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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.
Free swimming lessons for vision impaired children in South Wales
The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) have been working with Halo Leisure to provide swimming lessons for VI children, who live in Wales. Halo have pools based in Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Tondu and Pontypool.
These 4 FREE 30-minute sessions are designed specifically for children aged 4–12 with any level of visual impairment, who lives in Wales. This includes partial blindness (low vision), congenital blindness, complete blindness, and legal blindness. Children will experience:
- Small Group Sessions - To allow efficient support for children with sight loss and other learning difficulties.
- Specialist Instruction - Lessons are delivered in small groups by instructors trained in adaptive techniques for swimmers with sight loss.
- Block Lessons - A block of 4 thirty-minute lessons (first 4 lessons are funded by RSBC)
- A Supportive Environment - Parents are encouraged to enter the pool with their child if additional support is needed to help them feel secure.
DWP hiring extra staff to deal with Access to Work backlog
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that it will recruit an additional 480 extra staff to to clear the backlog in applications to the Access to Work scheme.
The announcement has been welcomed by RNIB, who have said 'Hiring 500 more staff should help reduce those delays. More staff means faster decisions, less waiting, and better chances for people to stay in work and stay independent. Without timely support, people can miss key parts of their role, and some even lose their jobs. Getting help faster makes a real difference'.
You can read the DWP's announcement here.
Pathways in Practice: Supporting People with Sight Loss Across Wales - Events for the sight loss sector
Join Wales Council of the Blind and partners for a series of practical, interactive events across Wales, bringing together eye care, health, social care and third sector professionals to strengthen local referral pathways and improve support for people living with sight loss. You will learn about signposting through the electronic referral system; what the third sector can offer your patients; what a vision rehabilitation specialist does; support for children with sight loss; and the role of the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer. You’ll leave with clearer connections, better signposting options, and a shared understanding of who does what - so people can access the right support at the right time.
Who should attend? Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, Vision Rehabilitation, ECLOs, Third Sector organisations, Managing Better workers, and Qualified Teachers of the Vision Impaired. Two interactive CPD points are available for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians. Times: Registration from 5.30 pm – food and refreshments served from 6.00 pm – presentations and group discussions will run from 6.30 pm – 8.45 pm.
Spaces may be limited - please reserve your place below:
- Cardiff & Vale on Tuesday, 2nd June, at Holland House Hotel Cardiff By Sunday, book here.
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg on 9th June at Heritage Park Hotel, Pontypridd, book here
- Aneurin Bevan on 11th June at Mercure Hotel, Newport, book here
- Powys on 18th June at Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, book here
- Hywel Dda on 2nd July at Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Carmarthen, book here
- Betsi Cadwaladr on 7th July, at The Kinmel Hotel, Abergele, book here
- Swansea Bay on 14th July at Grand Hotel, Swansea, book here
Local Action Group for Hywel Dda Health Board Area
The Hywel Dda Region local action group will be meeting on June 22nd, Carmarthen Bowling Club, St Peters Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LN. 11:30am - 2.30pm.
This is an opportunity to have your voice heard around health and the experiences you have good or bad in accessing various aspects of health services. It is also an opportunity to find out what else is developing in the Hywel Dda area and give your view on what services you think would benefit the area. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. To find out more and to register your attendance, contact Bec on 029 20 473954 email bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk
Local Action Group for Cwm Taf Area meeting
The second meeting of the Cwm Taf Local Action Group (LAG), covering Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, will be held on Wednesday 24th June from 10.30 am to 2 pm at Pontypridd Museum, Bridge Street, Pontypridd CF37 4PE (note change of date).
The focus of the meeting will be around Access to Health in primary and secondary care as well as access to accessible information which includes appointment letters. There will be an opportunity to give feedback on accessible voting after the elections in May. A light lunch will be provided.
Local Action Group meetings provide an opportunity for blind and partially sighted people to have their own independent voice heard around the issues which are important to them. Their views and comments are then fed back into the Sight Loss Council Cymru who meet monthly. Please contact your local group or society representative to confirm your attendance by Wednesday 17 June 2026 and let us know of any dietary requirements. Alternatively contact Carys Groves at Sight Life via email: carys.groves@sightlife.wales.