On 7th May, voters across Scotland will head to the polls to decide who forms the next Scottish Government. For the parents who support our work, this is a crucial moment to push childcare reform to the top of the political agenda.

This page is your go-to hub for getting involved in the campaigning this election period – whatever your time, capacity, or experience. Below, you’ll find a practical toolkit designed to help you take action in a way that works for you, with clear resources to build confidence, amplify your voice, and campaign effectively for the childcare system families deserve.

Here’s how you can get involved this election:

Attend a hustings

In the run up to any election, hustings are a common and accessible way for you to get involved in campaigning, and have your voice heard by candidates in your local area. Some are in person, some are online, so no doubt there will be one for you to get involved in! 

Don’t know what a hustings is? Don’t worry – think Question Time. A panel of candidates from across political parties – some are national, some are local. The audience can ask questions to the panel on issues that matter to them. It’s a great way to help you decide how to vote, and to make sure that your next MSP understands local issues. 

Hustings really aren’t as intimidating as they might sound, and remember, they are the ones fighting for your vote. The power is in your hands! 

On the 10th April we hosted our very own hustings on Early Learning and Childcare where we brought candidates from the main political parties in Scotland to be questioned by parents, academics and other third sector organisations. You can read more about our event here.

Missed our event but want to attend another? We’ve collected a list of upcoming hustings events that might be of interest to you:

• Upstart Scotland are hosting a hustings to discuss support for children 0-8 years old and their families. Find out more here.
• The John Smith Centre and the Scottish Youth Parliament are hosting a hustings for young people. You can find our more here.
• The Poverty Alliance are hosting a hustings for Highlands and Island communities. You can find out more here.
• The Educational Institute of Scotland is hosting a series of hustings events. You can find out more here. 
• The Scottish Hindu Foundation are hosting a series of hustings events across Scotland. You can find out more here.
• In Livingston? Why not join this in person hustings event in Livingston Parish Church and question candidates on anything that matters to you. Find out more here. 

 

Hustings top tips! (Inspired by the young women’s movement!) 

• Research the candidates. Understanding who they are, what they are interested in, and crucially where you disagree with them, can be a really powerful tool to help you feel equipped to challenge them. 
• Come up with a couple of questions. Think about what the key issues are for you. How can you link in your own experiences? Having some questions prepared and even written down can really take the pressure off on the day. And remember, you don’t have to ask a question, being the silent observer is also totally valid. 
• Push for commitments. Candidates will be well rehearsed in the politician’s answer. Often, they will agree, head nod and it can be difficult to get a concrete answer from them. Ask them outright, ‘what will you do if you are elected?’ 
• Bring a friend. Like anything, it can be great to have a friendly face beside you. Why not make a day of it and bring someone along?
• Remember, your story is powerful. We will always believe the strongest thing you can do is share it with those in power (or soon to be), and make sure they hear it.

 

Door-step campaigning 

Sometimes you can campaign without even having to leave your own four walls. Come campaigning season, candidates and campaigners from each of the political parties will be out chapping doors to try and win your vote. 

You might have even had a few chaps already, and it can be a difficult situation to navigate. You’re caught off guard. The kids are screaming in the background. The dog is trying to escape, and before you know it, the conversation is over and you didn’t get to say what you really wanted to. 

That’s why we’ve created this simple one page factsheet and question list to have on hand ready for the next door bell ring. It includes some key stats to whip out when you need some back up, and some questions to ask if your mind goes blank. Why not print it out and have it by the door ready to go? 

FYI: canvassers (door step campaigners) are often collecting data. They want to know if they can rely on your vote. Often, they record that data and it’s fed upwards within the party anonymously. Don’t give that information up easily. Get a question or two in there. Make sure they know you’re not a dead cert (even if you are!). 

You can download your childcare factsheet here.

 

Awareness raising

The power of social media cannot be underestimated. Sometimes, the best way to evoke change is to create a sense of FOMO. We’ve seen this numerous times in the past, with waves of the same graphics plastered over every social media profile. It might seem trivial, but when we are fighting against far right narratives, we have to break the discourse.  

Why not let your followers know why you’re voting in this election? 

We have created an e-sticker for you to use on your instagram story to tell the world that you’re voting for affordable childcare this election. 

To find it, simply search ‘ptsscotland’ on instagram stickers and it’ll be there! Pop it onto a photo and you’re good to go. 

Prefer a good old poster in the window? We have also made a downloadable poster that you can print at home and pop on your window. 

You can download the poster here.

Register to vote

The simplest, easiest way to make an impact in this election is to vote. Seriously. If you do nothing else in this guide, please vote. Too many people are feeling lost with politics, that their vote doesn’t make a difference, but it does, now more than ever. 

Make sure you have registered by the deadline: 20th April at 5pm.

Register to vote on the 7th May here.