I am a brand new member to the Liberal Democrats, having joined after the disappointing Referendum result in June.
I was definitely impassioned by the Referendum result and wanted to get involved with the party right away. I thought the ALDC by-election phone bank seemed a good place to start.
Using the phone bank is really easy. It takes ten minutes of training to get started. If you’ve used a phone and a computer before, you’ll be an expert in no time.
Making the phone calls is a really positive experience. We ring around wards throughout the UK and gauge support in that area for the Lib Dems in upcoming council by-elections.
As the Liberal Democrats don’t have huge donors or receive funding from trade unions, the party does rely on the altruism of its members. I really enjoy volunteering in the phone bank and I think other people will too.
If you want to get involved in volunteering, the phone bank is definitely for you. In Manchester, it happens every Thursday between 6-8pm at the ALDC offices at 23 New Mount Street. Just email ALDC at [email protected] to let them know if you can make it.
Alternatively the team can talk you through over the phone how to make calls, what to say and how to use Connect – the main campaigning database.
There’s a great atmosphere at the by-election HQ and you meet loads of lovely people. It makes you feel as though you are playing your part in furthering the party you believe in.
* Sarah Hampton joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016
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2 Comments
phoning is a really good and positive way of being able to contribute to electoral successes at every level in the party. Having spent a lifetime knocking on doors, it is now difficult for physical reasons, but there is no such thing as a retirement for Lib Dems wanting to make a difference !
I don’t live near a phone bank but can phone from home. I don’t have to be able to “use Connect” which some people think you have to. You just need a phone and a computer, and follow very easy instructions.
We have free phone minutes on our contract, but even if we had to pay for calls, it would be a lot less than the cost of petrol to even the the next ward.
You can fit it round household activities, so can bring in the washing, put the meal on, and I suppose you could do bits of housework (not tried that one yet!!) in between calls. Anyone with a small child could fit in with their naps.
You can call locally or far and wide and there is a great sense of achievement in being part of election wins at everything from parish to council, constituencies to Euro elections.
You don’t have to do it alone, the sort of thing that several in one place can do with a bit of planning.
A rather smug feeling if it is cold, wet or windy outside too.
Go on, try it.
Thanks for this – I’ve done phone-banking at ALDC (probably not as much as I should) and it’s incredibly rewarding.