| 
What you can do - Lobby Letters
We have provided a range of letters for you to send locally (your school/LEA/MP) and nationally (to the government - Department of Health/Department for Education and Skills). Each one can be downloaded as a Word document for you to edit, print and post. There are also links to help you find the relevant contact details. Letters written by teachers (or other school staff) to LEAs, the DH and DfES will need adapting.
Each letter outlines the problem of school toilets, what needs to change, and how the person you are writing to can help. Important note: your letter will get more attention if you personalise it, especially if you are writing to a politician. Each letter has a space for you to do add your own words. You might find the lobby letter tips at the bottom of the page useful.
If you only have time to write one or two letters, write to the Department of Health (DH) or the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). They count the letters they get about a particular subject so every letter helps the campaign. If there's a problem with a particular school, also write to the headteacher or governors. If you’re a health professional write to your MP as well as to the DH and DfES and, if you’re concerned about the situation in a particular school, write to the headteacher or school governors.
Letter to the headteacher Copy this letter to the school governors – then the head will be more likely to take notice.
Please click on the "Word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Letter to the school governors Copy this letter to the headteacher so they know that you're taking action. Bear in mind that some staff in the school will be governors.
Please click on the "word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Letter to your MP Don’t know who your MP is? WriteToThem.com tells you who your MP is and lets you email them too.
Please click on the "word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Letter to your MP if s/he is a Minister Ministers have a different letter because they can't do things that other MPs can.
Don’t know who your MP is? Look them up here or phone the House of Commons information office on 020 7219 4272.
Visit the Parliament website to find out if s/he is a minister.
WriteToThem.com tells you who your MP is and lets you email them too
Please click on the "word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Letter to the Secretary of State for Health Please click on the "word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Letter to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills Please click on the "word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Letter to the Minister of State (Children) Please click on the "word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Letter to the Minister of State (School Standards) For names and correct titles, look at this list of ministers.
Please click on the "word" icon to open in Microsoft Word
or here for the HTML version.
|
Lobby letter tips
- Be polite. Your letter is much more likely to get a positive response if you are respectful.
- Stick to the point. If it’s not about water, toilets and/or health, don’t include it in your letter.
- Try not to sound like you’re moaning. Outline the problem and suggest solutions.
- Don’t use “double quotes” (unless quoting from legislation etc), ALL CAPITAL LETTERS or lots of exclamation marks!!! Keep the tone of your letter calm.
- Personalise your letter, especially if it’s going to a politician. Again, you are much more likely to get a response this way.
- If writing to an MP, make sure you address them correctly, including the letters after their name, etc. If you look them up online, it will show their name with the correct form of address. It may not matter to you, but the recipient is much more likely to take you seriously if you address them correctly.
- Back up your points with facts. Have a look at our factsheets and the water, toilets and health page.
- Make it clear what action you want the person to take – even if it is just acknowledging that there is a problem.
- Demonstrate that you expect a response. Sign off with something like “I look forward to hearing from you”.
- If their response is not satisfactory – for example, if they have not answered your question – write back.
|
Promoting
better toilets for pupils