Writing to your MP can be a great way for them to hear about your concerns and take steps to support you. You can find your newly elected MP and their contact details by typing your postcode into parliament’s website.

Take a look at single parent Cat’s tips on writing to your MP. If you’d like further support or want to share your campaigning experiences please get in touch.

Cat’s advice

Tip 1: Make it personal

MPs want to hear about what matters to you as their constituent and how their help can make a difference so make sure you include some detail about this in your letter.

MPs are often very busy and they only have a small team to help process their post and emails so sometimes it does take some time to receive a response. Usually they work Mon-Thurs in Westminster and then spend Fridays and the holidays in their constituency. So sometimes you might have to nudge them for a response.

Tip 2: Be persistent

It may take a short while for your MP to respond, but they should respond! And if you’re not happy with an initial result make sure you follow this up with them.

Tip 3: Explain what you want your MP to do

If you’re not sure how they could help you, just be honest and possibly suggest a meeting with them to talk through in more detail.

Tip 4: Include your postcode

It’s parliamentary protocol that MPs respond to constituents only so don’t forget to include this. Below is an example letter which you can use to write to your MP.

Date

Dear <<MP name>>,

My name is << insert name here>> and I’m writing to you today about <<issue>>. As a single parent, this issue is extremely important to me because <<reasons/your experiences>>.

I would like you to <<clear actions points for the MP to take away with them and timeline on when you expect the issue to be resolved>>.

Please respond to my letter and outline the steps you intend to take to address my concerns. If applicable, please escalate my letter to the relevant parliamentarian or department and keep me informed of any progress.

I look forward to hearing your response in due course.

Yours sincerely,

<<name>>

<<Full address including postcode>>

Meeting your MP can be a great way to discuss your concerns, and work together to resolve issues affecting you and your family. You can find out who your elected MP is by typing in your postcode in parliament’s website.

Take a look at Cat’s tips on meeting with your MP. If you’d like further support or want to share your campaigning experiences, please get in touch.

Cat’s advice

One easy way for you to engage with your MP is to meet with them. You could ask to arrange a meeting with them in a letter or you can attend one of their drop-in surgeries. If you are a member of a local Gingerbread group this would be a fantastic opportunity for your MP to meet a group of single parents and discuss issues together. It would also be an excellent way for your MP to understand how widespread an issue may be.

Whether you’re involved in local politics or not, meeting with your MP is real opportunity to engage them with issues that matter to you. Most MPs hold regular surgeries in their constituency on Fridays. You can find out when you MP’s surgeries are by calling their office or looking on their website. You may need an appointment to meet with them, so be prepared to make one ahead of the day when they visit your area.

Tip 1: Prepare

Prior to your meeting you may find it useful to write down bullet points to take with you, so that you manage to say everything you intend to, including any questions you have for them and timelines for when things need to get done by – kind of like a wish list!

Tip 2: Know what outcome you want

I was really surprised how accessible and friendly my MP was when I met him. I was left feeling that he had taken me seriously and indeed, he followed up with a letter a couple of weeks later telling me exactly what he was doing to escalate my concern.

Whatever approach your MP takes, make sure you’re both clear on how your issue is going to be resolved. What action points can you both commit to? What timelines are realistic? It’s likely your issue won’t be resolved very quickly so it might be worth agreeing to meet in the near future to discuss progress.

Don’t forget, MPs love to hear how their work has helped you so if they have positively supported you in some way be sure to thank them for this.

Tip 3: Stand up for what you believe in

Good luck with however you communicate with your MP whether that’s tweeting them, writing to them, meeting them one-to-one or inviting them to your local Gingerbread group. Remember that you and your family matter and that sticking up for your rights is one of the most important thing you can do. Unless we fight for ourselves, it’s likely that nobody else will.

Your elected MP will act as your representative in parliament for the next five years (unless another general election is called before 2022). So it’s important you know who your MP is and how they could help you and your family.

Who is your MP?

MPs are representatives of political parties who have been elected by people like you to represent the area in which they live – called a constituency. 650 MPs form the House of Commons. Whoever wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons is instructed by the Head of State (the King) to form a government. The Government’s leader is the Prime Minister.

If you’re not sure who your MP is, the UK Parliament website has a tool to help you find them. You just need to know your postcode. You can also find out their email address and social media channels to connect them.

MPs vote in parliament on legislation that affects all our lives – from benefits to NHS funding. If you live in Wales, you will also have an elected Assembly Member (AM) who represents you. Assembly Members are democratically elected members of the National Assembly of Wales. Their role is to represent Wales and its people, make laws for Wales and hold the Welsh government to account. The advice provided below is also applicable for Assembly Members.

