Blind and partially sighted people in the North East say cuts are costing us our independence
Over 200 disabled people, including many from RNIB and local societies, gathered at Newcastle Civic Centre on Friday 1 June to discuss the impact of government cuts on disabled people. The conference comes after a march and rally last October which was the largest of a series across the country with over a 1000 people taking part.
The event was hosted by the Hardest Hit coalition of charities, trade unions and individual campaigners in the North East. Senior politicians including Anne McGuire MP, Shadow Minister for Disabled People and Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead joined campaigners to discuss the impact that cuts to the welfare system are having on people with disabilities. They heard first hand about how cuts nationally and locally were falling disproportionately on disabled people.
Talks from the Campaigns Team
At the conference Steve Winyard, RNIB's Head of Policy and Campaigns, outlined the challenge the current proposals for Personal Independence Payment regulations present to blind and partially sighted people.
Andrew Kaye, RNIB's Policy manager also attended the event, he joined a panel discussing the impact of wider cuts by government alongside Lord Shipley, as well as leading a workshop on the impact of local cuts on blind and partially sighted people.
RNIB Campaigners tell their stories
RNIB campaigner Peter Bennetts spoke on the day about campaigning on welfare reform. He was joined by many others at the event including Volunteer Campaign Co-ordinator Jason Roche who featured in a film made of the day, as well as campaigner Mary Hewison whose MP Julie Elliott backed RNIBs campaign on Personal Independence Payment in the Sunderland Echo newspaper the same day as the event after meeting her and daughter Claire Parker.
More news about the conference
Read more about Peter's story and the event in this article from the Shields Gazette
Visit Hardest Hit on Facebook to share your photos from the day
If you couldn't make it to the conference you can read more about what happened and watch the video of the day available at Kate Belgrave's Blog.
Read this article from the Sunderland Echo about Claire Parker and Mary Hewison securing the support of their local Member of Parliament Julie Elliott.