GT3 Architects raise over £4,000 for Sight Loss Councils
GT3 Architects have raised more than £4,000 for Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) after taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge – supporting the ongoing work of Sight Loss Councils across the UK.
The challenge builds on a growing partnership between GT3 and TPT’s network of Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) across the North East and Cumbria. Together, they share a commitment to improving accessibility and inclusive design. An approach GT3 is keen to extend to other areas it works in.
Supporting inclusive design through partnership
Over the past year, Tyne and Wear SLC has worked closely with GT3 Architects to strengthen their approach to designing inclusive environments.
This has included introducing the team to key principles of designing for blind and partially sighted (BPS) people, supporting updates to internal design guidance, and delivering a sight loss awareness session at GT3’s annual team meeting in Leeds.
The session brought together colleagues from across GT3’s different office locations and focused on practical, real-world insights. This crucially helped staff understand how BPS people experience the built environment in everyday life.
The collaboration also included reviewing detailed design documents, including leisure centre plans, with a strong emphasis on accessibility. This covered areas such as the use of glass in interiors, the importance of colour contrast, and appropriate lighting design – all crucial factors in making spaces safer and more usable for visually impaired people.
This work helps to increase opportunities for BPS people to participate in fitness and leisure activities. In turn, this helps to reduce social isolation.
The relationship has continued to grow. GT3 now regularly engage with Tyne and Wear SLC as a trusted partner when considering inclusive design.
GT3 Architect staff members during a vision awareness session
Taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge
To support the work of TPT and SLCs, 17 team members from across GT3’s studios in Northern Ireland, Newcastle, Nottingham and London completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on 15 May 2026.
The endurance hike, one of the UK’s best-known walking challenges, took 12 hours to complete. The team trained together over six months, including preparation walks along Hadrian’s Wall and up Helvellyn.
On the day, all 17 colleagues completed the challenge together, supporting one another throughout and crossing the finish line as a team.
The team at the summit
Giving back to the partnership
The fundraising effort reflects GT3’s ongoing collaboration with TPT and SLCs. GT3 has worked with SLCs to review designs, strengthen inclusive design guidance, and better understand the lived experience of blind and partially sighted people.
Jack Moffat, Engagement Manager for North East England, said:
“We have worked closely with GT3 Architects, and it has been a significant learning curve for both our team and theirs. Through this collaboration, we’ve developed a much deeper understanding of the importance of embedding accessible features into design from the outset.
“By delivering sight loss awareness sessions led by people with lived experience, we’ve been able to share practical insight into what truly makes environments accessible. This is essential not only for improving access to fitness and leisure activities, but also for addressing the isolation often experienced within the VI community.
“Through our partnership with GT3 Architects, we are helping to create more inclusive spaces that give people with sight loss greater confidence and opportunity to participate fully.
“We are incredibly grateful to the team for their ongoing support, and for taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds. Their commitment will directly support the work of Sight Loss Councils across the North East and Cumbria, helping us continue to drive meaningful change.”
Judith Atkinson, Senior Architect at GT3, added:
“Over the last few years, it has been a privilege to work alongside Thomas Pocklington Trust and learn from their insight, experience and generosity. That collaboration has helped us better understand the importance of accessibility and inclusive thinking, not just in design, but in the way we work more widely.
“Taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge felt like a fitting way to support the charity and give something back. It was incredibly tough and took us 12 hours to complete, but it was also a brilliant day and a real team effort from start to finish.
“17 of us took part and everyone stuck together, kept each other going and stayed in great spirits throughout. We’re proud to have raised more than £4,000 for such an important cause, and even prouder to have done it together.”
A Three Peaks wayfinding sign
Supporting Sight Loss Councils
The funds raised will support the ongoing work of TPT and SLCs, helping ensure that organisations and services are accessible and inclusive for BPS people.
Would you like to join Tyne and Wear Sight Loss Council?
We are currently recruiting blind and partially sighted volunteers living in Tyne and Wear. If you want to use your lived experience to help shape local services and influence change, get in touch.
Publication date: 19 June 2026