Tactile money campaign launched by school students

Students start campaign to get tactile money introduced. The students, L to R Louis Bailey, Vinnie Denton and Cullen Wright-Lowdell all age 15 and teacher Rosalind Waite-Jones. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-160905-175803008

Year 10 boys Vinnie Denton, Louis Bailey, and Cullen Wright-Lowdell, have started the campaign to have braille notes created so that anyone who is partially sighted or has no sight will be able to read the value of bank notes.

The students came up with their campaign after speaking to their teacher, Ros Waite-Jones, who’s mother is partially sighted.

Vinnie said: “We have been writing to a number of political figures, and we have had a response from Sir Mervyn King, former governor of the Bank of England, who said he was impressed with what we were doing.

“We have to keep pushing it now. We feel like we’ve made a huge difference so far. The response we have had is amazing, and we are excited about what it could lead to.”

The boys have created an online petition to raise awareness in the community, and put posters around the school.

The petition also has a link to a social experiment which shows a man pretending to be blind, handing members of the public a £50 note, but asking for change for £5.

Vinnie added: “When we saw the results we were appalled. It is so easy for someone to get taken advantage of.”

Louis said: “I think that with the progress we are making, it will help our community, so we have to keep pushing with that.”

Ros, of Salvington Road in Worthing, said: “The boys are really fabulous. I think what makes them stand out is they have chosen to tackle an issue that doesn’t involve them directly. This is just something they latched onto straight away.

“They are not afraid to contact people in power. They are very politically aware and it is training them for life.”

Readers can find the petition at www.change.org/p/david-cameron-mp-introduce-tactile-money-in-the-uk

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LittlehamptonGazette

3) Follow us on Twitter @LhamptonGazette

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Littlehampton Gazette - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.