Carers to tweet for funding and social care reform in world’s first twobby

Campaigners are joining 60 national charities for a mass push for funding and reform of the social care system. However, this is a campaign with a difference because this is the launch of the world’s first #twobby.

On Tuesday 6 March, The Care Support Alliance - a coalition of 60 organisations representing disabled, older people and their families - will hold a traditional mass rally of parliament and for the first time there will be an interactive campaign on social networking site Twitter, running alongside. This will allow people who can’t attend to have their voice heard and be represented by the Care Support Alliance. The #twobby and lobby will apply parliamentary pressure with campaigners telling their MPs that the care system is in crisis and families across England need funding to help and care for loved ones.

Simon Gillespie, chair of the Care and Support Alliance and CEO of the MS Society said: ‘The twobby will have a major impact, not just in securing support for social care reform, but redefine the future power of parliamentary lobbying by providing real time involvement and interaction with Members of Parliament. Most importantly for the Care and Support Alliance, the twobby will enable people who are housebound or disabled to enter into dialogue with their MP and to directly influence the formation of a Government policy that will affect us all.’

The #twobby will be hosted on twitter where lobbyists can pose questions to their MPs on @carelobby2012. Live updates will be posted, together with responses from MPs, ministers, shadow ministers, campaigners and video vox pops.

For more information, visit: www.carelobby2012.org.uk/twobby