On this page you can start your own petition or open letter, and sign other people's. Pick something you care about, choose your format, and make your voice heard. Every campaign begins with one person deciding to do something.
What is a petition?
A petition is a formal request, signed by many people, asking a person or organisation to take a specific action. It might be a Department, Senior Tutor, a university committee, or even Parliament.
The power of a petition is in the numbers. One person asking for something is easy to ignore. Hundreds of people asking for the same thing is much harder to dismiss.
Examples may be “Extend the library’s opening hours during exam season.” or “Introduce free sanitary products in all laboratory toilets.”
What is an open letter?
An open letter is a letter addressed to a specific person or group, but written to be shared publicly. Because everyone can read it, it puts the issue in the spotlight and invites others to join the conversation. Often, many people sign it to show they stand behind it.
Where a petition focuses on a single request, an open letter lets you tell the story: explain the problem, share your experience, make your case, and say what you want to happen next.
Examples: A letter to your Senior Tutor about mental health signposting. A letter to a college about more Bridging Week places needed. A letter to University leaders about the PREVENT duty.
Tips for making yours count:
-
Be specific. Say exactly what you want and who has the power to do it.
-
Stick to the facts. Back up your points with evidence, and keep your tone respectful.
-
Keep it clear and concise. Short, simple writing gets read and shared.
-
Make it personal. Real stories are more memorable than statistics alone.
-
Spread the word. Share it with friends, classmates, societies, and online.
-
Follow up. Keep the conversation going after you’ve sent it.
Why not use another website?
On this website, you can be sure that all names and signatures are confidentially stored. Also, on this website you can add a filter so that only Cambridge University members can sign.
Ready to start?