What we've achieved with local campaigning so far this year

Forging relationships with MPs 

Campaigners wasted no time in meeting MPs to advocate for better local services for people living with Parkinson’s. Below are a few highlights of our work together since the start of 2025.

• Norwich-based campaigner Katherine and other volunteers met their MP, Clive Lewis, to raise awareness of the challenges of living with Parkinson’s, including the lack of specialist physiotherapists and speech therapists locally, and the upcoming changes to disability benefits.
• The Trowbridge local group met with their local MP, Andrew Murriston, who listened to their concerns about access to consultants in Wiltshire.
• Campaigner Barbara met with Lisa Smart MP about Parkinson’s nurse provision in the area to seek further support from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust to support our Get It On Time campaign.
• In Crewe, campaign volunteer Carole wrote to Andrew Cooper MP. Andrew agreed to lobby the local hospital trust to support our Get It On Time campaign as well.
• Campaigners across the country met with a dozen MPs to push them to vote against cuts to Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit.
• World Parkinson’s Day gave volunteers an opportunity to develop connections with MPs and local decision makers.
• In Kent, a campaigner raised concerns about delays with deep brain stimulation surgery with her MP, Polly Billington, who attended the group's drop-in and passed on their questions to the health secretary.
• In Huddersfield, volunteers organised a successful ‘Yorkshire Big Sing’ to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and the Parky Charter. They attracted attention from regional press, the local MP, several local councillors, and the mayor.

Improving health and care services

Campaigners have been working hard to make the case for better healthcare for people living with Parkinson’s:

• In Dorset, campaigners have been working with the hospital trust to improve support for carers.
• In Nottingham, we worked with the Trent Bridge Café to recover Parkinson's physiotherapy services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• The Macclesfield branch has been working with East Cheshire Hospital Trust, local councillors and local MPs to push for additional Parkinson’s nurse provision at the trust. We’ll continue working with local MPs to secure their support.

Finally, in May, we held our annual campaigner conference. Passionate campaigners came together to celebrate their successes and start planning activities for our Can’t Wait campaign, which focuses on boosting the Parkinson’s nurse and consultant workforce.

Read more about our campaigner conference.

Barbara, Local Campaigns Volunteer, said:
"Having been inspired by the campaign conference and with the support of Kim [Senior Local Campaigns Officer at Parkinson’s UK], I engaged with my MP.

"I emailed her office asking for an appointment to discuss issues in our area, and Kim and the team provided information and stats.  The speed of response was amazing, and within the next few days, we had a date in the diary for a Zoom call.

"The call went well, and we have seen that Lisa and her team have written and had a response from the integrated care board for Manchester and Stepping Hill hospital. We are looking forward to working with her in the future.

"The support of your Parkinson’s team means you are not alone in this."

Mattie Shannon, Local Campaigns Officer, said:
"Campaign volunteers have been instrumental in all of these local campaign successes and I've been blown away by their tireless commitment to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.

"From taking action over time critical medication, to campaigning for Blue Badges and the big issues in their communities, their dedication turns conversations into commitments, and one-off events into lasting impact."