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BCODP on Tour

Paul Matthews, Information Officer , BCODP

BCODP began its yea-rlong tour of Britain with its first Campaigning and Anti-Charging seminar in Basingstoke on 27 February. The seminar was attended by around 50 people, an encouraging number of whom had never previously had contact with BCODP.

Speakers included Andy Rickell, BCODP’s Chief Executive, Frances Hasler, the Director of the National Centre for Independent Living, and Raymond Hollywood from the British Deaf Association. A local angle was provided by Ian Loynes from the Hampshire Coalition of Disabled People, who co-hosted the event, and Phil Mason from the Hampshire Centre for Independent Living. Speakers discussed campaigning tactics, the campaign against community care charging and the British Deaf Association’s campaign to have British Sign Language recognised as a language.

The day included a chance for people to ask a panel of experts questions about campaigning and charging for services, and take part in workshops focusing on their own issues.

BCODP and Hampshire Coalition also provided information stands promoting their work and services, giving people a direct opportunity to ask staff questions and find out about other issues.

No less important than the South East seminar was the North East seminar two weeks later on 13 March in Newcastle. This was co-hosted by Disability Action North East (DANE) and Denise Knott spoke on the campaign in the North East against charging. The seminar also included speakers from the Disabled Peoples’ Direct Action Network (DAN). Robert Punton and Tom Comerford spoke about DAN’s work on a local and national level, and talked about the principles and successes of using direct action as a campaigning tool.

During 2002 BCODP will be visiting all of the other areas of England, as well as Scotland and Wales. It is hoped that each seminar will be co-hosted by a local organisation so if your group is interested in being involved please contact Sandy Marshall, the Groups Development Manager..