Community Pathways Award

Forth Valley Sensory Centre 

The Sensory Loss Advice Service, by Forth Valley Sensory Centre (FVSC) is a groundbreaking initiative responding directly to the voices of blind and partially sighted people seeking in-person welfare support. Based in Central Scotland, FVSC is a charity at the heart of the sensory loss community, welcoming over 500 people weekly. Recognising barriers to accessing benefits advice – like inaccessible helplines, confusing forms, and lack of tailored support – FVSC joined forces with five local Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) to co-create a bold cross-sector partnership.

Together, we’ve designed a service that delivers expert, accessible welfare guidance where and when it’s needed most. Our Sensory Specialist Adviser provides impartial advice, technical advocacy, and tribunal support – helping households affected by sight loss to exercise their rights, access entitlements, and navigate crisis points such as fuel poverty and housing insecurity. In the first 8 weeks, the service received 30 referrals and has already secured over £15K in financial gains.

By embedding advice within FVSC and creating fluid referral pathways between CAB and sensory services, we’ve reached communities previously left behind. This service is a transformational model of collaboration, shaped by lived experience, that demonstrates how inclusivity, accessibility, and empathy lead to stronger, fairer outcomes.

Huntingdonshire Society for Blind and Vision Impaired

This project isn’t just about accessibility, it’s about belonging. By placing blind and partially sighted voices at the heart of the Norris Museum’s storytelling, we’ve created an experience that’s not only inclusive but truly human. Local people shared their memories, stories, and voices, transforming static exhibits into living history, full of emotion and connection.

It’s rare for accessibility projects to go beyond the technical. But here, we saw what happens when you design with people, not just for them. The result? A community-powered experience that speaks, literally, to everyone.

We hope this inspires others to rethink how museums and public spaces can serve diverse communities. With more support, we can expand this work and keep building a museum where every visitor feels seen, heard, and valued.

Please vote for “Voices of the Community” and help us keep turning access into action, and inclusion into impact.

MoorVision

Children and Young People’s Vision Zone South-West Exhibition and Conference.

MoorVision, in collaboration with Optelec and funded by The Powell Family Foundation, ran the UK’s first regional Sight Loss Exhibition/Conference for Children, Young People and their Families (CYPF).

This innovative event held during half-term included exhibitors, speakers, workshops, children’s activities, childcare, food and refreshments.

It was pivotal in building new and meaningful connections bringing together local and national providers of services for CYPF with VI with CYPF.

The event was booked to capacity with 24 exhibitors and 6 speakers/workshops from both local and national VI organisations.

Exhibitors/speakers rated the day excellent (83%); very good (17%). 100% would attend again.

• “This exhibition was fantastic; putting the event on during half term was inspired as our interest is CYPF.”
• “The marketing of the event certainly was a success because it’s been the busiest exhibition I have ever attended – and I’ve been to a few!”

100% of delegates found the supervised children’s activities, childcare and food very helpful.

• “It was great having a full range of charities that support VI children and their families.”
• “The range of talks was excellent and a good mix for families with different age children and needs.”

Wakefield District Sight Aid

We’re proud to nominate our Youth VI Football initiative – a groundbreaking partnership between Wakefield District Sight Aid and A1 Football Factory (via their charity arm, Yorkshire Health & Sport). Created in direct response to what blind and partially sighted young people told us they wanted – the chance to play football – the project has grown into something truly special.

What began with two taster sessions in July 2024 has blossomed into a thriving team of 14 young players aged 8–14, all living with sight loss. Trained twice a week by Coach Ryan and volunteer parent Dean, the A1 Vipers are West Yorkshire’s only dedicated VI youth football team.

In just a year, they’ve gone from beginners to champions — winning the Under-12s Pan Disability League tournament in July 2025. Along the way, they’ve met England’s blind football star Roy Turnham, played their first outdoor match at Doncaster Rovers FC, and taken on sighted teams with skill, spirit and pride.

This initiative has opened doors, raised confidence, and created lifelong friendships. It shows what’s possible when young people are truly listened to – and when inclusion, community, and ambition come together on the pitch.

Please vote for A1 Vipers!