Lighting up our #SmokefreeUK campaign

Dear Ambassador,

As you may have read in our previous communications, we have officially launched our new campaign for 2022! #SmokefreeUK will seek to make smoking obsolete in the United Kingdom—and tackle, once and for all, our number one cause of cancer.

Our first step is to introduce the campaign to politicians and let them know how they can champion our cause.

Keep reading to find out how you should proceed with your smokefree campaigning...

Step 1: Review your toolkit

Your toolkits hold key information and messages for each of our campaigns. Click the link below to access the official #SmokefreeUK toolkit. Make sure to thoroughly read this document before meeting with your MP.

Get your toolkit and detailed instructions for your core campaigning action below.

Step 2: Meet your MP

It's time to introduce our new campaign to your MP!

Send an email to your MP's constituency office to request a meeting. You can find the office email address using the UK Parliament Directory — just search your MP, and locate the email address on their page.

You can use the template below as a guide or inspiration to write an email asking for a meeting. This is your chance to explain who you are, your role as a Campaigns Ambassador (if you're not already acquainted), and why you want to meet with them.

Your main goal within the meeting is to ask them to commit to being a 'Smokefree MP' and express their support to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

By signing the smokefree pledge, your MP is committing to supporting smokefree action to prevent young people starting smoking, and supporting smokefree funding to help people stop. More details on this commitment can be found in your toolkit.

Step 3: Follow up

Thank them again for meeting you, either at Parliament Day or in your constituency, and let them know you look forward to a #SmokefreeUK in the future.

• If they pledged to be a 'Smokefree MP', thank them for joining a diverse coalition of MPs committed to beating cancer and follow up on the actions you asked them to take part in.
• If they didn't take the pledge, still thank them for their time and remind them of the campaign goals, why a smokefree UK is critical to beating cancer and why it matters to you.

Use the template below as a guide for contacting your MP. Please keep in mind that this is only suggested copy. The most successful emails are ones that campaigners write themselves based on their own personal experiences.

Best of luck in your first campaigning action for a Smokefree UK! As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reply to this email. We are also happy to send your MP additional information should they require it.

Kind regards,

Lauren and the Cancer Research UK Campaigns Team