Conference Workshops: Thursday 24 September 2026

Option 1) Investing in Fundraising in Tough Financial Times

Fundraisers know that sustainable income takes time to build, but do senior leaders, chairs and trustees really understand that?

This session will help anyone responsible for fundraising make a compelling case, using published data on income timelines, target returns and giving trends to support your strategy.

How do you demonstrate the value of fundraising investment over time, in a way that is honest, credible and builds long-term confidence in your team? This session will explore what good fundraising accountability actually looks like, giving delegates tools and frameworks which can be used straightaway.

You are invited to join this session whether you are making the case, or trying to understand the case being made to you – for a new income stream, developing budgets or trying to influence your board’s expectations about what investment is really needed in fundraising.

Audience: All

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators:

Jen Hall, Head of Fundraising Marketing and Communications, Sight Support West of England: Jen has been a professional fundraiser since 2001, raising money for a wide range of national and local causes.  She is experienced in fundraising strategy and delivery, with a passion for storytelling through data.

Stef Harding, Fundraiser, Vision Support: Stef comes from a project management background managing a multi-billion pound operation into the EU after Brexit. She moved into the third sector after a personal situation made her revisit her career, raising over £20,000 with no previous experience in fundraising but a hunger and drive to do well and a positive attitude to succeed.

Option 2) ‘A Space of Our Own’: Lived Experience and Collaboration in its Core

‘A Space of Our Own’ is a collaborative project between Visionary, MyVision Oxfordshire and Vision Support, created to connect colleagues with lived experience from across the Visionary network. The project aims to create supportive, inclusive spaces where people can share experiences, learn from one another and feel empowered within their organisations and communities.

In this workshop, we will explore what the project is, why it was developed and the impact it is already having. We will discuss the importance of safe spaces for colleagues with lived experience, the aims behind the initiative and how organisations can begin to replicate similar approaches within their own teams and services for service users.

The session will offer practical insights and honest reflections. Discussion in the session will offer ideas that delegates can take away and replicate in their own organisations. Whether you are looking to strengthen inclusion, peer support, or organisational culture, this workshop will provide inspiration and our experience to help create a genuine “space of our own”.

Audience: All

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators:

Andy Smith, Service Manager, MyVision Oxfordshire: Andy has been the Services Manager at MyVision Oxfordshire for the past three years he was born visually impaired since joining MyVision he has been keen to promote lived experience. Andy has been delivering ‘A Space of Our Own’ project with Nia Greer.

Nia Greer, North Wales Services Manager, Vision Support: Nia has been working in the sight loss sector for over 12 years from delivering the Low Vision Service, Sight Loss Coordinator to her current role as North Wales Services Manager at Vision Support. Nia has been enjoying being part of the Visionary ‘A Space of Our Own’ project alongside Visionary colleagues and Andy from MyVision Oxfordshire.

Sponsor: This workshop is part of Visionary’s ‘A Space of Our Own’ project, made possible with funding from Fight for Sight.

The image is of the Fight for Sight Logo, which is an upturned semi-circle, with a circle floating above it, appearing as an eye, but also a smile

Option 3) Inclusion in Motion: Creating Life-Changing Physical Activity Opportunities for Visually Impaired People

You do not need specialist facilities, expensive adapted equipment or elite sports programmes to make a meaningful difference to visually impaired people through physical activity.

What you do need is confidence, understanding and practical tools that can turn “we are not sure how” into “we can absolutely do this”.

Delivered by British Blind Sport Workforce Development Officers, Lora Fachie and Roy Turnham, this engaging and highly practical workshop will show organisations how to create impactful, inclusive physical activity opportunities for visually impaired people of all ages, regardless of budget, experience or setting.

Physical activity is far more than a competitive sport. It could mean adapting a yoga session so instructions are more accessible, supporting a young person to feel confident in PE for the first time, helping someone independently use their local gym, or creating simple community-based opportunities that reduce isolation and improve wellbeing.

Drawing on lived experience, professional expertise and years of grassroots delivery, Lora and Roy will demonstrate how small changes in communication, delivery and mindset can have a huge impact on confidence, independence and participation.

