How charities are engaging candidates in the devolved elections

Devolved parliament and local elections are a key opportunity for charities to engage decision-makers on issues that matter to their communities.

Charities like Trussell, Shelter Scotland and Sands are running email to target campaigns asking candidates to commit to action if elected in the 7th May Welsh and Scottish Parliament elections.

Here are a few examples of the strong email to target actions charities are running using Impact Stack.

These examples highlight the hard work, strategy and creativity behind these campaigns, and will hopefully spark ideas for your own future work.

Trussell: Email Senedd candidates about hunger and hardship

Food bank need is still alarmingly high across Wales, so Trussell is running an email to target action asking supporters to send a personal message to their Senedd constituency candidates about hunger and hardship. 

Candidates will receive messages urging them to reduce the need for food banks in Wales. As personalised messages can make campaigns like this more impactful, Trussell’s Impact Stack action form encourages supporters to add a personal message explaining why tackling hardship in their constituency matters to them.

One way messages are tailored to supporters’ constituencies is by adding the number of food parcels provided to people facing hardship in each local Senedd constituency last year, using data from Trussell’s curiosity gap engagement action.

Shelter Scotland: 'We can build ourselves out of the housing emergency'

Shelter Scotland’s supporters are sending messages to their local Scottish Parliament election candidates with this Impact Stack email to target action, asking them to prioritise building more homes.

The action combines bold, distinctive visuals (featuring one of their ‘Gran Squad’) with a strong theory of change, clearly explaining why it’s important to take action during the election period.

“Right now, political parties and candidates are out listening to voters ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on 7th May. That means this is when our voices matter most,” Shelter Scotland explains to supporters.

Adding: “This may be the first time many candidates have heard this, and those standing for re-election will need reminding.”

Sands: Email Senedd election candidates about saving babies’ lives

Like all impactful email to target actions aimed at influencing devolved candidates, Sands' action has a local focus, asking them to take action in Wales to save babies’ lives and improve the care people receive after pregnancy or baby loss.

The pregnancy and baby loss charity asked supporters to use an easy email template to contact their Senedd candidates. Sands asked supporters to email Welsh election candidates, urging action to save babies’ lives.

Don’t just send a message - make it memorable 🍪

Throwback to Gingerbread’s memorable General Election campaign, a reminder to think about what happens after the election.

Using Impact Stack, they collected supporters' messages to deliver to newly elected MPs as a welcome pack, alongside a gingerbread person and helpful resources on issues affecting single-parent families.

This is a great example of how creative delivery can help your message cut through and be remembered by decision-makers.

Want to run impactful email to target actions like this?

Book your Impact Stack demo now and find out how we can help you influence decision-makers and engage supporters.