Guide to political engagement for voluntary sector (2010)
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here to download the PDF version of this resource 95kb)
Step 1: Finding out who your elected representatives
are.
To find out who your local Councillors are:
Telephone your local authority (council) and
ask for information on who your local Councillors are. You
might want to identify them by ward (eg. where your service is
located) and/or area of responsibility.
www: go online and look for the 'elected
representatives' 'council and democracy' or 'democratic services'
sections on your local authority website. Local authority
websites end in the suffix '.gov.uk' So for example
the London Borough of Camden's website is: www.camden.gov.uk
In the capital, London Councils produce an annual directory
which lists details of many London organisations relevant to your
work. The current directory can be accessed online here or you
can order a hard copy direct from London Councils.
Your local authority will also have elected members who
participate in local or regional networks that influence issues in
which you are interested such as the local Police Authority or the
Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.
To find out who your local MP is:
- Telephone the local constituency office.
- Or telephone the House of Commons Information Office on 020
7219 4272.
If you already know the name of your local MP and wish to be put
through to their office call the House of Commons switchboard on:
020 7219 3000.
- www: go online and access one of the following
websites where you can search to find out who your local MP
is:
To find out about elected Members of regional
assemblies:
Click here to find out more about London Assembly members
Click
here to find out about Welsh Assembly Members
Click here to find out about Scottish Parliament Members
Click
here to find out about Northern Ireland Assembly Members
Step 2 - identify your purpose for contacting your
elected representative and the method you will use.
Face to face contact
Useful method to develop and build a relationship with your
elected representatives.
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For example: meeting with an MP
You could try to make an appointment with an MP to gain support
and help for:
a) specific survivors of violence and abuse;
b) your organisation on a specific campaign or appeal (eg
service facing closure, fundraising etc.)
c) a campaign; early day motion or piece of legislation that
concerns violence against women, or will impact on the services
delivered to service users.
You can do this by attending their constituency surgeries.
(These usually take place on a weekly or biweekly basis).
It is usually best to send your MP a letter before you go to
their surgery so they are aware of the issue you wish to raise with
them.
Arranging the meeting
You can find out when your MP has their surgery by:
- checking their website
- telephoning their office
- or dates of surgeries may be printed in your local
newspaper.
Then arrange an appointment to see them.
Be prepared
Make best use of this opportunity. Be ready to answer
questions your MP may have and keep discussions polite and
straightforward.
At the meeting
Remember that attending surgeries are a powerful way of
delivering a message to your MP and can have a lot of impact.
If you have written to your MP before you go to see them do not
be surprised if they have a copy of your letter and a copy of any
document you pointed to in your letter.
Don't exaggerate, be rude or arrogant or allude to
conspiracies. It won't help!
Don't make threats such as 'if you don't do what I need you to
do I won't vote for you'. MPs regardless of the size of their
majority are rarely swayed by this. It is your job to
persuade not to threaten.
It can be very helpful to give data/statistics which you collect
to support your case. If using specific cases, you might want
to read AVAs media guidance for using survivors in the media. www.avaproject.org.uk or email info@avaproject.org.uk for a
copy.
Be specific. Don't just have a general moan. Detail
exactly what the issue is and if you are unhappy, why. Eg
particular section of a Bill or a particular response your client
received from a statutory agency. Show you know your subject,
but if you don't know some thing say you don't know and will get
back to them. Do not make up an answer. Do not
digress. Keep focused.
You can ask the MP to write to the appropriate
Government Minister on your behalf, asking what is being
done, or will be done to address your concerns.
Or you can request that the MP ask a parliamentary
question to get information from the Government to press
for change on an issue.
Similarly, you may ask them to table an Early Day
Motion[1] which can
be used to publicise a particular issue, draw attention to a
specific event or campaign to MPs, and be used as an indicator of
the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point
of view.
You could ask them to consider introducing a Private Members'
Bill. If your MP becomes aware that your problem is a common one
then he or she may try to gain the opportunity to introduce a
Private Member's Bill . Although only a very few such measures are
successful, publicity is drawn to the matter and the Minister may
be persuaded to make changes in the future.