The workshop will explore:

• How visually impaired people acquire and develop movement skills.
• Effective verbal communication and movement description.
• Building confidence and independence through physical activity.
• Practical adaptations that work in real-world settings.
• How to maximise impact without significant cost or specialist equipment.
• Creating sustainable, inclusive opportunities within your community.

While both speakers have competed at Paralympic level, this workshop is not about high-performance sport. It is about the people who are too often left on the sidelines, those missing out on the physical, social and emotional benefits of movement simply because opportunities have not been designed with them in mind.

Delegates will leave inspired, informed and equipped with practical ideas they can implement immediately to make physical activity more inclusive, welcoming and empowering for visually impaired participants.

Audience: All

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators:

Lora Fachie, Workforce Development Officer, British Blind Sport: Lora is a retired Paralympic tandem cyclist and multiple gold medallist who has been blind since birth. Raised with a strong emphasis on independence, physical activity and sport, she is now a mum to a visually impaired three-year-old son. Lora is passionate about helping create a world where children like him can grow up confident, independent and able to thrive.

Roy Turnham, Workforce Development Officer, British Blind Sport: Roy is the current England blind football captain and has worked in sports development for more than 15 years. Alongside teaching PE to visually impaired children through Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) provision, he runs a community interest company focused on helping visually impaired children and adults access physical activity locally, supporting the development of confidence, independence and transferable life skills.

Option 4) How Vision Impairment and Sensory Needs Shape Sleep Challenges

This workshop will explore the relationship between visual impairment, sensory processing needs and sleep difficulties in children, young people and adults.

Audience: All

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators: 

Charlotte Mellor, Parent Services Lead and Sleep Practitioner, VICTA: Charlotte is a parent of a vision impaired child and began working in the sector as a result if this. She manages parent services for VICTA and delivers VI specific sleep support across the UK.

Tiffany Woods, Director – Activities & Impact, VICTA: Tiffany and the Activities team at VICTA design and create meaningful activities for children, young people and families which develop confidence, resilience and independence.

Option 5) Commissioned Services: How Did We Get Here, and What Can We do to Safeguard Essential Services for Blind and Partially Sighted People

Across the UK we are hearing stories of multiple organisations having to prop up local authorities through underfunded commissioned services. As financial pressures on governments are likely to only get worse, this session will explore not only how we got to this point, but how both the sector as a whole can adapt and change, along with practical advice for organisations that are struggling with the viability of providing commissioned services now and into the future.

Audience:  Leaders, Trustees and those with an interest in commissioned services.

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators:

Craig Spalding, CEO, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans: Craig is the CEO of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, Scotland’s largest charity for people impacted by vision impairment. Craig has a background in health and in private industry. He has a passion for improving wider systemic issues, including those faced by our sector.

 Lowri Bartrum, CEO, Vision Support: Lowri is the CEO of Vision Support, a regional sight loss charity serving communities across North East Wales, Cheshire and Halton. With over 20 years working alongside Local Authority Commissioners, she is a passionate advocate for sustainable commissioning, where statutory bodies meet their financial responsibilities fully, rather than passing the burden onto charities.

Sponsor: Thank you to Vision Support, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans for sponsoring and co-facilitating this workshop.

Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans combined logo

Purple Vision Support logo

Option 6) Sexual Harassment Awareness

This workshop offers practical, law-grounded learning designed to drive real cultural change. Delegates will come away with a clear understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment, the relevant legal framework and what acceptable workplace behaviour looks like in practice.
Drawing on current data, the session explores why harassment persists and the real impact it has on individuals, teams and organisations. Through applied case studies, delegates will practise responding across different roles as an employee, manager, bystander or leader, building confidence in reporting, intervention and decision-making.
The workshop equips people at every level to prevent harm, manage risk and play an active part in creating a safe, respectful, zero-tolerance workplace.
Audience: All
Geography: UK wide
Facilitator:
Amanda Makoka, Head of Business Development, Survivor Space Oxfordshire: Amanda began working for Survivor Space Oxfordshire (SSO) as a Survivor Ambassador after 30 years of working in the education sector. She gives talks about her own experience of the judicial system and being one of only 1.3% to gain a conviction for her offender. Amanda also leads training and gives keynote speeches.

