Super Southampton fighting fund campaign


Jane Ward, Southampton Socialist Party

Southampton Socialist Party branch raised over £1,000 for the fighting fund between July and September to smash our quarterly target. The majority came from public stalls.

It definitely helped to have a campaigning issue which directly affects people, for example cuts to libraries, swimming pools or youth services. Our campaign concerned the attempts by the NHS to close the Bitterne walk-in centre (see issue 863).

Save our NHS

On our stalls we had petitions for people to sign and leaflets which simply stated the main points we wanted to make and importantly, gave people the information to get more involved. The response was overwhelming; people could not understand why the NHS would even contemplate removing such a well-used and much needed service.

After the petition had been signed, we asked a direct question; can you afford to make a donation to our campaign funds?

If people had the money, most of them would willingly do so, especially after we told them that the money would be spent on campaigning materials and for the cost of public meetings. At the end of the day, the worst thing that anyone can say when you ask them for a donation is no.