Knocking on doors and talking to real People, face to face, may prove to be the biggest, but also the most rewarding challenge that you will face, as part of the PROCESS to create the METHOD of delivering the AIM of Officially NONE OF THE ABOVE.

Before you let yourself worry about something silly, such as asking yourself ‘what are these People going to think’, please bear in mind that everyone, including you, likes to be asked what they think or how they feel about the things that are important to them.

Not only do People like to be asked for their views and opinion. There’s no better place to give your views and opinion, than at the doorstep of your own home.

When to call or knock on doors

The best times to knock on doors and find People in and most likely to be available and happy to speak to you will be between 6 and 8pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during a normal working week, and on Saturday mornings between the hours of 9am and 12pm.

You should always avoid houses where it’s clear that parties or other meetups of some kind are underway.

Don’t go out knocking on doors when you know that big sporting events or other things are on TV that a lot of People are likely to want to watch.

What you should always say

At some point during any conversation – preferably as a start, you must always explain who you are, what you are doing and why you are doing it.

You aren’t knocking on the door to preach a message. You are there to listen and learn.

So, keep your explanation as brief as possible. But make it long enough so that your reason for being there makes sense in a way that anyone will be happy with and able to understand.

For example, you could say something like:

“Good evening, my name is Adam and I live in the next road to yours. I’m growing concerned about the decisions being made on our behalf by Politicians within our Local Councils and the Government and am in the process of reaching out to other local People to share our experiences and see if we feel the same. I was wondering if you have any concerns about any of these things you would be happy to share yourself and then see if theres anything we can do together and with others from the area to try and address the problems we have in common?”

The Dos

DO:

• Introduce yourself in terms that make sense of who you are – For example, “I’m Adam and I live in the road next to yours, I often see you when I’m at the bus stop…” etc.
• Ask People to share their views and what concerns them.
• Say that you are concerned about what’s happening with government and public services because of the People who are elected to run them and that you want to learn and understand how other People in your Community feel, and what the issues are that are important to them. But again, don’t start talking about what YOU want to happen or see.
• Make clear that you are not working for, on behalf of, and are not affiliated with any existing Political Party or movement.
• Share with the People you speak to that what we have in common and what we share together is more important than any ideas that divide us or that have been tearing us all apart
• Bring focus to the way that the political system works, being the problem that needs to be fixed BEFORE we can then focus on getting the policies right.
• End by sharing with them that you are looking to arrange a new type of Community Meeting to bring People from across the Community together, so that we can all share our ideas and experiences and then agree what we can do next.
• Suggest there will be opportunities for anyone and everyone within the Community to help and take part and do more if they want to. But the most important thing is participation and sharing the message so that everyone can be involved and take part if they want to.
• Ask if they would follow and share your social media addresses.
• Take their email address if they are happy to stay in touch with you directly.

The DONTs

DON’T:

• Don’t treat someone else’s doorstep as your own personal soapbox or use the opportunity to grandstand or ‘big up’ the part you are playing in any way.
• Don’t abuse the gift of time that anyone is prepared to give you.
• Don’t share your own views and experiences UNLESS you are asked to and only then, keep it factual and don’t include your views or what you think should be done.
• Don’t criticise ANY of the Political Parties, organisations, any public figure or anyone who you believe to be setting a bad example or to have done anything ‘wrong’. You are running your own race and when it comes down to the example of what not to do in Politics, they have already won…
• Don’t make anything up, lie or stretch the truth about any topic you discuss.
• Don’t make promises you cannot keep.
• Don’t waste their time or yours. If it is clear that the Person or People you are talking to, are already committed to supporting an existing Political Party or movement of some kind. You will not change the mind of anyone who isn’t already open to the idea of change.

Information you should always provide

If you knock on someone’s door, it’s just polite and courteous to give them your name.

If it is clear that the person or People you have called on are interested in what you are doing, don’t end the conversation or leave until they know about your Community Meeting social media accounts, and they have the addresses so that they can follow, share and like.

Do not be afraid to provide any of the details you have prepared whilst you have been working to hold a Community Meeting. If you are following this Guide and the TEN STEPS, you will have no reason to hide anything that you have published.

The reality is that once momentum starts building behind what you and what others like you are doing, there will be People involved or supporting existing Politicians and Political Parties who will see Officially NONE OF THE ABOVE and the idea of a new form of Community Meetings as a threat.

Let them.

The future of your Community is for the members of your Community to decide.

Not them.

Things to be aware of:

The most important thing to be mindful here, is that you do not have the right to be heard on someone else’s doorstep.

If it should become apparent that your call and presence at someone’s door is not in any way welcome at any point, turn around and leave immediately.

Always do so politely, and especially so, if you are already talking to someone when you become aware of this.

Never worry about how many houses you call at in one session. If you were out knocking on doors for just 4 hours and spend 15 minutes at each door you call at listening to what People who matter like you on their doorsteps have to say, you will have connected with more People in that one session than any of the  existing Political Parties will have done so by taking the same time to deliver one of their glossy leaflets through the  letterbox of every house on a giant housing estate.

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