London Sight Loss Council: Meet the members

Meet the Staff

Head shot of Lucy Williams, Senior Engagement Manager (south). She is smiling at the camera. she has long fair hair and is wearing glasses.

Lucy Williams

Lucy is the Senior Engagement Manager for the South and joined Sight Loss Councils in September 2022, having previously sat on the Council as a volunteer.

She was born with albinism and has been partially sighted since birth.

Lucy is a very keen gig goer, loves browsing independent bookshops, and attempting to play football! Before joining the sight loss sector, she worked in the space industry, and still has a keen love of all things spacey.

Having moved to London in 2018, Lucy has enjoyed exploring the city and is really excited to be supporting the growth of Sight Loss Councils in London.

She is passionate about working with members of London Sight Loss Council to be a force for positive change for current and future Londoners in our community. She wants to push for improved accessibility and awareness of visual impairment across the capitol.

Black and white headshot of Liam O'Carroll. His head is turned slightly to the side and he is smiling.

Liam O'Carroll

Liam was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 6 and was registered blind aged 11.  He took up the role of Sight Loss Coordinator for London in January 2023.

Liam first joined Thomas Pocklington Trust in 2016. He was later seconded to London Vision, where he worked for five years as Project Coordinator.

Before joining TPT, Liam worked freelance as an actor, performing in roles in television, radio and theatre.  He studied English and Drama at Roehampton University and later gained a Masters at the University of Wales, Bangor. Here, he specialised in Arthurian tradition in twentieth-century fiction.

In his spare time, Liam enjoys writing fiction, reading literature, listening to audio described telly and playing board games.

Meet the Members

Headshot of London SLC member, Renu. She has her head tilted towards the camera and is smiling.

Renu Jaspal

Renu has been visually impaired from birth and was diagnosed in 2019 with a rare genetic condition called Achromatopsia.

“Since receiving my diagnosis, I have been actively networking with other blind and partially sighted peers and have developed an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced in society. There is still a lack of awareness and education about visual impairment. As a London Sight Loss Council member I’m keen to raise awareness and educate about vision impairment and to deliver this knowledge with a positive, optimistic and holistic approach”.

Renu has many interests, including martial arts, walking, reading and cooking; “I’m a huge kitchen gadget fan and become a big kid with a new toy when I receive a new gadget”.

She enjoys going on adventures both big and small, and she’s a social butterfly, really enjoying socialising and pursuing new experiences.

Headshot of Steven reed, London SLC member. He is looking at the camera smiling. he is wearing a navy blue and white checked shirt.

Steven Reed

Steven has been a professional actor for over 20 years, performing on the large and small screen, as well as in theatre. When beginning his sight loss journey, Steven thought his acting career was over. However, the theatre company Extant helped him rediscover his love of performing and see things differently. As such, his career has continued to flourish.

Diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) in July 2014, Steven has central vision loss. He attended a ‘Living with Sight Loss’ course run by the RNIB in the spring of 2015 and said:

“This peer support course really helped me to overcome some of the barriers I was facing in my daily life. As a result I’m a passionate advocate for the power of peer support. This inspired me to volunteer, and I became a facilitator on the course. In 2020 I became the secretary of my local sight loss organisation, Blind in Greenwich, working closely with other societies and committees across London.”

Left to right: Vinnie, support worker, is with Davinder and Renu of London SLC. They are seated at a table during a workshop, clapping. Vinnie is looking over his shoulder at Davinder.

Davinder Kullar

Davinder Kullar is a Technology for Life Co-ordinator with RNIB. Registered blind, he understands the challenges and is passionate about the potential value in using technology for blind and partially sighted people.

Headshot of Vidya Nathan, standing against a yellow background. Vidya has long, dark hair. She is wearing a black blazer and a polka dot top. She is smiling at the camera.

Vidya Nathan

Vidya graduated with a BSc Hons Economics and Mathematical Sciences degree and went on to work in the financial planning profession. She decided to leave the financial planning profession to pursue a career in the sight loss sector.

Vidya was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2014 and is severely sight impaired. She is a firm believer in seeing diversity as a strength, raising awareness, staying positive, and being proactive. She is keen to encourage others to do the same.

Vidya is involved with the Heritage Access 2022 report in conjunction with VocalEyes. She is currently on the Centre for Accessible Environments’ 2022/23 Pathways Academy programme.

She said: “I am truly passionate about making a difference, breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive world. Alongside this, becoming a part of the blind and partially sighted community has enabled me to get to know others, hear their experiences, and broaden my own knowledge of the requirements of those within our community. This will help me to advocate the needs of our community more effectively too.

I am excited to join London Sight Loss Council and use my lived experience to actively contribute to and help influence the vital changes needed.”

Headshot of Amrit Dhaliwal. London SLC member. Amrit is sitting on a sofa, looking at the camera, smiling. She has dark hair, pulled back. she is wearing glasses and large hoop earrings. She has a flowery top on.

Amrit Dhaliwal

Amrit is a dedicated south Asian disability campaigner media spokeswoman, and host to the ‘Blind Able’ YouTube channel.

She was diagnosed with sight loss at the age of five due to glaucoma.

Amrit loves personal growth, stretching her comfort zone, and she is always open to new adventures.  Amrit loves to channel her creativity into art, dance, singing, acting, and visiting places of culture.

She says: “Since networking with other visually impaired people, I am continuously gaining confidence and motivation from other people’s achievements.  It is an honour to be accepted into London Sight Loss Council. I will utilise my extensive lived experience of visual impairment to help create a more accessible and inclusive London City.

“My goal is to bring all aspects of sight loss to the forefront of society and campaign for disability to be an integral part of the school curriculum. This will help to create a more positive understanding of visual Impairment in our future generations.”

Leanne, London SLC member is sitting on a park bench with her guide dog. She is looking forwards, laughing.

Leanne Best

Leanne was registered blind at birth, due to her eyes not developing fully during pregnancy.

Leanne has recently moved to London, and lives with her guide Dog Dixy. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, and her interests include watching movies and reading audio books.

Leanne says: “I am looking forward to being part of South East London Sight loss Council so I can help better the lives of blind and partially sighted people in my area.”

Denise, London SLC member, is seated, facing the camera, and smiling. Her hair is tied back.

Denise Brennan

Denise became a volunteer with London Sight Loss Council in 2023.

She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in early childhood and is registered severely sight impaired.

Denise works as a social worker and in her spare time, enjoys jazz, dancing, walking and painting landscapes.

She said: “I joined London Sight Loss Council to help campaign for better access and services for visually impaired people.”

Headshot of Emmanuel Beck, London Sight Loss Council member. Emmanuel is wearing a red polo shirt and black jacket. He is facing the camera, with a big smile on his face,

Emmanual Beck

Coming soon!

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