Climate Party – Catherine To

Climate movement

Mission

The UK’s newest political party aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030. The Climate Party believes businesses can be at the forefront to decarbonise Great Britain with localised market-based solutions.

The party sets out to put political pressure to consider environmental policies and the economic benefits of leading the clean industrial revolution.

Lead Digital Communications and Technical Operations (2023-ongoing)

I ensure the website is updated as well as send out email newsletters and bulletins to supporters and prospects to ensure a leading digital presence in the UK’s upcoming General Election.
More details below.

Process improvements

Documentation

I work closely with the Business Development & Operations Manager to streamline processes, including efficient delivery management.
I created an organised way to analyse data across the party's digital footprint, including website, social media, volunteers and email distribution. I reorganised the internal Google Drive and put processes in place in terms of storage, organisation, member access, member collaboration and limited access to confidential information.
Heavily improved the way that volunteers interact with each other: moved collaboration from email to shared docs by 50% and thereby increased efficiency by 70%. Leadership can now easily view output data rather than relying on one volunteer to access the information.

Documents portal

Communication, Digital

I recognised there was a gap in how information was distributed to persons interested in the party (outside of the website), how they can get involved and what actions they can take.
I created an 'internal' portal that contains the party's mission, values and strategy as well as relevant documents and a toolkit for candidates, volunteers and fundraisers.
Those who are interested in joining the party in whatever form are provided with a link to access all materials. This has resulted in a reduction of administrative tasks with each new joiner, who can be effective from the start.

Website maintenance

Communication, Digital

Update the website content to keep it relevant and find a way to easily follow up with interested volunteers.
1. Update the news section and added newsletter archive.
2. Simplified the process of obtaining volunteer information and created workarounds with Squarespace limitations.
3. Reviewed digital carbon footprint and in the process of reducing costs and carbon emissions.
1. Visitors to the website can stay up-to-date with the Climate Party's messaging.
2. A clear process is now in place to follow up with volunteers using an application form and a clean hand-off process.
3. In the process of moving the website to a regional host that uses 100% renewable energy and a more energy efficient CMS, with the aim to reduce the website's footprint from an E carbon rating and 0.71g of CO2 output (dirtier than 65% global webpages) to a B rating - TBC. Source Website carbon calculator

Data retention policy and schedule

Documentation

The party has various ways of collecting people's information that is stored in 2 separate places. There isn't a coherent way in how this data is used and retained.
I created a data retention policy and accompanying schedule that sets out the Climate Party's legal requirements, PII that can be held, when the information can be used, data retention review, archival and deletion of the data and subject access request process.
The Climate Party now has a clearly set out process of handling a person's data, including timelines of when this data must be deleted in order to protect said data.

Canvassing

Communication

Canvassed during the July 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election and ensured website was updated in the run-up to the by-election.
Leaflet drops to roughly 200 households in an afternoon and interacted with potential voters. Joined the count on the night of the vote.
Obtained a small number of votes and learned more about the election process.

Website creation

Communication, Digital

Create website for Climate Party leader.
I transferred his domain and web hosting services to a local host, run on renewable energy. I then created a website using WordPress taking into account the energy data transfer of the contents of the website.
Moving to a 100% renewable energy domain host has reduced the carbon footprint by at least 9%. The website emits 0.57g of CO2/view, which is cleaner than 43% of pages tested via Website Carbon. The Climate Party leader can now use the website in his election campaigns, which contains information on his past experiences, what he stands for and ways to contact him.