Campaign 'wins'

Jeanette Mallinder sits on the Carers Forum and is part of RAIN (Rotherham Advice and Information Network Trust).

"Carers in Rotherham have managed to make services better for local carers. Thanks their campaigning together with RAIN carers have won major improvements:

- Carers now have access to Rotherham’s disabled card scheme, so that they get the same discount on local services council services, leisure and shopping in the borough as the people they care for –  so that they can enjoy activities together.

- Getting carers into the “Message in a bottle scheme” which enables important personal and medical information to be passed to emergency services in the event of a crisis." 

5 tips for campaigning success

Jeanette shares her 5 tips for winning success: 

1. Get carers in strategic places by canvassing for their involvement at consultation and decision making levels.
2. Try and make sure carers’ views are represented in as many different areas as possible. In Rotherham carers are involved with all service areas looking at issues as diverse as transport, care provision and the personal safety of carers.
3. A sound ‘ladder to the top and back down again’ – we have a really good structure which ensures that senior staff are aware of our concerns, and we are able to filter down developments to carers.  Issues from our bi-monthly national and local meetings are fed into strategies.   We will campaign if legislation is not implemented or under- performing locally, and have good links with the local newspaper.
4. I think it is important to have good lines of communication  - our champion in the council is a carer and our patron is an MP (its useful to have back up plans!) The Mayor of Rotherham has also given us his support.
5. Be clear about what you want and make sure that this is available and attainable.  loosing a battle is one thing but without commitment you can end up  losing the war.  Start with small ‘wins’.

Rotherham Advice and Information Network Trust: www.rainweb.org.uk