Sylw - the bulletin of Wales Council of the Blind.

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WCB News.

Bus services in Wales - Feedback needed

As part of the work Wales Council for the Blind will be doing on the Sight Loss Council, we would like to have an understanding of which bus companies are used in the different areas of Wales. [Full story...]

Sight Loss Council for Wales - More representatives needed

The Sight Loss Council for Wales is now taking shape but we are still looking for representatives in the Hwyl Dda , Aneurin Bevan and Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board areas. [Full story...]

Wales Eyecare Conference 2025 - Presentations available

Presentations made at the Wales Eyecare Conference 2025 on 6th November in Cardiff are now available. [Full story...]

John O'Donnell

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of John O’Donnell, a cherished member of BridgeVis. [Full story...]

Introducing Anita Davies, WCB’s Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager

Anita Davies has recently taken up the role as Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager with Wales Council of the Blind. This is a two-year pilot project funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust. There are also Sight Loss Councils in England and Scotland. [Full story...]

WCB Monthly Newsletter - Sylw

WCB produces a monthly print and audio newsletter, Sylw. The main audience for this newsletter is people with sight loss who are not online, so we are particularly keen to include information about face-to-face events in Wales, or telephone events. [Full story...]

Wales Eyecare Conference 2025 - Waiting list open

The Wales Eyecare Conference on Thursday 6th November is now fully booked. However, cancellations often occur closer to the date, so a waiting list is available. [Full story...]

BridgeVis wins Unsung Heroes Award

BridgeVis wins Unsung Heroes Award [Full story...]

Wales Council of the Blind to cease use of X

Wales Council of the Blind will no longer post on X (formerly Twitter). [Full story...]

Consultations and Lobbying.

Have your say on improvements to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment

The UK Government is undertaking a review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process. RNIB is asking people with sight loss to let them know their views on how the process could be improved by completing a short survey. [Full story...]

Ask your MS to support changes to the Bus Services (Wales) Bill

Only 1 in 10 blind and partially sighted people in Wales can make all the bus journeys they need. Now, RNIB Cymru is calling for stronger legal duties in the Bus Services (Wales) Bill to make public transport truly accessible. [Full story...]

VICTA parent technology survey

VICTA wants to hear from the parents of children with a vision impairment about their experiences with technology as they transition from primary to secondary school. [Full story...]

Changes to RNIB brand - Your views wanted

RNIB wants feedback from blind and partially sighted people who use technology about proposed changes to its brand (how RNIB looks and sounds). Your feedback will help them to decide on these changes. [Full story...]

Transport for Wales Consultation on Conwy Valley Line timetable changes

Passengers are invited to have their say on proposed changes to the Conwy Valley line timetable, with changes planned for December 2026. [Full story...]

Welsh Government Consultations

We have produced a list of current Welsh Government consultations of potential interest to the disability sector. [Full story...]

VocalEyes Spotlight on Theatre Survey

Vocaleyes, the organisation that provides audio description services and training and consultancy for arts and heritage organisations, is running a survey to find out your views on audio description. The responses will help the organisation shape future work and advocate for better audio description. [Full story...]

Your voice matters - Marfan Trust survey

The Marfan Trust is asking people affected by Marfan & Loeys-Dietz Syndrome and their families/carers to complete a survey about their treatment. [Full story...]

The Thomas Pocklington Trust 'Make Banking Accessible' campaigning

The Thomas Pocklington Trust is campaigning for equal access to financial services for blind and partially sighted people amid concerns that the digital revolution in banking is denying thousands of people with sight loss the ability to manage their money independently and securely. [Full story...]

Online survey on research priorities

A masters student at UCL is currently working on a research project to identify the key research priorities of those who support children and young people with vision impairment, including parents, educators, habilitation specialists, charity workers, and other professionals and is conducting an online survey. [Full story...]

Reports and Publications.

Disability Wales publishes 'A Year in Review: Chief Executive’s report 2024/25'

Disability Wales has published a report on the activities and achievements that shaped the 2024/25 financial year. [Full story...]

Guides to good mental health from RNIB

RNIB's Counselling and Wellbeing team have produced a series of guides to promote better mental health. [Full story...]

Autumn and Winter tips from Henshaws

Henshaws has produced some useful advice for people with sight loss on coping with the darker days of autumn and winter. [Full story...]

'Menopause and Behçet’s' medical factsheet updated

Behçet’s UK has updated its medical factsheet on 'Menopause and Behçet’s'. [Full story...]

Retina UK Conferences 2025 - Recordings available

Recordings from Retina UK's recent Professional's Conference and Annual Conference are now available on their website. [Full story...]

Specsavers 'Access to Care Report 2025' calls for expansion of community eye care services

A new report from Specsavers looks at access to eye and hearing care across the UK. It calls for more care to be delivered in the community, closer to home and cites recent changes to eye care services in Wales as an example of good practice. [Full story...]

Optometry Today feature looks at how eye care in Wales is changing

An article on the Optometry Today website looks at how the need to address long waiting times for eye treatment has prompted innovation in Wales. This includes offering more eye care on the High Street through enhanced General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) contracts that enable optometrists to provide increased treatment and monitoring in the community. [Full story...]

'In My Way: Navigating pedestrian journeys with sight loss' - RNIB Report calls for accessible streets

A new report from RNIB looks at the problems facing vision impaired pedestrians as they attempt to walk around their local neighbourhoods. These include obstacles such as pavement parking, cracked pavements and E-scooters, and cause stress, and in some cases injuries, which can be serious. [Full story...]

Latest issue of Retina UK's newsletter available

The Autumn 2025 issue of 'Look Forward', the newsletter of Retina UK, is available. [Full story...]

Back-to-school checklist for families with disabled children

As the new school year starts, Contact has published a useful checklist for families with disabled children, covering everything from education support plans to transport, medical needs and sensory support. [Full story...]

Alström Syndrome UK Summer Newsletter available

Alström Syndrome UK 's Summer newsletter has been published. [Full story...]

Latest CHECT newsletter available

The Summer 2025 edition of 'InFocus', the newsletter of The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) has been published. [Full story...]

Summer edition of MACS Focus Magazine available

The latest (Summer 2025) edition of 'Focus', the quarterly magazine of Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia & Coloboma Support (MACS) is available. [Full story...]

Summer edition of Blind Veterans UK's 's newsletter available

The Summer 2025 edition of 'Debrief', the newsletter of Blind Veterans, is now available on their website. [Full story...]

Welsh Government publishes 'Travel for All', a strategy for improving access and inclusion across transport in Wales

The Welsh Government has published 'Travel for all: improving access and inclusion across transport in Wales', which describes the steps that it will take to make it easier for more people to use Wales's transport network. [Full story...]

