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.
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.
West Wales Regional Forum on 22nd September
Hywel Dda Health Board have requested to join our West Wales Forum to obtain the group’s views on the Clinical Services Plan, and a date has been set for Monday, 22nd September from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm at Carmarthen Bowling Club, St Peter's Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LN .
We appreciate this is shorter notice than usual, but your attendance and support would be greatly appreciated. Lunch will be provided from 12.30pm, followed by a third sector conversation, and the Health Board discussion will begin at 2pm. You can read the Clinical Services Plan here.
To help us finalise catering arrangements, please let us know if you’ll be attending. Your RSVP will help ensure we have enough food and refreshments for everyone. For more information or to confirm your attendance please call 02920 473 954 or email bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk.
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.
We would encourage applicants to add their details to the list, and notifications will be sent once a place is available. You can do this here or ring WCB on 029 2047 3954.
The event will be held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, and this year's theme is 'Mental Health of Patients and the Workforce'. For full details including the Programme of the Day and information about the venue, click on the 'Eyecare Conference' tab at the top right of this screen.
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.
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.