Citizenship Having a say

1. CitizenshipHaving a say

2. Overview Unit 1: What political changes have happened for women during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? Unit 2: If there is still inequality today, how can we change this? Unit 3: How can local people change things? Unit 4: Who’s the greatest change-maker? Unit 5: What makes a change-maker successful? Unit 6: How will we take democratic action?

3. Unit 3How can local people change things?

4. Unit 3 overview • Key learning points • The struggle for gender equality has gone on for centuries and continues today.. • The UK political system has developed over time to give women more rights. • Women getting the vote is an example of people working together to bring about democratic change. • Many of the men and women involved in campaigning for the vote for women were ordinary citizens. • Today, a wide range of people, locally and nationally, continue to push for greater equality for women in life and work and a range of other issues using peaceful and democratic means. • Content covered in the lesson: • Who can help to make change? • The role of local MPs and local councillors in local change. • Research a local change-maker

5. How can we change inequality today? Recap Recap: Knowledge check 1. Who did Criado-Perez want to make a statue of? 2. Give one campaign strategy that she used. 3. What are the pros and cons of petitions?

6. MPs, local councillors, citizens Activity 1: What is the difference between your local MP and your local councillor? • Citizens can contact their MP or local councillor at any time or meet them and discuss issues they are concerned about or need help with.

7. Activity 2: Who can help to make change? Local MPs • Your MP is the link between you, your local area (constituency), Parliament and national government. Your MP will represent the interests of your constituency in Parliament and help to shape national laws and policy through debates and committee work. • Citizens can contact their MP at any time or meet them during a surgery (face-to-face meeting). You might persuade your MP to help you campaign on an issue you or your community are concerned about by: • Writing a letter to a government department on your behalf. • Requesting a meeting with a minister, e.g. the minister • for education. • Raising a question publicly in the House of Commons or at a committee. • Presenting a petition to the House of Commons on your behalf. • Adding their support to your campaign. Activity 2. Who is your local MP? Find out who your local MP is. What recent debates and campaigns has your MP been involved in? Can you find examples of your MP doing any of the actions listed here? Look at all of the case studies that go with this unit. Have any of the change-makers identified here lobbied their MP?

8. Your local council and councillors • Your local area is also represented by a council and councillors who are elected. Councillors often represent political parties, but can also be independent. These elected councillors will make decisions affecting the local area and are also responsible at local level for things like: • housing • healthcare at local level • emergency services at local level • day-to-day running of schools • parks and leisure • council tax • street and road repairs • social care • rubbish and waste disposal • pest control

9. Local government Government operates at a local as well as national level. Local government mirrors national government in how it is organised, with councillors (similar to MPs), a cabinet, committees and the involvement of citizens during elections and at other times. Many issues that people are concerned about, e.g. housing, waste and recycling, police, social care, planning, parking and leisure facilities, relate to services provided by local government. • Activity 3: Can you find out: • What is your council called? • Who is your councillor where you live? • Which party do they represent? • What are the opportunities for local citizens to be involved in local decision-making and services? • What issues are you concerned about in your local area?

10. Research a local change-maker: Citizens Many of the people involved in the struggle to achieve the vote for women were ordinary citizens in local communities around the country. They used the democratic process to press for change, including lobbying their local MPs and petitioning. The same is true today – a wide range of people continue to work for greater equality for women in life and work and other kinds of change to improve society at a local and national level. • Activity 4: Can you find out about change-makers in your area? • Choose one who you think is making the greatest difference and research their campaigning in detail. Use the ‘Research a change-maker’ recording sheet to help you. • What are they doing and why? What are they trying to achieve? How will they change your future?

11. How can local people change things? Plenary: What issue are you concerned about in your school or local community? What kind of change would you like to see? Why? Who would you approach to help you – your local MP, your local councillor, another member of the community or organisation? Why do you think they are best placed to help you?