Why does this matter?

Your MP can help with a range of issues affecting you and your family. They might be able to write to your local council or raise an issue confidentially with a relevant government department. MPs can also raise awareness of the views, interests and concerns of their constituents’ in parliament. They can do this by, for example, asking questions at Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs), writing letters to government ministers on behalf of their constituents and using their national profile to actively campaign.

MPs can also help by supporting local events, businesses or meetings – you just need to invite them and give them enough notice. Local media are often interested in MPs’ activities so if your MP is coming along to an event or meeting and you wanted to raise more awareness about it, don’t forget to contact your local paper to tell them.

Key issues for single parent families

Unfortunately, MPs cannot ‘fix’ problems, but sometimes they can help make the situation better. In most of the cases below, MPs are not responsible for the problem – however, a letter from them can often cut through the bureaucracy and make change happen.

If you’re having problems with benefits

Your MP can write to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on your behalf if your benefits have been miscalculated, or if you want to appeal a decision made. Similarly, if you’re confused about a decision, an MP’s caseworker can often talk you through what your options are, and sometimes point you in the direction of further assistance. MPs do not make decisions on benefits, but where a mistake has been made they can write to the relevant authorities on your behalf.

If you’re facing eviction or other housing problems

Lots of MPs are contacted by constituents who are facing housing problems. For instance, you might want to find out why you have been on a housing waiting list for such a long time, or what you can do if your landlord is increasing the rent or threatening eviction. In situations like these, an MP’s office can write on your behalf to the council or landlord, and can sometimes advise you regarding the process of eviction. Housing matters are dealt with by your local council, but your MP can help by representing you and talking to your council about your situation.

If you’re having problems with child maintenance

If you are having trouble securing timely and accurate child maintenance because of issues with the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) or with the non-resident parent, your MP should be able to write to the relevant authorities on your behalf and support you with your case.

If you’re facing employment problems

Your MP should be able to support you by giving advice, or directing you to people who can give you advice, if you’re facing employments problems. If your terms and conditions change at work and you’re unhappy with how your employer is treating you, for example, your MP might be able to apply pressure to the employer to encourage them to reconsider their decisions – and some MPs have campaigned for organisations to reverse pay cuts and redundancies, at bigger organisations.

If you’re chasing documentation or a decision from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the Home Office or another department

Your MP might be able to help follow these up for you, and potentially speed up a decision or outcome.

If you need help navigating the NHS

MPs can often write letters to relevant departments and authorities if you are facing difficulties with the NHS.

If you need legal support

While an MP cannot provide you with legal advice as their staff are not legally trained, they can often point you in the direction of free local provision, and some can refer you on to local providers.

If you are concerned about the schools in your area

Your MP might be able to talk these issues through with you, or appeal on the behalf of constituents where a school is being set up or being closed – although it’s worth bearing in mind that education comes under the remit of your local council.

If you are organising a community event or meeting

You can always write to your MP and ask them to come along to attend or meet with you. It’s important that your MP knows what is going on in their constituency, and they will usually try and come along if time allows.

If you want your MP to support a campaign

If you’re passionate about an issue that has affected your personally, your MP can help publicise this, and possibly help you to campaign on it. Perhaps they can speak up in parliament, or set up a meeting with the relevant minister. They might also be willing to table a debate in parliament on the issue, potentially getting national coverage.

Lisa’s Story

For some, campaigning can be hard, intimidating or even scary. Here are some tips from Lisa who, after ending an abusive relationship, got involved in campaigning as a way to take back control and move forward in her life.

“I’ve never been good at sticking up for myself…It was a theme that continued throughout my childhood and into adulthood; yet somehow becoming a parent suddenly changed me.”

I remember my parents visiting me when my daughter was very small and my dad said “You’ve become like a Rottweiler in a dress since you had that baby!” In some ways he was absolutely right, except it was her that I was sticking up for, not myself. I’m still not good at having the confidence to stand up and speak up for myself, but if it affects my child I’ll go to war. That’s why I get involved in Gingerbread’s campaigns. I want to address the social injustices that affect my daughter so that, should she ever find herself in a similar position to me, she doesn’t have to struggle.

That being said, I know that campaigning with confidence is not easy for every single parent. Many of us have found ourselves in abusive relationships that continue to affect us to this day. Be it physical, financial or emotional abuse, I know that it can be scary and potentially dangerous to campaign and put your name to something that could be seen by your ex. I know that I have my own issues that I can’t pursue publicly because of the fear of the consequences from my ex who still maintains a certain degree of emotional control.