Latest edition of Guide Dogs' 'Forward' magazine available.

The Spring/Summer 2025 edition of Forward, the Guide Dogs’ magazine for supporters, clients and the general public has been published. [Full story...]

Research report from Pocklington Trust: 'Understanding International Approaches to Achieving Equality of Blind and Partially Sighted People'

A new research report from the Thomas Pockington Trust provides an overview of international approaches to achieving equality of blind and partially sighted people, with a focus on education and employment. [Full story...]

RNIB responds to UK Government U-turn on benefits reform

During last week's debate on proposed benefit reforms in the UK Parliament, the Government made some changes, following pressure from some MPs, disabled people and the organisations representing them. RNIB has produced a summary of the current situation. [Full story...]

British Wireless for the Blind Fund - Impact Report 2024

British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) has produced its Impact Report 2024, a year in which the number of people supported shot up by 65%. [Full story...]

Nystagmus Network publishes 'Nystagmus friendly learning materials for KS1'

Nystagmus Network has published 'Nystagmus friendly learning materials for KS1'. [Full story...]

'Our Children's Eye Health' report stresses importance of sight tests

A report from Eye Health UK, 'Our Children's Eye Health', urges parents to get their children’s sight tested before term starts in September to prevent them being disadvantaged in the classroom. [Full story...]

Family Fund 'Cost of Caring 2025' report reveals the reality for families raising disabled or seriously ill children

A new report from Family Fund, the UK's largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, reveals the impact on the finances and wellbeing of families in this situation. [Full story...]

Retina UK Impact Report 2024

Retina UK has published its 'Impact Report 2024', giving details of the charity's activities and achievements during the year. [Full story...]

Hay fever, antihistamines and glaucoma

Glaucoma UK has published advice on the use of other medications when you have glaucoma, particularly antihistamines. [Full story...]

RNIB Cymru report finds bus services are failing blind and partially sighted passengers in Wales

'All aboard? The challenges faced by blind and partially sighted bus users in Wales', a new report from RNIB Cymru, finds that just one in ten people with sight loss were able to make all of the journeys they want or need to by bus. Nearly half find making familiar bus journeys either fairly or very difficult and this rose to nearly nine in ten for unfamiliar journeys. [Full story...]

'Forward. Together:' Guide Dogs launch new Strategy

The Guide Dogs organisation has launched 'Forward. Together', its strategy for 2025 onwards. [Full story...]

Top Tips for Travelling with sight loss

With the summer holiday season approaching, The Macular Society has published some useful advice on travelling for people with sight loss. [Full story...]

RNIB launches 10 year strategy

RNIB has published its strategy for the next ten years, with interim targets to be reached by April 2027. [Full story...]

BBS Medical Information Booklet updated

BBS UK, the organisation for people affected by Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, has updated its Medical Information Booklet. [Full story...]

How to make the most out of your optician appointments

The Macular Society has published some useful advice to help you make the most out of your optician appointments. [Full story...]

RNIB Report - 'Navigating motherhood with sight loss'.

A new report from RNIB explores blind and partially sighted women’s experiences of motherhood, shedding light on societal attitudes and interactions with health and social care professionals. as well as the solutions mothers with sight loss put in place. [Full story...]

Welsh Parliament Equality and Social Justice Committee publish report on the disability equality gap

The Welsh Parliament Equality and Social Justice Committee has published the results of its inquiry into the disability employment and payment gap. 'Anything’s Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap' concludes that ' widespread misconceptions and negative attitudes persist in the workplace with regards, for example, to the costs associated with reasonable adjustments. These need to be challenged at every opportunity'. [Full story...]

Wales Eye Care Digest for 2024

The Chief Optometric Advisor for Wales has published his review for 2024. [Full story...]

New guide for parents from Henshaws: 'Sight Beyond Vision'

Henshaws has produced 'Sight Beyond Vision: A Parents Guide to Vision Impairment' which provides practical advice, emotional support, and essential information to help children and young people with sight loss lead independent lives. [Full story...]

New audiobook explores living with vision impairment in the UK

A group of young people have worked with academics at Bath University to produce an uplifting account of how to navigate key life transitions when living with sight loss: 'Today and Tomorrow; Living with Vision Impairment' . [Full story...]

Results of Contact's 'Counting the Costs' survey published

The results of Contact's 'Counting the Costs' survey have been published and reveal the financial difficulties facing families with a disabled child. [Full story...]

Welsh Government Statement to mark International Day of Disabled People

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS, has issued a written statement to mark the International Day of Disabled People (3rd December). [Full story...]

BBS UK Conference Report published

BBS UK, the organisation for people affected by Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, has published the report of their 2024 Conference. [Full story...]

Access.

Accessibility at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff

The Sherman Theatre wants to feel as open and accessible as possible, and to help people to overcome any personal or practical barriers that are stopping them from coming to our theatre. [Full story...]

Letter from Santa in accessible formats

Once again the Christmas, RNIB is arranging for children with a vision impairment to receive a letter from Santa in their preferred accessible format. [Full story...]

Casablanca - A Live Radio Play with audio description

'Casablanca - A Live Radio Play', a tale of wartime love, loss and displacement will be visiting several venues in Wales during late November and early December. The show is presented by Lighthouse Theatre Ltd, the 1940’s live radio play company, with audio description by Word of Mouth. [Full story...]

Audio Described Tour at St Fagans National Museum of History - 'Winter at St Fagans'

St Fagans National Museum of History has organised another audio described tour for blind and visually impaired visitors on Thursday 11th December. [Full story...]

Guide Dogs' Custom Eyes Books range expanded to include books for older children and adults

Parents, grandparents or loved ones with sight loss will be able to experience the joy of reading to their child or grandchild at bedtime following the announcement that Guide Dogs' Custom Eyes Books is expanding to produce tailor made large print books for visually impaired adults. [Full story...]

Be My Eyes announces pilot programme with BT and EE

Be My Eyes is collaborating with communications providers BT and EE to launch a pilot program bringing on-demand visual support to blind and low-vision customers in the UK. [Full story...]

Audio Described Christmas Shows 2025

Theatres across Wales will be putting on Christmas shows over the festive season, and some audio described performances scheduled. [Full story...]

Be My Eyes and Tesco partner to make shopping more accessible

Be My Eyes has partnered with Tesco for a six-month pilot to bring on-demand, in-store visual support to blind and partially sighted customers across the UK. The new service allows customers to connect directly with trained Tesco agents through the Be My Eyes Service Directory for real-time assistance while shopping. [Full story...]

