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Petitions

If you’d like to set up your own local petition you can set up an online petition or create a classic paper one. Make sure you have a clear ask, set a deadline for collecting signatures, collect only the information necessary on the petition and importantly don’t forget data protection. The information you collect on a petition may be sensitive and ensuring there is a clear statement regarding how you will use the information. Ask people to distribute your petition, asking local businesses or partners to gather signatures for you. Remember to add a return address. Finally, decide how you want to present the petition to your campaign target. You may choose to present it during a private meeting or make the presentation a public event and invite your local newspaper.

In January 2019, a student petition about college funding that started as an idea in an A Level Politics class resulted in a parliamentary debate at Westminster after attracting more than 70,000 signatures. Around 50 MPs attended Westminster Hall over the petition, which calls on the government to increase college funding to match levels received by schools. The three-hour debate saw unanimous condemnation from MPs across all main parties over the decade-long cuts faced by the FE sector.