Local campaigners improve services for people with Parkinson’s

Despite the continued challenges, local campaigners have been instrumental in helping achieve important wins for the Parkinson’s community.

Parkinson’s has been debated 3 times in Westminster and once in Stormont! The latest Westminster debate in November, about the Parky Charter, saw many campaign volunteers and local groups mentioned by MPs, really demonstrating the impact volunteers can have. Read more about the Parky Charter debate here.

Local wins in England

Local campaign volunteers have been busy advocating for services in their local communities. Their campaigning has lead to:

• new Parkinson’s nurses in Basildon and Leicester and new Parkinson’s consultants in Calderdale and Huddersfield, helping these communities get the specialist support they need
• the continuation of home visits by Parkinson’s nurses in Norwich.
  Hospitals in Morecambe Bay, Sheffield and North West Anglia pledged to take action and support our Get It On Time campaign
• improved Blue Badge policies and practices in Devon, North Tyneside and Somerset
• the continuation of a respite centre for carers in Weston- super-Mare. People with Parkinson’s will continue to be able to access this service one day a week, so carers can have a break.  

We’re so proud of the fantastic work campaigners have been involved in.  

Building a relationship with your MP

Norwich-based campaigner Katherine played a key role in campaigning at both a local and national level over the last 18 months.

After seeing an article about getting involved with our parliamentary work, she joined us at the Conservative party conference in 2024 and at an All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting to share her diagnosis experience.

After those meetings, she was keen to build a relationship with her MP, Clive Lewis. Earlier this year, she wrote to him asking if he would meet members of the local Parkinson’s community in Norfolk.

In May, the local group met Clive and discussed the lack of specialist physiotherapists and speech therapists locally, and the upcoming changes to disability benefits. He now knows more about Parkinson’s and how he can help champion the condition and the needs of his constituents in parliament.

In the summer, she also joined us to hand-in our open letter about disability benefit reform, with other members of the Parkinson’s community. Our campaign put pressure on the government, who scrapped their plans to make it harder for people to claim Personal Independence Payment, and they’re currently conducting a review of the benefit.

Katherine commented: 

"Campaigning is very rewarding. Parkinson’s is so frustrating and campaigning is an outlet for my energy and anger. Anyone can ask their MP to speak on their behalf. The support from Parkinson’s UK campaigns team is immense and you are never alone."

Rachel Elitty, Local Campaigns Officer said: 

"Since joining the campaigns team I have been so inspired by the passion and tenacity of our campaign volunteers. They care deeply about securing the best possible outcomes for people affected by Parkinson's, which sees them contributing to a wide range of campaigns and actions. It has been a privilege to support their work and I look forward to making more changes in 2026!"