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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Accessible street saved!
Plan for a shared use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists is successfully challenged by local residents.
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Newcastle North MP Catherine Mckinnell pledges to lobby the Minister for Transport on risks of shared space
Volunteer campaigners meet Catherine McKinnell MP and take her on a blindfold walk to highlight accessibility issues in Newcastle.
Accessible information
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RNIB urges Select Committee Inquiry to take action on improving the accessibility of financial services.
RNIB’s Chair, Eleanor Southwood, has told MPs about the importance of making ATMs accessible, so that they can be used by blind and partially sighted people.
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Have your say on the accessibility of public sector websites
Respond to the consultation on a new EU Directive on the accessibility of public sector websites and mobile applications which will be brought into UK law this year.
Transport campaigning
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RNIB's response to proposed shared use pathways in the London borough of Ealing
RNIB is increasingly concerned about new cycling schemes that are planned and implemented. Many local authorities adopt designs that encroach into walking areas, create shared use spaces and potentially place people with sight loss at risk. We raised our concerns with the Ealing Council.
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RNIB response to Department for Transport’s Inclusive Transport strategy
RNIB's own research in 2017 showed us that shockingly 8 in 10 blind and partially sighted people reported they could not travel whenever or wherever they like.
Eye health campaigning
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New sight saving treatments now available on the NHS!
Following calls from RNIB, patients living with potentially blinding condition uveitis are now able to benefit from two new NICE approved treatments.
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Living with glaucoma? We want to hear from you!
We are seeking views from glaucoma patients in order to shape new guidelines that set out how cataracts treatment is carried out in health care settings such as hospitals. Take part today!
Education campaigning
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Parents force Hackney Council to reverse plans
Parents successfully challenge Hackney Council's proposed cuts to support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
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Consultation on services for children with a visual impairment in Manchester
Manchester City Council are reviewing how they support blind and partially sighted children and young people in education. Find out more and have your say by 8 February 2017.
Employment campaigns
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RNIB responds to Work and Pensions Committee report on assistive technology
We respond to the new Work and Pensions Committee inquiry report in to assistive technology
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Speaking technology
Members of the Work and Pensions Committee gather evidence on the benefits of assistive technology to people with sight loss.
Protecting welfare support
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Government responds to the Work and Pensions Committee PIP and ESA assessments report
Read our comments on the Government's response to the Work and Pension's Committee reports on PIP and ESA.
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RNIB meets with the Minister for Disabled People
We met with the Minister of Disabled People, Sarah Newton MP, to discuss Personal Independence Payment and employment support
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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Autumn Budget 2018: Summary and key announcements
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, delivered the Government’s Autumn Budget yesterday, in which he set out forecasts for the UK economy for the coming year.
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Sign the social care petition!
Right now, over one million disabled and older people are left to struggle without the support they need. Sign the petition and ensure the Government keep their promise to fix the social care system.
Envision network
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Young campaigners attend party conferences
This September and October, we took members of our young campaigners network, Envision to meet government ministers, MPs, shadow ministers and others, at the Labour and Conservative Party conferences.
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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.
Retail and Leisure
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Making gyms accessible for all
We've got some great news as part of our Access to Gyms campaign, soon all personal trainers and fitness staff will have to learn about supporting people with sight loss to get fit as part of their roles.
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Start 2017 right with free personal training
Claire Lawrence, our Regional Campaigns Officer for the East Midlands, and campaigns volunteer Dan Powell, are looking for blind and partially sighted people who would be interested in free sessions with a personal trainer.
Other campaigning
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Oh what a year
2016-17 was certainly an eventful year and we're pleased to be able to share some of our fantastic campaign wins. Read the full round up
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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.
East of england
Campaigning news from the East of England
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RNIB research boosts case for vision rehab investment in Essex
New RNIB research into the benefits of vision rehabilitation launched earlier in 2017, is already helping to boost local services across the country. Mike Bell, Policy and Campaigns Officer, tells us about the benefits for Essex.
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Scrutinising the accessibility of Norwich City Centre
We've been working with RNIB Connect Volunteers and partners in Norfolk to highlight the challenges of accessing Norwich City Centre since the implementation of a scheme that removed many of the controlled crossings in the area.
East midlands
Campaigning news from the East midlands
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Start 2017 right with free personal training
Claire Lawrence, our Regional Campaigns Officer for the East Midlands, and campaigns volunteer Dan Powell, are looking for blind and partially sighted people who would be interested in free sessions with a personal trainer.
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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.
London
Campaigning news from London
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Use the Victoria Line at King’s Cross? We’d like to hear from you!
Your chance to take part in a trial of an innovative new station design.
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Have your say on Transport for London staff assistance
Take part in the Transport for London survey to share your experiences of 'turn-up-and-go' staff assistance at London Underground stations.
North east
Campaigning news from the North East
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Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah pledges to lobby Minister for Transport
RNIB volunteer campaigners take MP Chi Onwurah on a blindfold work to highlight accessibility issues at Newcastle Central train station
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Newcastle North MP Catherine Mckinnell pledges to lobby the Minister for Transport on risks of shared space
Volunteer campaigners meet Catherine McKinnell MP and take her on a blindfold walk to highlight accessibility issues in Newcastle.
North west
Campaigning news from the North west
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Liverpool Council adopts street charter
After two years of campaigning, Liverpool council have agreed to adopt a street charter to make the city more accessible for blind and partially sighted people!
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Take part in our Oxford Road user survey
We are working with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Manchester City Council to ensure that blind and partially sighted people can travel down Oxford Road using their chosen method of transport, safely, easily, and as independently as they wish to.
South east
Campaigning news from the South east
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Good things come to those who won’t wait
Last year, Volunteer Campaign Coordinator Julia Kirkham alerted us to the long wait that blind and partially sighted people were facing for vision rehabilitation services in West Sussex.
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MP discovers dangers of street clutter
MP Tim Loughton has walked blindfolded through Worthing town centre as part of a campaign to make the area safer for blind and partially sighted people.
South west
Campaigning news from the South west
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Promoting RNIB Campaigns in Dorset
Steve Hyde, Regional Assistant Campaigns Officer for the South West, and Connect Community Facilitator Sophie Fox payed a visit to the Dorset Blind Association on 2 March, where would-be campaigners were given the chance to find out more about RNIBs work.
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Volunteer Steve takes the reins in South West
We’re thrilled that Volunteer Campaign Coordinator Steve Hyde has now joined the campaigns team as Regional Assistant Campaigns Officer for the South West.
West midlands
Campaigning news from the West midlands
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National Express West Midlands Get on Board with our Bus Charter
On 9 March RNIB campaigners celebrated National Express West Midlands signing up to the Bus Charter, with a Swap with Me event in Walsall. National Express are one of the UK's "big 5" bus operators and provide bus services across the West Midlands.
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Improved accessibility for New Street station
As part of work to improve the accessibility of Birmingham’s New Street station, there have been a number of changes made.
Yorkshire and humber
Campaigning news from Yorkshire and Humber
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Bradford Council votes to roll out A-Board ban across the district
Campaigners in Bradford are celebrating a district-wide ban on A-Boards.
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Barnsley keen to be streets ahead
Maqsood Sheikh, our Regional Campaigns Officer for Yorkshire and Humber, has met with Councillor Roy Miller at Barnsley Council to ask for his support to develop a street charter for Barnsley.
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.