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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Oldham council to adopt street charter
We're delighted that Oldham Council will be adopting a street charter for blind and partially sighted people.
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A-Board Victory for the Northumberland Low Vision Action Group
Northumberland County Council has made the decision to change its advertising board policy, following years of campaigning from the Northumberland Low Action Vision Group.
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.
Accessible information
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Audio description on Catch-up TV becomes law
The Digital Economy Act 2017 has come into law. The Act requires audio description, subtitles and sign language on video on demand services.
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Regulator to enforce accessible health information
We’ve got some fantastic news, the body that inspects the quality of care delivered by all NHS services, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has announced that it will be inspecting services on compliance with the NHS England’s Accessible Information Standard.
Transport campaigning
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More companies sign up to our Bus charter
We're thrilled that so many bus operators have signed up to our "We're on board" bus charter; committing to improve their services for their blind and partially sighted customers.
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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.
Education campaigning
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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.
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Hey! Teachers! Don’t leave them kids alone.
Manchester City Council have agreed to work with us to make sure that proposed changes don’t stop services from meeting the needs of blind and partially sighted children and their families.
Employment campaigns
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Spring Budget (8 March 2017): Summary of key announcements
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, delivered the Spring Budget on Wednesday 8 March. Find out which announcements may impact on people with sight loss.
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Have your say on supporting disabled people in work
The Government is seeking views on how to transform the employment prospects of disabled people. Don't miss this crucial chance to have your say.
Protecting welfare support
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Spring Budget (8 March 2017): Summary of key announcements
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, delivered the Spring Budget on Wednesday 8 March. Find out which announcements may impact on people with sight loss.
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Campaigners take final Employment and Support Allowance push to Parliament
On Wednesday 1 March, RNIB volunteers and staff joined campaigners from other organisations involved in the Disability Benefits Consortium, to call on the government to rethink impending cuts to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Eye health campaigning
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NHS England U-turn on sight saving treatment
NHS England has agreed to fund the sight saving anti-TNF treatment Humira for adult patients with severe refractory uveitis.
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RNIB joins call for cross party strategy on health and social care funding
We're one of 75 organisations to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling for an urgent cross party review on health and social care funding.
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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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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RNIB joins call for cross party strategy on health and social care funding
We're one of 75 organisations to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling for an urgent cross party review on health and social care funding.
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.
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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Michael joins the team in East of England
We’re delighted to announce that Michael Wordingham has joined the campaigns team as Regional Assistant Campaigns Officer for the East of England.
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We need our crossings back
In Norwich, a group of campaigners and RNIB Connect volunteers have been working with local film maker Tom Westwood. Together, they’ve made a short film highlighting the challenges blind and partially sighted people are facing due to the changes made by the city council to the layout of Norwich city centre.
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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A-Board Victory for the Northumberland Low Vision Action Group
Northumberland County Council has made the decision to change its advertising board policy, following years of campaigning from the Northumberland Low Action Vision Group.
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Shared space success in Stobhill
A local group of blind and partially sighted campaigners in Stobhill – including volunteer campaigners Bob Potter, and Joyce and John Anderson – have had a fantastic success in their fight against a new shared space scheme.
North west
Campaigning news from the North west
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Oldham council to adopt street charter
We're delighted that Oldham Council will be adopting a street charter for blind and partially sighted people.
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We want to hear from you in Manchester
Lindsay Coyle, Regional Campaigns Officer for the North West, is looking to hear from people impacted by new cycle bypass lanes that have been installed along Oxford Road in central Manchester.
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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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.
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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.
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.