Monday, February 7, 2022

Are you interested in becoming a 70/30 Campaign ambassador and contributing to the vital work of our charity with advocacy events such as this? If so, find out how here.

 

In May of last year, I was given one of the most interesting assignments of my short, but varied career at WAVE Trust: it was my mission to ensure that a Parliamentary motion calling on the Government to adopt a comprehensive early years’ strategy to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) became the most supported motion of the 2021-2022 parliamentary session. [you can see the full motion text at the bottom of this article]

The EDM also demonstrates how over two-thirds of MPs have endorsed WAVE Trust's 70/30 Campaign to reduce levels of child abuse, neglect and domestic abuse by 70 per cent by 2030.

An EDM is, in essence, a means by which Members of Parliament can (a) draw public attention to a particular cause or event, or (b) call on the government to take a particular action. Whilst it is true to say that they don’t have any binding power on the UK Government, they are a powerful tool by which backbench MPs, of all political parties, can express their views about where they think the Government should be directing its attention.

An EDM which therefore became the most supported one in a parliamentary term would leave the Government in no doubt as to where its priorities should be in the forthcoming years.

 

A long shot, but now within reach

In taking on this assignment, I was aware that over a thousand EDM’s are published every year and, whilst they are all very noble causes, the vast majority will only ever attract a handful of signatories. Thus, if I was to make this EDM number one, it needed to be promoted and I faced an uphill struggle to successfully do this on my own.

However, we are incredibly blessed at WAVE Trust to have such a strong team of hard-working 70/30 Campaign ambassadors at hand and, by me strategically working with our network over these last months, news of the EDM has quickly spread within parliament.

In fact, as I write this on February 6th 2022, the EDM is but a few signatures away from reaching that converted ‘top spot’.  Will it get there? Will it stay there? I honestly don’t know but what I do know is that the team effort evolved in even getting this close has been nothing short of superhuman and I want to personally extend my thanks to each and every single person within our amazing ambassador team.

 

Help us reach number one!

We would encourage all supporters of the 70/30 Campaign (to reduce child maltreatment by 70% by 2030) to reach out to your MP if they have not yet signed it and encourage them to do so*.

• Share this Tweet: "As a constituent of [constituency name], I'd like to ask my MP [MP handle] to support this motion to ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life: https://bit.ly/3hD1XC1"
• Download this template email (link).

Are you also interested in becoming a 70/30 Campaign ambassador and contributing to the vital work of our charity with advocacy events such as this? If so, find out how here.

 

Motion text: 'Give children the best possible start in life’

The full text reads:

"That this House notes the work of WAVE Trust and its 70/30 campaign to reduce levels of child abuse, neglect and domestic abuse by 70 per cent by 2030; further notes that over two-thirds of this House have endorsed that campaign, including a majority from all parties; recognises the role that Adverse Childhood Experiences play in the entrenchment of intergenerational health and income inequalities and the loss of over £20 billion per year to the UK economy; welcomes the publication of the Early Years Review; and calls on the Government to adopt a comprehensive early years’ strategy to prevent harm to children before it happens, ensuring that all parents are supported to give children the best possible start in life."

*We would advise not doing so for MPs who are Ministers or Shadow Cabinet members, as they do not ordinarily sign EDMs.

 

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Alex Williamson is 70/30 Campaign Officer at WAVE Trust.