TUI Holidays set up Accessibility Specialists

TUI Holidays have now set up Accessibility Specialists, including blind Influencer Lucy Edwards, who is also an Ambassador for RNIB. [Full story...]

Tactile works at stations in Wales

We have been advised by Transport for Wales that work is being done on tactile pavements at some train stations in Wales. Due to these ongoing safety improvement works, the tactile paving at the platform edge may be incomplete at the station so passengers will be asked to take extra care while on the platforms. [Full story...]

Advice on accessible travel from ABTA

The website of ABTA, the trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry, has a section on accessible travel for passengers with disabilities. [Full story...]

Audio described commentary at Wrexham and Cardiff City Football Clubs

The 2025/26 football season is starting, and both Cardiff City FC and Wrexham FC will be providing audio described commentary at their home matches. The service is provided in partnership with Alan March Sport Ltd, and is available to both home and away fans. [Full story...]

Great toys for vision impaired children - advice from VICTA

To mark National Play Day, VICTA has published some recommendations of tactile and inclusive toys suitable for blind children and their families. [Full story...]

'Assistance Dog Under Seat ' card from National Rail

The Assistance Dog Travel Scheme, from Assistance Dogs UK, Rail Delivery Group and National Rail, provides a reusable ‘Under Seat’ card that creates a clear, protected space for your dog, simply pop it into the seat reservation holder or place it on the seat/ tray table next to let others know the area should be kept free. [Full story...]

Good Food Talks - making restaurant menus accessible

'Good Food Talks' is intended to make restaurant menus accessible to people with visual impairments, using a custom-built website and app. [Full story...]

Audio described performances at theatres across Wales

Some theatres in Wales now have a section on their website where you can find details of all forthcoming audio described (and other accessible) performances in one place. [Full story...]

Theatr Iolo raise awareness of Audio Described shows for blind and partially sighted children

To raise awareness of audio description in theatres and to explain to children what an audio described performance will be like, Theatr Iolo have made a short film showing a child enjoying a Touch Tour and an Audio Described show. [Full story...]

Royal Collection online lectures for vision impaired people

The Royal Collection, which looks after the Royal Family's art collection, is free running monthly online lectures for blind and partially-sighted people. Talks take place on the first Tuesday of the month, from 2pm. [Full story...]

Morrisons launch exclusive online discounts for people with disabilities

The supermarket Morrisons has partnered with Purpl, the disabled discount website, to launch exclusive discounts for people with disabilities when they shop online. [Full story...]

Transport for Wales - Confidence to Travel Scheme

The Transport for Wales 'Confidence to Travel' Initiative, which is funded by Welsh Government, is offering groups/organisations representing people who face barriers to rail travel, (for example as a result of disability), the opportunity to boost their confidence in using the rail network, therefore improving their overall health and wellbeing. [Full story...]

Audio Described Tours at the National Roman Legion Museum

National Roman Legion Museum offers free audio described tours for blind and vision impaired visitors, giving them to to find out about Roman life in Caerleon. [Full story...]

Events.

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome UK online Christmas quiz

Adults with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) are invited to a virtual Christmas quiz on 10th December at 7 pm. [Full story...]

Blind in Business 'Prospects Pathway | Llwybr y Dyfodol' - Introductory session

In 2026, a brand-new programme will be launching across Wales in 2026, delivered by Blind in Business. An introductory session will be held on Tuesday 25th November for young people with sight loss aged aged 14 to 18 with sight loss (parents are also welcome). [Full story...]

Goalball sessions in Cardiff

South Wales Goalball Club have scheduled training sessions in Cardiff on Saturday 22nd November and Saturday 13th December. [Full story...]

Retina UK webinars - Ask the expert with Professor Marcela Votruba

Retina UK is running an 'Ask the expert' session with Professor Marcela Votruba, Professor of Opthalmology from Cardiff University on 11th December. [Full story...]

Open Day at Royal National College of the Blind

There's an Open Day at Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford on Friday 30th January 2026, giving prospective students. their families and professionals working with them the opportunity to find out about study at this specialist residential college of further education for young people with sight loss. [Full story...]

Free Eye Care Professional training from Glaucoma UK

Glaucoma UK has developed an online training session for any professionals supporting people with glaucoma, such as ECLO’s, sight sector staff, domiciliary care workers, nursing teams, optometrists, pharmacists and sensory teams. [Full story...]

RSBC 'Give it a Go' day with Blind Baseball Cymru

The Royal Society of Blind Children has teamed up with Blind Baseball Cymru to organise a free 'Give it a Go' day in Cardiff on Saturday 29th November for children and young people aged from 7 to 25 years. [Full story...]

Disability Wales Manifesto launch event

Disability Wales will launch its 2026 - 2031 Manifesto - From Barely Surviving to Thriving - at on online event on Monday 1st December. [Full story...]

RNIB Free Festive Season Telephone Groups

RNIB's Talk and Support service will be taking their usual two-week break from running their regular groups over the festive period. During this period (Monday 22nd December to Friday 2nd January) Talk and Support will be running some festive groups which will allow participants and volunteers to continue to access the service. [Full story...]

RNIB 'Parent Pathways: First Steps' course

RNIB runs a online course for parents and carers who have recently received, or are going through the process of receiving, a diagnosis of vision impairment for their child. [Full story...]

Sight Life Financial Wellbeing Roadshow in Pontyclun

Sight Life is running a Financial & Wellbeing Roadshow in Bethel Baptist church, Pontyclun on Tuesday 18th November. [Full story...]

Behçet’s UK Parents and Guardians Online Support Group meeting

Behçet’s UK has started an online Support Group for the parents and guardians of children and young people with the condition. [Full story...]

Behçet’s UK launch Online Support Group for spouses and partners

Behçet’s UK is launching a new online Support Group for the spouses and partners of people living with the condition. [Full story...]

EyeBelieve EyeCan Christmas Party and Crafts

EyeBelieve EyeCan (EBEC), the fundraising support group for children and young people with visual impairment in Carmarthenshire, is organising a Christmas Party on Saturday 29th November in Furnace Hall, Llanelli from 10am-1pm. [Full story...]

Goalball Academy Aspire Day in West Wales

There will be a Goalball Academy Aspire Day in Carmarthen on Saturday 17th January. [Full story...]

Blind in Business Jobs Club

Blind in Business has launched a Jobs Club – a friendly, drop-in session designed for 16 to 18-year-olds who are looking for jobs and work experience. [Full story...]

Torch Together Christmas Zoom Gathering

Torch Trust is running a Christmas Zoom Gathering on Thursday 18th December. [Full story...]

