A disabled campaigner from Norwich has scooped an award for her campaigning work to improve access on public transport for other people with sight loss.
Bernie Reddington, 43, from Sprowston, has won the Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) Campaigning Award 2012 in the transport category.
The awards recognise inspirational campaigners who would benefit from getting some additional tailored support from the SMK Campaigner Awards programme.
Bernie is a volunteer campaign co-ordinator for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and has worked on several campaigning issues to enable blind and partially sighted people to live independently.
One of Bernie's main campaign successes has been her work to get free bus travel for people with sight loss reinstated by her local council. Bernie worked alongside RNIB, local voluntary groups and other people with sight loss in Norfolk to highlight the impact of cutting free bus travel.
Bernie organised for the leader of the council to take part in a blindfold bus journey to gain some understanding of the issues blind and partially sighted people face and just how expensive it is for people with sight loss to do every day activities sighted people take for granted. The event was hailed as a key part of changing attitudes locally, with the concessionary bus passes ultimately getting reinstated.
Bernie said: "I'm thrilled to have won and can't quite believe it. Through education and liaison I would like to increase the understanding of decision makers, transport operators and the general public about the barriers which prevent people with sight loss from being fully independent and included members of their communities.
"Local bus travel is a lifeline, providing a sole means of transport within the community for those who are not able to drive and cannot fund repeated taxi journeys. As Norfolk is extremely rural, people with sight loss can feel very isolated. That's why this campaign was so important."
The awards ceremony will take place today (18 September, 2012) and be presented by Jon Snow, Channel 4 presenter and Patron of SMK.
The winners will each receive tailored support from SMK Campaigner Awards Programme which offers support, advice and a place to share information on key areas of effective campaigning: from strategy, tactics, and targets to evaluating successful campaigns.
Emily Papaleo, RNIB's Regional Campaigns Officer for East of England, said: "RNIB is committed to creating an inclusive society for blind and partially sighted people and campaigners like Bernie are central to achieving this. We're extremely proud of Bernie for winning this well deserved award and we look forward to working with her on other campaigning issues in the future."
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Notes to Editors:
For more information or interviews contact Emma Mercer, Senior Public Relations Officer, on 020 7391 2085 or emma.mercer@rnib.org.uk
Photos available on request from Wednesday, 19 September, 2012.
About RNIB
Every day around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
About SMK
SMK was established in 2005 to help develop a new generation of campaigners who are tackling the root causes of injustice. Set up in memory of Dame Sheila McKechnie, SMK is entirely dedicated to helping campaigners create positive and lasting social change.
Whatever your issue, whether you are trying to improve disabled access on local transport or promote solutions to conflict, SMK can help individuals or groups develop new tactics and plan high impact campaigns through our awards programme, workshops and training programmes, and bespoke consultancy.