This presentation is based on 2 case studies - Merton parents for Better Food in School and Save our field

1. No budget campaigning Jackie Schneider

2. 2 case studies. Merton Parents for Better Food in School Save our Field!

3. In 2005 school dinners served in the London Borough of Merton were, “substandard”.

4. The following groups were unable to make any significant improvements: Headteachers Governors PCT/health professionals PSHE teachers Healthy schools coordinators Dinner ladies Catering staff

5. Phase 1: getting parents involvedHeld a public meeting to set up Merton Parents for Better food in Schools Over 120 parents and governors attended from 30 of the 41 schools. Everyone present filled in a form capturing contact details, schools represented, particular interests Steering group set up Started an email group Established simple website

6. Phase 2: challenging the councils assertions that the food was good Published photos of typical school meals on the website We collected evidence, ( food diaries, interviewed staff) Encouraged parents to make appointments to see school lunches for themselves Started a petition. Collected parents signatures in school playgrounds Stalls in the high street Letter writing to press Lobbying councillors Demonstration outside civic centre Public meetings Asked health professionals to support us Consulted widely to draw up aims and objectives

8. Phase 3: council back down but still block progress Council leadership agree with our analysis of school meal provision Invited on to various committees However no real improvements offered Merton Parents continued to campaign enthusiastically to win commitment to our aims and objectives

9. Phase 4: genuine partnership Commitment to fund kitchens in 39 out of 41 schools Contract specifications re written in line with aims and objectives Merton Parents serve on committee to select a new contract caterer Increase in quality and quantity of fresh fruit and vegetables served Independent school dinner consultant employed to help develop a plan Prison trays dropped PCT given a voice

10. We went from this ....

11. .......... to this!

12. Effective tactics Mobilised large numbers of parents Use of photographs Good relationship with local press Captured contact details very early on Used email and playground networks Crowd sourced solutions Didn’t ask for money but for specific help

13. Key Knew what we wanted Stood firm against “getting sucked in” Allowed opponents a face saving way to accept changes.

14. Save our field

16. We used pictures to tell the story

17. Using Video Link 1 Link 2

18. Effective tactics A4 window posters Email Press Twitter Simple video Blog/simple website

19. Top tips Clear objectives Pictures – worth a thousand words! Video Networks Crowdsource Free tools such as audioboos, flicker, facebook, twitter Sense of injustice

20. Final thoughts Expect to be told no, but don’t let that stop you. Money is never the problem – if the problem is seen as a priority there will always be a way “Campaign in poetry, govern in prose” There is no shame in being a fully paid up member of the awkward squad! Democracy works better when citizens campaign!