Sight Loss Councils are now on Bluesky! 🌟 Follow us @slcouncils – we can't wait to connect with you! 💙✨ #SightLoss #Bluesky #VisionForChange

Today is #BlueMonday January can be a tough time, especially as we settle back into routines after the festive season. For university students, returning to campus life can feel particularly overwhelming. Are you finding it difficult to keep up with your course, socialise, manage your finances, or live more independently? If you’re feeling low or stressed, it’s important to take steps to look after your mental health. Our guide, created specifically for blind and partially sighted students, is packed with practical tips to help you navigate these challenges and prioritise your wellbeing. Discover more here: Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Guide for Blind and Partially Sighted Students - Thomas Pocklington Trust #BlueMonday #MentalSupport #TPT

It’s #BlueMonday. Just returned to university and struggling with January blue? Check out our page on coping with loneliness and isolation at university to find out how you can get support. Loneliness and Isolation at University - Thomas Pocklington Trust #BlueMonday #MentalSupport #TPT

#MakeStreetsAccessible – Obstacles like bins and overgrown foliage block paths for #blind and #PartiallySighted pedestrians. Our Senior Engagement Manager, Nicki, recently navigated a path blocked by misplaced bins—something Sight Loss Councils work to prevent.  As featured on @GMB, #SouthWest #London Sight Loss Council led Wandsworth Council’s Road Safety Team on a simulated walk to improve street accessibility. What street obstacles have you seen?  Read more:  #VisionForChange #MakeStreetsAccessible #StreetsForAll

The Rodney Powell Awards are back! Celebrate the incredible volunteers making a difference for #blind and #PartiallySighted people across the UK. Nominations are open until midnight on 9 Feb. Winners will be announced at the Sight Loss Councils’ Conference on 10 May!  Learn more:

#MakeTransportAccessible 🚉☕ Sight Loss Councils are celebrating the recent success of six 'Coffee and Chat' events held with @TLRailUK (GTR)!. #Blind & #PartiallySighted attendees learned about accessible travel, available support and shared their feedback. Learn more:   #MakeTransportAccessible #VisionForChange #GTR #RailAccessibility

#Merseyside Sight Loss Council (SLC) volunteer Mike, reflects on his appointment as Sight Loss Council National Transport Rep. This role involves working with SLCs across the country to #MakeTransportAccessible for #blind and #PartiallySighted people.  Watch the full video below!  #MakeTransportAccessible #VisionForChange #SightLossCouncils   Video description:    The video begins with a slide showing Mike standing outdoors with a white background behind him. Mike has grey hair and is wearing a navy-blue jacket and a brown shirt and facing the camera. The text "My highlight of the year" appears above him in blue, alongside the Sight Loss Councils logo and the slogan “A vision for change.” The video then transitions to a close-up of Mike speaking directly to the camera.  Transcript:   “My highlight of the year”   “My name’s Mike Wright from Merseyside Sight Loss Council and my highlight of the year happened recently when I was appointed National Transport Rep. This position gives me the opportunity to shape things as to how they’re going to work out for the future and gives us real scope for the kind of things forward and improving life for people in the future.”   “White background image with - Sight Loss Councils and Thomas Pocklington Trust logos.”

Happy New Year from everyone at Sight Loss Councils! 🎉 Wishing you happiness, success, and growth in 2025. We’re excited to work together for positive change in the year ahead. #HappyNewYear #VisionForChange

In 2021, disabled people and their households had a spending power of £274B, growing yearly. With 1 in 5 people becoming #blind or #PartiallySighted, accessible shopping isn't just about spending power — it's about equal opportunity, inclusion, and feeling valued. Download our free resources to #MakeRetailAccessible for your customers: #VisionForChange

Hope you had a Merry Christmas! As many shops open for the Boxing Day and January sales, we are sharing our free resource to enable you to make shopping more accessible for #blind & #PartiallySighted (BPS) people.   Check out our free 'Top Tips for Retailers' resource to help staff assist BPS customers: #Accessibility #BPS #Retail  #VisionForChange #MakeRetailAccessible

Season's Greetings from everyone at Sight Loss Councils! 🎄 London Sight Loss Council member Amrit shares a special video of her visit to Covent Garden’s Christmas tree.  She said: “My vision is rapidly fading, but this magical moment will stay with me.” We hope you enjoy the video as much as we did. #VisionForChange  Video description:  Amrit, London Sight Loss Council member, is stood at the base of the Covent Garden Christmas Tree. It is well-known for its size, measuring over 60 feet tall. In the video, Amrit is looking up at the tree, before she takes a few steps back to see if she can see how tall it is. She then approaches the base of the tree to feel the size of the wooden barrel it sits in. At the end of the video, the camera pans out to look up at the tree, before going to Amrit, who is captured standing at the base of the tree, smiling at the camera.  Transcript:  0:00 So, in front of the Covent Garden Christmas tree, I don't know how much of it I'm going to be able to make out because my vision is going very rapidly. 0:09 My light vision. 0:11 So let's see, when I open my eyes, how much of it I can see 123. 0:20 You see anything there? 0:21 Yeah. 0:23 Oh my gosh. 0:24 I can. 0:25 Is is it flickering? 0:27 The lights are. 0:29 Some of them are. 0:30 Can you make out the colour of the lights? 0:32 Can you see any colours? 0:34 It's just very simple colours. 0:36 Blue Is there a blue? 0:38 There's red, and there's silver. 0:41 I saw the flash in the silver. 0:43 If you tip your head back, I don't know how you can sense how tall the tree is. 0:48 Yeah, it's right up there. 0:49 So I'll see it being you backwards. 0:53 Keep coming back towards me. 0:56 Keep looking up. 0:57 It is very tall and massive. 1:01 I can't see the red, but I can see the silver. 1:04 OK, right. 1:04 I'll take you all the way up, and you can feel how thick the bucket is. 1:08 So if you feel in front of you, OK, there are two black stars on this. 1:13 This is the pot.  1:15 So that's the black star. 1:19 If you feel on top of you, there's another.   1:20 The star on top of you. Keep reaching up. 1:22 That's the second star. 1:23 Oh my gosh, I can.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Sight Loss Councils! 🎄🎉 Thank you for your continued support. Our services are closed for the festive period from 25 Dec and will reopen on 3 Jan 2025! ✨ #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear 🎄

🌟 Today, #Merseyside Sight Loss Council volunteer Mick shares his key highlight of the year delivering vision awareness sessions to @LivUni healthcare students to help #MakeHealthAccessible for #blind and #PartiallySighted patients. 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️  Watch the full video below!  Video description:   The video begins with a slide showing Mick standing outdoors with a white background behind him. He is wearing a navy-blue jacket with a fur collar and facing the camera. The text "My highlight of the year" appears above him in blue, alongside the Sight Loss Councils logo and the slogan “A vision for change.” The video then transitions to a close-up of Mick speaking directly to the camera.   The final slide features a white background with the Sight Loss Councils logo at the top, followed by the website address ‘ in black text, and the Thomas Pocklington Trust logo below.  Transcript:   “My highlight of the year”   “Hi, my name is Mick Spriggs, I’m a member of the Merseyside Sight Loss Council and the highlight of my year has been doing the visual awareness sessions with the students at the hospitals and educating some of our future NHS workers.”   “White background image with Sight Loss Councils and Thomas Pocklington Trust logos.”