Presentation Transcript

1. Contacting Politicians

   A brief guide to how to MAKE politicians change the world!
2. What is Campaigning Working with other people to Get more of the things you like Stop the things you don’t like Free bus travel Cuts In benefits Cuts in services

3. What do you want to change?Voting Session

4. What issues matter to you now? Disability Living Allowance Changes and Cuts Cuts in support from councils Making sure that every person with a disability gets a bus pass. 20 of 30
5. Who is your elected councillor or politician? Spoilt for choice Everybody has 3 or 4 councillors 8 Members of the Scottish Parliament 1 Member of the UK Parliament 6 Members of the European Parliament
6. How to find them Easiest is through the web www.writetothem.com Or through your local council website Or you can phone the council or the Scottish Parliament and ask.
7. Internet Exercise Ask for a volunteer with their own postcode Go to www.writetothem.com Type in postcode and display list of politicians Write down list Repeat for other participants
8. Handouts Distribute individual sheets with names and address of politicians.
9. How can they help you? Different politicians can help you in different ways for different things. Some politicians are not allowed to interfere with other people’s business. Some politicians can raise general concerns over your problems – such as in the cross party groups.
10. Local Council are in charge of Direct and Care Services – home care, overnight care, supported accommodation. Education Services - schools, nurseries, free school meals Leisure and Culture - sports facilities, libraries Land and Environmental Services - parks, roads, street lights, bins, street-cleaning Social Work Services – assessments and social workers
11. Examples Local Area Coordinators are the responsibility of the council even if they are employed by someone else. If your local library is being closed down then it is the council’s decision If you want to speak at local schools to help young people stop bullying then you need to speak to the council.
12. The Scottish Parliament is in charge of Education and training Health Housing The Scottish legal system Local government Natural and built heritage Social work Transport Tourism and economic development
13. Examples The Scottish Parliament decides on who is able to get the Free Bus Travel Pass If you want to see social work or housing get more money to help people you need to speak to the Scottish Parliament. When a law is bad or doesn’t work properly then the Scottish Parliament can fix it.
14. The UK Parliament is in charge of The benefits system Defence and national security Work Pensions Justice International development Foreign policy Culture, media and sport Energy
15. Examples It is the Westminster Parliament that decided we should go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan Your Member of Parliament will help decide on how benefits like Disability Living Allowance will change.
16. How are you going to tell them Meet them In their surgery By appointment Write to them By post By email Phone them Petitions, deputations, in the street
17. Getting the Message across Good key points will be Simple Easy to understand At the start of each paragraph No more than 5 points but 3 is even better Aim for clarity, strong argument and quality
18. Group Exercise Same Groups based on issue you chose Talk about what points you would like to make Make a list of points Describe someone who might be affected
19. Exercise 3 Groups – everyone who voted for issue in same group – someone should take notes. Talk about the issue you wanted to change What exactly is the Subject of your concern What are the Key Points you want to make Which politician is best to contact about this subject What do you want them to do
20. USE THE GOOD BOOKS TO HELP GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS – Use statistics or comparative numbers such as “This is the worst ever cut” or “70% of people use respite care” THE BIBLE – Use a report or a reputable organisation as a source for your information “The National Centre for Bullying states that too many people are hurt by bullying.” DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS - Use a phrase or a saying by a famous person to make your point, “Walter Smith, Manager of Rangers Football Club said “everyone should be able to get a game of football.”
21. Example Letter on Disability Living Allowance Cuts I am writing to you because I am very concerned about the proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance that will see people living in care homes lose their mobility element. I know this has been delayed but it may still happen in 2013. If it does it will leave many people much worse off and without the ability to use the money to get out and about in their local community. I have a learning disability and have to rely on public transport to get around. There are lots of extra costs that people with disabilities have, from additional heating to more food costs. Losing this benefit will make it very difficult for the people affected.
22. Sample Letters Here are some sample letters that you can send. There are ones on each issue Put your address at the top Put your name at the bottom Address the envelope.
23. The END We have found a sample issue Looked at how to find your councillors or MSPs Seen how we could contact them Actually sent a letter All we need to do now is…… Get Out There And Do It Again and Again!