What about local campaigns?

Community based charities may seek to promote, lead or participate in campaigns about issues that affect their local community. For example, a campaign might aim to:

• safeguard a local service or facility threatened with closure
• enhance or protect the local environment
• develop a new service or activity to address an unmet local need

Commonly local politicians will play key roles in such campaigns and they can be important allies. The issue may be a significant focus during local council elections and Parliamentary elections in the constituency.

Before engaging with a local campaign you should ensure that the aims of the campaign are consistent with your charity’s purposes. You should consider how the campaign might affect your charity’s reputation and standing in the community, especially if the issue is divided on party political grounds.

You should take particular care during election periods where your charity’s support for, or opposition to, a local campaign may be viewed as aligning with a particular political party or a candidate seeking election. During this period you should ensure that any public events you promote and any material you circulate focuses on the aims of the campaign and not on the positions of politicians or political parties in respect of the issues.