Involving your local MP is important - they may be able to help. You can find out the name and contact details of your local MP by visiting  http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/ Local councillors may also be interested in helping. You can find their details on your local council website or through www.councillor.gov.uk

Write a letter to your local or student newspaper to let as many people as possible know what is happening in Darfur and how local institutions can help by divesting The local media, press, radio or TV, in a local interest story. Tell them what you have been doing and why. Get in touch with us - we can try to find you a Darfuri living in the local area who would be prepared to be interviewed about his or her personal experience. Using the media may get others interested and can be especially effective if your letter writing has come to nothing.

If you are part of a group and can organise an event, it offers an alternative to simply writing to newspapers. For example, you could organise a street stall, take part in a fun run, or a coffee morning. Produce a handout leaflet for those who are interested, or request some from us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Circulate a petition (don’t forget to make copies before you use it). Signed petitions can be sent directly to the policy-making committees of the shareholding organisations. You could use a day to target, for example, customers leaving a bank in your local area which has investments in one of the target companies. A petition is much more likely to be paid attention to if it is signed by people who are actually invested in the fund.

Link with other campaign groups, such as human rights or development organisations; can you work together towards a common aim?

Design and put up posters in the local area; in community centres, sports centres, newsagents, shops, cafes, religious places of worship, on campus, anywhere you can think that would be appropriate. Give details of what you are doing and why. Other people may still be interested in getting involved and at the very least it will raise awareness of the cause.

For universities

Get the support of the student body; write a motion in support of divestment and take It to your student union. A model motion is available by writing to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Get in touch with your university’s Aegis Society (www.aegisstudents.org), with university wings of the political parties, societies concerned with human rights and humanitarian issues, African societies, and faith groups. Write to academics who you think may be supportive. Put up some posters and hold your first meeting.

If you have international students at your university ask them to help set up a divestment campaign back home, or suggest who can: they can email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more help and advice.