Effective Advocacy Workshop: Campaigning and Lobbying for Change

1. Effective Advocacy Workshop on campaigning and lobbying for change Mike Kaye

2. Advocacy planning • Identify the problem and the key solutions; • Review the political environment (who has power, what is their attitude, limitations on their ability to make policy changes, etc.); • Set your objectives – make them SMART; • Decide on your strategy

3. Deciding the advocacy strategy 1. Grass roots campaigning 2. Coalition building 3. Influencing decision-makers 4. Media work

4. How advocacy tools reinforce each other

5. Effective Advocacy Tips on how to effectively engage with your MP

6. Making the case to MPs - evidence Reliable evidence and good analysis are essential to support advocacy positions and to counter arguments and assumptions. However, facts do not speak for themselves, they need to be communicated in a language that your MP will respond to. Presentation is therefore key to success. Consider the issue from their perspective. Linking your objective to one of their existing priorities or areas of interest will make it relevant to the MP. Place your objective within the existing policy framework wherever possible and try to present it as consistent with their established policy positions.

7. Making the case to MPs– do your research • Engage with the decision-maker by connecting with existing areas of interest; • Don’t ask for the impossible, but for things that the relevant decision-maker can do; • Know when you are being presented with an excuse or a genuine problem which makes it difficult to implement your proposal; • Establish credibilty with the decision-maker. • Even if your MP doesn’t agree with you they can still advocate for you and help you gain access to information that you may need (Government plans, statistics, budgets, forthcoming legislation, etc.).

8. Making the case to MPs • Communicate the benefit of pursuing your proposed policy (prestige, budgetary savings, avoiding political embarassment, simplicity, efficiency, etc.). • Be polite, but do not be intimidated. Remember that if you’ve done your research you are likely to know more than they do. • Be ready to answer direct questions, such as: What do you want me to do? How much will this cost? Who else supports this proposal?

9. What do you want me to do? Raise an issue with the Minister – private and personal Lobby internally for changes to their own parties policies or priorities Put down a Parliamentary Question, written or oral, or a PMQ or seek a debate Sponsor or support amendments to a Bill

10. Lobbying around the Immigration and Asylum Act, 1996 Case Study I

16. Lobbying around the Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999 Case Study II

27. Lobbying on the Health Act, 1999 Case Study III

28. Health Act, 2009 • Still Human drafted an amendment to the Health Bill which would grant refused asylum seekers' access to free secondary healthcare (2009-10), which was tabled by members of the House of Lords at Committee stage

31. Where can NACCOM add value? Through its unique ability to access statistical evidence, case studies and identify trends and systemic problems in relation to destitution By directly engaging with local decision makers, media and the general public and supporting asylum seekers and refugees to do the same By integrating its campaigns with existing local, regional and national advocacy work that is already taking place (e.g. RAA, Still Human, etc.)

32. What’s coming up? Queen’s speech (18 May) and extension of charging to other areas of the NHS for migrants Review of support rates for 2016-17 Regulations for the Bill (support, detention, etc.) Annual Asylum Strategy and further hostile environment measures APPG enquiry on treatment of refugees Move-on review by DWP