Young Campaigner Award
Lauren Rymel
@Ruils_Community
Campaigns Intern, Lauren Rymel, on set for lived experience video filming day.
Buses are for everyone and accessibility isn’t optional.
The Campaign
The campaign with First Bus, one of London’s bus companies, was started when those in Ruils’ Transport and Mobility Forum highlighted problems they were having when using local buses. After that, Lauren Rymel spoke to the risk and safety partner about setting up a campaign focused on teaching bus drivers things they can do to make a difference for disabled people. Lauren generated resources for bus drivers with First Bus‘s Communications and Engagement Lead, and this was shared on Blink, an employee engagement app used by bus companies. These resources included a number of videos, polls, and informative grid posts.
Matthew Howie from First Bus engaging local Disabled people on a tour of a bus.
I am incredibly grateful to have been nominated for the Young Campaigners Award. I feel so proud of what we have achieved through this campaign, and this recognition validates the importance of what I am doing as a campaigner. Most of what we have covered in the campaign comes directly from my own experiences, as well as the experiences shared within our user-led groups, and it’s empowering to see our voices recognised and used to help make change.”
Lauren Rymel
Campaigns Intern, Ruils
The Change
From this campaign, Ruils has found that bus drivers are more aware of access needs and have improved with recognising the sunflower lanyard, deploying ramps, and lowering the level of the bus. They have also found that drivers have been more empathetic towards people and have taken accountability when it comes to access.
The Future
Going forward, Lauren would like to uphold the relationship she has with First Bus and continue the access day that she has hosted with them. She would also love to share the resources with other bus companies.
