Opening doors to employment for blind and partially sighted young people
February 8, 2023
Few facts about employment for blind and partially sighted young people
- Only 1 in 4 registered blind and partially sighted people of working age are in employment in the UK
- 6 out 10 people in employment have never come across a blind person
- Every day, four more children will be diagnosed with sight loss
- In London alone there are around 40,000 unemployed blind and partially sighted people of working age, equivalent of 400 double decker buses of wasted potential
Encouraging inclusive employment
The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) supports blind and partially sighted children, young people and their families across England and Wales and it is encouraging employers to provide more opportunities for young people who are vison impaired.
On Thursday 2nd March RSBC is hosting a free employment seminar, at its Life Without Limits Centre in London, by London Bridge, to highlight how the publicly funded Access to Work scheme operates and the technology available to support vision impaired people in the workplace.
Sue Sharp, CEO of RSBC said,
“Inclusion has a critical role in any organisation’s strategy and forms an important pillar in assessing companies’ ESG performance. Yet only 25% of those with sight loss are currently working. Blind and partially sighted young people have aspirations and ambitions like anyone else. Together with those in the business community we can help them to realise their potential and lead a fulfilling life.”
The 2 hour lunchtime event organised by RSBC features guest speakers Callum Russell from Crystal Eyes Consultancy and Amie Fox from Scope Eyecare, both of whom have personal experience of sight loss and are forging successful careers in their chosen fields.
Shalni Sood, Director of Philanthropy at RSBC said,
“This is an open invitation to employers across the UK to join our seminar and learn more about how they can make their businesses more inclusive and diverse.”
The Access to Work Seminar is a FREE EVENT on Thursday 2nd March, 12-2pm at the Life Without Limits Centre, Life Without Limits Centre, 10 Lower Thames St, London EC3R 6EN
Want to book your space and know more about the Access to Work scheme?
Join the Access to Work Learning Lunch by booking your space using our online booking form or contact us for more information at philanthropy@rsbc.org.uk.
The RSBC seminar is being supported by Scope Eyecare, teamitg Waymap and Heather Suttie from Violet Media.
Download the Access to Work Seminar flyer.
You may also like
No categories December 10, 2024
How to make Christmas accessible for blind and partially sighted children
There’s no more special time of year for children – whether they’re five or 50! – than Christmas. It’s a time when there’s magic everywhere, and it’s filled with colour and sparkle. But how can you make sure that children with vision impairment (VI) are able to enjoy the fun and laughter that’s part and […]
No categories November 19, 2024
Boys Crew: why International Men’s Day matters
Each November 19th, the UK celebrates International Men’s Day. It’s not just about celebrating the contribution that men and boys make to our society – this special day also focuses on making a positive difference to their well-being and lives, raises awareness the support available to them, and promotes meaningful conversations about men, manhood and […]
No categories November 7, 2024
Narayan’s story
RSBC’s trustees have shared responsibility for governing our charity, and Narayan’s been a trustee since September 2024. We caught up with him to find out why he’d decided to take this step, and just what being a trustee involves.
No categories November 4, 2024
Callum’s Story
Callum’s been a trustee with RSBC since May 2021. He’s also the Chair of Governors of RSBC’s Dorton College, a specialist further education college for vision impaired young people aged 16-25. We spoke to Callum about what’s involved in being a trustee, why he does it, and what to consider if you’re thinking about becoming […]
No categories October 25, 2024
Atrix’s story
Originally from the USA, Atrix (pictured above right) has a background in theatre. They’ve directed productions in New York and London, and taught modern dance and choreography to young children and teenagers. They moved to the UK in 2019 to take their Masters degree.
No categories October 22, 2024
Owain’s Story
Fun, rewarding and never a dull moment – all ways that Owain would describe his role! But what led him to RSBC, and what does being a Senior Community Support Worker actually involve?
No categories October 13, 2024
Marking Blind Awareness Month: Making play areas more accessible
To mark Blind Awareness Month and World Sight Day this October, RSBC worked with Percussion Play and The Amber Trust to make some noise! Find out more here.
No categories October 11, 2024
Lauren’s braille journey
I’m Lauren, and I’m 17 and severely sight impaired/blind. I’ve been visually impaired for a couple of years, and previously needed large print from the age of 10.
No categories September 26, 2024
Meet Joe: An RSBC family story
Meet Joe. Joe has vision impairment, caused by congenital cataracts (cloudiness in the lens of the eye) and nystagmus (where the eyes make uncontrolled movement). And he’s Dad to two young sons, Noah, aged 9, and Lyle, 3, who have the same eye conditions.
No categories September 23, 2024
Eyes on the Future
As a new parent, you’ll meet many professionals in the first weeks and months after your baby’s born, and one of the most important people who’ll be supporting your family is your Health Visitor.
