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Advice
Meet with your local representative
There are lots of ways to influence people with power in your local area. Writing to your elected representative is an important one, but you can also meet with local business leaders, councillors, or whoever you think could help unlock change for the issues you're passionate about.
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Local voices have the most impact with local politicians. Organising a meeting with your local politician means you can raise issues with them directly and hear about what they’re doing for nature.
Your elected representative wants to hear from you, as one of their constituents. And you don’t have to go it alone. Organising a small group meeting with others in your community is a great way to get your message across.
Ready to meet with your local politician?
Here’s a few tips to kick things off.
- You can begin by deciding what sort of brief meeting you want to set up – and invite your elected representative by email or phone. Elected representatives are most often in the constituency on Fridays and at weekends.
- You could arrange to meet your elected representative at one of their constituency surgeries. These are often (though not always) held on Fridays at their offices or in local venues such as faith or community centres. Check your elected representatives website for details.
- You could invite your elected representative to join your group for a group nature stroll or a gathering in a local and accessible green space for a walking chat about the issues and to join you for photographs.
- Are you part of an RSPB Local Group or a community group? You could invite your elected representative to your next event. Read our tips for connecting with others in your community.
Not ready to meet in person yet?
If you’re not ready to meet in person or are struggling to arrange a meeting, there’s still plenty of ways to get your message across to your elected representative.
- You may prefer to meet with your friends, family, or neighbours to create a letter, artwork or video about your hopes and fears for the future of nature and send it to your elected representative.
Making progress at your meeting
What’s that old saying? “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. OK – we don’t have to get too dramatic but having a plan will prove really useful for your meeting. Here’s a few tips to making progress at your meeting.
Set the date
Make sure that your elected representative has confirmed when, where and at what time they will be available.The amount of time you will have with your local representative will vary. If you attend one of their constituency surgeries you may only have 10 mins. If you have invited them to an event you may have longer; they will usually let you know how long they can stay when they respond to your invitation.
Plan ahead
Agree in your group who would like to speak to your elected representative; it may be all of you. Make some notes of the key things you want to say. It may also be helpful to have a look at some of the broader solutions to the nature crisis in the RSPB’s global plan to save nature by 2030.
Take pictures and share your activity on social media
Ask your elected representative if they’ll join you for a photo and post it on social media with the hashtage #ActionforNature – don’t forget to tag them in your post as well as clearly stating what you want them to do as a result of your meeting. You can also let us know about your meeting by emailing campaigns@rspb.org.uk
Well done!
Well done for taking action for nature and reaching out to your elected representative - in any way. Positive and respectful conversations will help your elected representative understand your community’s love for nature and concerns for its protections. Remember, your words will inform your elected representative about the need to stand up for nature. You’re making a difference.
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