Here’s a copy of a letter that was sent last week to 1,700 people signed up following the day of action in May. Provides all the necessary information about the rallies and events around the country, please share as appropriate with partner organisations and with your clients.
Dear Hardest Hit supporter
As you know, the 11th May was an outstanding success, bringing disabled people, their families and other campaign supporters together with one clear voice.
But further action is needed. Having promised to protect the most vulnerable, the Government is pressing ahead with swingeing cuts to benefits and services vital to the lives of disabled people. It is simply not listening to us.
In our June letter, we mentioned further Hardest Hit activity was being planned for October . This is timed to coincide with the Welfare Reform Bill’s passage through the House of Lords. The Bill continues to be a target since it promises deep cuts to DLA/PIP and ESA and a strong showing by us will strengthen the hand of supportive Peers. It is also important that we continue to engage with MPs who need to understand the strength of opposition to the Government’s unfair cuts agenda.
Support the October 22nd day of action
Based on close joint working between disabled people’s organisations and disability charities, Hardest Hit events have been organised for the nine English regions and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These will take place on Saturday 22nd October. Further details below:
• Birmingham: Rally in Victoria Square in the city centre. Assemble from noon and the rally will begin at 12.30pm Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Brighton: Rally at Jubilee Square, Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE. Gather from 11am with speeches between 11:30-12:30. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Bristol: March beginning on College Green, outside of the Council House, at the bottom of Park Street, from 12 noon – 1pm. Return to College Green for a rally from 1pm – 2pm. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Leeds: Assemble at Victoria Gardens, Headrow, from 12.30 for march through main shopping areas and returning to Headrow. Rally from 2-2.30pm Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• London: Rally outside London’s iconic GLA building, Queen’s Walk. Meeting from 11am with speeches from 11.30am. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Manchester: Rally between 2pm and 3pm at Albert Square, outside Manchester Town Hall Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Newcastle: Assemble at Bigg Market from 10.30am. March to Monument for rally at 11.30am. Ends at 12.30pm. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Norwich: March and rally planned. Details to be confirmed shortly. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Nottingham: Rally planned in Market Square at 12.30 Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Belfast: Debate on 20 October on the Welfare Reform Bill’s impact on disabled people’s freedom and independence at the Radison Blu Hotel in Belfast, starting at 1.30pm. Visit the Hardest Hit website to sign up to attend. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Cardiff: We will gather outside Cardiff Museum from 12.30 for a rally. Speakers, including AMs and a Welsh celebrity, will take to the stage at 1pm. Then, at 1.30pm we will march to the town centre. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Edinburgh: There will be a rally at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens. We will gather from 11.00am with speeches starting at 12.00 noon. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
These events need to be BIG and LOUD and we can only achieve this if you are there. We hope they will secure extensive regional and national media coverage, grabbing the attention of national and local politicians as well as the general public.
Contact your MP
Even if you’ve already contacted your MP, write to them again. Invite them to attend the Hardest Hit event in your region. Ask to meet them in the week leading up to 22nd October. It would be great if every MP had at least one disabled constituent attending their local surgery. Ideally there will be mass lobbying of MPs on the Thursday and Friday (20th/21st October) when they are back in their constituencies.
A template letter is available on the Hardest Hit website. (http://www.hardesthit.org.uk)
Local cuts
The Hardest Hit events in October will also be an opportunity to express our anger at cuts to local services. On the Hardest Hit website you’ll find a guide to influencing local politicians. We would also encourage you to make use of the research recently published by Scope and Demos into local cuts in social care support. http://www.demos.co.uk/disability-cuts-map.
Like our Facebook page
Show your support on Facebook by liking and contributing to our page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/thehardesthit.
Many thanks for your support. We look forward to seeing you at the events on 22nd October.
Jaspal Dhani, CEO UK Disabled People’s Council
Steve Winyard, Chair, DBC Campaigns Group