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Step 3: Identify and influence your target
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Routes of Influence
My Breakthrough
Your national elected representative
Your local MP, Welsh Assembly Member (AM), Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) or Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) has been elected to serve you: they’re dependent on your vote to get elected, so will be keen to try and win your continued support. In Breakthrough Breast Cancer's experience, some of the most effective lobbying comes from constituents.
I contacted my MP about my local breast cancer campaign. He then contacted the Secretary of State for Health, as well as the NHS Trust, to raise my issue with them. As a result, we set up a meeting with the Trust to talk about the local service for women with breast cancer and agree areas for improvement. His office was really helpful, and having his backing made me feel confident.
Jean McGregor, Breakthrough CAN Member, Cheshire
The relationship you develop with them can have a significant impact. Developing a relationship with the staff who work in your representative’s office will help you too – they often do a lot of work on your representative’s behalf and are important people to get to know.
Elected representatives and their staff are usually very busy, so always:
- Be clear about what you want your campaign to achieve and what you would like them to do.
- Demonstrate how many people in the constituency the issue affects.
- Tell them the facts and figures and about your personal experience.
- Tell them you are keen to work with the local press – there’s nothing they like better than good coverage in the local newspaper or on the radio.
Actions to take
Here are some examples of actions you could ask your elected representative to take to support your campaign:- Speak at a meeting – at your local support group or trade union branch.
- Chair a meeting – at your local hospital or PCT to discuss your breast cancer campaign.
- Ask a question in parliament or speak in a debate.
- Write to the local paper about your breast cancer campaign and help to generate media interest in it.
- Write a letter or email – for example to the minister responsible for health services, or to your local NHS.