Workshop Session 4: 12:15 – 13:30

Option 1) AI and Inclusion: Rethinking Support in a Changing World

How AI is reshaping life for blind and partially sighted people.

This panel session explores how AI is transforming everyday experiences for blind and partially sighted people, moving beyond the technology itself to examine impact on daily life.
It will highlight emerging opportunities alongside persistent challenges, including bias, accessibility barriers, and gaps in digital inclusion.

Through shared experiences and examples, such as image description, navigation tools, and AI wearables. The session will show how AI is already changing how people access information and the world around them. Crucially, it will explore how these advances are beginning to blur traditional boundaries of support, reshaping expectations of habilitation, vision rehabilitation and sight loss charities. As AI becomes embedded in daily life, services will need to adapt, rethink their roles, and respond to new, evolving demands.
The workshop emphasises co-design as essential to ensuring future services are relevant, inclusive and fit for a rapidly changing landscape.
Audience: All
Geography: UK wide

This panel discussion will be hosted by Mark Owen, CEO at Outlookers. Mark will be joined by colleagues from across the Visionary network and beyond.

Mark Owen, CEO, Outlookers: Mark is CEO at Outlookers, a sight loss charity that offers peer and tech support to people in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. He co-facilitates the monthly Visionary Tech Forum. Prior to joining the sector, Mark worked in further and higher education, finance and marketing. He brings both professional insight and lived experience to his work, with a particular interest in how technology can enable people with sight loss to maintain independence.

Jamie Bruce, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist and Tech Champion, Guide Dogs: Jamie graduated from Birmingham City University in 2010. Before starting with Guide dogs in 2022 he worked for a Scottish charity for 12 years developing a specialism in assistive and accessible technology leading on several award winning projects.
At Guide Dogs, as a Tech Champion Jamie supports the team of Vision Rehabilitation Specialists and service users in tech awareness through training and learning. Whether assistive technology or mainstream accessibility the Tech Champions at Guide Dogs bring their specialist skills to support people in their day to day life and encourage independent mobility.
Jamie has over 20 years of lived experience having been registered blind with Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) in 2006. Since then he has followed and made use of emerging technologies in both his professional and personal life.

Jemma Brown, Independent Living Advisor – Smart Technologies, OpenSight: Jemma is OpenSight’s resident TechSpert, supporting people with sight loss to live more independently and confidently through the use of technology. She is passionate about accessibility and inclusion, particularly when it comes to technology. In her role, she helps people navigate everything from smartphones to smart speakers, enabling them to stay connected and maintain their independence in a digital world.
Born with congenital cataracts, microphthalmia and microcornea, Jemma grew up partially sighted and was registered blind in 2014 following complications associated with her condition. She is driven by her own lived experience and a desire to make practical, meaningful change. As she puts it: “I joined OpenSight because I want to help make the world more accessible and inclusive for everyone with a vision impairment.” Outside of work, Jemma lives in Southampton with her guide dog, Mary. She enjoys gaming, reading, exploring new technology and getting out for walks—often with Mary leading the way.

Steven Johnson, Founder and Developer of Black Lens App: Steve brings over 30 years of leadership experience across telecommunications and technology, having managed teams, delivered complex change and taken responsibility for difficult decisions in fast-moving organisations including Vodafone and TalkTalk. He is a qualified project manager, holding PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner certifications.
Steve became the first visually impaired contestant on Channel 4’s Hunted, navigating a national manhunt while living with progressive sight loss – an experience that brought national visibility to a journey already defined by resilience and adaptation.

Sponsor: This workshop is funded by the Tech Hub Project, a Vision Partnership project led by Guide Dogs UK.

Option 2) Children and Young People Collaboration Project

Join the Project Leaders from Thomas Pocklington Trust, Fight for Sight and The Powell Family Foundation to share and discuss the initial results of the mapping research carried out over the last few months. This nationwide research identifies the services and resources available for children and young people with a visual impairment. It will help inform wider discussion, leading to design and commissioning of services.   

