There are many things that your MP can do to become a voice for local people with arthritis and help with your campaign. Use this list of steps as a starting point and think about any additional actions you want from your MP before you contact or meet with them.
Become an Arthritis Champion
Is your MP an Arthritis Champion? If they're already signed up this is a fantastic start! They're more likely to be sympathetic to your cause, and have already committed to campaigning to prevent and cure arthritis, and transform the lives of people with arthritis.
You can check the list of Arthritis Champions and if your MP's name isn't on the list then ask them to become an Arthritis Champion.
Your MP can also request to be an Arthritis Champion by emailing action@arthritisresearchuk.org
Help you get answers
Your MP's job is to represent you. That means they can help you get answers on issues that are affecting you and other local people with arthritis.
If the issue is related to what your council does, you can ask your MP to write to them. For example, here's our template letter for MPs (word doc, 74.7 KB) to write to their local council to make sure that their health and well-being plans cater for people with arthritis.
Your MP can also write letters to local healthcare bosses to ask questions and make sure that local health services are delivering for people with arthritis, or they could raise the issue with a Government Minister if it's appropriate.
Contact the media
Your MP can put out their own press release (word doc, 109 KB) supporting the campaign or even do a joint one with you, which they can also place on their website.
For example, they'll receive a template press release when they become an Arthritis Champion. You may want to help by providing a quote as a local campaigner.
Your MP might also be able to help with press events or stunts aimed at raising awareness of arthritis or your campaign in your community.
Spread the word on social media
Most MPs are on Facebook and Twitter and can use their accounts to help to raise the profile of your campaign.
Ask them to tweet about the campaign or post about it on Facebook to help reach a bigger audience and spread the word. They can use our campaign hashtag #ArthritisChampion!
Visit one of our research centres, or meet with a local Arthritis Research UK group
Get in touch with our team via action@arthritisresearchuk.org and we can look at arranging a visit for your MP to one of our research centres, shops or branches. This could be a great chance for a press event and to show the strong support people with arthritis have in your area.