After the meeting
After you have finished the meeting it is a good idea to jot
some notes down about what was said and what, if any actions, were
agreed.
Follow-up your meeting with your MP either with an email or a
letter of thanks for the meeting and stating that you hope that you
will be able to contact them again on future issues of
interest.
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Other forms of face-to-face contact could be: sending an
MP/Cllr./Assembly Member an invitation to visit your organisation
(if appropriate). Make them feel welcome. This can help
to increase their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the
value of services you provide to survivors.
If you have already gained a local elected representatives'
support for a campaign you are running you may want to ask them if
they would be willing to make a formal statement of support or if
they would be willing to show their support by speaking to the
media o your behalf.
Electronic contact
There are lots of web-based lobbying and campaign tools which
can help raise the profile of your organisation and the aims and
objectives you are trying to further.
You can also use email to stay in regular contact with elected
representatives. Most public authorities and elected members
will aim to respond to requests, or acknowledge requests within 10
working days.
It is also a good idea to sign up for regular alerts from
organisations. Most will have an update service. For
example, www.parliament.uk
you can sign up for a range of email alerts. For example:
Hansard, timetabling of debates etc.
www.theyworkforyou.com
you can sign up for alerts and pick out key words (eg. domestic
violence) and receive updates whenever these are mentioned in
Parliament. There is also an option to receive updates
whenever a particular member of Parliament speaks / votes.
http://www.info4local.gov.uk/
you can sign up for alerts to get information, press releases and
publications from central government departments, agencies and
public bodies.
By letter
Contacting your MP by letter allows you to express your concerns
clearly and in detail. It also gives you, and your MP a paper
record of the issue you wish them to address.
When you write to your MP or your MEP you are entitled to a
response. If you do not get one you should follow the matter
up.
All MPs have Westminster offices and will make arrangements for
their mail to be dealt with or redirected when they are away from
London, so it is much better to write to them there than to their
constituency office or at their home address.
When writing to any MP the address to use is: House of Commons,
London, SW1A 0AA
How to address your MP
Address the letter using their name followed by "MP‟. Then
simply begin the letter 'Dear' followed by their name only. For
example: Jean Smith MP and then Dear Ms Smith.
If your MP is a member of the Cabinet or Shadow Cabinet, their
name should be prefixed by 'Rt. Hon.' You should still begin
letters to these MPs with 'Dear' followed by their name only.
Example: Rt. Hon. Jean Smith MP. Dear Ms Smith,
Writing to your MP - top tips
- Keep letters brief and to the point. Preferably keep to one
side of A4
- Use evidence to support your case
- Use bullet points to highlight your main points
- Be clear about what you are asking your MP to do
- Be polite and courteous
- If your MP has made any statements / comments about the issue
you are concerned about, mention it. For example 'I was / we were
encouraged to hear your comments on making sexual violence a
Government priority..'
- If you or anyone you are working with is involved in addressing
the issue of concern, mention your involvement. For example, if
you're concerned about a lack of funding for rape crisis centres
and help to raise money or give talks to local community groups,
mention this in your letter
- Ensure you personally sign your letter, and make sure you
include your address and contact details so that your MP knows you
are a constituent
- If you want one and it's appropriate to, ask for a meeting
- Ask for a reply!
- Don't write to other MPs, only to your own. MPs aren't required
even to read letters from non-constituents
- Form a positive relationship with an MP‟s staff. Your MPs
Secretary, or researcher will often be your first point of contact.
These people decide which letters need to be seen by the MP and
manage their diary. Get them on your side.
Phoning your MP
If you have a simple question phoning your MPs office might be a
more efficient way of contacting them and might get a faster
response. To speak to the relevant office, or leave a message,
phone the House of Commons switchboard on 020 7219 3000 and ask for
your MP by name. You may also contact your MP through their local
constituency office. Addresses and contact numbers will be listed
in local libraries, town halls, an MP's personal website or through
the House of Commons Information Office.
