Publicity - Keep Wales Tidy

Before you begin

Before you start promoting your group, take a moment to think about a few key questions.

: Your group’s constitution should outline your aims and objectives. These can help guide your messaging and ensure your publicity reflects what your group is all about.
: Think about the people you want to connect with. Are you looking for volunteers, local supporters, partners or funders?

Knowing your audience will help you choose the right communication channels and the type of content to share.
: Design, printing and advertising can sometimes involve costs. However, many effective promotion tools are completely free. Social media platforms, community networks and online directories can help you reach large audiences without spending money.

You might also be able to access in-kind support. For example, someone in your community might have skills in graphic design, marketing, photography or communications and be willing to volunteer their time.

Get your group on the map

If you’re looking for new volunteers or supporters, a great place to start is making sure your group is listed on our Community Group Map.

The map brings together community groups from across the country, helping people discover local projects and find opportunities to get involved.

Find out more

Make the most of social media

Social media can be a powerful way to share your work, celebrate volunteers and connect with your community. But, did you know, tens of thousands of social media posts are sent every second? This can make it difficult to stand out. Here are a few tips to help ensure people stop and click on your posts.

Post regularly to show your group is active – the more active your account is, the more likely it is that people will see your content.

Use photos and short videos to bring your work to life – posts that feature people often perform best, so try to include volunteers and community members whenever possible.

Before and after photos of your projects or clean-ups – it’s great for others to see the positive impact you're having in your community.

Short interviews with volunteers – ask them what made them volunteer, and what they enjoy most about it.

Timelapse videos of activities – these make great visual posts for social media.

Behind the scenes moments from your events – don’t forget to include the cuppa you all enjoy afterwards.

Celebrate your volunteers and recognise their contributions – this can be as simple as sharing a thank-you post or highlighting a volunteer’s story.

Promote events early and share reminders closer to the date – people are busy, so a few friendly reminders can really help boost attendance.

Engage with your audience by replying to comments and messages – responding to people shows that your group is active and welcoming. It can also help your posts reach more people, as social media platforms often prioritise accounts that interact with their audience.

Popular social media platforms

The key is choosing platforms that work for your group and making time to manage them. Here’s a quick guide to some popular platforms used by community groups.

Facebook is still one of the most widely used social media platforms.

It’s particularly useful for sharing updates, telling stories about your projects and promoting events.

Local community groups and pages are also great places to reach people in your area and spread the word about what you’re doing.

Instagram focuses on photos and short videos. It’s a great platform for showing the impact of your work visually.

You could share:

Before and after photos of projects/clean ups – it’s great for others to see the positive impact your having in your community.
Short interviews with volunteers – ask them what made them volunteer, and what they enjoy most about it.
Timelapse videos of activities – these make great visual posts for social media
Behind the scenes moments from your events – don’t forget to include the cuppa you all enjoy afterwards.

Bluesky is a growing social media platform focused on open conversations and communities. It’s increasingly used by journalists, campaigners and organisations to share updates and discuss current issues.

If your group is involved in campaigning, raising awareness or engaging with public conversations, Bluesky can be a useful space to connect with wider audiences.

Don’t be afraid to share your achievements. Celebrating your work helps inspire others and shows the difference community action can make!
Keep Wales Tidy's Marketing and Communications Team

Reach out to local media

It may seem obvious, but local media (newspapers, websites and broadcast channels) want good local stories, or a local angle on a national story, especially with a human interest.

A well-written press release is a quick and cost-effective way of raising awareness and reaching a broader audience. The brilliant team at Cardiff-based PR agency Working Word have put together a short guide on how to write effective press releases.

> Download the guidance

Most local newspapers will provide contact details for journalists on their websites or Facebook pages. You can also submit stories directly on a lot of online news sites, such as In Your Area.

Keep Wales Tidy officer working with vollunteers at a Local Places for Nature site with a rainbow recycled garden table

Ask others to spread the word

Word of mouth is still an incredibly powerful tool – particularly when it comes to attracting new volunteers. Don’t be afraid to ask your current volunteers, supporters, friends, and family to help you spread the word. Perhaps this could be a regular call to action at the end of your events?

Publicity inspiration

Click the boxes to read about Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre and Forward 4 Fairyland's publicity efforts, where you'll find valuable tips for promoting local community events.