{"id":5843,"date":"2021-11-01T00:10:14","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T23:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/?p=5843"},"modified":"2021-10-14T14:49:22","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T13:49:22","slug":"advocacy-in-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/2021\/11\/01\/advocacy-in-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy In Action"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Advocacy is a key part of our work as Soroptimists, Club Advocacy lead Karen talks about Advocacy In Action and asks: How much do you know about how our Parliament works, what involvement you can have and what your MP can do for you?<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parliament<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Palace-of-Westminster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5848 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Palace-of-Westminster-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Advocacy In Action - Palace of Westminster\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Palace-of-Westminster-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Palace-of-Westminster.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Advocacy In Action begins in Westminster if you&#8217;re based in England as we are. Have you ever been to the UK\u2019s Parliament?\u00a0 If you are in London and want to have a look round there are regular guided tours <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliament.uk\/visiting\/visiting-and-tours\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tours &#8211; UK Parliament<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0 Or have a wander through the corridors of power on this <a href=\"http:\/\/www.parliament.uk\/visiting\/virtualtour\">360 degree guided tour <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Currently work is being undertaken on the Elizabeth Tower so tours are not possible, but if you are interested in seeing the conservation work <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliament.uk\/visiting\/big-ben\">follow this link\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Voting<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Are you registered to vote?\u00a0 Here are just 5 reasons why you should!<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Elections have consequences<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You have the power to decide on the quality of life you want for yourself and future generations. Voting is your chance to stand up for the issues you care about. This is your life: take the time to help decide what\u2019s best.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><b> Not voting is giving up your voice<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elections are decided by the people who go out and vote. Take some time and learn about the measures and the candidates. If you don\u2019t vote, someone else will make the decision for you. Your power is in your vote.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><b> It\u2019s your money<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You pay taxes, but do you know how that money is being used? Most people don\u2019t. Voting is your chance to choose how your money is being spent.<\/span><b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><b> Voting is an opportunity for change<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do you want to make a positive impact? Voting gives you that chance! Support the candidates and ballot measures that can help your community for the greater good. Make your voice heard in every election.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><b> The community depends on you.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our communities are made up of friends, loved ones, neighbours, and children. Some may not know how important voting is and it was a hard won battle by the suffragettes to get the vote for women, so let\u2019s make sure their sacrifices are not wasted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Make the decision to vote for yourself and those around you.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are not registered follow this link <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gov.uk\/register-to-vote\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">www.gov.uk\/register-to-vote<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to make your voice heard!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Petitions<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Have you ever signed a petition?\u00a0 In this current session of Parliament 554 petitions have received a response from Government and 96 petitions were debated in Parliament.\u00a0 All it needs is 10,000 signatures for the Government to respond! Anyone can start a petition!\u00a0 Have a look at what is currently key to many people \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petition.parliament.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Petitions &#8211; UK Government and Parliament<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 and see a debated that resulted from one!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Who is your local MP?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/PMQs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5849 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/PMQs-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Advocacy In Action - Prime Minister's Questions\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/PMQs-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/PMQs.jpg 799w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Do you know who your local MP is?\u00a0 Find out more about them and their interests, what they have voted for or against, what they have spoken about as well as their written questions have been.\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/members.parliament.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">MPs and Lords &#8211; UK Parliament<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>You <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">have the opportunity to ask them to pose questions in the House of Commons.\u00a0 You can email them and will get a response.\u00a0 Since October 2020 SI Lichfield and District have written to their MP\u2019s on 6 occasions about matters of concern relating to women and girls.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Democracy<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What areas of our democracy are you interested in?\u00a0 What to know more?\u00a0 So follow select committees that are covering the topics important to you.\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliament.uk\/get-involved\/committees\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Submit evidence to a committee inquiry &#8211; UK Parliament<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Select-Committee.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5850 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Select-Committee-300x169.png\" alt=\"Advocacy In Action - Select Committee\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Select-Committee-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/files\/2021\/11\/Select-Committee.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Recent select committees include: changing culture underpinning male violence against women, online safety and mapping the path to net zero.\u00a0 A Call for Evidence was requested in March 2021 for women to describe their experiences of violence against them.\u00a0 This will be taken into account in the Violence Against Women Strategy 2021-2024.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;d like to know more about our Club&#8217;s <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Advocacy In Action<\/span>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/our-work\/advocating-for-change\">take a look here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advocacy is a key part of our work as Soroptimists, Club Advocacy lead Karen talks&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":735,"featured_media":5854,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,1],"tags":[142,143,144],"class_list":["post-5843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-uncategorized","tag-advocacy","tag-parliament","tag-vote"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Advocacy In Action | News | Blog | SI Lichfield and District<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Advocacy In Action : What&#039;s the secret to making Westminster work best for you? 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