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.
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.
BridgeVis wins Unsung Heroes Award
Bridgevis (Bridgend & District VI Society), a dedicated local voluntary group, has won Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations' Unsung Heroes award for their outstanding contribution to the Bridgend community.
Nominated by Sandy Davies, the Vision Rehabilitation Specialist for Bridgend Council, BridgeVis was recognised for promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and the meaningful difference it has made to people with sight loss in Bridgend.
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.
Wales Council of the Blind to cease use of X
Wales Council of the Blind will no longer post on X (formerly Twitter).
To continue receiving news from across the sight loss sector in Wales, please sign up here for our weekly ebulletin Sylw, You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads and Instagram @walesblind. Any organisations who want us to promote their activities should email bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk.
Eye Connect Cymru project to give vision impaired children and young people a voice.
Wales Council of the Blind will be working with the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) and the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS) to deliver a new National Lottery-funded project 'Eye Connect Cymru'.
Eye Connect Cymru is designed to connect visually impaired children and young people (CYP) and give them a voice in their community. The project plans to achieve this in various ways, such as providing emotional well-being support, group support, practical referrals to professionals, family/CYP one-to-one online sessions, and ensuring that more children/youth-focused organisations are VI-inclusive. We will provide more information on the project as it develops.