Sight Loss Council Conference 2025: Vision for Change
On Saturday, 10 May 2025, Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) held our fourth annual Sight Loss Council Volunteer Conference in Birmingham focused on our theme ‘Vision for Change’.
Almost 100 blind and partially sighted SLC volunteers came together from 23 SLCs across the UK for an inspiring weekend filled with powerful stories, new ideas, and so many takeaways. This year’s attendance was almost double the number of delegates present at the inaugural conference in 2021.
Driving growth and change
Discussions throughout the weekend highlighted the remarkable growth of SLCs. This includes how we are now also reaching more people, building stronger partnerships, and driving real change.
Mick Spriggs of Merseyside SLC captured this momentum perfectly during a roundtable session. He said:
“Before, we were all knocking on doors. Now, people are knocking on ours. It’s fantastic, and it’s only going to get better.”
SLC member Mike Spriggs discusses strong SLC sector-wide partnerships with delegates at the 2025 SLC Conference
SLC growth and Scotland expansion
TPT Director of Services at Thomas Pocklington Trust, Emma Hughes, opens the main conference.
The conference was officially opened by Emma Hughes, Director of Services at Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT). Emma reflected on the expansion of SLCs beyond England, including recent developments in Scotland and Wales.
Callum Lancashire, SLC Engagement Manager at Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, joined the event with volunteers from the Edinburgh and Glasgow SLCs. Emma shared plans to launch a third SLC in Dumfries and Galloway. She also shared news of a new partnership with the Wales Council for the Blind to deliver SLCs in Wales.
Emma then spoke of how proud she was of all TPT volunteers working tirelessly across the UK to create positive change for blind and partially sighted people. She added:
“I am so very proud of everything you have all achieved over the last 18 months. I am also excited to hear about your future plans and everything you’re all doing to bring about positive change for blind and partially sighted people in your communities and across the UK.”
Sight Loss Council conference: inspirational voices
We then welcomed Darren Harris, double Paralympian and England footballer, who gave an inspirational talk about gratitude, positivity and the importance of communication skills to showcase our skills and talents. He shared:
“I truly believe that with an attitude of gratitude you can achieve what you want to achieve in life.”
Darren Harris, double Paralympian and England footballer, delivers an inspirational keynote speech.
SLC achievements over the last 18 months
We then shared some of our most recent achievements since our last conference. Here’s just a small selection from the day:
- SLCs across London, the South East, and East collaborated with Govia Thameslink Railway on the ‘Your station, your community’ grant programme. This work is a great example of SLCs coming together across different regions, and will be used as a benchmark for future partnerships across the country.
- We worked with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) to create bus driver training materials for bus and coach drivers. These have been approved by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and CPT, and will be rolled out to 95 per cent of bus drivers and 60 per cent of coach drivers over the next five years.
- SLCs were shortlisted for both the National Rail Awards and the CiTTi Awards, and were delighted to receive a Highly Commended at the National Rail Awards.
- Three Yorkshire local authorities signed up to the Street Charter, with two local authorities in other areas to follow soon.
- We worked with health providers to embed the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) and train healthcare students to influence their future careers.
- Birmingham and Black Country SLC co-produced a documentary video on the Essentials of Care for Patients Living with Sight Loss with Birmingham Community Health Trust. This is now a national resource.
- Lime and Forest signed up to the Sight Loss Council e-bike charter, with more operators to follow soon.
Transport panel
The Rail Delivery Group, National Rail, Confederation for Passenger Transport, and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency joined our transport panel.
A dedicated transport panel featured experts from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Confederation of Passenger Transport, Rail Delivery Group and Network Rail. SLC members asked questions about passenger assist services and audio-visual bus announcements. The DVSA shared how TPT and SLCs’ bus driver training materials are already being disseminated to operators. They are looking forward to receiving positive feedback from bus companies on how it has influenced their practice.
Workshops later in the day focused on core SLC themes: accessible transport, safer streets, health, and effective partnership working.
