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About WCB.
Wales Council of the Blind is the umbrella agency representing vision impairment within Wales. We work to campaign, lobby and support the improvement of services for people with sight loss. [Read more...]
Latest news.
Disability Wales and allies call on the UK Government to reconsider its approach to disability benefits reforms
Disability Wales has put out a statement raising concerns about the impact of the UK Government's changes to disability benefits, which it says will 'leave many disabled people in Wales considerably worse off without fundamentally tackling the systemic barriers to employment and independent living'.
The statement, 'Fear and anger across Wales as UK Government’s heartless cuts to disability benefits slashes support and regresses rights' is supported by many organisations working with disabled people in Wales, including Wales Council of the Blind and Vision Support. You can read it here.
Sight loss and other disability organisations are encouraging people who are concerned about the changes to contact their MP. You can do this using a form on the RNIB website. The consultation closes on 30th June.
UK Benefits Reform Consultation: accessible versions and consultation events
Accessible versions of the UK Government's consultation documents are now available, and details of consultation events are also on the website.
You can order consultation documents in the following formats:
- Braille
- large print 20 point
- audio CD
- printed copy of the Easy Read version or the full publication
The Government is running some face-to-face and online events during May and June, including an event in Cardiff on 3rd June. Places must be booked in advance.
For further information, to order an accessible version and book a place at an event, click here. This webpage also includes a link to the consultation document.
WCB seeks a Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager
For this role, we are seeking a Sight Loss Engagement Manager who is blind or partially sighted with the ability to use their experience to be an effective voice to improve the lives of people with sight loss and create effective change in Wales. Deadline for applications is 27th April 2025.
For more information, visit: Job Advert
How could the proposed changes to benefits affect you? Information from the Macular Society and RNIB
The Macular Society has provided a summary of the UK Government's proposals for changes to the benefits system, which are currently out for consultation. You can read the summary here.
Sight loss and other disability organisations are encouraging people who are concerned about the changes to contact their MP. You can do this using a form on the RNIB website.
You can read the full consultation document, ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’ here. Accessible versions of the consultation document have not yet been published. The consultation is currently set to close on 30th June, but this is subject to extension to ensure that the it will run for a full 12 weeks after all of the accessible versions of the paper are published.
Save the Date - Wales Eyecare Conference 2025
The annual Wales Eyecare Conference 2025 will be held on Thursday 6th November at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Further details will provided later. For information about previous conferences, click the 'Eyecare Conference' tab at the top of this screen.
UK Government announces ‘Biggest shake up to welfare system in a generation’
The UK Government has launched a consultation paper setting out major plans and proposals to reform health, disability benefits and employment support. While sight loss organisations and other disability charities have given a cautious welcome to some of the proposals, such as plans to improve the Access to Work system, other aspects of the proposals, for example, tightening the criteria for qualifying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), are a cause for concern for people with sight loss.
RNIB advises people with sight loss that ‘It’s worth knowing it will be at least a year before any changes are brought in. Importantly, over the next three months we have the opportunity to tell the UK Government what will and won’t work for blind and partially sighted people.’ You can read their statement here. This webpage will be updated with further information as it comes available.
Sense has noted that ‘The Government will have to introduce new laws to make some of the changes, and it will also be asking for feedback from the public before introducing some of the measures. So, we have a chance to tell the Government how we feel, and get them to change their mind’. Sense has set up a template which enables you to contact your MP and raise your concerns about the proposals, which you can find here.
Vision Support has produced a useful summary of the proposed changes which you can find on their website. Disability Wales is actively working to challenge any proposed cuts and push for a fairer, more inclusive system, and is also encouraging people to contact their MP to raise concerns - read their statement here.
The statement from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is on the UK Government website, and you can read the full consultation document, ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’ here.
Accessible versions of the consultation document have not yet been published. The consultation is currently set to close on 30 June, but this is subject to extension to ensure that the it will run for a full 12 weeks after all of the accessible versions of the paper are published.
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