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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.
UK Government publishes concessions on welfare reforms
Following pressure from some MPs and disability campaigning groups, the UK Government has made some concessions to their original proposals for welfare reforms.
You can read the Government's statement here. RNIB has produced a summary of the concessions which you can read on their website.
Disability charities such as RNIB and Disability Rights UK feel that the concessions that have been made are not enough to address their concerns, and are still urging people to contact their MP before the debate on 1st July. You can do this here.
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill published
The UK Government has published the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill and MPs are due to vote on the proposals shortly. You can read the Government's statement on the Bill here.
The proposals are largely unchanged from those in the consultation document, which were opposed by disabled people across the UK. The consultation remains open until 30th June, and there is still time to ask your Member of Parliament to vote against the changes. You can read RNIB's response to the Bill on their website. This webpage includes a link to a form which enables you to contact your MP.
Share your experience of accessing vision rehabilitation in Wales or England **Deadline extended**
RNIB is interested to hear about the experiences of people who have received vision rehabilitation. This might have been from a local authority directly or from a provider commissioned to provide this. They want to know whether or not receiving vision rehabilitation made a difference to your life, and what impact, good or bad, this service has had on you.
Taking part is voluntary and you can end your participation at any time. Anything you tell us will be anonymised, so that no individual will be identified unless you have given us explicit permission to do this. The findings will enable RNIB to make the case to Welsh Government and Local Authorities for better provision of Vision Rehabilitation services across Wales. The survey can be completed in English or Welsh. The closing date for responses has been extended to 4th July.
WCB's West Wales Forum Meeting
If you have sight loss and live in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire or Ceredigion, join us at our West Wales Regional event to share your views on the Draft Disabled People’s Rights Plan. Refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided.
The meeting is on Monday, 7th July, 2025, from 11.30am - 2.30pm at Carmarthen Bowling Club, St. Peter's Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LN. For more information and to register your attendance, send an email bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk or owen@wcb-ccd.org.uk, or call 02920 473954.
Wales Pioneers Eye Care Reform: Optometrists can now certify vision impairment for all conditions
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Optometry Wales have announced that, in a first across the UK, Wales will allow optometrists to officially certify Vision Impairment for all types of eye conditions. This major change is expected to improve support for people with sight loss and reduce the pressure on busy hospital eye departments.
The change has been welcomed by Wales Council of the Blind's Director, Owen Williams, who has shared that he is “delighted”. You can read the announcement, including statement from WCB here. There is also a report about this development on the Optometry Today website.
Welsh Government Consultation on Draft Disabled People's Rights Plan 2025 to 2035
The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on its 10-year Draft Disabled People's Rights Plan for Wales.
The plan is based around the Social Model of Disability and the principles and obligations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. It defines four overarching areas for action:
- Neighbourhoods and places.
- Employment, income and education.
- Independent living.
- Justice and supporting environments.
Disabled People’s Rights plan for Wales
The Welsh Government will shortly be consulting on a draft Disabled People’s Rights plan for Wales.
This plan, based on the work of the Disability Rights Taskforce, sets out their cross-government 10-year ambition and the long-term outcomes they are working towards to ensure disabled people can flourish as equal members of Welsh society, and to challenge discrimination and prejudice. A Taskforce worked together to develop the recommendations which informed this plan. Disabled people were active partners in the Taskforce’s process, sharing insights and lived experiences, which have shaped actions to address disabled people’s rights and dismantle existing barriers.
They now want to encourage all members of the public, in particular disabled people and stakeholders, to take part in the consultation. Your input is essential to improving the Disabled People’s Rights Plan, making sure it meets the needs and goals of disabled people.
Wales Council of the Blind will be working with its members to hold a series of workshops on this – if you would be interested in taking part, please contact bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk.
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.