Our work.
About Wales Council of the Blind
"I have found all my contacts with WCB over the years to be so useful and professional." - Rehabilitation Officer for VI.
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. WCB provides a platform vision impaired people to raise their concerns and wishes.
WCB's Articles of Association sets out a way of letting their members contribute to setting priorities and work streams. An important part of the new structure is the creation of Regional Steering Groups to inform WCB's work. The four new Regional Steering Groups will be established across Wales, covering North, West, South East and South Central.
Each group intends to offer a platform for local clubs, charities, statutory services and people with sight loss to get together and contribute to directing the work and resources of WCB. It's likely that priorities may vary from region to region, and we want that to be reflected in the work of WCB.
WCB's Board of Trustees will include four representatives - one nominated from each of the four regional steering groups - to bring the views of the regions to the table.
What does Wales Council of the Blind do?
- We work to assist the Welsh Government by participating in and facilitating consultation
- keep in touch with what is happening in every area in Wales and in the U.K.
- We highlight examples of good practice and distribute this to the eyecare sector through our SYLW newsletter, e-bulletins, quarterly 'Round-Up' Magazine, and our professional networks
- bring people together to exchange information and ideas
- identify gaps in provision
- encourage the development of new services where necessary
- support and assist other agencies to provide a good service
- represent v.i. within Wales and at an all-Wales level
- represent v.i. in Wales at a U.K. level
Latest WCB news.
Invitation to Attend a Workshop on Adapting Digital Therapy for PTSD
WCB is supporting a university research project that is developing a new digital guided therapy for people with Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The research team would like to hear from people with vision impairment to ensure the digital programme is accessible and reflects real experiences.
You do not need any medical expertise, we are looking for people with experience of trauma to hear their perspectives on the digital programme. Please note, you will not be taking part in the therapy, just helping us to improve it for people in the future.
You will be reimbursed £27.50 per hour for your time (workshops will be up to two hours in length).
Please let us know if you are interested or have questions, you do not need to commit at this stage. Email: ncmh-trials@cardiff.ac.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 now be held on Wednesday 14th October at Pontypridd Museum from 10.15 am to 2 pm.
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 and let us know of any dietary requirements. Alternatively contact Carys Groves at Sight Life via email: carys.groves@sightlife.wales.
Sight Loss Councils Conference 2026 - Small Changes, Big Impact
Members of the newly launched Wales Sight Loss Council were delighted to join the Sight Loss Councils Conference for the first time to celebrate achievement, share ideas and explore how lived experience continues to influence services, challenge perceptions and improve accessibility.
You can find out more about the conference here. If you want to be involved and or want a chat about Sight Loss Council Cymru, please contact Anita Davies, WCB's Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager on either anita@wcb-ccd.org.uk or ring her on 02920 473954.
Local Action Group for Powys
The Powys local action group will be meeting on 5th August, 10am - 2.30pm at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells.
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 Powys 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 Anita on 029 20 473954 email anita@wcb-ccd.org.uk
Wales Council of the Blind survey
Wales Council of the Blind wants to hear about your experience with our services and information platforms.
Your responses will help us understand how well our information services meet your needs, and whether our information platforms (Perspectif, Wales Vision Forum, Sylw) are helpful and accessible. This survey should only take a few minutes to complete and we would really appreciate your feedback.
You can give your views here. If you would prefer to complete the survey over the phone, please ring us on 029 20473954.
Sight Loss Council Cymru launch event
Sight Loss Council Cymru was launched officially at an event at the Pier Head building in Cardiff Bay on 12th February.
Jane Hutt AM, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice opened the event and around 60 people attended. This two-year pilot gives blind and partially sighted people across Wales a powerful platform to share their experiences, influence decisions, and help shape services at every level. You can find out more about Sight Loss Council Cymru by clicking on the tab at the top of this screen, and there is a report on the launch on the Thomas Pocklington Trust website.
Sight Loss Council Cymru information
The Sight Loss Council's website now includes information about their group covering Wales - Sight Loss Council Cymru.
You can access the information for Wales here. For general information about the role of SLCs, latest campaigns and to sign up for their newsletter, click here.
Sight Loss Council Cymru needs your feedback
Sight Loss Council (SLC) Cymru has nearly all the representatives in place. In preparation for their first business meeting which will take place very soon, the council would like some feedback on the items below. This information will help with the campaign work we will be doing with Thomas Pocklington Trust and other sight loss charities.
Can you please feed back to us:
- What type of bins do you use in your local area? Are these wheelie bins, recycle bins, or bins that are bags in multiple colours thrown into the bin lorry like a bin bag?
- How problematic is this in your area when you go out because of where full or empty bins are placed?
- Do you use the assistance scheme provided through the local authority and does this work well?
- Do you know what a floating bus stop is and do you have any in your area? Do you feel these are problematic or not?
- Do you know if your local authority are installing or have installed continuous footways? If so are these problematic?
- Have you had any experiences relating to E-bikes and e-scooters?
To give your views on these issues, please contact Anita Davies, Wales Council of the Blind's Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager on either 029 20473954 or 07929 280518, or email anita@wcb-ccd.org.uk.
Opportunity to join Sight Loss Council for Wales
Are you blind or partially sighted, and passionate about creating positive change for others? Sight Loss Councils (SLCs), are led by blind and partially sighted volunteer members and are established in other parts of the UK. We have established one in Wales. It aims to influence businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services on a local and national level. Join us to help ensure visually impaired people can live the lives we choose.
For more information, and to find out how to join us, click here.
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.
This information will also be helpful for bigger project we will be working on with Thomas Pocklington Trust. Please can you let Anita know of which bus companies you are using and whether these services are frequent and supportive to your travel needs. You can email or phone her on anita@wcb-ccd.org.uk or 07929280518.
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.
The Sight Loss Council is for and about people who are blind and partially sighted having a voice through areas such Health, Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport, and Transport. The Sight Loss Council for Wales will be made up of volunteers who are blind or partially sighted. There will be two volunteers from each health board geographic area. Anita will develop Local Action groups in Hywel Dda, Betsi Cadwalader and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas and will be working with members to achieve this. This is a very exciting opportunity to be involved in making a local or national change around the things you are passionate about.
Anita says 'I am so excited and pleased to be involved in setting up the Sight Loss Council for Wales. It not only enables me to bring all of my skills to the table but it also enables you to be part of something that can make a difference not only to your life but to the lives of blind and partially sighted people'.
If you want to be involved and or want a chat about the Sight Loss Council and the local action groups, please contact Anita on either anita@wcb-ccd.org.uk or ring her on 02920 473954.
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. Unfortunately, we sometimes find out about such events too late to include them. To ensure your face-to-face events are included, please provide us with details well in advance. The bulletin is released at the end of each month.
If you know of anyone with sight loss who would like to receive Sylw in the post each month, please ring WCB on 029 2047 3954 or email bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk.