Political Exchange

Jessica Reeves

National Deaf Children’s Society

NDCS – Vote for deaf childrenGoals• To raise awareness of

NDCS and recruit new supporters among parliamentarians

• To raise awareness of PPCs that they will have deaf children in their constituency who may need their support

• To engage our members in the election and grow numbers of campaigners

NDCS – Key messages

MPs & PPCs• NDCS is the national charity dedicated to creating

a world without barriers for deaf children and young people.

• There will be families with deaf children in your constituency who are not getting the services they need.

• If elected, you will need to take action to ensure deaf children get more support from all levels of government.

NDCS – Key messages

Members, local groups, campaigners You can help improve services for deaf children by

introducing your parliamentary candidates to the issues around deafness and getting them to sign the NDCS pledge to take action.

Deaf children and young people An election is taking place. Anyone over 18 can

vote. You can help make sure that the people who want to get elected are deaf aware by asking them what they will do for you.

NDCS – Key messages

Media

NDCS is the national charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people

NDCS – Key activities

The pledge

• Close the gap in educational attainment between deaf children and other children.

• Improve public services so deaf children and their families get the support they need from the start.  

• Help deaf children in my constituency get the same opportunities as other children

NDCS – key activities

Political exchangeIssue posting • background and

supporting statement• link to e-activist

action.

Did you know that the average constituency will have approximately 2,500 children experiencing permanent or temporary hearing loss? Without the right support, deaf children are vulnerable to isolation, bullying, low levels of achievement and unemployment in later life. Please show your support for deaf children at the general election by signing the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) pledge for deaf children.

NDCS – key activities

Political exchangeBroadcast email • split by party• photos of senior

politicians

NDCS – Challenges

• Technical – email• Feedback from local groups• Unavailability of open and click through

rates from emails we sent out• Recording only new pledge takers

NDCS – What happened

• 886 individuals took part• 2689 actions• 965 PPCs pledged support• 123 are now MPs• 500 new NDCS campaigners• Over 100 new to NDCS• New deaf MPs• Media coverage – trade press

NDCS – What happened

“I am very happy to support this campaign. As someone who has been hard of hearing since I was six years old I know how important it is from personal experience that deaf children are given the right level of support so they can maximise their potential”

NDCS – future use of Political Exchange

• For country elections next year• Data mapping• You don’t just have to PE at election time, it

could be used to gather MP opinions and support on different issues at any time.