Delivering strategic communications to make your organisation shine.
Claire Aston
Strategic Communications Consultant
A strategic communications professional with over 20 years' experience in the NGO sector and beyond, I can help organisations achieve their objectives through clear, targeted, communication.
​
A change communications expert, I have global experience of virtual working and managing, and ensuring stakeholders are engaged well.
​
I'll listen to your needs, and create a plan to tell the right story, to the right audience, using the right channels, at the right time.
​
Clear, calm and collaborative, I can hold the big strategic picture, whilst honing in on the detail. With experience in delivering media and PR across advocacy, fundraising and supporter engagement projects, I can provide a plan that will enable you to deliver your objectives.
​
A trained print journalist, I can also find the story in any project and deliver that to your target audience with clear and engaging copy.
About Me
Strategic Communications Professional
An experienced senior communications professional, I went freelance in May 2020 to help a wider variety of organisations to shine through their communications. Whilst I’d been planning the leap for over a year, the pandemic highlighted just how vital clear, targeted communications are for any organisation - whatever the sector.
​
I’ve spent my first freelance year supporting organisations with their storytelling, their communication strategies, and their copywriting – using virtual working skills honed as Head of Strategic Communications at Christian Aid (pictured).
Whether it’s a global corporate trying to engage thousands of employees suddenly working from home or a small charity wondering how to reach its now virtual supporters, the need for strategic communications support is high.
​
My skills lie in helping a team – at senior leadership or project level – see what it takes to build a clear communications strategy that can engage their audience. And, if they are overwhelmed with the amount of new content to create, settling down to some copywriting.
I can bridge different sectors and am building a client base that encompasses small charities, Church of England Dioceses, and a couple of larger corporate clients. My ability to make connections across sectors, and follow trends, means I bring a useful external perspective.
​
As organisations continue to evaluate the impact of Covid, I can also call on my experience of change management – I led Christian Aid’s external stakeholders global communications plan during a major strategic review and enjoy the challenge of bringing audiences with me.
My background is in charity communications - I've run communications, media & PR teams in England and Scotland, delivering comprehensive & high-quality coverage for organisations and coalitions such as Stop Climate Chaos & the DEC.
​
Before all that, I trained as a print journalist, cutting my teeth on The Church of England Newspaper, for whom I reported from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
​
Known for my calm and collaborative leadership style, I enjoy building a sense of team, even virtually (although actual coffee meetings are my favourite).
​
I have a BSc in Psychology from Southampton University, and a PostGraduate Certificate in Charity Marketing and Fundraising from London South Bank University.
​
​With a lifelong interest in education, I'm a governor of my local Church of England Primary school and am even more in awe of teachers than I was pre-pandemic. My focus on the governing body is to work on vision and values, personnel, and leadership development.
Testimonials
What my recent clients and colleagues say about working with me...
Contact Claire
Communications strategy thrown up in the air?
Overwhelmed by the sudden need to produce engaging copy?
There's always a communications challenge...
Book a free 30 minute consultation to see how I can help.
+44 7961 303481