IEF Advocacy Workshops October 2015
Welcome Agenda Session 1 - What is Advocacy? Session 2 - The NI Political landscape Session 3 - Practically speaking
Why are we here today? 1. To realise the importance of engaging with politics and politicians ahead of the NI Assembly election 2016. 2. To help you better engage with your elected representatives. 3. To give you the tools to help you advocate for your school and for integrated education. 4. To learn from each other.
Session 1 What is Advocacy?
“ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Advocacy Oxford dictionary definition: Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy Barnardo’s describe advocacy as “ … a way of working that helps young people put their views forward. It is there to help young people be involved in decisions about their future. Advocacy is about the young person's views and rights. ” Ritu Sharma (Author; An Introduction to Advocacy) “Advocacy is putting a problem on the agenda, providing a solution to that problem and building support for acting on both the problem and the solution”
Why is advocacy important? 1. To achieve widespread, sustainable change; 2. To defend communities and programmes from adverse policy changes; 3. To strengthen civil society and expand democratic space by: encouraging consultation and the participation of citizens in all levels of policy-making • Advocacy provides an opportunity for integrated schools to: – overcome barriers and obstacles to integrated education – educate politicians – dispel myths
C Hughes case study
What is the difference between advocacy and lobbying?? When non-profit organizations advocate on their own behalf, they seek to affect some aspect of society, whether they appeal to individuals about their behaviour, employers about their rules, or the government about its laws. Lobbying refers specifically to advocacy efforts that attempt to influence legislation. This distinction is helpful to keep in mind because it means that laws limiting the lobbying done by non-profit organizations do not govern other advocacy activities. Adapted from Lobbying and Advocacy — Similarities and Differences, published by Charity Lobbying for the Public Interest
Examples • • Examples of advocacy Examples of lobbying • • Demonstrations Personal letters • • Petitions Face-to-face meetings with decision- makers (such as MLA’s) • Press releases • Informal contacts at receptions • News paper articles/letters/ • opinion pieces Personal exchanges over the telephone • Media campaigns • Responding to consultations • Legal cases
For example Successful advocacy campaigns: 1. Gay marriage vote (2015) – ROI 2. Local speed limits reduced from 30mph to 20mph 3. Kick racism/sectarianism out of football - IFA
Break (15mins)
Session 2 The NI political landscape
NI Political Structure The NI 3 MEP’s Executive 2 Junior 18 MP’s Ministers 12 11 Ministers Councils 12 462 Departments Councillors 108 MLA’s
The Northern Ireland Executive First Minister Deputy First Junior Minister Junior Minister Agriculture and Minister Rural Dev Jennifer Peter Martin Michelle Michelle Robinson McGuinness McIlveen O’ Neill McCann Culture, Arts and Education Employment & Enterprise, Trade & Environment Leisure Learning Investment Carál Ní John Dr Stephen Jonathan Mark H Chuilín Bell Durkan O’Dowd Farry Finance & Health, Soc Serv & Justice Regional Social Personnel Public Safety Development Development Mervyn Danny Simon Arlene David Storey Hamilton Kennedy Foster Ford
MLA’s are members of Political Parties 38 29 14 13 1 8 1 1 1 Total = 108 MLAs Claire Sugden MLA and John McCallister MLA - Independent
Current Political Party Designations Speaker Unionist Nationalist community community Political parties UUP DUP SF SDLP APNI TUV UKIP. GP Ind U NI21. Independent Unionist: Claire Sugden MLA and John McCallister MLA
Constituency Map Constituencies elect 6 MLAs each - STV (Single Transferable Vote) system.
Proposed new departments (from 12 to 9 under Stormont House Agreement) 1. The Executive Office 2. Department for Communities 3. Department for the Economy 4. Department of Health 5. Department of Education 6. Department of Finance 7. Department of Justice 8. Department for Infrastructure 9. Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Party Perspectives on IE
Party Perspectives on IE
Party Perspectives on IE
Party Perspectives on IE
Party Perspectives on IE
Party Perspectives on IE
The importance of engagement Reasons to engage with politicians: • Dispel myths • Educating politicians • Building relationships • Crisis management • Access to information • Growing your school • Reaching out to the community
Case studies – From the schools What benefits has your school encountered through having good relationships with politicians???
Session 3 Practically Speaking
Building Relationships How?? • Write a letter, introduce yourself and your school (cross party) • Invite them in – a new classroom, a new principal, etc • Engage on social media – Facebook/Twitter • Call their local constituency office • Late night constituency surgeries When?? • Special occasions - – Sports days, prize days, nativity plays, etc
Establishing Coalitions Work with your local community to raise awareness of your school, highlight challenges and issues and establish grassroots support networks: • Local media • School community • Wider community • Youth groups • Sports clubs
What can your school do?? Get politically active ahead of the Assembly Elections 2016. For example: Host a Hustings event Challenge Party’s on their education policy Opinion pieces in the local press Invite in your local MLA, MP, MEP Engage on social media Get your Sixth form students involved
Importance for the wider movement 1. You can contribute to the Shared Education Bill 1. Explain the impact the Bill will have 2. Help to shape the Bill 3. Demand IE is included in the Bill 4. Demonstrate the difference between integrated and shared education 2. When we work together it can be done 1. Shared and integrated education inquiry
Shared and integrated education inquiry • Integrated schools and supporters of integrated education mobilised to contribute to the Shared and Integrated education inquiry which the Education Committee conducted. • The movement was responsible for 31 out of 108 submissions. • It has helped address myths and show the education committee what integrated education is all about. • The Education committee held evidence sessions in integrated schools – Shimna IC. • This was an opportunity for the politicians to see first-hand the excellent works which happens and to hear directly from pupils.
Help from the IEF • Information pack (will also be emailed to you) • Political hub – www.ief.org.uk • Letter template • Local events/hustings
“ A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao-tzu
Q&A
Safe Home
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