Campaigning news
On this page you will find the latest RNIB campaigning news by topic or region. Keep up to date with the latest issues by subscribing to our campaign update enewsletter.
On my street
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Stockton-on-Tees is first North East council to sign up to our Street Charter
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has become the first council in the North East to launch a ‘Street Charter’ as part of our 'Who put that there!' campaign.
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All A-Board for clear streets in York
Maqsood Sheikh, our Regional Campaigns Officer for Yorkshire and Humber, spoke in favour of the City of York Council’s new policy to ban advertising boards (A-Boards), at their Executive’s meeting on Thursday 25 August.
Retail and Leisure
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PureGym access
Our Regional Campaigns Officer for the East Midlands is currently working with PureGym on an access to gyms campaign for blind and partially sighted people.
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Beacon of hope
Milton Keynes Volunteer Campaign Coordinator and RNIB Connect team member, Padma Cheriyan has been campaigning for a navigation system at her local shopping centre, Centre MK.
Accessible information
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Successful RNIB Connect campaign workshop in Bristol
Volunteers and campaigners gathered in Bristol on Monday 12 September for a workshop on campaigning.
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“Book famine” treaty coming into force
On 30 June 2016, Canada became the 20th country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. The Treaty should allow for thousands more accessible books to be available to blind and partially sighted people, both in the UK and elsewhere. Canada’s ratification on 30 June therefore means the Marrakech Treaty will come into force on 30 September 2016.
Transport campaigning
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Don't bypass us
Richard Holmes, our Regional Campaigns Officer for London, and volunteer campaigner Elise Crayton, attended a consultation event for a new bus stop bypass in Kingston on 27 July. The borough is proposing the change as part of a major re-development of public areas in Kingston.
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Go North East goes all out for blind and partially sighted passengers
On 30 June, campaigners from the North East celebrated Go North East signing up to our bus charter by holding a Campaign Connect event at Go North East's bus depot in Gateshead.
Education campaigning
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Challenging planned cuts to services for children in Manchester
Lucy Dixon, our Regional Campaigns Manager, has challenged Manchester City Council’s recent proposals to cut services for blind and partially sighted children, at a meeting with parents and other stakeholders on Wednesday 13 July.
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Disabled Student Allowance consultation
The Government has suggested changes to the way Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is awarded, they want Higher Education providers to be responsible for providing more support directly. We are concerned that some blind and partially sighted students may not receive the level or quality of support that they need.
Employment campaigns
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New Work and Pensions Secretary promises 'no plans' for further welfare cuts
We were really pleased to hear on 21 March that the government has chosen not to proceed with any of the proposed changes to PIP. On top of this, Stephen Crabb MP told Parliament, that ‘we have no further plans to make welfare savings’. Find out more about the announcement.
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Victory in defending PIP for people with sight loss!
We’re absolutely thrilled that the Government has withdrawn its proposals to reduce PIP entitlement by changing the rules on the use of aids and appliances. This is fantastic news, thank you so much to everyone who took action on the campaign.
Protecting welfare support
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Attendance Allowance under attack
Join our campaign supporters - Joanna, Mike and John - and ask your MP to help protect Attendance Allowance.
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Share your experiences of claiming PIP with the DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) want to know about your experience of claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to see how they could make it better.
Eye health campaigning
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What do you think of your AMD treatment?
Do you have Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)? We want to hear about your experiences so that together we can help shape the treatment you receive from the NHS in England.
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New Cataracts Toolkit is here!
Turned down for cataract surgery? Finding everyday tasks difficult? This guide will help you get the surgery you need.
Sight loss advisers
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Exeter MP visits vital sight loss adviser service
Ben Bradshaw, MP for Exeter, met the sight loss adviser at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on 6 April, to learn about her vital role for people experiencing sight loss.
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MP visits Torbay's sight loss adviser
Torbay MP, Kevin Foster, visited the sight loss adviser at Torbay Hospital on 12 February to learn more about the vital role of a sight loss adviser.
Social care
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Richmond sees the need to provide good vision rehab
On Friday 9 September, our Regional Campaigns Officer for London, Richard Holmes and our Regional Campaigns Manager, Michael Wilson met with Richmond Borough Council as part of our campaign for improved vision rehabilitation services.
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Shaping sensory service provision in Essex
Our Campaigns Manager Michael Wilson, along with campaigner Phil Lee, attended a half day workshop hosted by Essex County Council looking at sensory service provision in the County.
Envision network
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Young campaigners visit Parliament
Last month, members of Envision had a rare opportunity to visit Parliament. The event followed on from a day’s training on campaign skills, the role of Parliament and influencing MPs. Members also worked together to further develop their employment campaign.
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Sign up for exciting young campaigns network training event
Are you 18-30 and blind or partially sighted? Sign up to join RNIB's young campaigns network's training day on access to employment and campaigning skills by 7 September.