Lobbying
Lobbying is when individuals and organisations try to influence
the opinions of elected representatives. Methods of lobbying
vary and can range from sending letters, making presentations,
providing briefing material to Members and organised rallies.
Anyone can lobby an elected member.
You can also use the Register of All Party Groups to see which
subjects MPs and Lords are particularly interested in.
Click here to look at the register of all Part Parliamentary groups
please.
All of the methods discussed above can get positive results. The
resulting publicity can often help to change a Ministers mind on a
given issue.
Resources and organisations that provide updates useful
to voluntary sector
Amnesty International UK
Stop Violence Against Women Campaign
Click
here for details
AVA
Produce a monthly e-newsletter for practitioners which includes
policy and research updates and much more. To be added to the
e-list please visit www.avaproject.org.uk for
further details.
DirectGov
Public services in one place. Gives information on central
and local Government.
www.direct.gov.uk
Eaves
A London based feminist organisation providing a range of
services and support to abused women and children.
http://www.eaves4women.co.uk/
Fawcett Society
Fawcett campaigns for equality between women and men in the UK
on pay, pensions, poverty, justice and politics.
www.fawcettsociety.org.uk
Imkaan
Second tier national charity, specialising in domestic
violence. They lobby on behalf of Asian women and children
experiencing domestic violence and support Asian women's refuges
and organisations.
www.imkaan.org.uk
Justice for Women
A feminist organisation that campaigns and supports women who
have fought back against or killed violent male partners.
www.jfw.org.uk
London Councils Alerts
London Councils provides an email service which allows you to
keep up-to-date on topics you find of particular interest. To
register visit www.londoncouncils.gov.uk
London Feminist Network
A women only networking and campaigning organisation.
Organise the Annual Reclaim the Night march. Be part of
it!
www.ldnfeministnetwork.ik.com
National Alliance of Women's Organisations
(NAWO)
An umbrella organisation for over 100 organisations and
individuals based in England. All members are concerned
to ensure women gain access to their human
rights, and to make
equality between women and men a
reality.
www.nawo.org.uk
National Union of Student's (NUS) women's
campaign
http://www.nusonline.co.uk/campaigns/womenscampaign/269684.aspx
Object
Challenges the portrayal of women as sexual objects
www.object.org.uk
Refuge
National domestic violence organisation provides a range of
domestic violence services including policy and research.
www.refuge.org.uk
Respect
Is the UK membership association for domestic violence
perpetrator programmes and associated support services.
Members and Associate Members can receive policy and research
updates. For further information about Respect please visit
www.respect.uk.net
Rights of Women
Works to attain justice and equality by informing, educating and
empowering women on their legal rights.
www.row.org.uk
WiredGov
Government and public sector updates. Can register for email
updates or view content online. www.wired-gov.net
Women in London
A directory of London based women's groups and news of their
work and activities (including campaigns; events etc).
http://www.womeninlondon.org.uk
Women in Prison
A campaigning organisation providing support for women in
prison
www.womeninprison.org.uk/
Women's Human Rights Net
www.whrnet.org
Women's Aid
National domestic violence organisation provides a range of
domestic violence services including policy briefings and research
reports.
www.womensaid.org.uk
Women's Resource Centre
A membership-based, second-tier organisation providing
infrastructure support, information and capacity building to
voluntary sector women's organisations.
www.wrc.org.uk
Women's National Commission is the official,
independent, advisory body giving the views of women to the
Government.
www.thewnc.org.uk/
Sources of information on building a
campaign
BBC action network - A-Z of campaigning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A5927970
Women's rights page
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A2398700
E-campaigning forum.
Pick up tips.
http://www.fairsay.com/labs/ecf/emaillist
ICELE
http://www.icele.org/site/index.php
[1] Early Day Motions (EDMs) are formal
motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very
few EDMs are actually debated. Instead, they are used for reasons
such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention
to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of
parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view. An
MP can add their signature to an EDM to show their support. They
can also submit amendments to an existing EDM. For more details
click here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/edmi/
