Recent events have once again started me thinking about CF’s role in the wider Party, and more specifically, our role in a general election campaign. It is a proven fact that seats with an active CF branch have a higher chance of turning blue at an election, but that CF branch has to be active, not just in recruitment, foot soldiering etc but in bringing fresh ideas to the campaign and in taking ownership of projects that either do not interest the older members, or they are unable to be involved with if they take place e.g during the day.

CF is a pull for media attention, and this is something an active branch should work as best they can. By this, I don’t mean you taking out a double page spread in the Times to talk about how fantastic you are and what a great Prime Minister/Party Chairman/Foreign Secretary you will one day be! A CF branch has to court the local press, be that papers, radio or television. Young people in politics is always a draw for the media as, in the nicest possible way, it is something they don’t understand – they see a CF branch campaigning, manning a stall for their PPC or running a social action project and their first reaction is “why aren’t these students in the pub?”

This curiosity about what on Earth spurs a twenty-something year old to stand in the freezing rain encouraging people to get involved with the democratic process gives a golden opportunity to highlight the issue – be it the dilapidated allotments that CF are helping the PPC clean up, the high unemployment levels that new graduates in the town are facing or just the basic issues of the campaign. The media focus that simply having young people involved will bring can only be beneficial to both the candidate/MP and association.

This media attention is not as odd as you may think, as CF can go to places that other Party members would struggle to – for example, a group of local students or young professionals setting up a sports club on the local estate looks far more natural than if it was masterminded by central office – and central is something these projects should never be. Find someone in your branch with a talent or a passion, be it sport, music or even drama and take that out into the community. Be seen to be involved with people – go into residential homes for the elderly and have a sing-along, play football with the local kids or volunteer with a local charity. The more involved you are with your local community, the more value you add to your local campaign – you can facilitate introductions for your PPC but you can also help to raise the profile of the charity or group.

Conservatism has always been about helping people through means other than the state and the welfare system. CF are in a position where we can do this. Campaigning is more than just leaflets, door knocking and hard politics; it is community action, the ability to change things for the better, not through words, but actions. If your candidate doesn’t win at the end of all this – well, their campaign will still have made an enormous difference to the lives of those living in the constituency. And if that is not more important and satisfying than party politics, I don’t know what is.

Related posts:

1. Jesse Norman runs winter work experience for young volunteers
2. Nottingham University Students Fight for Change
3. Surrey CF Call for Change