Other campaigning
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We’ve got something exciting to tell you
Earlier this year, we launched RNIB Connect, a growing community of blind and partially sighted people, their friends, family, carers and supporters of issues facing people with sight loss.
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Bristol Water commit to accessible ID badges
Following a local campaign, utility company Bristol Water has agreed to include information on their staff identity badges in Braille.
East of england
Campaigning news from the East of England
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Shaping sensory service provision in Essex
Our Campaigns Manager Michael Wilson, along with campaigner Phil Lee, attended a half day workshop hosted by Essex County Council looking at sensory service provision in the County.
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Working together to improve vision rehabilitation in the East of England
Members of our campaigns team were in Essex finding out about vision rehabilitation and talking about our See, Plan and Provide campaign.
East midlands
Campaigning news from the East midlands
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PureGym access
Our Regional Campaigns Officer for the East Midlands is currently working with PureGym on an access to gyms campaign for blind and partially sighted people.
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GP visual awareness training in East Midlands
Our East Midlands Regional Campaigns Officer, Claire Lawrence, recently ran visual awareness training sessions for over 50 GPs, medical students and Senior Nursing staff from across the region.
London
Campaigning news from London
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Richmond sees the need to provide good vision rehab
On Friday 9 September, our Regional Campaigns Officer for London, Richard Holmes and our Regional Campaigns Manager, Michael Wilson met with Richmond Borough Council as part of our campaign for improved vision rehabilitation services.
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Judd Street superhighway update
Our Regional Campaigns Officer for London, Richard Holmes, and Trustee Ellie Southwood, recently met with Deputy London Mayor Val Shawcross to discuss the north south Cycle Superhighway which is planned to run past our London office on Judd Street.
North east
Campaigning news from the North East
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Stockton-on-Tees is first North East council to sign up to our Street Charter
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has become the first council in the North East to launch a ‘Street Charter’ as part of our 'Who put that there!' campaign.
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Sunderland campaigner secures promise for new pedestrian crossing
A local campaigner in Sunderland has taken action to highlight the need for a new pedestrian crossing near her home. Following her work with our Regional Campaigns Officer, Sunderland City Council have now approved a new crossing.
North west
Campaigning news from the North west
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Promoting vision rehabilitation in the North West
On Friday 22 July, we met the Cheshire West and Chester Council sensory loss team to discuss vision rehabilitation support as part of our see, plan and provide campaign.
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Cataract surgery could be at risk across St Helens
St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in Merseyside (the local organisation who makes decisions about health services) is suspending non-urgent referrals to hospitals for four months, which impacts cataract surgery.
South east
Campaigning news from the South east
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Reading shared space scheme a real turn off
Reading Council have been changing junctions in the town which includes permanently switching off traffic lights. Find out more about what's happened to stop this.
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Brighton bus accessibility day celebrating our Bus Charter
Campaigners from across London and the south east joined members of the public in Brighton for a Bus Accessibility Day on 19 May to celebrate Brighton and Hove Buses and their sister company Metro Buses, signing up to our bus charter.
South west
Campaigning news from the South west
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Successful RNIB Connect campaign workshop in Bristol
Volunteers and campaigners gathered in Bristol on Monday 12 September for a workshop on campaigning.
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Fighting to keep the pelican crossing in Wimborne (Update: campaign success!)
Our campaigns volunteer Michael Hall and Regional Campaigns Officer for the South West Mike Bell have been fighting to save the pelican crossing in West Street, Wimborne, in Dorset.
West midlands
Campaigning news from the West midlands
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Worcestershire CCGs announce survey results on proposed cuts to health services
Local people send a strong message to Worcestershire CCGs, not to restrict access to cataract surgery.
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Share your experience of the built environment in the West Midlands
Do you find it hard to cross the road safely in your local area? Does bin collection day make it almost impossible for you to leave your house? We’re gathering information from blind and partially sighted people in the West Midlands about their experiences of accessing their local area.
Yorkshire and humber
Campaigning news from Yorkshire and Humber
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Challenging vision rehabilitation services in North East Lincolnshire
We met with North East Lincolnshire Council to discuss vision rehabilitation support as part of our see, plan and provide campaign. Find out what happened, and how you can support the campaign.
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All A-Board for clear streets in York
Maqsood Sheikh, our Regional Campaigns Officer for Yorkshire and Humber, spoke in favour of the City of York Council’s new policy to ban advertising boards (A-Boards), at their Executive’s meeting on Thursday 25 August.
Europe and worldwide
Campaigning news from Europe and worldwide
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“Book famine” treaty coming into force
On 30 June 2016, Canada became the 20th country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. The Treaty should allow for thousands more accessible books to be available to blind and partially sighted people, both in the UK and elsewhere. Canada’s ratification on 30 June therefore means the Marrakech Treaty will come into force on 30 September 2016.
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New EU law to make websites and apps more accessible
We thrilled to announce that on 3 May, Members of the European Parliament reached a ground-breaking political deal with governments across Europe to ensure that all public sector websites and apps are made accessible.