Torch Trust regular Zoom meetings

Torch Trust, the Christian sight loss charity, runs three regular groups which meet via Zoom. [Full story...]

LOOK fashion event in Hereford

LOOK has organised Fashion Without Barriers, an inclusive shopping event for blind and partially sighted young people. [Full story...]

VICTA Parent Workshop: Early Intervention Sleep Support-Building Strong Foundations

VICTA's next online Parent Workshop on Tuesday 18th November is about the importance of helping children to develop healthy sleep habits. [Full story...]

RNIB UK-wide Living Well with Sight Loss courses in November and December

RNIB has scheduled further presentations of its 'Living Well with Sight Loss' telephone course during November and December. The courses are open to people with sight loss across the UK. [Full story...]

RNIB UK-wide Telephone Courses for people with sight loss and their families

RNIB runs telephone courses for a people with sight loss and their families across the UK, covering a variety of topics. [Full story...]

Sight Life Photography Exhibition

Sight Life is holding a Photography Exhibition to mark the charity’s 160th anniversary. It will run from 11th November 2025 to 9th January 2026 at the Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay CF10 4PZ. [Full story...]

TPT Webinar: How AI can support blind and partially sighted learners

The Education Team at Thomas Pocklington Trust, in collaboration with VIEW (Vision Impairment Education Workforce), will be hosting the VIEW Autumn Tech Update: How AI can support blind and partially sighted learners. [Full story...]

Retina UK Webinar - 'Steps through the Sand: Stories from Retina UK's Sahara Trek'

Retina UK's next webinar is on 19th November, and the subject is 'Steps Through the Sand: stories from the Retina UK Sahara Trek'. [Full story...]

Contact Cymru PIP Workshop for parent carers in Gwynedd & Conwy

Contact Cymru is running a free, in-person event for parents and carers of a disabled child living in Conwy or Gwynedd on Thursday 13th November. The topic is 'Claiming with Confidence - PIP Workshop'. [Full story...]

Contact Cymru 'Wellbeing in Nature' workshop for dads/male carers of disabled children living in Wales

Contact Cymru is running a free 'Wellbeing in Nature' workshop for fathers and male carers of children with disabilities on Saturday 15th November. [Full story...]

Open Day for professionals at New College Worcester

New College Worcester is holding an Open Day for education professionals supporting vision impaired children and for parents with a vi child on Friday 5th December. [Full story...]

Preparing for Adulthood Intensive Course at New College Worcester

New College Worcester is running a course for blind and vision impaired young people aged 11 to 19 on Saturday 15th November - 'Preparing for Adulthood'. [Full story...]

EyeBelieve EyeCan Family Paintalong event in Llanelli - Change of venue

EyeBelieve EyeCan, the fundraising support group for children and young people with visual impairment in Carmarthenshire, is running a family paintalong event on Monday 20th December in Llanelli. [Full story...]

Virtual Monthly Chats for adults with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

BBS UK leads virtual monthly chats for adults with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, a rare, genetic disorder, which affects approximately 1 in 100,000 babies born. [Full story...]

Royal Society for Blind Children - Parent Focus Groups

RSBC is running focus groups for parents and carers of vision-impaired children, with the aim of expanding their online services and activities. These sessions will be friendly and informal. [Full story...]

Behçet’s UK launch Men's Online Support Group

Behçet’s UK is launching a new Men’s Behçet’s Support Group for any men affected by the condition living in the UK. [Full story...]

Deafblind UK TalkTech webinar

Deafblind UK is running a 'Talk Tech' webinar with Taira Technology on Thursday 20th November. [Full story...]

Save the date: Stargardt's Connected Information Day on 15th November

Stargardt's Connected is holding an Information Day on Saturday 15th November. [Full story...]

Free Contact workshops for families in Wales

As part of its Building Resilience project, Contact is running a series of free, online workshops for parent carers with a disabled child living in Wales. [Full story...]

Goalball sessions in Wrexham

There will be goalball sessions in Wrexham on 25th October and 22nd November. [Full story...]

RNIB Living Well with Sight Loss Video Course

RNIB is running an online/video presentation of it's 'Living Well with Sight Loss' course during November. The course is open to people with sight loss across the UK. [Full story...]

West Wales Vipers Goalball Club - Training Sessions

West Wales Vipers have scheduled training sessions for the rest of 2025 at Ysgol Bro Myrddin, Carmarthen SA32 8DN. [Full story...]

National Eye Health Week 2025

National Eye Health Week (22nd to 28th September) is the annual event promoting the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all. Research for this year's event reveals that the UK faces a dramatic rise in number suffering sight-threatening eye disease. [Full story...]

Open Day at Royal National College for the Blind

There's an Open Day at Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford on Friday 5th December, giving prospective students. their families and professionals working with them the opportunity to find out about study at this specialist residential college of further education for young people with sight loss. [Full story...]

Short online sessions for health and social care professionals from RNIB

RNIB runs a programme of short online sessions for health and social care professionals working with people who have a vision impairment. [Full story...]

RNIB Training for professionals supporting learners with vision impairment

RNIB provides a range of online professional development training for those working with a child or young person with vision impairment, and details of events for the autumn term are available. [Full story...]

RSBC Connecting Families Online Support Sessions for parents

The Royal Society for Blind Children is running some online support sessions for parents. [Full story...]

Royal Society for Blind Children's Welsh Social Group

As part of the National Lottery-funded Eye Connect Cymru project, the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) runs a Welsh Social Group for vision impaired children and young people across Wales aged 10 to 21 years. [Full story...]

Falls Awareness Week 2025

Monday 15th September is the start of Falls Awareness Week 2025 in Wales, when Age Cymru, Care & Repair Cymru and Age Connects Wales remind people that falls are not an inevitable part of ageing, and give advice on how they can be avoided. [Full story...]

Update on activities at North Wales Society for the Blind

North Wales Society for the Blind (NWSB) is holding monthly photography sessions and arts and crafts workshops, and there has been a change to one of their other groups. [Full story...]

Vika’s FUN-tastic Friday - online club for young people: autumn sessions

Vika's FUN-tastic Friday, New College Worcester's online club for young people aged 9 to 15 with vision impairment, is back for the autumn term. and themes for the sessions have been published. [Full story...]

Fight for Sight webinars

Fight for Sight is running a further series of free webinars related to the research that they fund. [Full story...]

Digital Glaucoma Support Group meetings in 2025

Glaucoma UK has scheduled online support group meetings for the remainder of 2025. [Full story...]

Changes to Sight Life groups

Some changes have been made to information about groups run by Sight Life. [Full story...]

