Keeping it local

Since I've been back in charity world, one of the pieces of work I've been commissioned to do is delivering training to campaigners on how to engage with local politicians and Metro Mayors. Many campaigns only focus on Westminster and some are limiting themselves to blanket online campaigns - which have their place but also their limitations. It can be far easier to get traction with local councillors keen for a photo opp and many powers are devolved anyway so writing to your MP is good but you may be referred on to your council.

I have been on the receiving end of many campaign asks as a former local councillor myself and when I worked for the Mayor of the West Midlands. I really encourage activists to look into raising local petitions and getting local councillors to submit them, attending public meetings, sending delegations to meet councillors or inviting councillors to visits. There are useful resources here about who to contact for your area and how. Or drop me a line - happy to advise!

All councils have regular decision-making meetings called Full Council, held in the Chamber, which the public can sit in on. It's like a smaller version of what you see in the Houses of Parliament and just as old-fashioned!

This week, on behalf of Better Streets for Birmingham, for whom I've recently become Campaign Lead, I asked a question at Birmingham City Council's Full Council about what the council is doing to tackle road danger. It was good to be back involved in some political theatre. Thank you to the Birmingham Mail for your coverage. "Activist" makes me sound younger than I feel which is also a win.

Also this week, we organised a Better Streets community meeting in my local constituency of Birmingham Northfield. We're trying to build a presence right across the city so we can have far greater knowledge of the issues affecting people trying to move around our city safely, and to get a wider cross-section of the community involved in addressing issues that affect everyone: speeding, jumping red lights and zebra crossings, mounting the pavement...

Many people feel so powerless and it's inspiring to bring them together and help them with local strategies to change things. Some of those at the meeting expressed doubt that anything will ever change. I can well see why people feel so helpless. Dangerous driving is a real problem here in Brum, where the council has declared a road safety emergency, and not easily fixable, but I'm convinced that by working together and campaigning for our political leaders to work together too, we can make our roads safer for everyone.

I was so pleased I made the trip to London for Pizza for Losers. People sharing their worst fails and inner most anxieties in a room full of love. We can all learn from our mistakes but it can be lonely. I hope all the excellent speakers felt the support all of us truly felt for them. Richard Sved has brilliantly documented the event here.

Looking forward to next year already and big well done to Nikki Bell for creating not just an event, but a movement.

Useful links 🔗

I'm not going to the Edinburgh Festival but it's on my bucket list. If you’re going, the WOW Festival is making its debut there this summer. Looks great!

Good to see Save the Children take a stand and cease its long-standing partnership with the Boston Consulting Group following its disgraceful work in Gaza. Article here

Day of the Week 📆

Many people were sharing their recollections of the 7/7 bombings in London which were 20 years ago this week. A terrifying day always seared into my memory.

What am I reading? 📚

A few weeks ago I thought I'd invented a word for poor leadership: leadershit.

Of course someone else had beaten me to it, like all my best ideas. I read his book recently which is quite a funny take on coping with a rubbish boss.

What am I watching? 👀

The final season of Squid Game is on Netflix now. Wikipedia calls it a "dystopian survival thriller" which may not be your thing given what's going on in the world, but we had to see what happened at the end. I'm not sure I could tell you but it's engrossing.

What am I listening to?👂

I've been listening to Loula Yorke's compositions recently. I find songs with words quite distracting when I'm trying to work so Loula's tunes are good.

Joy-giving things 😍

On Saturday I competed in the latest getting-to-the-front-of-a-Duran-Duran-concert contest. This one was particularly challenging as it took place at a race course. We got through security (chaos, apparently 😀) and then had to navigate many obstacles along a winding path along and under the whole track. It was quite something.

But worth it...

Have a great weekend everyone

Lucy

If it’s your first time reading this newsletter, find out more about me here.

I write this newsletter because I believe in sharing progressive ideas that help us work towards a truly equal world.

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ChangeOut is created by Lucy Caldicott. You can find more about my work at ChangeOut.org. If you’re looking to have a chat about culture, leadership, purpose, equity, or a facilitated team discussion about any of those things, get in touch. You can also find me on Bluesky, Instagram, and, LinkedIn.

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