced.
It focuses on the things we are “for” rather than “against”, and on values rather than specific problems or policies.
You can download this and adapt it for your own communications and interviews - keep the basic messages that apply and plug in facts, figures and stories that bring them to life.
The goal here is to summarise them for people who are busy with daily comms.
How to use this tool
This messaging house summarises the main points from shared messaging that you can use in your daily communications:
MESSAGING HOUSE TOP-LINE
#ALARGERUS
All of us belong to a larger, shared community that should care for all of us.
We can count on all sorts of different people in our community. There are lots of people ready to work and help each other cope with Covid19.
Kindness is contagious. Every act of compassion and solidarity makes us stronger and more united.
It takes many different people to make our societies function. We all have a part to play in creating the generous, supportive, kind society we want.
Visuals and story ideas: migrants helping out in the community, refugees with medical experience keen to work, acts of kindness, generosity and admiration etc
Getting sick reminds us that at our core we’re all human.
People will go to great lengths to care for other people. We pull through by pulling together. We get to a better place by making sure we take everyone with us.
Our laws should recognise that we all have a part to play in keeping our communities connected and thriving.
Visuals and story ideas: Acts of support, togetherness and inclusion between communities.
Coronavirus is a reminder that we are all part of one global community.
A resilient community is one that takes care of everyone in it. That is something we can only build if all the different people in our society build it together.
The response to the pandemic shows us that our societies have a deep capacity to care for each other and welcome people, no matter who they are or where they are from.
Visuals and story ideas: people ensuring nobody is left behind, going out of their way to work with vulnerable groups.
Shared humanity #AllOfUs
We are all connected. Let’s keep our communities connected, open and welcoming to all.
Moral elevation #RightThereWithYou
Policies built on care and kindness make things better for all of us.
My care is your care #BuldBackBetter
We need to care for everyone. In future, we can build a system that delivers the care everyone needs.
MESSAGING HOUSE DETAILED
All of us belong
to a larger, shared community.
We all of us belong to a larger community. A Larger “Us”. We come together to get through hard times with trust, care and kindness for our fellow human beings.
When times are hard, You can count on people from all sorts of backgrounds to be right there with you. There are lots of people ready to work for the common good and help each other cope with Covid19.
It takes many different people to make our societies function: medical staff, cleaners, the people who work on farms. We have seen an outpouring of gratitude towards the people who care for us, wherever they come from.
The best thing we can do as a society is give them certainty and support. The government has already extended the visas of NHS workers from elsewhere, lets do the same for all people who are here.
Care and kindness should be the way our society is governed. The effects of this virus are not inevitable: government action can save thousands of lives. They can better fund the health service and ensure the dignity for all kinds of work.
Shared humanity #AllOfUs
Community spirit is human nature. Let’s keep our communities connected, open and welcoming to all.
Our response to this virus shows us we are all connected to each other. It is changing how we see each other.
Getting sick reminds us that at our core we are all human, of how much stronger we are when our communities are united. Diversity has been a real source of resilience and hope when we needed it.
This is a global phenomenon that requires a collective response: that demands governments step up and care for people. Governments can keep the community spirit going by allowing everyone who is here to live and work freely.
The government should make it possible for people here seeking asylum to play a part as well. It is simple human nature: people will go through great lengths to care for each other: if you let them.
Coronavirus is a reminder that we are all part of one global community, one big human family. And a resilient community is one takes care of everyone in it. We are all better off when we are all healthy -- especially the most vulnerable among us.
The response to the pandemic shows us that our societies have deep capacity to care for each other and welcome people, no matter who they are or where they are from.
Let us welcome and care for the different people in our society: let’s let them move, let them work and ensure they have the support and dignity everyone deserves.
If the government topped up the payments to asylum seekers, they would enable people to buy the products they need to keep healthy and stay at home to save lives
Moral elevation #RightThereWithYou
Policies build on care and kindness make things better for all of us.
My care is your care #BuldBackBetter
We need to care for everyone. In future, we can build a system that delivers the care everyone needs.
MESSAGING HOUSE
“The roof”
Each room needs “furniture” - the evidence that proves your point - (n.b. the examples in this document focus on talking points rather than the facts and stories that illustrate them)
Think of your message being composed of three rooms or pillars,
My care is your care
The furniture
Room
Each point you make needs to be backed up by evidence or an illustration. For example, you could plan an interview around a surprising fact, a compelling story and a practical call to action.
Each room = one point you want to make. Think of them as narratives or ideas that all sit under your “roof”
This is your top-line vision - your core belief/worldview that you want to repeat over and over. e.g “Yes We Can”, “Get Brexit Done”.