Regional Leader quickstart guide: how to grow the movement beyond your school
Welcome, it’s amazing to have you here.
Regional Leaders help grow the Smartphone Free Childhood movement beyond their own school gates – because the more families who choose to delay smartphones, the more it becomes normal for your whole community.
You’ll connect the dots. Share what works. Run joint events. Support those starting from scratch. And bit by bit, you’ll see the culture start to shift.
An incredible network of Leaders and School Organisers are here to support you at every step.
Here’s a few ideas to help you get started, from Leaders who have been where you are, right now.
P.S. for a more detailed, step-by-step guide, head to our SFC Regional Leader’s Playbook [coming soon]
What is a Regional Leader?
Above all, you’re driving culture change. It starts with small actions – conversations, flyers, surveys, talks, messages – and builds into something that feels normal and shared.
There are many different ways to approach Regional Leading. Different Leaders choose to focus on different parts of the role. Below are some of the things that regional leaders do. Don’t think of this as a job description where you’re being asked to do everything. Think about it as a menu of ideas you can choose from to grow the movement in your area.
Relevant links:
[.style-link] Tools and tips to help you get started – in the Regional Leaders Hub [.style-link]
[.style-link] In-depth resources – on the Regional Leaders Notion page [.style-link]
Getting started
Connect first. Introduce yourself to other Regional Leaders in your region (you’ll usually find them in your regional WhatsApp Community). Agree how you’ll coordinate with each other.
You can also connect with Regional Leaders nationally on our online Discord community or at IRL (in real life) meet ups. The amazing people who have stepped up to be Regional Leaders are a great source of knowledge and inspiration and we lean on each other.
Define your patch. Pick the hub you’re going to work on. Your region may have already been split into different hubs (often aligning to towns/boroughs/constituencies) or, if it hasn’t yet, you can define the area where you’d like to drive change. You can get a list of schools from the Regional Leaders’ Notion page, and turn it into a simple working dashboard: schools, organiser status, head contact, policy status, next action.
Engage the community on Whatsapp. Your region’s WhatsApp Community will be one of the easiest ways to engage passionate parents. You’ll want to keep people engaged and pass on content from HQ. And once your community becomes too successful, you’ll need to split it into your hubs (because Whatsapp only allows 2,000 members and 50 groups in one community).
Find your core team. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Team up with other Regional Leaders or School Organisers in your hub. Decide who enjoys data and dashboards, who likes meeting heads, who’s up for events, and who’s happy talking to the media. Make it easy for new helpers to join you.
Set a rhythm. A short check-in each fortnight or month keeps energy high: what moved, what’s blocked, what’s next. Keep it friendly, practical, and focused on moving things forward step by step.
Relevant links:
[.style-link] Find your local WhatsApp community [.style-link]
[.style-link] Schools lists – on the Regional Leaders Notion page [.style-link]
Supporting School Organisers
Recruit. Start with the willing: class reps, PTA/PSA leaders, governors, active WhatsApp parents, those already buzzing about the issue. Share the School Organiser hub or video, and encourage and support their first steps e.g., set up/refresh the school WhatsApp, speak to the head, run a quick parent survey, organise a talk.
Get started. It’s good to have a welcome message ready, a link to key resources, and a clear recommendation for the “first 2–3 actions.” Offer a quick call to answer questions and boost confidence.
Stay close, not heavy. Nudge occasionally (“How did the survey go?”, “Want a hand with the head email?”), celebrate small wins, and share examples from nearby schools. If someone stalls, assume life got busy and keep the door open.
Make events easy. Offer the parent-to-parent talk template, help with tech, a suggested running order, and a follow-up plan that points parents straight to the Pact. The goal is confidence and momentum, not perfection.
Relevant links:
[.style-link] The School Organiser Hub [.style-link]
[.style-link] School Organiser Video [.style-link]
Meeting headteachers
Most meetings should be led by School Organisers; you equip them to succeed. Step in yourself when a school is stuck, when you’re coordinating cross-school action, or when a School Organiser asks for backup. And the SFC Schools Network is there to support you too.
Getting the meeting: warm introductions work best (governor, PTA chair, another head, local trust/diocese lead). Keep your ask simple: “Could we host a short parent conversation about smartphones and childhood?” You’re not asking for time or resources – just space.
In the room: keep the tone non-judgemental and practical. Explain how the SFC Schools Network supports heads (talks, surveys, templates, examples from similar schools) and how policy and the Pact work together. Be clear on the options secondary schools are choosing now (e.g., locked pouches, brick phones from year 7) and the benefits they’re reporting.
Primary vs secondary: primary heads often move fastest on policy; in secondaries the operational “how” matters – so bring examples, enforcement tips, and neighbouring schools’ experiences. Always leave with a specific next step and follow up within 48 hours.
Relevant links:
[.style-link] The Schools Network [.style-link]
[.style-link] Evidence Pack for Headteachers [.style-link]
Engaging MPs and the Council
MPs lend credibility and open doors; councils engage schools and issue guidance. Keep your ask focused: a short supportive quote, attending a heads’ session, a line in a newsletter, or an introduction to education leads, safeguarding boards, trusts, or head associations.
Approach respectfully. Share local numbers (how many parents signed, how many schools engaged), name local heads who’ve moved, and explain the positive, non-judgemental framing. With councils, aim for introductions, space on agendas, and help convening heads or trusts. Keep it light-lift for them and follow through promptly.
Relevant links:
[.style-link] Meeting Your MP Playbook[.style-link]
Coordinating a joint letter
A letter from a group of local heads agreeing a smartphone-free approach is one of the fastest ways to unlock policy change. Just as the Pact enables parents to coordinate, a joint letter (sometimes called a consortia letter) can let heads do the same. It allows them to say they’re acting in line with the whole area, not just on their own.
How to do it: arrange a cross-school session (usually 90 minutes), ideally hosted by a respected head or neutral venue. Often the local MP will be willing to help. Using a panel event format and then giving time and space for an open conversation is the most powerful way to do it. Close on time and with clear next steps.
Make agreement easy: circulate a draft letter. One option is to use an opt-out approach after the meeting (heads are busy and it can be hard to get them to respond to opt-in). Send a handful of polite reminders, keep notes tight, and move quickly while energy is high. Follow up with press only when heads are comfortable.
Engaging local media
Local TV, radio and press normalise the choice to delay and make heads braver. You don’t need to be a media pro – just be honest, warm and clear.
Build a simple story: a couple of local quotes (parent, head, pupil), a stat or two (sign-ups, schools moving), and what’s happening next. Offer good photos and be responsive. Share coverage in parent groups so families see “people like us” choosing to delay.
Relevant resources:
[.style-link] Regional press: tips and templates [.style-link]
Encouraging the Pact beyond school policy
Policy at school and the Pact at home work together. Even after a policy change, encourage School Organisers to keep running talks, sharing tips, and pointing parents to the Parent Pact. This keeps norms moving in the right direction and supports families through tricky moments.
For “straggler schools” (i.e. those that haven’t kept up with the rest of the hub), stay friendly and persistent. Offer an easy first step (a flyer in the newsletter, hosting a parent talk, or sharing an anonymised survey). Encourage governors to explore the issue with heads. Share nearby success stories, and keep inviting them into the conversation.
Relevant resources:
[.style-link] The Governor Playbook [.style-link]
[.style-link] Parent Talk Hub [.style-link]
Thank you!
Celebrate every step, copy what works, and always ask, “What’s the next tiny action that moves this forward?” That’s Regional Leadership in SFC – simple, human, and surprisingly powerful.
Thank you for stepping up to the challenge!