With this in mind, I wanted to write some tips for others who may feel disenfranchised or fearful of getting involved in public campaigns. I want you to know that campaigning can be for everyone, not just life’s warriors. There are plenty of ways to get involved in a safe and effective way.

Tip 1: Sign petitions

There are a number of petition sites online. The UK government and parliament petition site is my favourite because the government has to provide a response or debate a topic once a petition has reached 100,000 signatures. It has a really good search function too so you can look for live petitions on your issue. Starting your own petition isn’t anonymous, but you can sign other petitions without your signature being visible to others. You just need to confirm you’ve signed via an email notification, which isn’t made public.

Tip 2: Write an anonymous blog

Campaigning helps me feel less hopeless when life is hard.”

Your MP can escalate issues on your behalf. Make sure you you have a look at the ‘Influencing the influencers’ section for further advice and information.

Tip 3: Sign up to Gingerbread’s campaigns

Sign up to Gingerbread’s mailing list to receive updates and get involved in Gingerbread’s campaigns.

Tip 4: Tweet

Using X (formerly Twitter) doesn’t require you to use your real name in the same way as other social media platforms. It’s also a perfect outlet for people who don’t have the time to write a blog but want to support campaigns. Use relevant hashtags so that people can see what you’re passionate about. Follow others who have similar aims and objectives to you. Again, you just need to be careful about promoting or using personal information that could make you identifiable.

Tip 5: Tell your story to the media

I strongly believe that everyone has the ability to do something, even if it feels scary. All parents advocate for their children, but single parents need to work doubly hard. It can be really tough.

If you feel you have a unique story to tell, then sharing it with the public through the media can help others to understand the issues that affect you. You can explain to journalists that you will only be involved if you can do so anonymously. And contact Gingerbread if you’d like to be involved in their media work.

What is an MP?
An MP, or Member of Parliament, is someone who represents a specific area called a constituency and is elected by the people living there. MPs belong to political parties and vote on laws in parliament that affect things like benefits and NHS funding.

What is a candidate?
When there’s a General Election, Parliament stops working, and anyone who wants to become an MP in their constituency is called a “prospective parliamentary candidate” (PPC), or simply a “candidate.” These are the names you’ll see on the ballot paper when you go to vote on election day.

Safe seat
A safe seat refers to electoral constituencies where one political party consistently wins by a significant margin in elections. These constituencies are considered safe for the winning party because they have a large and stable majority of voters who consistently support them.

Swing seat
Swing seat, also known as a marginal seat or a battleground constituency, are electoral constituencies where the outcome of elections is uncertain and can swing between different political parties. These seats are closely contested, and small changes in voting patterns or voter turnout can determine the winner.

Hung parliament
A hung parliament occurs when no single political party wins an outright majority of seats in the House of Commons during a General Election. This means that no party has enough seats to form a government on its own, leading to a situation where parties must negotiate and potentially form a coalition or minority government to govern effectively.

Minority government
A minority government is formed when a political party or coalition holds the largest number of seats in the House of Commons but does not have an outright majority. In this situation, the governing party or coalition must rely on the support of other parties or independent MPs to pass legislation and govern effectively.

Hustings
Hustings are public meetings or events where candidates standing for election, typically in a constituency, have the opportunity to present their views and policies to voters. These events often involve candidates making speeches, answering questions from the audience, and engaging in debates with other candidates. Hustings provide voters with an opportunity to hear directly from candidates and make informed decisions before casting their votes.

You can find out who is running for the position of MP in your constituency by visiting the UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (whocanivotefor.co.uk) website.

When election time rolls around, candidates and their teams are likely to knock on your door to ask how you plan to vote (this is called ‘canvassing’). This is your chance to ask those candidates about the issues that matter most to you. Here are some ideas for questions you could ask:

1. In the UK, the poverty rate for children in single parent families stands at a staggering 44%. How does (name of political party) intend to address this?
2. Single parents want to work, but twice as many are unemployed compared to couple parents. What will (name of political party) do to remove barriers to employment for these families?
3. Child Maintenance is a vital part of ensuring the wellbeing of children in separated families. Yet the Child Maintenance service is failing on multiple counts, with total arrears expected to reach £1 billion by 2031. Do you support calls for a full review and reform of the Child Maintenance Service?
4. More than two-thirds of households affected by the benefit cap are single parents, alongside almost half of families affected by the two-child limit. It is well established that scrapping these polices would help to tackle child poverty. Do you support the abolition of these policies?
5. It has been estimated that 90% of single parents will be on Universal Credit once full migration has completed. Yet, the basic rate of this benefit falls short of what’s needed to cover the essentials. Do you support a review of the adequacy of Universal Credit and greater investment to make sure that it is sufficient to pay for the essentials?

