Most campaigns will at some point involve writing a letter or email.

Find out how to make sure that your letter achieves what you want it to.

View this information as a BSL video below.

How to write an effective campaign letter

A good letter includes:

• Your address
• The date
• The recipient's name
• A clear purpose
• Relevant personal experiences
• An explicit request for the recipient to take specific action
• A request for a reply
• Your name

Tips

• Keep your letter short - less than 1 page
• Print your letter in an easy-to-read font
• Use simple language
• Spell-check your letter
• Ask someone to read your letter before you send it
• Put the right postage on the envelope
• Keep a copy
• Allow a reasonable period of time for a reply
• If the person fails to respond within a reasonable time, contact them again

Accessibility

• Always send letters in print, or by email, unless you have checked that the recipient can access a different format
• If you need a reply in a different format, such as large print, braille or tape, make sure you ask for this in your letter
• If English is your second language, ask somebody to check your letter before you send it.  And remember, simple is good

Sample letter

11 Smith Street
London
W20 1JT

7 March 2012

Highways Department
London Borough of Fiction
The Town Hall
High Street,
London
W20 2XY

Dear Simon Hurd,

I am writing to ask you to consider installing a zebra crossing on Station Road.

Station Road is busy, traffic moves quickly and there is currently no safe place for pedestrians to cross. I am deafblind, so can neither hear nor see traffic. Several times, I have almost been hit by cars as I attempt to cross Station Road. A zebra crossing would make crossing Station Road safer for me and all pedestrians.

If it would be helpful, I would be happy to meet with you on Station Road to demonstrate the current problem and discuss solutions. Please give serious consideration to installing a zebra crossing on Station Road to improve pedestrian safety. Please respond to this letter to advise me how this issue will be progressed. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Jones

British Sign Language (BSL) version with subtitles