3.2 Give examples of events and opportunities to promote the organisation and services provided

This guide will help you answer 3.2 Give examples of events and opportunities to promote the organisation and services provided.

Promoting your health and social care organisation helps raise awareness, build partnerships, and attract new service users, staff, or supporters. There are many types of events and opportunities that can be used for promotion, both within your local area and more widely. This guide covers some examples relevant to most care or support settings.

Open Days

An open day is when the organisation invites people from outside to visit. This might include potential service users, family members, local professionals, or community members.

What happens at an open day:

• Tours of the building or service facilities
• Presentations about the care or support on offer
• Information stands or leaflets
• The chance to meet staff and people who use services
• Demonstrations of activities or equipment
• Refreshments and informal conversation

Benefits:
Open days let people see the environment for themselves, ask questions, and build confidence in the service.

Community Fairs and Shows

Many local areas host regular community fairs, health days, or summer fetes.

How organisations take part:

• Book a stall to share information about the service
• Offer health checks or advice
• Distribute leaflets and showcase activities or crafts
• Run small competitions, raffles, or games to attract visitors
• Display photos or testimonials

Benefits:
Events like these reach a wide audience, help reduce stigma, and encourage people to find out more.

Careers Events and Recruitment Fairs

Promoting the organisation as a great place to work supports recruitment and raises the profile of health and social care jobs.

Opportunities include:

• Attending school or college careers fairs
• Participating in local job centre recruitment events
• Hosting your own recruitment open evening
• Giving talks to students

Benefits:
These activities attract applicants and show the service’s commitment to professional development.

Partnership Events

Working with partner agencies provides chances to promote services and share expertise.

Examples:

• Attending multi-agency workshops with the NHS or local authority
• Presenting at safeguarding network meetings
• Participating in health and wellbeing partnership forums
• Running joint events for a common cause, such as Dementia Awareness Week

Benefits:
This strengthens relationships and increases the organisation’s reputation within the sector.

Awareness Campaigns

National and local awareness weeks or campaigns give reason to promote services.

Examples:

• Organising activities for Mental Health Awareness Week
• Marking Carers Week with advice sessions
• Supporting World Alzheimer’s Day with talks, memory cafes, or art events
• Creating displays for Black History Month or LGBT+ History Month

Benefits:
Campaigns connect the organisation to current issues, show commitment to diversity, and attract media attention.

Service User and Family Events

Events for people who use services, and their families or carers, can also support promotion by building loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Examples:

• Family coffee mornings
• Celebration events for achievements or milestones
• Consultation events where people give feedback and share ideas
• Activity days or social events

Benefits:
Happy, involved families often recommend the service to others.

Local Media Engagement

Sharing positive stories through the media can raise the organisation’s local profile.

Ideas for engagement:

• Sending press releases about awards, funding, or new services
• Offering to write a column or feature in local papers
• Being interviewed on local radio about specialist support
• Sharing good news stories, successes, or case studies (with consent)

Benefits:
Media coverage reaches people who may not attend events but look for care or support.

Online Events and Social Media Campaigns

Promoting services online can engage a broad audience.

Ways to use online promotion:

• Hosting virtual tours or Q&A sessions over video
• Sharing service updates, job vacancies, or testimonials on social media
• Running a blog about life within the service
• Launching digital awareness campaigns linked to national health weeks

Benefits:
Online events make promotion accessible and open to people who may not travel.

Open Workshops and Training Events

Offering training to partners or the public shows expertise and builds networks.

Examples:

• Health and safety workshops for local carers
• Dementia-friendly information sessions
• First aid training open to the community
• Involving external trainers and opening sessions to local staff

Benefits:
These events demonstrate knowledge and a willingness to share learning.

Fundraising Events

Fundraising activities increase awareness while raising money for extra equipment or projects.

Typical ideas:

• Sponsored walks, afternoon teas, or car boot sales
• Raffles or charity auctions
• Bake sales or craft fairs
• Hosting sponsored challenges in partnership with local businesses

Benefits:
Brings people together and builds positive feelings towards the organisation.

Examples in Practice

Here are examples of these events and opportunities in real settings:

• A day centre organises a summer barbecue and invites people from the community, boosting visibility and trust.
• A residential care home attends the town’s health fair with a display showing their specialist dementia care.
• Staff visit a local college to speak about working in social care and invite students for taster days.
• The organisation posts success stories and upcoming events on Facebook, receiving messages from new families keen to visit.
• The service partners with a local hospital to host a joint workshop on palliative care best practice.
• To mark Learning Disability Week, staff hold a session for local businesses to raise awareness and promote inclusive employment.

Final Thoughts

Making use of these opportunities increases awareness, builds relationships, and supports the organisation’s reputation as a trusted, valued provider. The best results come from planning events to suit the needs and interests of your local community and the people you support.