'Have a Go' activity weekend at RNC in October

There's a 'Have a Go' Activity Weekend at Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October. [Full story...]

Vision Support's 'Social Circle' Virtual Social Group

Vision Support has merged its two virtual groups 'Time to Chat' and 'Socialise working age group', into one group 'Social Circle' which will meet on the first Tuesday of the month. [Full story...]

UCAN Workshops for children and young people

UCAN Productions continues to run a range of face-to-face and online workshops for vision impaired children and young people. [Full story...]

Online Events for education professionals from New College Worcester

New College Worcester is running two online outreach events for education professionals working with children who have a vision impairment during the autumn term. [Full story...]

Glaucoma Awareness Week 2025 - Do you know your risk?

For this year's Glaucoma Awareness Week (30th June to 6th July), Glaucoma UK wants to help people understand their glaucoma risk. [Full story...]

Deafblind Awareness Week 2025 puts the focus on children and young people

For this year's Deafblind Awareness Week (23rd – 29th June), Deafblind UK is focusing on the needs of children and young people with dual sensory loss, and has launched an appeal for funds to support their services in this area. [Full story...]

Retina UK 'Talking Home and Garden' Peer Support Group

The next meeting of Retina UK's bi-monthly 'Talking Home and Garden' Peer Support Group will be on Thursday 6th November. [Full story...]

Nystagmus Awareness Day - Friday 20th June 2025

Nystagmus Awareness Day is the annual event that aims to spread the word about this eye condition, so that adults and children who have nystagmus will get the help, support and services they need in education, employment, health, mobility and leisure and will enjoy a better quality of life. [Full story...]

Macular Society Local Support Groups in South Wales

The Macular Society runs support groups at venues across South Wales, providing support, information and companionship to people affected by macular conditions. [Full story...]

Retina UK's Men's Peer Support Group meetings

The next meeting of Retina UK's Men's Peer Support Group will be on Tuesday 4th November. [Full story...]

Change to RNIB Community Connection Groups

The RNIB Cymru Community Connection service has now ceased, and remaining Community Connection telephone groups have been transferred over to the RNIB Talk & Support service. [Full story...]

Vision Support's Virtual Digital Skills Forum

Vision Support's Virtual Digital Skills forum meets every other month, on the last Wednesday of the month, via Microsoft Teams. [Full story...]

International Behçet’s Awareness Day 2025

Tuesday 20th May 2025 is International Behçet’s Awareness Day, the event that raises awareness of this rare condition which can affect the eyes, and also raises funds for research. [Full story...]

Sight Life activities in Cardiff, Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot and RCT

Sight Life runs a wide range of activities, in person and via the telephone, for people with sight loss in Cardiff, Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf. [Full story...]

Retina UK Young Adults Peer Support Group

Retina UK's Young Adults Peer Support Group provides a welcoming, safe and friendly opportunity for young adults with inherited sight loss aged 18 to 30 to meet up to share experiences, tips and information. [Full story...]

World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week - 11th to 17th May 2025

World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week is the event that spreads the word about retinoblastoma (childhood eye cancer), and raises funds to support families affected by the condition. This year's event starts on Sunday 11th May. [Full story...]

Contact online drop-in service for families of children with additional needs in Wales

Contact, the charity that supports families with a disabled child, runs an online drop-in service for families in Wales during term time. [Full story...]

Deafblind UK Social Groups in Wales

Deafblind UK's website includes a Directory of services in your area, including details of Deafblind UK's Social Groups, where you can have an informal chat and meet new people. [Full story...]

Vision Impaired Support Group in Abergavenny

A Vision Impaired Support Group meets monthly at the Tithe Barn Community Wellbeing Café in Abergavenny. [Full story...]

Cardiff City Football Club Foundation are running Inclusive Kicks football sessions.

Cardiff City Football Club Foundation are running weekly Inclusive Kicks football sessions in Merthyr and Cardiff. [Full story...]

Royal Society for Blind Children 'Moving on up Group: Transitioning to Secondary School'

The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC)'s Moving on up Group is for young people who are in Year 6 and you want to share their thoughts and chat with others who will be moving to Year 7 in September. The group meets monthly, via Zoom. [Full story...]

Marfan Trust online events

The Marfan Trust runs some online events for people affected by Marfan syndrome. [Full story...]

UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Organisation - Zoom Meetings

The UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Organisation holds quarterly Zoom meetings. [Full story...]

Retina UK ‘Talking’ Tech Peer Support Group Meeting

The next meeting of Retina UK's ‘Talking’ Tech Peer Support Group is on Thursday 20th November. The group provides a welcoming, safe and friendly opportunity for people to meet up from across the UK to share experiences, tips and information, and meets bi-monthly. [Full story...]

'My Macular and Me' webinars

The Macular Society runs a monthly webinar, giving people affected by the condition and those working with them the chance to find out more about macular conditions from experts. [Full story...]

Retina UK Interest Focused Peer Support Group - ‘Talking’ Creative Arts

Retina UK's 'Talking' Creative Arts' Peer Support Group will have its next meeting on Thursday 28th August. [Full story...]

Thomas Pocklington Trust 'Let's Talk Jobs' workshops

Thomas Pocklington Trust Employment Team is running monthly online 'Let's Talk Jobs' workshops for blind and partially sighted people who are seeking employment or a volunteering role. [Full story...]

Retina UK Women's Peer Support Group Meetings

The next meeting of Retina UK's Women's Peer Support Group will be on Wednesday 5th November. [Full story...]

Blind Ambition Social Hour

Blind Ambition holds a monthly Social Hour, where people with sight loss who are in, or looking for employment can connect with other people in a friendly, laid-back environment. [Full story...]

Blind Ambition Working Age Forum

Blind Ambition's Working Age Forum (WAF), a Zoom-based discussion group, offers a relaxed and sociable environment for people of a working age who are visually impaired. The group meets monthly, on the second Tuesday. [Full story...]

Nystagmus Network virtual support networks

Nystagmus Network runs virtual monthly support groups for parents of children with nystagmus, and for adults living with acquired or congenital nystagmus. They are an opportunity to meet like-minded people, share experiences, make new friends and support each other. [Full story...]

Deafblind UK Job Club

Deafblind UK's new online Job Club will meet fortnightly (on Fridays), to give support and advice to anyone with sight and hearing loss who is looking to find employment. [Full story...]

LOOK Parent Support Group

LOOK runs an online Parent Support Group for the families and carers of children and young people with sight loss. [Full story...]

Vision Support 'Men's Time to Talk' Group in North Wales

Vision Support's confidential support group for men with vision impairment, Men's Time to Talk, will meet monthly, on the second Thursday. [Full story...]

