Campaigning news

Accessible street saved!

Plan for a shared use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists is successfully challenged by local residents.

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.

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.

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.

Have your say on the future of accessible train travel

Help shape our response to the Office of Road and Rail consultation and improve assisted travel for blind and partially sighted people. Join one of our local focus groups and have your say.

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.

RNIB welcome NICE Quality Standards for Serious Eye Conditions

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellent (NICE) publish Quality Standards for Serious Eye Disorders. It is the latest in the suite of NICE guidance for eye care.

We warmly welcome the Quality Standards and urge all providers to implement all six standards immediately. 

The six NICE Quality Standards:

NHS England Long-Term Plan says very little specific to eye health, people at risk of visual impairment, for blind and partially sighted people

RNIB has today published a policy briefing on the NHS England Long-Term Plan, looking at the implications of the proposals from the perspective of eye health, and has concluded that, while there is welcome news for the additional support for children with learning disabilities or autism, there is very little specific to eye health, people at risk of visual impairment, or blind and partially sighted people.

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.

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.

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

Speaking technology

Members of the Work and Pensions Committee gather evidence on the benefits of assistive technology to people with sight loss.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our campaign priorities in 2019

In 2019, we will continue to break down barriers, change minds and open opportunities for people with sight loss. Read our overview of our campaigning priorities in 2019.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bradford Council votes to roll out A-Board ban across the district

Campaigners in Bradford are celebrating a district-wide ban on A-Boards.

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.

“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.

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.