00:00Well, thank you so much for joining us. So if we start right at the beginning, how did the whole campaign actually start?
00:07Well, it was down to the readers. They got in contact and basically said that the current blue badge system was not fit for purpose in the sense that they had a short term condition or they were having cancer treatment.
00:18But because they couldn't prove that it would last for three years, unfortunately, they weren't eligible for a blue badge.
00:24So we started telling the story of Sandy Burr, who was a cancer patient, had had a toe amputation, blood clots in her lung and still wasn't eligible for a blue badge.
00:33And that sort of started the whole story as such, because we realised that there was some change that was needed.
00:40And from that initial story, so many people got in contact with us to say, oh, I'm also left out by the current policy.
00:48I see. And the nomination for the award comes with plenty of exposure.
00:52Do you think this kind of attention will help people fight for hopefully a fairer system?
00:58Absolutely. I think that although this is a sort of local campaign that we've been championing at Kent Online, I think it goes far beyond our county.
01:08I think the issue of the blue badge eligibility is something that people across the county and country will resonate with.
01:15So at the moment, every county has a different blue badge system as such, because there is some sort of discretion that each council has.
01:23And obviously what we've been calling for is a local discretionary policy so that people that want a blue badge but might not need it for three years can have one.
01:31So at the moment, we've been asking the government to reconsider its eligibility criteria so that people across the country, not just in Kent, can access a blue badge when they need it in their worst moments.
01:42I see. And the award is from the News Media Association aims to highlight value journalism that, you know, the value journalism creates within society with the award.
01:53We've heard a bit about what the blue badge battle is doing.
01:56Tell us a bit more about why you hope obviously this nomination might be victorious.
02:01Well, I think it just highlights how important this campaign is.
02:06I want people to support this campaign and vote for us, not only because it's an amazing campaign, but because it resonates with them.
02:13A lot of us have been touched by somebody that is undergoing cancer or cancer treatment or has a short term illness that's super serious and affects their mobility that might not last for three years.
02:23So I think for us to get this recognition through this campaign, you know, we're doing something that matters to our readers and to our audience would be amazing.
02:32And it's such an important issue that I think is well worthy and deserves highlighting through these awards.
02:39Absolutely. And before we go, tell us, how can people help and support the campaign?
02:43So the voting opened today and it's only until Thursday that you can vote.
02:50So what I would urge people to do is go on to the News Media Association website and go to the Making a Difference Award and vote for Kent Online's Blue Badge Battle campaign.
02:59We've been working tirelessly for eight months now to try and change the system and make it fairer for people.
03:05So if they could just take one moment out of their day to vote, that would mean the world to us.
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