Starting a Plain English Programme Prepared by Prue Bentley

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Starting a Plain English ProgrammePrepared by
Prue Bentley
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Today

• What I did
• How I did it
• How you can do it
• Tips and tricks for new players
• Aargh! moments

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The start

• Direction from top
• Worked with a few people
• It got bigger fast

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Getting serious

• Need identified
• Action plan
• Senior manager sign-off
• Council sign-off

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Inform involve engage

• Tell and show them what it is
• Teach them and get them started
• Theyll begin using it themselves

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What I did

• Created resources
• Worked with selected staff
• Held workshop for all staff
• Identified those who were keen
• Looked to the future
• Open-door policy

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Action plan

• Know what youre doing
• Know how it can be integrated
• Know the staff you need to target
• Keep it in their minds
• Identify your barriers

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Action plan template

• Whats the action?
• Why are you doing it?
• Who will do it?
• When should it be done?

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Working with staff

• Track changes is great
• Positives first and last dont then / but
• Rewrite the first couple of documents
• Start the next few
• Then start making suggestions

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Create a style guide

• Customise to your organisation
• Include other helpful information
• Look on the web
• Use examples
• Break it down into cards
• Dont forget identity / branding guidelines

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Templates

• Get styles set in PowerPoint and Word
• Show them how to use readability statistics
• Get word processors / personal assistants on side

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Aargh!

• Im going to write the whole report without
  using the word
• I dont want my report dumbed down.
• Its not legal if we do that.
• Why do we need so many headings?
• Whats with the questions for headings?

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Tips and tricks

• Get support from the top
• Be flexible
• Choose your battles
• Show examples
• Go external
• Be available to staff
• Target staff who work with clients

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Tips and tricks

• Make sure feedback is passed on
• Check out StyleWriter

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To finish

• Take on the challenge
• Realise its a long-term project
• Start small if you need to
• Its worth it in the end