A pensioner's first petition helps protect free travel - and personal independence - for the elderly
When Philip Clayton, 71, heard that councils in London were considering restrictions to the Older Person's Freedom Pass, which allows those over 66 free travel in the capital, he knew he had to take action. He started a petition, and thousands of his fellow Londoners got on board. Within days, his urgent plea could not be ignored, as hundreds of pensioners took up his cause, adding their voice in video messages and writing to their local councillors and MPs. The conversation reached City Hall and borough leaders. Within a week, decision-makers were forced to take action. Councillors vowed to block any plans to restrict the important Freedom Pass, and this was backed by the Mayor of London. Philip had achieved a major victory, despite having never started a petition before in his life.
“I want to start by thanking all those who signed, and Change.org for hosting the appeal. I started my first ever petition because I knew that restricting the Freedom Pass application to buses only would make my life and that of hundreds of thousands of others really miserable.”
Philip Clayton, petition starter