Audience: Anyone who currently offers support for children and young people, or who may be interested in developing children and young people services.

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators:

Alison Oliver, Trustee, The Powell Family Foundation: Alison has spent over 25 years working in the commercial and third sectors as a consultant, executive director and non-executive director. She has been working in the third sector for the last 13 years, most recently as a charity consultant specialising in finance, governance, strategy, transformational change and stakeholder engagement. Prior to that she was Director of Strategic Partnerships at Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), the CEO of Visionary, and Finance Director at TPT. Alison is a chartered accountant and in her earlier career, worked at PriceWaterhouseCoopers leading consultancy projects, and then as Finance Director of a private property group. She has also held various trustee roles over the last 18 years.

Tara Chattaway, Head of Education and Volunteering, Thomas Pocklington Trust: Tara has worked in the sight loss sector for over 19 years and has a strong background of working in policy and campaigning roles.

The Education Team at Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) works to support children, young people and adults in education. This is through information, advice and guidance, providing high quality resources, working with students, sharing their experiences and shaping services. They also lobby and influence government and decision makers to improve access to education for blind and partially students of all ages.

Sponsor: Thank you to The Powell Family Foundation for sponsoring and facilitating this workshop.

The Powell Family Foundation logo

Option 3) Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Join Hugh O’Keeffe from Onvero for this workshop which offers an introduction to neurodiversity and what it means for our workplaces. The session will explore understanding the strengths and challenges neurodivergent people experience, to practical strategies for building a culture where everyone can thrive.

Key learning objectives:

• Develop a foundational understanding of neurodiversity and the characteristics of some common types of neurodiversity such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia etc.
• Identify the strengths and challenges experienced by neurodivergent people and the potential impact of these challenges in the workplace.
• Understand the importance of creating an inclusive workplace that respects and supports neurodivergent employees, promoting equity and belonging.
• Implement practical strategies to effectively support neurodivergent colleagues, enhancing their contributions and wellbeing.

Audience: All

Geography: UK wide

Facilitator:

Hugh O’Keeffe, Inclusion Lead, Onvero: Hugh focuses on connecting broad organisational development with individual lived experience to foster genuine inclusion as the Inclusion Lead at Onvero. He supports Onvero members by leading initiatives ranging from policy development and practice to tailored training and consultancy.

Hugh joined Onvero with significant experience in management and service delivery within LGBT+ non-profit organisations. His expertise spans organisational governance, safeguarding and risk management, always approached with a diverse and intersectional perspective that benefits Onvero’s work. Hugh graduated from the University of Western Australia (BSc Neuroscience and Linguistics) before moving to London.

His commitment extends beyond his professional role; Hugh is currently the Chair of the Board of Co-Directors for Studio Lutalica, a non-profit, Queer and feminist design agency dedicated to empowering women and LGBTQ+ people. He previously served as Chair of Trustees for the Muscle Help Foundation, bringing leadership experience from community organisations. Underlying his work is a strong curiosity and a desire to ensure all individuals are part of supportive environments where they can flourish.

About Onvero: Onvero helps organisations build truly inclusive cultures – where every employee has the safety, tools and resources to thrive. At the heart of our approach is an unwavering commitment to building inclusive workplaces with integrity, ensuring organisations align what they say publicly with what people experience internally and embedding inclusion where it matters most: in decisions, strategy and everyday culture.

Option 4) NHS 10 Year Plan: Influencing and Engaging Locally

This workshop explores how organisations can engage with and influence the NHS 10 Year Plan at a local level. It will share good practice from across England, introduce the language and frameworks shaping health system change. It will also highlight opportunities available for sight loss and eye health organisations to have a real voice in what happens in their area.

Audience: All

Geography: England focused but some relevance to all countries

Facilitators:

Steve Terry, Head of Involvement, NHS Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull Integrated Care Board: Steve is a Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) mole on the inside of the NHS. His background is in VCSE infrastructure and provider organisations. Five years ago he made the move to disrupt the NHS from the inside for the better of our communities.

