Our Travelcard campaign shortlisted for a SMK Award
We are excited to announce that our successful campaign to save London’s Day Travelcard has been shortlisted for the SMK National Campaigner Awards 2024!
Our campaign has been shortlisted in the Best Consumer Campaign category, sponsored by Which?
“Our interest is in finding those who have made change happen – most effectively, creatively and courageously.”
– The Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK)
Our ‘Don’t Cut the Card’ campaign
London’s Day Travelcard is a paper ticket which makes it simple and affordable for people to travel around the capital by train, tube and bus. So, when the Travelcard was threatened, we started a campaign to save it.
We asked our supporters to write to their local councils and MPs, and to tell us why the Travelcard matters to them.
“As a disabled traveller, I find that a Travelcard makes the journey into and around London so much less stressful and in fact quicker, without the need to buy separate tickets for each part of a journey.”
Jonathan, Farnham, supporter
We met with the Rail Delivery Group, train operators, Transport for London and Ministers in the Department for Transport. We got businesses and tourism operators involved in our campaign, and we spread our message in the media, including the BBC, ITV and the London’s Evening Standard newspaper.
Our multi-faceted approach was successful, and the decision to reverse the withdrawal of the Day Travelcard was announced in October – good news for the millions that rely on the card every year. All sides, from different political persuasions found consensus, with a strong campaign led primarily by our supporters.
The SMK National Campaigner Awards
Each year, the Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) celebrates the best campaigns and campaigners. The Awards bring the campaign community together to champion campaigning, demonstrate its value, and acknowledge success.
A host of inspiring campaigns have been shortlisted, with categories including Best Use of Law, Best Community Campaign and Young Campaigner Award.
We are honoured to have been shortlisted for Best Consumer Campaign alongside Citizens Advice and housing campaigner Lexi Levens.
“I’m thrilled that our campaign to save London’s Day Travelcard has been recognised. ‘Don’t Cut the Card’ represents what Campaign for Better Transport does best; mobilising our passionate supporters, targeting those in power, and getting our message out there via the media.”
Paul Tuohy, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport
Find out more about the awards on the SMK website, including all of the shortlisted campaigns. You can also watch a live stream of the Awards on 15 May, from 6:15pm.
Huge thanks to our supporters who made this campaign a success!
“The Travelcard is the simplest, cheapest and easiest way for those of us who live outside London to travel to and fro, and around the capital. It is one of the few examples of integrated transport in England and should be a model of good practice.”
– Jane, Colchester, supporter
