{"id":2550,"date":"2014-10-01T21:22:55","date_gmt":"2014-10-01T21:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=2550"},"modified":"2021-09-07T22:32:26","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T22:32:26","slug":"votingmatters-dear-lauren","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=2550","title":{"rendered":"Dear Lauren &#8211; #votingmatters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Emilymatters_80096b.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Emilymatters_80096b-1024x170.jpg\" alt=\"Emilymatters_80096b\" width=\"819\" height=\"136\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>\u00a0D E A R\u00a0\u00a0 L A U R E N . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6220\" style=\"width: 377px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6220\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-6220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014-EM-Democracy-is-for-Life-KateWilloughby-SMedia.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"367\" height=\"328\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6220\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vine.co\/v\/OWXJ593laUJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Democracy is for life, not just the Referendum. Kate Willoughby (2014).<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"#votingmatters\" href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=2461\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>#Votingmatters<\/strong><\/a> is an ongoing campaign from <a title=\"#Emilymatters\" href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=2403\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>#Emilymatters.<\/strong><\/a> which champions gender equality and encourages young women to vote, ensuring that legacies such as suffragette <a href=\"http:\/\/www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk\/Davison.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Emily Davison\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> are not forgotten.<\/p>\n<p><em>Who is Lauren?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lauren<\/strong> is a student in Glasgow. As a seventeen year old, she was a first time voter in the Scottish Independence Referendum last year. Lauren&#8217;s attitude reflected the unique standing of the Referendum, which was reported to have a record <strong>84.6%<\/strong> turnout.<\/p>\n<p>Lauren said she was still an undecided voter in the Independence Referendum, but had a very different view take on politics in general:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dear Lauren - Message to a first-time voter. #Emilymatters campaign retrospective.\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3KIQt3kmoTw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><strong>I don\u2019t really care \u2026 I\u2019m not really interested in it. I think it\u2019s very boring.<\/strong><br \/><\/strong>&#8211; Lauren, Glasgow<strong><br \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And she is not alone.<\/p>\n<p>At the 2010 general election only <strong>39%<\/strong> of young women aged 18-24 voted, whilst just <strong>20%<\/strong> of BAME young women used their right to vote.<\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1442499345223.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3839 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1442499345223-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"PicsArt_1442499345223\" width=\"491\" height=\"491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1442499345223-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1442499345223-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1442499345223-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1442499345223.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This has to change and will require genuine grass roots engagement, better representation of women and minorities as well as more devolved powers from Westminster.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Hear Lauren&#8217;s story in her own words:<br \/><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/168108804&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;visual=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>The grassroots revolution in Scotland shows that it is possible to reach first time voters and those who were previously disaffected. And now with the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, it&#8217;s clear that a business as usual approach by Westminster won&#8217;t wash.<\/p>\n<p>If first time voters, like Lauren, continue to give up their hard won right to vote, young people&#8217;s services will likely continue to an easy target for budget cuts. <strong>#votingmatters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To celebrate Emily Davison&#8217;s birthday last year (which is now also International Day of the Girl) on <strong>11th October<\/strong>, we asked:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>What would you say to Lauren to encourage her to change her mind?<br \/>Please include <strong>#votingmatters<\/strong> in the text.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Tweets, clips, photos, poems and blogs about why <strong>#votingmatters<\/strong> to came in from across the UK and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dear Lauren &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/DL-2014-grid.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3213 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/DL-2014-grid.jpg\" alt=\"DL 2014 grid\" width=\"491\" height=\"491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/DL-2014-grid.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/DL-2014-grid-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/DL-2014-grid-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>No vote = no voice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Thanks to the fantastic response we are continuing to develop the <strong>#DearLauren<\/strong> campaign. The latest development is a verbatim theatre performance as part of the first interactive #Emilymatters production at <a title=\"#Emilymatters at Woman Up London, 2015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=3778\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Woman Up! London<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1441280259780.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3808 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1441280259780-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"PicsArt_1441280259780\" width=\"498\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1441280259780-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1441280259780-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1441280259780-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/PicsArt_1441280259780.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Do send us your <strong>#DearLauren<\/strong> response, either as a photo or clip as we look ahead to future elections.