Key stats

• Nearly 25% of families with dependent children in England and Wales are headed by a single parent
• 39 is the average age of a single parent
• 44% of children in single parent families live in poverty
• 33% of single parents have a disability

During the run up to the General Election, political parties and candidates are more responsive to the public – they’re listening to what you want from them, trying to show you how they’ll deliver in order to win your vote! 

A hustings is a meeting or debate, where politicians give speeches during an election campaign. These are an opportunity for the public to ask questions of a candidate or sit in the audience to hear what their policies are. If you’ve ever watched question time, the format is very similar; audience members ask questions and each person on the panel has an opportunity to answer. 

Attending local hustings events is important for direct interaction with candidates, understanding their policies, and voicing your concerns. This can help when you’re deciding who to vote for.  

To find what hustings are happening and where, check local news sources, follow candidates on social media, or ask your local council. Keep an eye out on our social channels for updates. 

You, by yourself or with a group of local single parents or a community group, could host a hustings, inviting local candidates for the election to speak to local people about their policy plans. You could do this by organising a ‘traditional’’ question time style event or you could have ‘the audience’ sitting together on a number of tables and the candidates could come and sit with each table in turn to hear about their experiences and what they would like to see changed. You might want to also invite local media along to cover the event. By doing so, you can engage key people and drive meaningful change in your community. 

Single-parent campaigner Gemma organised her own hustings event. She told us:

‘It was quite daunting…but I found that putting myself out there and deciding to run this event boosted my confidence… using the skills I have and my interest in politics.’ 

Social media is a big part of our lives, and it can be useful for campaigners to spread the word, get support and make a real difference. We use social media at Gingerbread to amplify our campaign messages and impact.

But it’s important to know that the online world can be a bit wild and not always safe. There are things like mean comments, cyberbullying, and even inappropriate messages that can happen. So, it’s really important to take steps to keep yourself safe online. Your wellbeing comes first!

If you’re posting online, be prepared to potentially receive some negative comments sometimes. Remember, those comments don’t define your worth as a person.

If any comments or messages are bothering you, reach out to us or talk to someone you trust about it. We’re here to help you stay safe and happy online. Remember, you can mute or block harmful accounts or content.

Contacting your candidate directly on social media can feel a bit confrontational, but it’s useful if you’re not getting the response you need and they’ve ignored requests for a meeting as it could grab their attention. You could tweet something like, “Hi [tag them], I emailed you a few weeks ago about this, but I’d really like to discuss it further. Let me know when you’re available.”

Get creative and get your children involved

Creativity really supports campaigning – it can make us feel good and something that’s personalised can be inspiring and have impact. At the bottom of this document, we’ve included a printable resource which you can print off and encourage your child(ren) to colour in (or have fun doing this yourself). Share your creation with us or on social using the #SingleParentsEqualFamilies. We can’t wait to see these!

National and Local Media

Your voice matters, and one powerful tool to amplify it is by speaking to national and local media. This could be:

• Interviews
• Providing quotes for press releases and news stories

Media is an important tool because it helps to

• Reach a Wider Audience: National and local media platforms have a broad reach. By getting involved in media, you can ensure that your message reaches a larger and more diverse audience, increasing awareness and support for your cause.
• Influence Public Opinion: Media has the power to shape public opinion and raise awareness about important issues. By sharing your perspective and experiences through media channels, you can influence public perceptions and attitudes, driving positive change in society.
• Hold Decision-Makers Accountable: Media coverage puts pressure on decision-makers and policymakers to address pressing issues and take action. By raising awareness about key issues through media, you can hold decision-makers accountable and push for meaningful change.

Have you got a story you want to share? If you’re interested in speaking with the media, please let us know via our ‘share your story‘ on our website.

Sharing your story and creating content

We believe in putting the voices of those with real-life experiences at the heart of our campaigning efforts, and that includes you! Here are some ways you can get involved:

• Share your story in a blog post on our website.
• Write an email to our supporters, expressing your thoughts and experiences.
• Create a video to share on our website or social media channels

If you have a story to tell or an idea to share, we want to hear from you. By sharing your experiences and advocating for change through these different platforms, you can inspire others to join your cause and help create positive change together. Your voice matters, and together, we can make a difference.