After the conclusion of the UK General Election on 4 July 2024, we have refreshed our Advocacy Toolkit for engagement with the new parliament. The start of a new term of government and the summer recess period is an ideal time to engage MPs and decision-makers at a local level – and to show them why heritage matters in your community.
This toolkit offers resources and tips to engage your local representatives and share the Heritage Manifesto 2024, our vision for heritage under the new government which illustrates how our sector can provide solutions to a range of public policy challenges. We’re grateful to everyone who has already shared and endorsed the manifesto across our social channels.
Before engaging in any advocacy, please remember that there is important guidance on charity advocacy, particularly including remaining party-politically neutral. You can find relevant information on this here.
Now that a new government has been elected, there are five ways you can spread the word about the heritage manifesto:
1. Write to your local MP:
We have developed a template letter which you can use to contact your newly elected MP and highlight the value of local heritage. You can find your local MP and their contact details here. Engaging candidates at a constituency level is an effective way of drawing attention to policy issues ‘on the ground’ and showing how heritage makes a difference to places and communities.
We invite you to draw out your priorities from our manifesto and share how this would benefit your organisation, heritage site or local area. Our template is a starting point to show how you can achieve this, but do use your own words if you like. You can either mail the letter to your local MP’s office with a hard copy of the manifesto or our 1-page poster, or you can send them an email.
Download the template letter here.
2. Share on social media:
We have created a GIF highlighting the key points of the manifesto that you can share on social media. You can download it in MP4 format here or GIF format here. You can use them in social media posts, or embed any of them on your website.
A potential post for LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram could look something like:
“We support @heritage_ngos #HeritageManifesto2024.
This collaborative effort represents the views of heritage organisations from across the breadth of the sector and sets out our vision for all decision-makers. It calls on the new government to not only protect heritage, but help to maximise the benefits it can create for communities and the environment.
Read it here: bit.ly/HeritageManifesto2024″
A potential post for Twitter/X could look like:
“We support @heritage_ngos #HeritageManifesto2024.
This Manifesto represents heritage orgs from across the sector & calls on all parties to maximise heritage’s benefits for communities and the environment.
Read it here: bit.ly/HeritageManifesto2024″
3. Download our 1-page poster:
We’ve condensed our manifesto into a one-page poster which highlights five key messages we want to share.
You can either feature it on your website or print it out and share it in-person – why not display it at your heritage site or office, or hand it out at events and meetings with decision makers? Find it here.
You can also find our blog post on our explanation for the 2024 Refresh, which highlights the differences in the new updated version. You can find it here.
4. Set up a meeting or site visit with your local MPs:
For THA members, we are available to facilitate meetings and site visits with your local MPs – and the summer recess period is the perfect time to do this. We are also happy to attend meetings with you where possible, to conduct meetings in Westminster on your behalf, and to provide you with policy briefings ahead of your meeting.
If you represent or have access to a local heritage site, museum, or historic landscape, consider using the template above and asking your local MPs to attend a site visit to hear about the impact of the manifesto policy issues on the ground. Do reach out to our Head of Policy Lydia at policy@theheritagealliance.org.uk if you are arranging a meeting and would like support.
5. Join us and make your voice heard:
Members will gain insights and information from us as the pre-election period progresses, and can contribute to our network of advocacy groups to further shape our policy, inform our conversations with decision makers, and to get a seat at the table as we influence the next government. Your perspectives are critical in informing our advocacy – we rely on a wide range of voices to champion the breadth of our sector. For more information about how you can contribute to our policy work, please contact Lydia (policy@theheritagealliance.org.uk).
If you’re not already a member, join us now to make your voice heard. Membership with THA also includes free advertising of vacancies and events in Heritage Update, discounted or exclusive access to our expert-led events such as Heritage Day, member roundtables and policy workshops, and the opportunity to connect with other organisations across the breadth of the sector. You can find details about membership, including pricing and more details, here.
If you have any questions about the toolkit, please contact Max at comms@theheritagealliance.org.uk.