The study days opened with a presentation by Adriana Rus, ECPP Events Manager, who introduced ECPP and explained its role within European politics. She outlined the legal statute of a European political party and clarified the distinction between Europarties and political groups in the European Parliament. Ms. Rus underlined that Familien Partei is part of a broader European network of parties and individuals motivated by Christian values. She presented the Study Days as a commitment by ECPP to invest in the development of its member parties, emphasising the importance of organisational stability—both financial and human—in order to achieve sustained electoral success and increased political representation over time.

Juliana Heinrichs followed with a presentation on the role of community and community-building in party development and member engagement. She stressed that political parties operate with limited resources, particularly time and volunteers, making volunteer engagement essential for long-term success. Ms. Heinrichs highlighted that volunteers are often the most effective carriers of a party’s vision and values. Investing in volunteers is therefore an investment in the future leadership of the party, ensuring continuity and resilience beyond its founding figures. She also emphasised the importance of mutual respect between party leadership and volunteers, including listening to their concerns, keeping them informed, expressing appreciation, and fostering a culture of trust and belonging.

The programme continued with a session led by Joshua Heinrichs, consultant in business, politics, and leadership, who presented an analysis of the current state of volunteer engagement. He began by reflecting on the definition of volunteering as service without financial compensation and noted that political parties cannot function without committed volunteers. Framing politics as a form of public service, he argued that those already serving voluntarily are often best equipped to attract new volunteers. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their party’s identity, the motivations of their volunteers, long-term involvement, and leadership development. Joshua highlighted the importance of understanding why people join, how they grow within the party, and how faith, values, and learning shape their engagement over time.

Mr. Heinrichs also addressed the importance of nurturing a strong community through both formal and informal interactions, such as rallies, conferences, and personal relationships beyond official party moments. He encouraged reflection on barriers to participation and how to improve volunteer engagement, quality, and retention. Emphasis was placed on the need for training volunteers, clearly communicating the party’s mission, vision, and values, and offering varied opportunities for involvement based on individual capacities and motivations. He introduced the concept of an engagement journey, distinguishing between voters, party members, volunteers, and community allies, and highlighted the importance of offering clear and accessible pathways for deeper involvement in the party.

The second day featured Klariska ten Napel, city councillor in Zwolle for ChristenUnie (NL), former president of ECPYouth and public speaker trainer, who shared insights from the experience of ChristenUnie as a Christian political party with strong national, regional, and local representation. She explained how ChristenUnie built a strong volunteer base by maintaining a clear identity rooted in its foundational principles, achieving and communicating tangible political results, and prioritising relationships within the party. Ms. Ten Napel emphasised that clarity about values and identity provides both direction and recognition for members, while visible results demonstrate impact and attract broader support.

Ms. Ten Napel also highlighted the central role people play in party growth, noting that political engagement should be marked by positivity, authenticity, and genuine relationships. Active members, she stressed, are the party’s most valuable ambassadors, as people are drawn to people rather than abstract structures. She underlined the importance of strong local networks, particularly in contexts where media exposure is limited, and encouraged participants to identify their party’s core regions, potential growth areas, and existing networks. By mapping these connections and understanding the hopes and concerns of different groups, parties can more effectively connect identity, impact, and community in their outreach and engagement.