Contact Brings In New Campaigning Ban For PCF Members
Contact has banned parent carer forum leaders from Send campaigning in their private lives – the same time the DfE launches consultation tour
Just as the Department for Education (DfE) has started its consultation tour regarding proposed changes to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) legislation in England, charity Contact has brought in a draconian new ban. People running Parent Carer Forums will now be unable to take part in campaigning in their private lives.
Contact is the delivery partner for the DfE in supporting parent carer participation in England.
Parent Carer Forums are constituted groups run by parents and carers of children and young people from birth to the age of 25. They gather and represent the views of local families to work in partnership with local authorities, education settings, health and social care.
They highlight where changes or improvements need to be made and feedback the parent voice.
To carry out the work, parent carer forums can access a grant from the DfE via Contact. A Memorandum of Understanding setting out a statement of intent to work collaboratively together is signed by the head of services.
Forums can be structured in ways such as Community Interest Companies or charities. They are usually led by a steering group or committee, directors or trustees.
Around the 20 April 2026, Contact completely changed their stance regarding the freedom for individuals to campaign for Send related issues in their private lives. It coincided with the start of the DfE’s online and in-person consultation events.
Whilst Contact has mopped up traces of earlier freer stances on parent carer forums and campaigning, not all can be wiped from the internet.
In 2020/2021 guidance, Contact said: ‘There is nothing to stop any member of a PCF engaging in campaign activities as an individual.’
On 14 March 2025, Contact guidance said that members should ‘avoid sharing or participating in campaign, protest, lobbying activity on behalf of/or in the name of the forum (even if you don’t use DfE funds for this as it can affect your reputation or relationships).’
By 11 September 2025, Contact guidelines then stated that individual members of Parent Carer Forums were able to ‘actively’ become involved in campaigning, as long as was ‘not carried out in the name of the forum…’
Around the 20 April 2026, Contact banned anyone responsible for ‘running the PCF (steering group members / trustees / directors) and those representing the PCF also having a leadership or representative role in a campaign group or undertaking any public-facing campaigning or lobbying activity.’
This, according to Contact, would help ‘ensure the PCF can build trust with its partners.’
The new guidance says – on 30/04/2026:
‘What PCFs need to avoid
‘PCFs must avoid:
‘Campaigning, protesting or lobbying on behalf of or in the name of the PCF, even if DfE funds are not used
‘Communications that conflict with grant conditions, the Code of Conduct or the Memorandum of Understanding
‘While parent carers can be a member of both their PCF and a campaign group, and PCFs and campaign groups may choose to work together collaboratively to achieve change in their area, it’s important for PCFs to have strong governance in place around the leadership and running of the PCF, including a very clear conflict of interest policy. This would preclude those responsible for running the PCF (steering group members / trustees / directors) and those representing the PCF also having a leadership or representative role in a campaign group or undertaking any public-facing campaigning or lobbying activity. This helps to ensure the PCF can build trust with its partners, which is an essential part of its role. So while a leader or representative of a PCF could, for example, choose to sign a petition (in a personal capacity) set up by a campaigning group, they couldn’t give a media interview on behalf of the campaign group promoting that petition.
‘It’s important to recognise that rules around political activity and campaigning exist across many organisations, not just Parent Carer Forums (PCFs). For example, someone working for a government department such as the DfE would usually be expected not to take part in public protest or campaigning in a way that could be linked to their employer. Similarly, staff working for local authorities, the NHS, schools, charities, or private companies are often expected to ensure that any personal campaigning activity cannot be seen as representing their organisation. These kinds of expectations are common and are intended to help organisations maintain impartiality and public trust.’
Contact defines campaigning in the following way:
‘Campaigning involves trying to influence or persuade others to bring about change, often through public or political pressure.
‘In this guidance, “campaigning” refers to activity focused on issues affecting children and young people with SEND. Campaigning on unrelated issues (for example, environmental or animal welfare campaigns) in a personal capacity would not usually present a conflict. However, it is important to consider whether involvement could overlap with PCF work or create a perception that the PCF supports or represents that campaign.’
Contact has published a Campaigning Bingo Sheet for forum members to work out whether they are campaigning or not.
A steering group member of a parent carer forum based outside of Bristol told us: “This is going to lose Contact experienced members of parent carer forums. It’s unacceptable to interfere in the private lives of forum members. It’s being seen as control to appease the Department for Education. It will backfire.”
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