the Campaigner's Active Network (CAN) is an independent user-led initiative for people who are blind or partially sighted, and their allies.
CAN is intended to enable the pro-active campaigning for real social change, and for its members to participate in constructive personal development opportunities.
CAN launch
On the 24 April 2012 RNIB Northern Ireland facilitated the inaugural meeting and the launch of CAN in the Merchant Hotel, Belfast.
CAN is a new Northern Ireland wide initiative through which people interested in the rights; needs; circumstances and potential of blind and partially sighted people here can channel their energies, with a view to bringing about real positive change.
CAN Membership
Membership of CAN is open to both blind and partially sighted people and to people who consider themselves to be allies of blind and partially sighted people.
While RNIB NI's Campaigns Team will facilitate and support the development of CAN, precisely how CAN will operate will be subject to the decisions made by those who go on to form its membership.
RNIB NI is seeking to establish the Campaigners Active Network so that on the one hand:
members of CAN will work with RNIB NI on campaign issues by expressing their views to politicians and other decision makers, sharing their experiences through media outlets and participating in consultations and other events.
High quality lobbying, media and presentation skills training will be made available by RNIB NI to all CAN members interested in undertaking campaigning activities in these spheres.
While on the other hand, members of CAN will be assisted to design and implement wider personal development and other initiatives of the CAN members' own design.
If this sounds like something you might like to get involved in, - sign up as a CAN member.
Download the CAN Next Steps report produced as a result of the launch in April.
CAN Next Step report (Word, 86kb)
Upcoming opportunities and events
1. Participation in the various events at the Northern Ireland Assembly on 18 June which everyone who attended the CAN event on 24 April has already received a separate mailing about. The theme of the day was exploring participation in the political process.
2. CAN members are invited to the first RNIB NI Digital Arts Summer School, a week long accessible training programme in a wide range of digital technologies taking place in the MAC Arts Centre, Belfast 20 to 24 August 2012.
Contact RNIB NI Belfast for more information.
3. CAN members have the opportunity of representing the Network and wider constituency at the regular quarterly meetings of the NI Assembly All Party Group on Visual Impairment at which MLA's, RNIB NI staff and representatives of other organisations from the sight loss sector meet to discuss and seek resolution to key issues of concern. The next meeting, the groups AGM is in September 2012.
4. The Northern Ireland Vision Strategy is a sector wide initiative designed to bring Government departments, representatives from the sight loss sector and people personally affected by sight loss to work together to transform the lives and opportunities of blind and partially sighted people living here. Three of the Vision Strategy's Priority Action Groups have offered two places on each to CAN members.
The 3 Priority Action Groups in question respectively focus on:
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Culture, Arts and Leisure
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Education and Employment
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Travel and mobility
5. CAN members will have access to a high level training programme designed to improve skills and understanding in key aspects of campaigning and communication and enhance knowledge of how Government and other institutions work. The programme is planned for six Saturdays, being one per month from January 2013 to June 2013. Each day will comprise of 4 learning units making this a high quality and intensive 24 unit campaigning masterclass.
Signing up to CAN
If you are interested in becoming involved in CAN or, you just want more information, please contact Patricia Glackin, Campaigns Officer, to obtain a membership form.
Tel: 028 9032 9373
Email: campaignsni@rnib.org.uk.
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