Wales Council of the Blind

Service type: Advice

Not to be confused with information services

Alstrom advice - (Alstrom Syndrome UK)

The organisation offers help and advice with educational, social and benefit problems to people affected by Alstrom syndrome.

BBS Advice Service - (Bardet-Biedl Syndrome UK)

Advice and advocacy service for people with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome.

Children, Young People and Families Service - (RNIB)

RNIB’s Children, Young People and Families and Education (CYPFE) Service supports individuals aged 0-25 who have vision impairment, their families and friends, and the professionals around them with any kind of query. We also support parents who themselves have vision impairments. Our locally based Family Support Officers provide advice and guidance, resources and training, and activities and events.

Deafblind UK Information and advice - (Deafblind UK)

Whether you have lived with sight and hearing loss for a while or it is new to you, Deafblindness can be difficult to understand. The information at this site will help you to understand deafblindness and how to make the most of life with sight and hearing loss.

Financial Wellbeing Service - (Vision Support)

This service offers support with searching and applying for grants; help with budgeting; signposting to organisations to help with a range of issues; benefits checks; information and guidance on schemes/discounts that you may be eligible for; hints and tips on how to save money.

Henshaws Hints and Tips Library - (Henshaws)

Henshaw's Hints and Tips library is our home for articles, videos, tips, tricks and useful information. Whether you are living with sight loss, supporting someone who is or simply want to educate yourself, explore our helpful resources, inspiring stories and how-to guides to learn more.

Home visits - (Visual Impairment Merthyr (VIM))

VIM makes home visits to members, particularly to assist people who have been recently diagnosed to adjust to their situation.

Money Advice Service for disabled people - (Money Advice Service)

An online resource dedicated to supporting people who become ill or disabled. The site offers a range of practical tips and free impartial advice to help people better understand their money matters when faced with a life-changing event such as a long-term health condition or disability.

RNIB Tax Advice Service - (RNIB)

RNIB is working with her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on a project to support blind and partially sighted people with tax and benefit issues. Our service is free and confidential.

RSBC Futures - (Royal Society for Blind Children)

RSBC’s “Futures” service is a bespoke service for young people 13-25 and there to support you as you start to make plans for your future. You may already know what you want to do in the future - seeking paid employment, becoming a volunteer, running your own business, taking up an apprenticeship, going onto further or higher education, or perhaps you aren’t sure yet what you’d like to do? At RSBC our “Futures” service can be your side to guide and support you as you start to make those plans. RSBC has links with partners that mean you have the best possible opportunities to build your own skills, knowledge, experience and of course confidence. Perhaps you need support with really practical things such as Access to Work (link), mobility for your route to work or college, or applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). We can help with these areas too, which can sometimes feel confusing and hard to find support for. You may be a family member of a young person trying to access some information or support alongside your young person. We understand that sometimes information about the support available for blind and partially sighted young people can be difficult to access. Through the Futures service you can access one to one session with our team, get support and share ideas with other young people, get practical support with CV writing, work placements or experience and really build your confidence to take the next steps in your future. We will make sure that we support your personal aspirations and look after your wellbeing. So, whether you are making choices about your GCSE subjects, starting to think about your next steps in education, or planning your career or volunteer role, our Futures service can help you reach your goals and aspirations.

Sight Cymru Prevention Work - (Sight Cymru)

Through our Lottery project, we deliver prevention work amongst children and communities at high risk of sight loss (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities have a higher prevalence of sight loss and often experience barriers in accessing eye care). We deliver talks at schools and community groups to raise awareness on people can maintain good eye sight and encourage them to engage with eye care.

Sight Loss Advice Service - (RNIB)

Through our Sight Loss Advice Service, RNIB offers support to blind and partially sighted people across the UK. We can help you to find the right assistive technology, support you in education and work, access financial help and much more. We're here to help you live the life you want. We cover a wide range of topics such as: eye conditions; emotional support; wellbeing; registering your sight loss with social services; home life and family; mobility and getting around; employment; accessing information; benefits and concessions; your rights; education; leisure; technology.

Sight Loss Friendly Church Resources - (Torch Trust)

Torch Trust can help your church to become more aware of how to support people with sight loss. We can support you to become more accessible and more able to confidently engage everyone in your church, and those who would like to join.

Usher Kids Support - (Usher Kids)

It may be helpful to find some professional support to help you talk through the impacts of Usher syndrome on you emotionally and physically, but if you need just to chat with another parent who has been there before and can share their experiences with you, you can contact us.