Campaigning
Campaigning
This page has been created to provide resources and guidance for DDPOs who want to campaign. There is plenty of guidance out there, from top tips to toolkits to case studies of previous successful campaigns. We hope to save you some time by putting them in one place. You may also be interested in our Lobbying section.
On this page:
- Campaigning v. awareness-raising
- Top Tips
- The BIG issues
- It’s all in the timing
- Tool Kits
- Campaigning gaps and how to avoid them
- Making your campaign Inclusive and Accessible
- Getting Skilled UP
- On-going disability campaigns
- e-petitions
- Information-sharing
- Miscellaneous resources
Campaigning v. awareness-raising
Campaigns are generally a response to an urgent problem that has to be made public in order to be resolved. We believe that there are a number of significant issues affecting DDPOs and Deaf and disabled people that need a campaign approach.
Non-urgent problems may require education or information, but they are unlikely to justify campaigns; these need awareness-raising activities.
For more information about whether you need to campaign or raise awareness, go to www.campaignstrategy.org
Top Tips
If you do not have time for detailed research, why not start with some Top Tip guidance. The following organisations all have a ‘Top Tips’ section; follow the links below:
Sheila McKechnie Foundation www.campaigncentral.org.uk/know-how/smks-top-10-campaigning-tips
Saul Salinsky www.campaigncentral.org.uk/know-how/saul-alinskys-rules-radicals
The BIG issues
The following are all key issues that Deaf and disabled people are already campaigning about:
- Cuts to social care and independent living support
- Cuts to Welfare benefits and rights
- Abuse of Deaf and disabled peoples Human rights
- Cuts to funding to DDPOs and other key services like accessible transport
- Disability Hate crime
Inclusion London’s News page will keep you up to date on the big issues affecting DDPOs and Deaf and disabled people; go to www.inclusionlondon.co.uk/News
Inclusion London also has a monthly News Update, which provides information on disability news, funding and policy updates. You can sign up to this email list by completing the simple form on the News page.
The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) have produced a document ‘Campaigns in Action’ (March 2011) that provides background information on disabled people’s campaigning history and the issues affecting Deaf and disabled people today. For a PDF of the document, go to www.allfie.org.uk/docs/Campaigns%20in%20Action.pdf
It’s all in the timing
You can maximise your impact by linking your activities to the different stages which new legislation passes though. Look at: www.parliament.uk/business/bills-and-legislation
We think that the following are key pieces of legislation that you should keep an eye on:
Tool Kits
There are numerous tool kits available on the web, and whether or not they specifically relate to disability issues, the campaigning framework remains the same.
The following are just a selection of ones that we have identified:
- KnowHow Non Profit website lists a range of key questions to ask yourself to help you to plan your campaign; go to www.knowhownonprofit.org/campaigns
RNIB Campaign Tool Kit, which you can download in Word format; from www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign
NCVO also produce a range of resources which you can use to help you plan your campaign, including:
a. 10 tips on campaigning
b. ‘Free Dave?’ videos for people who are completely new to campaigning
c. Various factsheets, including how to involve users and write policy briefings
d. Trustee guide to campaigning and influencing
These can be found at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/campaigning
- Campaign Central is an online community for campaigners and contains a mix of resources and networking opportunities with other campaigners. The Home page also has a link to The Law and Campaigning with advice on understanding your rights and legal restrictions; go to www.campaigncentral.org.uk
Campaigning gaps and how to avoid them
We know that we have overworked campaign staff and volunteers, short lead times, low budgets, shifting priorities, and more. These constraints will not go away, but by addressing some of the campaigning gaps and avoiding some common mistakes, it may give campaigners the space to be even more effective. Look at:
www.fairsay.com/tools/campaigning-insights/mind-the-gap-the-most-common-campaigning-mistakes
Making your campaign Inclusive and Accessible
Some people may be new to the idea of campaigning; you can use the 'Free Dave?' video resource available at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/freedave as a tool to help you explain and engage with a wide range of people.
ALLFIE has also produced a guide to help groups and organisations discuss and plan how they can develop a sustainable approach to being accessible within restricted means. To download the PDF, go to www.allfie.org.uk/docs/Inclusion%20Standards.pdf
Getting Skilled UP
Inclusion London is currently working with the Speakers trust to develop a public speaking trainins session for DDPOs (people working in them) to enhance their skills to speak as campaigners and lobbyist.
www.speakerstrust.org/index.php?cmd=CMS&sub=home
On-going disability campaigns
Inclusion London's letter to Leveson inquiry
Inclusion London, together with 10 supporting organisations and networks of disabled people made a submission to the Leveson inquiry to voice our growing alarm and concern at the increasingly hostile and inaccurate portrayal of disabled people in the media, and what we believe are clear links between this media coverage and the rise in harassment and hate crime of disabled people. We also share a wider concern about the Government’s apparent role in contributing to this sustained level of unfair and inaccurate reporting. You can download the letter from our News page: www.inclusionlondon.co.uk/
Disabled People against the Cuts (DPAC) is a national campaign group that has been set up as a direct response to the welfare cuts, in order to fight for justice and the human rights for all disabled people; see www.dpac.uk.net
The ‘Hardest Hit’ Campaign brings together disabled people and carers, and organisations and groups who represent them, to send a message to Government: “You are hitting disabled people and their families the hardest; stop these cuts”. http://thehardesthit.wordpress.com/about/
UK Uncut is a national campaign that links people together to organise local protests against the cuts. The website includes a list of local actions, and tips on how to organise a protest in your area; see www.ukuncut.org.uk
The Broken of Britain is a campaign that aims to be a transparent, non-partisan (ie, aligned to no political party) and representative voice for disabled people in the face of welfare reform; see http://thebrokenofbritain.blogspot.com/p/our-mission.html
Transport for All is a group that campaigns for accessible transport as a right; see www.transportforall.org.uk
TUC Online vigil for the NHS is a campaign to demonstrate against the threat to the NHS and the government's controversial Health and Social Care Bill as it receives its third reading in the House of Commons. They are calling for people to upload photographs to add their face to the campaign, which will then be made into a mosaic image and used to lobby parliament; see www.goingtowork.org.uk/nhs-mosaic/
Hammersmith and Fulham Campaign against Cuts (HAFCAC) is a local campaign group of disabled people in Hammersmith and Fulham; see www.hafcac.org.uk
Independent Living Fund
The ILF supports independent living for some 20,000 disabled people with the highest support needs across the UK, enabling real choice and control over how they live their lives and creating employment. It contributes to UK tax gains and public savings.
Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller, announced the permanent closure of the ILF to new applications in December 2010. Her statement then, and her recent statement of December 2011, point to the permanent closure of the ILF by 2015.
A Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) led campaign is being launched in February
Campaigners plan to deliver a letter signed by over 70 of the country’s major user-led disabled people’s organisations as well as around 400 individual disabled people and others to Maria Miller. The letter calls for the continuation after 2015 of a nationally transportable, ring-fenced funding stream to meet the additional costs of care and support for those with the highest needs.
Listen to UKuncut's interview with Anne Novis MBE:
"It covers affects of all the cuts on me as disabled person; ILF, care, hostility, housing and other issues like government policy, campaigning, new developments of online campaigns.
I also obviously give my own perspective on such issues.
It is not a speech just a personal perspective.
There is an extensive part of this interview on increased hostility as part of the experience so many of us are having now and violation of human rights."
Let us know
Let us know if you are running a local campaign that you would like us to add to this list, please contact Tess Mc Manus at Inclusion London:
Email: tess.mcmanus@inclusionlondon.co.uk
e-petitions
Petition re benefits/service cuts and the impact on disabled people
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968
Please take 2 minutes to help build support for this petition.
It asks for a stop and review of all benefit and service cuts that impact on disabled people.
We can get 100 000 signatures, starting with you!!!
Petition against the Cuts
Many sick and disabled people throughout Europe are having their lives destroyed by the removal of their benefits. This is NOT about scrounging (official statistics suggest that accounts for only 2% of claims) and isn't just about having to tighten our belts. This is about being left isolated, afraid and at risk, both physically and mentally and sometimes homeless. Far too many people have died; from the stress of the assessments and decisions alone, or from their consequences. The number of deaths may already be over a thousand in the UK, according to an article in the online Daily Mirror (Penland and Sommerlad Investigate) http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/ Certainly Disabled People Against the Cuts is aware of many suicides. If you believe that 21st century society should be more civilized than this, please sign up now. On our own, we are too isolated from each other and too few to make our voices heard. Your signature could help save lives. http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_stealing_disabled_peoples_benefits/
Pat's Petition
As you will be aware the government showed no respect for disabled people in the recent Welfare reform debates – overturning the hard won Lords amendments and stating they will use financial privilege rule to force through welfare reform - an unprecedented move that is possibly being challenged.
They were shocked because they thought we wouldn’t speak up, but they were wrong: activists across the board have united in challenging them on this disastrous attack on disability benefits.
For far too long, the government thought they could do what they liked to us. Now we are speaking up as one, the government is closing the debate down by extraordinary measures, so that we still feel unheard. If the government closes debate down, we believe we could all use Pat’s Petition to make sure we open it up again. It is a petition that will hopefully lead to a Peoples Debate.
So far, the petition has reached over 28,000 signatures to be number 15 out of over 11,000 petitions on the government e-petition site.
Support Pat’s Petition and take the debate right back to Westminster where they have to hear us.
If you can help raise awareness further please do contact me at - patspetition@gmail.com
e-petition
Public toilets suitable for all -
Make it a legal requirement for Local Authorities to provide them
Responsible department: Department for Communities and Local Government
The law currently allows, but does not compel Local Authorities to provide toilets. The situation is worsening; 40% of Public Toilets have closed in the last decade. Many people lead restricted lives because they cannot rely on access to a Public Toilet in the places and at the times required. There are rarely sufficient toilets for women, resulting in lengthy queues; elderly and disabled people cannot always find accessible toilets; provision for babies and children is inadequate; many toilets shut at inconvenient times. Lack of toilets can lead to street fouling; a major public health issue. "Community toilets" (toilets in private business premises) do not meet everyone's needs. Good public toilet provision will enable everyone to participate fully in civic life and will attract visitors and boost local economies. We want a law requiring Local Authorities to provide and maintain suitable, safe, clean and appropriately located Public Toilets with realistic opening hours.
To sign the petition visit: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/15258
Sign Allfie's Early Day Motion
Get your MP to sign this Inclusive Education support EDM number 2481.
www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2481
Information-sharing
Have you got an idea we could share with other DDPOs: for example, campaigns you have undertaken in the past or are planning in the future; success stories from previous campaigns, things you have worked for you; creative ideas for fundraising…?
If so, please let us know - contact Tess Mc Manus at Inclusion London:
Email: tess.mcmanus@inclusionlondon.co.uk