Lisa Sadler-Todd, CEO, Beacon Vision: Lisa leads Beacon Vision’s strategic development, partnerships and innovative services to improve the lives of people living with sight loss. Lisa champions collaboration to build sustainable, impactful services at regional health and social care charity Beacon Vision, driving innovation that strengthens support for those with sight loss and other conditions. With a career spanning the charity sector, Lisa is passionate about creating inclusive communities and is also a Non-Executive Director at both The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

Sponsor: Thank you to Specsavers for sponsoring this workshop.

Specsavers Logo

Option 5) Futureability: Succession Planning for Your Organisation.

Succession planning is often treated as something to deal with when someone resigns, retires or reaches the end of their term. By then, the organisation may already be under pressure. This workshop invites you to step back and think ahead: What does your organisation need to be ready for the future? And how can you plan for leadership transitions before they become urgent?

Using a backcasting approach, we will begin with the future you want for your organisation, then work backwards to identify the people, roles, skills and decisions needed to get there. We will also consider how departures can create opportunities to review what the organisation now needs; what it no longer needs and how roles might evolve.

You will leave with practical prompts to support better conversations, clearer planning and more confident transitions.

Audience:  Trustees, Leaders and Managers.

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators:

Matt Lee, Director, Birch Tree Associates: Matt is a futurologist, strategist, researcher and co-founder of Birch Tree Associates. With more than 20 years’ experience across strategy, innovation, organisational development and systems change. He helps organisations navigate complexity, anticipate future challenges and make confident decisions. Matt specialises in strategic foresight, leadership and helping organisations understand the social, technological, economic and policy forces shaping their world.

Dr Nicky Shaw, Director, Birch Tree Associates: Dr Nicky Shaw is a leadership specialist, researcher and co-founder of Birch Tree Associates. With almost 30 years’ experience spanning social care, disability services, organisational transformation and executive leadership, she helps organisations develop effective leaders, navigate change and deliver sustainable impact. Nicky combines extensive operational experience with academic expertise in leadership, strategic management and organisational development, supporting organisations to balance performance today with long term sustainability.

Sponsor: Thank you to Birchtree Associates for sponsoring and facilitating this workshop.

Birch Tree Associates logo

Option 6) Local Political Influencing

Join Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, RNIB and Guide Dogs for this interactive workshop on how sight loss charities can influence local political decisions to benefit blind and partially sighted people in their communities.

A lot has shifted politically across all four nations recently. This session will explore what that means in practice:

• What has changed over the last 12 to 18 months, including shifts in council leadership and political make-up across the nations.
• Local Government influencing – New powers heading to combined authorities in England and local authority elections in Scotland and Wales 2027.
• Case studies from sight loss charities who have influenced decisions locally.  We will explore what worked, what surprised them and what you can learn from these experiences.
• Group discussion and Q&A.

Audience: Everyone with an interest in campaigning and political influencing.

Geography: UK wide

Facilitators:

Craig Spalding, CEO, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans: Craig is the CEO of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, Scotland’s largest charity for people impacted by vision impairment. Craig has a background in health and in private industry. He has a passion for improving wider systemic issues, including those faced by our sector.

Eleanor Briggs, Head of Policy, Public Affairs & Campaigns, Guide Dogs UK: Eleanor has led the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns function at Guide Dogs since 2023. She has more than twenty years’ experience in campaigning, working in the children’s sector and disability organisations including Action for Children, National AIDS Trust and Turning Point. She began her career in the civil service working on equality and diversity policy.

Sophie Dodgeon, Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs, RNIB: Sophie has 25 years’ experience in policy and campaigns, working for a range of large and small organisations. She has most recently headed up activity to prevent the closure of train ticket offices, champion accessible voting and scale up RNIB’s ‘Out of Sight’ campaign on vision rehabilitation.

Special thanks to Nicolette Primo, Lived Experience Policy and Engagement Manager, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, for supporting the development of this workshop.

Sponsor: Thank you to RNIB for sponsoring and co-facilitating this workshop.

RNIB logo – See differently.