<\/p>\n<p>Building on the success of the <strong>#Emilymatters<\/strong> <a title=\"2014: Parliament event \u2013 interactive image\" href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=2342\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">House of Commons event<\/a> and coverage of elections and debates, we are looking to develop an ongoing <strong>#votingmatters<\/strong> <strong>digital archive<\/strong> to inspire and motivate young women to vote in the future.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2497\" style=\"width: 521px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/VM_Emilytree_trio_banner_1_LOGO.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2497\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-2497 \" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/VM_Emilytree_trio_banner_1_LOGO.jpg\" alt=\"VM_Emilytree_trio_banner_1_LOGO\" width=\"511\" height=\"189\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/VM_Emilytree_trio_banner_1_LOGO.jpg 851w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/VM_Emilytree_trio_banner_1_LOGO-300x111.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 511px) 100vw, 511px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2497\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">#votingmatters to the Emily Tree 21st century suffragettes<\/p><\/div>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>The suffragettes used the cutting edge technology and new media of their day to promote their campaigns, so it is fitting that <strong>#votingmatters<\/strong> makes full use of social media.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2735\" style=\"width: 501px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Olympic-suffragettes-11Oct14_CROP_LOGO.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2735\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-2735  \" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Olympic-suffragettes-11Oct14_CROP_LOGO-1024x583.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic suffragettes 11Oct14_CROP_LOGO\" width=\"491\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Olympic-suffragettes-11Oct14_CROP_LOGO-1024x583.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Olympic-suffragettes-11Oct14_CROP_LOGO-300x170.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2735\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr Helen Pankhurst, great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, (leader of the British suffragette movement), with daughter Laura &amp; the Olympic suffragettes added their support for #votingmatters on Emily Davison\u2019s birthday.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>Plans are already in the pipeline for a much larger future community-based project that will include my Emily Davison play\u00a0&#8216;<a title=\"2014: Play micro trailer &amp; trailers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=1704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>To Freedom&#8217;s Cause<\/strong><\/a>&#8216;, which has extensive audience feedback to prove that young women, in particular, identify with much of Emily\u2019s struggle and the importance of voting.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2588\" style=\"width: 501px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votingmatters_Emma-Thompson_KW_2a1.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2588\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-2588   \" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votingmatters_Emma-Thompson_KW_2a1-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"Votingmatters_Emma Thompson_KW_2a\" width=\"491\" height=\"368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votingmatters_Emma-Thompson_KW_2a1-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votingmatters_Emma-Thompson_KW_2a1-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votingmatters_Emma-Thompson_KW_2a1-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votingmatters_Emma-Thompson_KW_2a1.jpg 1593w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2588\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Emma Thompson adds her support. Because #votingmatters<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">.<\/p>\n<p>You can find us on social media:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/emilymatters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/tofreedomscause\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ToFreedomsCause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vine.co\/u\/1123583365388627968\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Vine<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Listening and valuing what others have to say is very much a part of what we do. The shouters can look after themselves, we think the quiet voices often have the most to say.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">It\u2019s time to <strong>Step Up | Vote | Lead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kate Willoughby<em><br \/><\/em><\/strong>Actor &amp; Writer of Emily Wilding Davison play <strong><a title=\"2009-2014:  Background Information\" href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=804\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">To Freedom\u2019s Cause<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votesforwomenstrap.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Votesforwomenstrap.jpg\" alt=\"Votesforwomenstrap\" width=\"700\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content_bottom\"><div class=\"a2a_kit addtoany_list\" data-a2a-url=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=2550\" data-a2a-title=\"Dear Lauren \u2013 #votingmatters\"><a class=\"a2a_button_twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.katewilloughby.co.uk%2F%3Fpage_id%3D2550&amp;linkname=Dear%20Lauren%20%E2%80%93%20%23votingmatters\" title=\"Twitter\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/plugins\/add-to-any\/icons\/twitter.png\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Twitter\"\/><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.katewilloughby.co.uk%2F%3Fpage_id%3D2550&amp;linkname=Dear%20Lauren%20%E2%80%93%20%23votingmatters\" title=\"LinkedIn\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/wp-content\/plugins\/add-to-any\/icons\/linkedin.png\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"LinkedIn\"\/><\/a><a class=\"a2a_dd addtoany_share_save\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/share\"><img src=\"\" alt=\"Share\"\/><\/a><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0D E A R\u00a0\u00a0 L A U R E N . . . \u00a0 #Votingmatters is an ongoing campaign from #Emilymatters. which champions gender equality and encourages young women to vote, ensuring that legacies such as suffragette Emily Davison\u2019s are not forgotten. Who is Lauren? Lauren is a student in Glasgow. As a seventeen year [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2550"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2550"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6224,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2550\/revisions\/6224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}