Guide Dogs Cymru Local Walking Group in Swansea

Guide Dogs Cymru's Local Walking Group in Swansea meet once a month for a walk with good company. [Full story...]

Behçet’s UK - Wales Support Group Meetings

Behcet's UK runs regular online Support Group Meetings for people affected by the condition in Wales. [Full story...]

North Wales Society for the Blind schedule for 2025

North Wales Society for the Blind has published the dates of its Social Club and Eryri Walking Club meetings in 2025. [Full story...]

Deafblind UK fortnightly Tech Support Surgery

Deafblind UK is running fortnightly Zoom sessions for on-the-spot tech support for people with dual sensory loss. [Full story...]

Sight Life start new social group in Gowerton

Sight Life is starting a new Gowerton drop-in social support group. The group provides an opportunity for people with sight loss in the area to come along and share your VI related hints and tips, find out what is going on locally and make new friends. [Full story...]

Technology.

Microsoft's Disability Answer Desk

Microsoft's Disability Answer Desk is where customers with disabilities get support with Microsoft Office, Windows and Xbox. This could be on your laptop, PC, phone or tablet. You can even ask for help with third party applications on Microsoft devices. [Full story...]

Revolutionary new PRIMA implant restores some vision to patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

A group of blind patients can now read again after being fitted with a life-changing implant at the back of the eye. The microchips were inserted in five patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital as part of a clinical trial. [Full story...]

Fight for Sight announces UK Vision Research Network

Fight for Sight, the organisation that funds scientific and social change research into vision loss, has announced the launch of an innovative research network. The UK Vision Research Network is a first for the vision loss research sector in the UK. [Full story...]

Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection

A woman from Bristol has had her eyesight saved after a "game-changing" test identified a mystery infection that had plagued her health for five years. [Full story...]

Smartwatches for people with vision impairment - advice from Guide Dogs

The Guide Dogs website has some useful information about how smartwatches can be used as a tool for people with vision impairment to support independence and mobility. [Full story...]

Experimental gene therapy funded by Retina UK helps four toddlers gain "life-changing improvements"

An experimental trial of gene therapy has helped four toddlers born with one of the most severe forms of childhood blindness gain "life-changing improvements" to their sight. The researchers received funding from Retina UK. [Full story...]

British Wireless for the Blind Fund partners with VICTA to provide accessible technology to VI children and young people

A new Partnership between British Wireless for the Blind Fund and VICTA will provide accessible technology to children and young people with sight loss across the UK. [Full story...]

Latest Apple upgrade includes new accessibility features

The latest software release for Apple iPhones (iOS18) includes new accessibility features for people with vision impairment and other disabilities. [Full story...]

Research into a potential new treatment for glaucoma

A recent Fight for Sight-funded study led by Professor James Morgan at Cardiff University has identified a potential new treatment for glaucoma using a form of vitamin B3. [Full story...]

Opportunities.

Welsh Government launch Digital Inclusions Grant for community groups and third sector organisations

The Welsh Government has announced the Digital Inclusion Wales Grant, which will support projects that help people overcome barriers to using digital technology by improving basic digital skills, building confidence, and ensuring they have the tools and support needed at a local level. [Full story...]

Guide Dogs 'My Time To Play' taster session in Caerphilly

Local to Caerphilly? Do you have a child with sight loss? If so, you’re invited to a taster session of Guide Dogs My Time To Play, a programme of fun and supportive group sessions led by qualified Habilitation Specialists. [Full story...]

Job opportunity with Vision Support - Deafblind Communicator Guide

Vision Support is recruiting for a Deafblind Communicator Guide who will transport and accompany the client on shopping trips, medical appointments and any other ad hoc activities and provide companionship. [Full story...]

New VI Running Group in Cardiff

Cardiff VI Runners has just been launched. It is a friendly and supportive space for blind and visually impaired runners (and guides!) to connect, share experiences, and find motivation. Whether you’re just starting out or training for your next race, you will be part of the team. [Full story...]

Reinventing the Protagonist: Opportunity for Disabled Writers in Wales

Disability Arts Cymru (DAC), in partnership with Literature Wales, invite Deaf and/or Disabled and/or Neurodiverse writers based in Wales to apply for a space on their Reinventing the Protagonist Retreat followed by online one-to-one tutorials in the spring-summer 2026. [Full story...]

VICTA Christmas competition - Tree for Treats 2025

VICTA's annual Christmas tree decoration competition is open for entries! Every child who enters receives a little Christmas treat and there is also a category for schools. [Full story...]

Invitation to take part in research on Visual Imagination and Sight Impairment

Researchers at Cardiff University are conducting an online study to explore visual imagination in people with sight impairment. This research aims to better understand why some individuals experience visual hallucinations (Charles Bonnet Syndrome) after sight loss. [Full story...]

Sight Life 'Beautifully Blind' make-up tutorials

Sight Life will be running another series of its popular 'Beautifully Blind' make-up tutorials starting in January 2026. [Full story...]

Opportunity to help promote flu jabs in Cwm Taf Health Board area

The Cwm Taf Health Board are doing their winter publicity on Flu vaccinations. They want a wide representation of people from a wide range of communities to take part in a publicity campaign, including people with sight loss. [Full story...]

Disabled People in Wales Encouraged to Stand for Election with New Access to Elected Office Fund

Disability Wales is encouraging disabled People in Wales to stand for election with support from the Access to Elected Office Fund. [Full story...]

RNIB 'Seeing it Through' Support Groups

RNIB's new 'Seeing It Through' support groups are a safe, confidential space that give you a chance to talk openly to a qualified counsellor, and meet others who have the same eye condition or similar experiences. They’re there to listen, and understand what you’re going through. [Full story...]

RNIB Talk and Support telephone groups looking for new members

RNIB's Talk and Support team run telephone groups for cookery enthusiasts and for veterans of the armed forces, and both groups are looking for new members. [Full story...]

Take your child to a Christmas experience with facilitated ticket offer from VICTA

VICTA is offering to reimburse the cost of your VI child’s ticket to a Christmas experience up to a maximum value of £20 per child. [Full story...]

Free benefits advice for parents in Conwy and Gwynedd from Contact

Parent carers in Conwy and Gwynedd in North Wales can book free, confidential 1-1 appointments with one of Contact’s expert advisers to get practical, tailored help with benefits and financial support as part of the Claiming with Confidence initiative, which is funded by the Welsh government and in partnership with The All Wales Forum. [Full story...]

Leonard Cheshire Disability's Change 100 internship programme is open for applications

Change 100, Leonard Cheshire Disability's flagship programme of paid summer internships, professional development and mentoring for people with disabilities is open for applications. [Full story...]

