1. High Court victory on tactile paving
After three and a half years work the High Court finally ruled that the London Borough of Newham had acted unlawfully when changing its policy for paving at crossings. RNIB Campaigns Volunteer Mohammed Mohsan Ali took the case after RNIB failed in a number of attempts to get the Council to reverse its policy for paving at crossings. As a consequence Newham must now draw up a new policy which will include a reversing of their reduction and colour change at crossings. This case will have real benefits for blind and partially sighted people as other boroughs will have to show very specific reasons for deviation from Department of Transport guidance.
2. Talking Books u-turn
The year got off to a great start in Brighton after a proactive campaign led by Talking Books user, Diane Fazackarle, secured funds to continue the service - reversing a proposed cut. Diane petitioned hard and gave an impassioned speech at a Cabinet meeting to help secure the Council's change of heart.
In Suffolk RNIB Campaigns helped seven audio book users successfully challenge the fairness of the procedure the council followed to cancel their subscriptions. The Council also agreed to implement the Local Government Ombudsman's recommendations to make the decision-making process fairer. The Ombudsman's decision was an important one as it means that Councils have to ensure that they consult, impact assess and undertake individual community care assessments before withdrawing the Talking Books and other services used by blind people.
3. Norfolk celebrate bus pass win
Norfolk campaigners celebrated a fantastic campaign win when free 24/7 bus passes for blind people and companion passes were reinstated by the council from April. The result followed nearly a year of creative campaigning and lobbying by local residents, RNIB, Action for Blind People and other local groups. The campaign took a blow when the Council chose to ignore the recommendations of its own Scrutiny Committee to overturn the decision to cut the passes. Refusing to be deterred, local residents and groups responded with rapid action to ensure that Councillors understood the full implications of this decision and the strength of public feeling on this issue, resulting in the very welcome announcement two weeks later.
4. Derby Rehab services saved
Campaigners in Derby successfully challenged the Council's Equality Impact Assessment process in the decision to cut the much-needed VI Rehabilitation service in Derby. A media campaign, combined with support from local MPs and a well-attended protest meeting was followed by an announcement by the Council that they would retain one post and ensure the contract was extended to a year from just three months.
5. Vital services saved in York
York Blind and Partially Sighted Society (YBPSS) joined forced with it's own clients to stop cuts to the eye clinic and equipment services delivered by YBPSS. The RNIB regional campaigns officer supported the campaign by letter writing and lobbying key people within NHS North Yorkshire and York, and by speaking at the local authority scrutiny committee to raise concerns about the plans. A revised proposal for the service was accepted by the Primary Care Trust enabling the society to continue providing its vital services.
6. Improving pedestrian safety
If you're looking for a successful campaign that helps define the terms 'tenacity' and 'perseverance', you need look no further than Rose Hewitt's Dartmouth Road Crossing campaign. In 2012, supported by her RNIB regional campaigns officer, Rose won a unanimous Torbay council vote in support of her proposal for a controlled pelican crossing to be installed on the busy A-road. The success came after five long years of sustained campaigning by Rose, in which she won support from over 700 petition signatories, spoke at various council meetings, gained media coverage and even neutralised objectors by helping to find creative solutions to their perceived problems.
7. Transforming the shopping experience
RNIB regional campaigns team secured a commitment from two major shopping centres to provide visual awareness training for key shopping centre staff that interact with shoppers.The Victoria centre in Nottingham and the Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent both agreed to implement training programmes for cleaning, security and service staff in 2013. Once the training programmes have been completed, we'll be calling on supporters and members to mystery shop the improved service!
8. Changing gym membership policy
A campaign for fair access to gym facilities by a blind gentleman in Liverpool helped ensure fair access for all disabled LA Fitness members throughout the North of England. The long-term member of LA fitness was supported by his RNIB regional campaigns officer and local media to raise awareness of the impact of the gym's decision that instructors would no longer be able to assist him to use the facilities at his local branch, following a company restructure. LA fitness eventually recognised that this meant that the gym would be totally inaccessible to him and granted him a free companion pass. LA fitness also promised to extend the companion pass policy to any disabled member in the north of England.
Are you inspired?
Have you been inspired by our local successes? This list highlights just a few stories from a network that keeps achieving campaign wins. Join the network to keep up to date and help support our campaigners to win again during 2013.