Find out who represents you and how to gain their support. You can also use these techniques to influence other decision makers.
Getting political support
Find your political representatives
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
The Scottish Parliament has devolved powers. This means the parliament can pass laws and make decisions in certain areas, including housing.
You will have:
1 constituency MSP
several regional MSPs
Your constituency MSP is the person who received a majority vote in your local area to represent you in parliament. The regional MSPs have also been voted in by people in your larger area and represent different parties.
Most MSPs are in their local area on Fridays. This is often when they hold their surgery. A surgery is a chance for people in the local area to meet their MSPs and raise any issues they have.
See if they have supported similar issues in the past by looking at their:
social media accounts
voting history
speeches in parliament
Members of Parliament (MPs)
Everyone in the UK will have 1 MP who represents them at Westminster. Your MP is the candidate that your community selected to represent them.
Most MPs hold surgeries in their local area on Fridays, giving you a chance to meet them and highlight your issues.
Councillors
You are also represented by councillors at a local government level. Local government can make decisions on things like housing and planning.
Scotland has 23 local authorities, known as councils. Each council is split into wards. Each ward is made up of 3 or 4 councillors, who have been voted in by the local community.
It's best to get in touch with your councillors to check the days and times of their surgery.
You can usually find your councillors’ contact details on your council’s website.
Write an influential letter
A personal letter outlining your campaign and asks can make a big difference.
Include your name and address
This is especially important if you are writing to a politician. This helps them check that you are a constituent in their area.
Keep it short
Try to keep anything you send to an A4 page or less. Focus on your key campaign issues and asks.
If you feel you need to have more information, you can attach an extra document with all the information. This is known as a briefing paper.
Make it personal
Facts and figures do have a place, but your decision maker will likely pay more attention to a personal and passionate call to action. You can include a personal testimony or a quote in your letter. If you’ve surveyed local residents you could say: 'we have surveyed residents in our area, and the vast majority of them have experienced this issue.'
Stick to the key points
Before you write your letter, start by writing a list of the key points you want to get across.
Try to keep the letter focussed on:
the issue
how it's affecting you and your group
what the solutions are
how your recipient can help
Have a clear ask
Be clear about what you are asking your recipient to do.
Do they have the power to influence this issue, or if you need them to put pressure on someone else?
You can also include when you need a response by.
Make it easy to read
Avoid using any jargon. Your letter should be clear, succinct and easy to read.
Add relevant background information
For example:
how long the issue has been going on for
when and why your group was formed
any past actions relating to the issue
Check for accuracy
Read over your letter and check your spelling. Double check your recipient's name, title and contact details are correct.
Your local community organiser can check your letter before you send it.
Email housingrightsdefenders@shelter.org.uk to be connected with your local organiser.
Include any positive connections
If you know of anything that your recipient has already done to fix the issue or support similar campaigns mention it in your letter.
Meeting a politician
Meeting a politician or other decision maker helps raise awareness of your housing issue and push for change.
Do your research
Find out a bit about your politician ahead of your meeting.
Have a few dates in mind
Politicians’ diaries are often full weeks in advance so it's important to plan ahead.
Start by knowing when your politician is likely to be free (MSPs and MPs are usually in their constituency on Fridays). Then agree on 2 or 3 dates and times that work for your group. This means you can be flexible around your politician’s diary.
Know how to contact them
Email or phone is usually the best way to arrange a meeting. Or you can attend a drop-in surgery.
Do not be disappointed if you reach out and do not hear directly from your target. It's common for secretaries and researchers to plan in meetings and events, so you are likely to hear from them in the first instance.
Making the meeting request
When you contact your politician to request a meeting, include information about your group and what it is you want to discuss. If you have specific questions you want them to answer, let them know in advance. This will give them time to prepare a more informed response.
You can find more tips in the write an influential letter section.
Write a briefing paper
Try to keep your briefing paper down to an A4 sheet with the key points that you plan to get across in your meeting. Keep this handy in your meeting.
You can choose to send your politician your briefing paper ahead of your meeting.
Your local community organiser can help you write a briefing paper.
Email housingrightsdefenders@shelter.org.uk to be connected with your local organiser.
Prepare your key asks and actions
You want their support, but you also want them to take action. For example, you can ask them to:
publicly support your campaign
encourage others to support your campaign
make a statement in parliament
push for a change in law or policy
Include your asks in your briefing paper and ask them at the meeting.
Prepare your counter-arguments
Discuss as a group what responses your politician might have to your campaign asks, both positive and negative. Spend some time thinking of possible ways to respond and have them prepared.
Practice makes perfect
You could set aside one of your campaign group meetings to practise what you want to say to help everyone feel confident before the meeting.
You can also ask your local community organiser to join your campaign group meeting to provide some tips and coaching.
Email housingrightsdefenders@shelter.org.uk to be connected with your local organiser.
Be early
Be prepared to meet later or earlier than planned. A tip is to plan to be ready 30 minutes before your meeting, to allow for any flexibility needed.
Be honest
Be honest if you, or a group member, are asked a question during the meeting that you're not sure of the answer to. Answering incorrectly could lose credibility for your campaign. Instead explain that you will need to come back to them on this point, and email them as soon as you can after your meeting with more information.
Share it on social media
Use your meeting as a photo opportunity. You could ask your politician for a photo with you, and post it on social media (remember to tag them). If you have a campaign hashtag, use that too!