Marfan and Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Online Clinics

The Marfan Trust is offering people who are newly diagnosed with the condition one-to-one online clinic appointments with a specialist nurse on 26th September. [Full story...]

Applications to VICTA's Grant Scheme paused

Applications to the VICTA grant scheme for children and young adults (ages 8 to 29) with vision impairment are currently paused due to the large number of applications, but you can sign up to be informed when they reopen. [Full story...]

Diabetic Eye Screening Wales are seeking young people with diabetes to join their focus group

Diabetic Eye Screening Wales are reviewing the results letter and are seeking young people with diabetes to give their views. [Full story...]

Welsh speaking screen reader users wanted

RNIB Cymru are looking for Welsh speaking screen reader users who would be interested in joining a lived experience panel. [Full story...]

Get involved in the RSBC Unseen Podcast!

Young Welsh people are invited to get involved in the Royal Society for Blind Children's Unseen Podcast. [Full story...]

New RNIB Telephone Group for music lovers

RNIB's Talk and Support Group is setting up a new telephone group for music lovers. [Full story...]

RSBC free swimming sessions in South Wales

The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) is offering some free swimming sessions to vision impaired children and young people (age 3 to 25) in South Wales this summer. [Full story...]

RSBC free activities in West Wales

The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) is offering some free activities to vision impaired children and young people in West Wales this summer. [Full story...]

RSBC free activities in North Wales

The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) is offering some free activities to vision impaired children and young people in North Wales this summer. [Full story...]

VICTA Course - 'Get Workplace Ready'

VICTA is running a three month course for young people with a vision impairment aged 18-29 who are not in education, employment or training and looking to enter the workplace. [Full story...]

Free Microsoft Accessibility Workshop – Register Your Interest

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome UK is teaming up with Microsoft accessibility experts for a free virtual workshop on how to make the most of built-in accessibility features like text-to-speech, magnification, and more. [Full story...]

VICTA Sport Young Achievers Award for primary school aged children

Primary school aged children with a vision impairment are invited to take part in VICTA's Sport Young Achievers Award scheme, which is broken down into three separate rounds. [Full story...]

LOOK Healthy Parent Carer Programme - Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026

LOOK has announced that it will be running two more Healthy Parent Carer Programmes for families with a vision impaired child. These are free, 12-week online courses designed by parent carers for parent carers, helping you explore simple, evidence-based ways to boost your wellbeing, improve your health, and build emotional resilience. [Full story...]

See Paintings in a New Light

A PhD researcher at Cardiff University is working on a project to improve visual art (paintings) for people with low vision. The team at Cardiff University have developed some visual enhancements aimed at improving the visual qualities of paintings for people with sight impairments. These visualisations are displayed live on a headset, and the wearer has full control of the strength and brightness of everything. Enhancements include magnification, contrast improvements, sharpness boosting, edge highlighting, and more. Although this is a research study, it has a real-world practical application. They are running trials of the headset at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and are inviting people from Wales to take part. [Full story...]

'Working Sense' employment project

Working Sense is a project that will enhance the employability of people over 25 with sensory loss (i.e. people who are D/deaf or have hearing loss and people who are blind or have vision loss) disability or health condition, by providing specialist support to enable the target group to enter/re-enter and remain in employment, or move closer toward employment using a holistic one-to-one approach utilising designated project staff. [Full story...]

Braille users invited to participate in a study

<p>Braille users over the age of 18 are invited to take part in study that has the potential to shape the future around assessment and teaching of Braille skills.</p> [Full story...]

RNIB 'See Cymru Differently (Hiraeth)' project

'See Cymru Differently (Hiraeth)' is a new three-year project, funded by the National Lottery and run by RNIB Cymru, which aims to make Wales the leading UK nation where National Parks are fully accessible for blind and partially sighted people for current and future generations. This initiative also aims to enhance understanding of eye health in rural communities and the available support services within Wales. [Full story...]

Other resources.

Support for older people from Care and Repair Cymru

As the colder months arrive, Care and Repair Cymru is reminding people aged 60 and over that their 'Older not Colder' service supports older people to keep their homes warm and energy bills down. The organisation also provides 'Managing Better', a free home visiting service offering advice and practical help for people over the age of 50 who have hearing loss, sight loss, dementia, or have had a stroke. [Full story...]

Support from Blind Veterans UK

As the annual period of national remembrance approaches, this is a reminder that Blind Veterans UK supports vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women for life, regardless of how or when they lost their sight. The charity encourages anyone with a service record and a vision impairment to apply for support, even if you're not sure you meet the criteria, as every application is assessed on an individual basis. [Full story...]

Seasonal support for people with sight and hearing loss from Deafblind UK

Deafblind UK's Winter Wellness programme returns this winter, offering extra support to keep people healthy and connected through the winter. The service is available to anyone affected by sight and hearing loss, and their families and carers and will be available until February 28th 2026. [Full story...]

'Through our Eyes' Podcast from TPT gives an honest view of student life when you have a vision impairment

The Thomas Pocklington Trust has launched a new Podcast, 'Through Our Eyes', where blind and partially sighted students share their experiences of navigating the student journey to higher education. [Full story...]

Blindfolded Halloween activities for the family

VICTA's Parent Portal has suggestions for some accessible Halloween activities that the whole family can enjoy. [Full story...]

Macular Society conference 2025 - Recordings available

If you missed the Macular Society Conference 2025 on 13th September, you can watch a recording of the event and catch up with the individual sessions on the Society's website. [Full story...]

Pocklington Trust launches free training for non-specialist education professionals

The Thomas Pocklington Trust has launched 'Vision Impairment: Starting the Conversation', a free online training course designed specifically for non-specialist education professionals working with school-aged children and young people who have sight loss. [Full story...]

Latest Macular Society podcast explores 'Parenting with Sight Loss'

The Macular Society produces 'My Macular and Me', a series of podcasts which tackle many aspects of macular disease. In the latest episode, a mother of three living with Best disease shares her personal journey of parenting with sight loss, from the emotional impact of her diagnosis to the challenges of family life, adapting routines, and supporting her children. [Full story...]

LOOK's guide to Summer Accessible Days Out

LOOK has produced some information to help parents with a vision impaired child make the most of the summer holidays. [Full story...]

Moving up to secondary school - advice from RSBC

Moving from primary to secondary school can be new and exciting, but for some it can also be a scary time, especially when you're navigating your new school with a vision impairment. The Royal Society for Blind Children has produced some useful tips. [Full story...]

