Join us
Passionate about making a difference? Want to influence positive change? Our Sight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, are recruiting new members. Join us today!
We use our lived experience to create positive change for others. Together, we tackle local issues and work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services.
Join us to help ensure visually impaired people in your area can live the lives they want to lead.
We are currently recruiting in the following regions
We are currently taking applications in the following regions: Bedfordshire, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Lancashire, North London, Northumberland, South East London, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Tyne and Wear, West of England, West Sussex, and West Yorkshire.
Due to a full membership, applications for Birmingham and Black Country, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Nottinghamshire, North Yorkshire and South West London are currently closed.
Sight Scotland is also managing applications for our first Scotland Sight Loss Council.
View more volunteer stories about why you should join us
Why volunteer with us?
We will provide you with core training and ongoing opportunities to learn and develop in your role. Whether you’re interested in public speaking or honing your social media skills, there’s something for everyone to get involved in.
Other skills you may learn include advocating for yourself and others, improving your confidence in public speaking, organising events and much more. We’ll focus on your strengths and interests and help you build upon them. These are all skills that will also really help boost your CV if or when applying for jobs.
Our volunteers also tell us that they volunteer with Sight Loss Councils because they can:
- increase accessibility and make a difference
- give something back
- create positive change for others
- meet like-minded people
- build their confidence
- have a voice
- feel valued.
What does a Sight Loss Council member do?
Become an advocate and make a difference. You will work with policy makers and local service providers to improve access for blind and partially sighted people in your local community. You will also meet and work with other blind and partially sighted people in your area.
Your duties may include putting forward local issues affecting your community at Sight Loss Council meetings (ie inaccessible transport or street clutter) or taking part in accessibility testing sessions, forums, seminars and contributing to public consultations.
You can read the Volunteer Role Description below and if you would like to apply to become a Sight Loss Council member apply online today.
Volunteer Role Description Sight Loss Council Member
What do the Sight Loss Councils do?
Sight Loss Councils are led by blind and partially sighted members. We tackle local issues and work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services.
We are currently expanding across England to give people who are blind or partially sighted the opportunity to influence positive change and improve services at a national and local level.
Each Sight Loss Council aims to make a difference by representing the voice of blind and partially sighted people in the key areas of public transport, accessible streets, and health and fitness. This is because blind and partially sighted people have told us these areas matter to them the most. Locally, dependent on local need, our members also work on retail, and arts and culture. If you have a particular interest in any of these areas, please let us know. Examples of Sight Loss Councils’ work include:
- providing GP Surgeries in Bristol with visual awareness training
- working with Stage Coach on new audio-visual announcements on their buses in Gloucestershire
- providing accessibility feedback on a healthcare app in Birmingham
- running accessibility workshops with the Apple store in Liverpool.
Learn more about our projects on our individual Sight Loss Council pages.
How do I join?
If you are interested in finding out more information about volunteering for the Sight Loss Councils, read the Volunteer Role Description below and if you would like to apply to become a Sight Loss Council member, apply online.
Volunteer Role Description Sight Loss Council Member (DOCX, 60 KB)
If you would like further information, please email info@sightlosscouncils.org.uk
Not currently a Sight Loss Council in your area? Join our mailing list to keep up to date with our work and our expansion over the coming years. You will also learn how you can support our campaigns.