Get your local MP to back the Save EMA campaign in 4 easy steps:

1. Check current signatories

Click here to see if your MP has already signed the Early Day Motion 811. If so, there’s no need to write to them but why not do it anyway to keep it on their mind!

2. Find your MP’s contact details

Enter your postcode below to find the contact details of your MP and other elected representatives:

3. Write/Email them!

Feel free to compose your own message of support for the Save EMA campaign, or alternatively copy and paste our pre-written letter:

Dear [Insert MP's name],

I am writing, as a constituent, to ask you to vote against scrapping the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in the opposition day debate on Wednesday 19 January 2011.

EMA helps young people in this constituency get to their place of study, it pays for books and other course equipment and for many it pays for lunch while away from home.

Many lower and middle income families will simply not be able to fill the financial gap scrapping EMA creates. Yet under the Government’s plans no new applications for EMA will be processed and people currently receiving EMA will only receive it until the end of the academic year.

The government has given no real details about what will replace EMA next year except that the funds available to support such activity will be cut from around £570 million to just £75 million.

EMA has been described by Minsters as ‘deadweight’ yet the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says that EMA pays for itself. Not only does EMA increase levels of participation in post 16 education, any costs are completely offset.

The government cite a deeply flawed study which purports to show that 90% of EMA recipients would study anyway. That study was wholly unrepresentative, containing a disproportionate number of high performers and no students at further education colleges where EMA is a key lever to help to bring hard to reach learners back into education.

Please vote to save EMA and also sign the Early Day Motion (EDM 811) of John Robertson MP entitled “Education Maintenance Allowance” and stand up for young people and their families in this constituency.

Yours sincerely,

[Insert your name]

4. Let us know what they say…

Either post on the websites walls or email us the response you receive from your MP!