Building the Network is the most important and more quantitative expression of what the NST does. We want to keep growing the Network, not just to look good with numbers, but because we believe being part of a local expression of SPEAK is a positive and challenging experience for people, part of a journey of radical discipleship to becoming an effective change maker in society.

We do this in the following ways:

• Networking at events, especially ones with young Christian students where people might not have heard of SPEAK before
• Mobilising and inviting people to Soundcheck
• Ensuring that our preparation for Soundcheck enables people to get involved locally after attending. E.g. good presentations of what SPEAK Groups and Links are.
• Timely and thorough post-Soundcheck follow up.
• Taking stalls to festivals.
• Constantly building relationships with new people who are getting involved in SPEAK
• Vision sharing to encourage new people in to the Network

It’s important to remember that there are at the same time as we are encouraging people in to the Network, the fact will remain that others will be leaving (going abroad, getting older etc) and that if we are not looking out to new audiences, very quickly, SPEAK will start withering away. It is all of our responsibilities to engage people in SPEAK and connect them up locally, and to the parts of SPEAK they are most passionate about.

Developing the Network is more qualitative and comes later in the process. Once people are involved, we want to encourage a deeper commitment to the values and campaigns so that the local expressions of SPEAK grow in depth and constantly challenge those around them. We also want people to grow in an understanding of the national network and how they can participate in developing it’s direction, whilst understanding the responsibility that comes with that.

This is done through

• Constant relationship building, through supporting Groups and Links
• Discipleship and Faith Sharing input.
• Vocal Training and Vocal Training mobilisation and follow up.  
• Encouraging group leaders and petal leaders against the odds. If we all gave up at the challenges we face in life, we’d never get anywhere.
• Through on site training: visiting groups and equipping them to express the core values and increase their understanding of the issues and maintain a group

Our success as the Network Support Team can be measured against the success of these indicators. For example, how many people come to our events, how many sign ups we get at the festivals, how active groups are after Soundcheck or receiving On Site training.

This section summarises what it means to build and develop the network by linking to some of the other content on the website. For more indepth information on what it means to be part of the Network Support Team, have a look at the Being on the NST section