SLC volunteer holds a tactile model of a red bus in a transport workshop about our new bus driver awareness training and bus accessibility
SLC volunteers pass around tactile objects used on buses during a discussion about accessible transport and driver training.
SLC Engagement Manager Yahya runs a workshop exploring building effective relationships with health providers to affect change.
Celebrating volunteer excellence
The day closed with a celebratory drinks reception and the Rodney Powell Awards for Volunteering, honouring exceptional contributions from SLC volunteers. More news to follow on our award winners and sponsors soon!
Drinks reception after the end of day one of the conference, before the opening of the Rodney Powell Awards for Volunteering.
Day two
The final day of our conference focused on health. This began with Young Voices giving an update on their work in this area and their campaign to change how blind and partially sighted people are classified in sports.
Sight Loss Councils then shared good practice from their work to make health accessible. This included around the importance of knowing your landscape, getting to the right people, and tools and tips to bring our Accessible Information Standard health campaign to life. We then held round-table discussions to explore how to plan our next steps, and which stakeholders we should prioritise to make this happen.
Volunteers engage in round-table discussions about making health accessible.
Sight Loss Council volunteers shared top tips and good practice related to their work
SLC Communications Manager, Maria Langham, then shared details of an exciting new project focused on capturing the learning, good practice and impact of Sight Loss Council work to further amplify our reach.
Dr Anna Lawson then delivered a powerful talk on the progress and challenges related to the Equality Act. Dr Mark Fosbrook, Senior Policy Officer for Health and Disability at West Midlands Combined Authority and a Paralympic champion, followed with a motivational closing keynote:
“I’ve had many knockbacks. I’ve had many times that I’ve thought, is it worth it? But actually, it is. Because you are, even if you don’t realise it, making a difference. You are constantly challenging and getting people to think differently.”
Paralympic champion Dr Mark Fosbrook delivers a motivational keynote speech
Thomas Pocklington Trust CEO Charles Colquhoun closed the event by thanking all Sight Loss Council volunteers, Young Voices, Student Voices, sighted guides, sponsors, partners, speakers and supporters for making the 2025 SLC Conference a resounding success.
Feedback from Sight Loss Council volunteers
Sight Loss Council volunteers consistently report how the conference enables them to network, share good practice, plan future work and celebrate their achievements.
SLC volunteers engaging in discussions around our priority themes, with a sighted guide who is making notes.
Michaela Hughes, North London SLC volunteer, shared:
“I enjoy speaking to people with similar experiences and sharing my experiences with other like-minded people. I’ve learnt lots of new things I didn’t know previously through volunteering for SLCs, which I’m now able to share with others.”
Mary Gilbertson, Greater Manchester SLC member, said:
“It’s great to mix with everyone and meet new people. I found the Make Buses Accessible workshop very informative, particularly listening to everyone and their questions, and recognising the work that Sight Loss Councils have done.
“I would also like to thank Gavin Miller from the Confederation of Passenger Transport who was very receptive to people’s feedback and recognised how it can move things forward in this workshop. I would also like to thank Chaz Wright from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and North East England Engagement Manager, Jack Moffat – it was a very informative session.”
Paul Hatfield, Sussex SLC member, added:
“I enjoy meeting other SLC people from across the country. It’s interesting to hear about the different projects that people have been involved in and the successes they’ve had.”
Stevie Cairns, South Yorkshire SLC member, said:
“I enjoyed sharing stories with other visually impaired people and building solidarity. We also had fun.
“What I most enjoy about being an SLC member is that it’s about building a network and being part of a community. Although I lost my sight 30 years ago, I’ve never really been part of a community until the last couple of years. I didn’t really know any other blind people, so that’s been really helpful for me.”
Thank you
This year’s conference was supported with sponsorship from Bayer. Bayer has had no involvement in the organisation or final agenda of the Sight Loss Council Conference 2025.
Publication date: 22 May 2025