Understanding Inherited, Progressive Sight Loss - Resource from LOOK

Following a recent LOOK/Retina UK Panel Event, 'How to Talk to Your Child About Inherited Progressive Sight Loss', LOOK has produced a resource based on discussion at the event. [Full story...]

Deafblind UK launch 'Help with Technology' webpage

Deafblind UK have launched a new page on the their website - 'Help with Technology'. [Full story...]

Royal Society for Blind Children's Family Practitioners in Wales

The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC)'s Family Practitioner Service provides support across Wales focused on a family’s emotional needs, particularly at challenging times such as a new diagnosis, changes in vision, or key transitions like starting or changing schools. As a service RSBC aims to provide evidence-based interventions that build emotional resilience, improve coping skills and promote positive parenting. [Full story...]

Preparing for exams - Advice from sight loss organisations

As the exam season approaches, some sight loss organisations have advice for students and their parents about how to prepare for this stressful time. [Full story...]

Eye Matter - A peer support and social inclusion charity

Eye Matter is a multi-activity peer support and social inclusion charity for anyone over 18 living with a visual impairment. [Full story...]

New website for British Wireless for the Blind Fund

The website of British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) has been redesigned to ensure it is user-friendly to someone living with sight loss. [Full story...]

The Partially Sighted Society website gets a new look

The website of The Partially Sighted Society has been redesigned to give improved accessibility, a fresh, modern design and enhanced resources. [Full story...]

Coming to terms with sight loss - Advice from the Macular Society

The Macular Society's Counselling Team has advice for anyone who has been diagnosed with macular disease. which highlights the emotional challenges many face and offers guidance on how to overcome them. [Full story...]

Miscellaneous.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board wins Visibly Better Employer Award

Congratulations to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which has become the UK’s first health board or NHS organisation to receive a Visibly Better Employer Award from RNIB, demonstrating its commitment to accessibility. The award was presented at this year's Wales Eyecare Conference in Cardiff. [Full story...]

UCAN Productions awarded funding from National Lottery

UCAN Productions has been awarded four years of funding through the National Lottery Community Fund’s People and Places programme. [Full story...]

Recipients of Glaucoma UK Awards announced

Glaucoma UK has announced the recipients of its 2025 research project grants. [Full story...]

UK Government issues updated information on the Winter Fuel Payment

The UK Government has recently published updated information on the Winter Fuel Payment. [Full story...]

Clinical adviser Sharon Beatty to step down from Optometry Wales

Sharon Beatty has announced that she will step down from her role as Clinical Adviser to Optometry Wales in February 2026. [Full story...]

Fight for Sight awards £1.5m in new Project Grants

Following its latest grant round, Fight for Sight, the organisation that funds scientific and social change research into vision loss, is to invest £1.5 million across the UK to research a range of sight loss conditions. [Full story...]

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. [Full story...]

Children in Need funding for BBS UK

BBS UK, the charity supporting people with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, their families, and carers in the UK, as been awarded a 3-year grant from BBC Children in Need. This vital funding will support our ongoing work with children and young people living with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) across the UK. [Full story...]

Wales Disability Rights Plan accused of lacking measurable targets

Concerns have been expressed that the Welsh Government's Disabled People's Rights Plan does not include enough concrete targets, and that much of the detail could fall off the agenda, especially after a new government is elected next year. [Full story...]

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. [Full story...]

Contact Cymru awarded funding to help families of disabled children in North Wales

Contact, the charity that supports the families of disabled children has been awarded £86,000 from the Welsh government to provide practical and emotional support to parents caring for disabled children in Conwy and Gwynedd. [Full story...]

Glaucoma Buddy Scheme

If you have glaucoma, and are concerned about laser treatment or surgery, Glaucoma UK's buddy scheme can pair you with someone who has first-hand experience for a simple phone call or series of chats. The organisation is also interested in hearing from people who have had treatment, and are interested in becoming buddies. [Full story...]

Fight for Sight announces grants for sight loss organisations

Sight Life is one of thirteen sight loss organisations to be awarded a grant from Fight for Sight, the organisation that funds scientific and social change research into vision loss. [Full story...]

First hospital-based pre-registration optometrist in Wales approaches qualification

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has announced that Wales’ first hospital-based pre-registration optometrist has entered her final year of training to become a fully qualified optometrist, describing it as 'a groundbreaking milestone in NHS Wales' and a 'testament to the steps being taken to enhance patient care and provide specialised optometry services in hospital settings'. [Full story...]

Vision Support announces closure of the Community Information Service.

Vision Support has announced the closure of the Community Information Service, which provided information about products, services and support for vision impaired people to venues across Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy areas (as well as Cheshire & Halton). [Full story...]

Closure of Blind Veterans UK's Llandudno Centre

The Blind Veterans UK centre in Llandudno has closed following a comprehensive strategic review of the charity's operations and financial sustainability. [Full story...]

Deafblind UK launches new support for children and young people

Deafblind UK's brand-new service supports children and young people who are affected by sight and hearing loss, as well as their families and schools. [Full story...]

Welsh Senedd Health and Social Care Committee reviews opthalmology services

A meeting of the Senedd's Health and Social Care Committee on 20th March included a number of evidence sessions on the performance of opthalmology services in Wales. [Full story...]

Domiciliary urgent eye care

A recent article in 'Optometry Today' describes how patients in Wales who receive domiciliary eye care can now also receive urgent care at home, following changes to the way that eye care is provided. [Full story...]

Increase to eye care funding confirmed in Wales

The Welsh Government has announced the successful completion of optometry contract negotiations with NHS Wales and Optometry Wales for 2024/25. This will provide an additional £3.9m to support the funding of optometry services in Wales. [Full story...]

TPT Student Support Service expanded to younger children

The Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has joined with Guide Dogs to extend TPT's Student Support Service to children from the ages of seven to eleven years. [Full story...]

Centre for Vision Services Research to be established in Wales

Health and Care Research Wales has announced Research Development Infrastructure funding to be used to establish a Centre for Vision Services in Wales. The Centre will be based at Cardiff University’s School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, and brings together researchers from Cardiff University, Swansea University, Bangor University and the University of South Wales. [Full story...]

New Deafblind UK research centre launched at Birmingham City University

Deafblind UK has announced the opening of their new Centre for Education and Research, at Birmingham City University. The Centre will advance understanding of deafblindness, develop innovative support solutions and nurture future specialists, to make the world a better place for people impacted by dual sensory loss. [Full story...]

'In Touch' interviews UK Government's Disability Minister

In the most recent edition of 'In Touch', the BBC Radio 4 programme for blind and partially sighted people, Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability in the UK Government, answers questions from the programme's listeners. [Full story...]