We're recruiting for Mumsnet pre-election focus groups: would you like to take part?

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Would you like to be involved in three pre-election Mumsnet focus groups we're co-organising?

We're working with the Times and a polling organisation to find out what issues are important to you, which politicians you like / loathe and how likely you are to actually cast your vote.

We're planning on running three focus groups (one at MNHQ and the other two online) and you would need to be able to take part in all three.

If you're selected and take part in all three groups you will receive £100. Travel expenses will be paid for the London group, (up to £15 for those in London and up to £100 for second-class rail travel for those coming to join in from outside London).

1. The first focus group would involve coming to Mumsnet Towers in Kentish Town, London on Tuesday 23 March between 12.15pm and 2pm. We'll provide a light lunch, but we're really sorry we can't accommodate babies/children as we simply don't have the space or facilities.

2. The second focus group is online - so you would just be logging in from home (we'll send you a link) and will take place on Tues 20 April from 11.30am-1pm.

3. The third focus group is also online and will be on Tues 4 May from 11.30am-1pm.

We're looking for a good cross-section of Mumsnetters. The polling organisation has devised the questions.

The comments made during the focus groups will be used by the Times for articles in the lead-up to the general election - please note your real first name may be used and they will want to use a picture of you.

All data from this survey is confidential - participants will be screened by responses to the questions and your MN or real name will not be linked to your responses.

Sorry, but this project is only open to UK residents who are eligible to vote in the upcoming general election.

So if you're interested, and you can make all three focus groups, please click here.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Well I'm not a yummy mummy, and I've applied. (Happen to have a close friend who lives near Kentish town who I think I could kip over with and could have the DC for me for a few hours). It'd be a bit of an adventure.

It is a tad ridiculous to assume that you only get Boden wearing middle class yummy mummies in London. Given that it is probably one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the world and all.

Yes Ewe - but I imagine there would be a higher proportion of Boden wearing yummy mummies who are available in the middle of the day and have readily available childcare.

I'm the most pikey mother around, and I can manage it! Only because one lovely friend has agrreed to have ds2 one day and get him to nursery, one online day is during easter hols so I dont need to do the nursery run, and the other one, another friend will drop him, for some reciprocal babysitting. I guess I'm very lucky that I'm not back to work yet.

Oh allright then I am just a grumpy old caaa because I can't come and I want to.

Still think they should have the online groups in the evening. And have them all as online groups anyway so it would give more people who really can't be arsed to traipse to London to join in.

Yeah, I agree to an extent, but I guess if they're all online, they cant see that you're a real person etc?! And do their publicity shots!

Mustrun stop it now, you are making far too much sense

Thanks for your thoughts re timing of these focus groups. You've made some very valid points which we'll raise with the Times to see if any of the events are movable.
Will report back,
Justine

What about my valid points Justine, hey?!

Lol Justine, if they change it I might not be able to do it!!!

thanks justine

I would participate but can't make the London focus group as I have to be at work at 4pm in Somerset.

I have filled the application in ,but do not expect to be considered .

I would love to be involved too, but not sure how I would manage the childcare for the children on the London date.

The few times I've tried to book them into the after school club it's been full.

Mind you, £100 could come in very handy.

Right, now I've just read the thread!

I agree that the times are a bit pants. But I thought £100 was quite good for half a day! I've been to some focus groups that don't pay nuttin'!

I'm out of work atm, doing some website writing from home for nothing and desperately seeking work, which means I am free. But if I have to fork out childcare for the kids, well that'll eat into the £100 you're offering and I was going to use that on booze things for the children.

Shame because I'm only an hour and a half away from London Paddington, but I guess you'd have to add another half hour from Paddington to Kentish Town, wherever that is. So nah, I'd rather spout my drivel views on the alternate thread.

sorry mn, I tried (quite hard - because I was feeling a bit sorry for you!) to see this from your pov, and kept thinking how impossible it would be to do this perfectly but I really think the proposal is flawed.

capping rail fares at £100 is ludicrous.

having the on-line ones in the middle of the day, the same week-day, is also ludicrous. people who do work can't do it (would need to take three days leave); people who don't work can't do it - they'll be giving their kids lunch. (unless they are sahp of school age kids, or are willing and able to get childcare or sit on a computer with hungry children crawling over them.)

if they really want a face-to-face one then don't cap railfares and/or have it in Manchester/Birmingham/Leeds/Sheffield/Liverpool/Newcastle/Cardiff (there are quite a lot of cities outside London...).

I don't think the timing of the face-to-face one is so bad, probably the least-bad option but only if you combine it with something that means the on-line ones can be done without taking leave and/or without getting childcare in. Given the numbers of people on mn and the high level of interest in politics I think you could get a reasonable response/cross section if people only had to sort out work/childcare once. but three times? I just can't see how you'll get the cross-section you want

Agree hatwoman.

MNHQ - I know that MNers must come across as demanding and high maintenance toddlers sometimes, but surely you must see that you are excluding a lot of people with these plans. I know that you cannot please everybody but I do think that these arrangements are restrictive.

And I don't moan a lot. I let it go when you didn't give me my requested Twat emoticon. But please rethink this one.

i also agree

my fear is this will end up as another 'look at how middle class and yummy mummy and don't need to work and all got nannies but moan about how hard parenting is and criticise everyone else's style of parenting ' piece of detritus

it is an exclusive and divisive way to portray MN and a focus group without a diverse cross section is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

surely asking MNers to contribute to an indepth survery, that could be filled in at their leisure and done via email or one of those survey monekey links would be a lot more beneficial?

but then you dln't get your photo op with the times....

I would do a proper piece of research for you, but I suspect no-one would want to pay the real fee ...

[getorf - am pmsl at the twat emoticon - that must have passed me by. nice try!]

it would be interesting to know how many of those who've said they can do it would fall into this "yummy mummy don't need to work all got nannies" (YMDNTWAGN) bracket.

I can do it because I live in London, I'm self employed so can work hours to suit myself (so would make up time in the evenings) and that's the day ds is in nursery so that I can have a few hours straight to get stuff done. I'm also a single parent and don't think I'm yummy, just knackered. I can't afford Boden. I do think parenting is hard but think there are lots of ways to do it and they all have pros and cons.

I do agree that the system is flawed in terms of representing MN users, but do object to being grouped in some YMDNTWAGN bracket when that's far from the truth.

What weegiemum said.

Just realised taking part in this means you have to go to London, and for many, many of us, that means overnight.

Well, I know how far London is from here, do The Powers That Be know how far W. Scotland is from them?

Probably not. Because they don't and never will care.

Totally agree with Luluma'am - exactly what I wanted to say you you put it better.

Hat - yes I requested a twat emoticon because I think the biscuit is crap. Justine dismissed it out of hand

If the polling organisation don't get the range of applicants they are looking for (whatever that might be) surely then they will adjust the times / location. We volunteer (if we can and want to) - they pick!