Other Services Available to Support You

Depending on what type of support you need as a blind or partially sighted student, there are also other organisations available to support you in your education journey. Please see below for other services which might be of interest.

Partnership Services

Thomas Pocklington Trust is delighted to fund the following services to support blind and partially sighted students: 

Look UK University Mentoring Scheme  

Look UK and Thomas Pocklington Trust have partnered together to deliver a university mentoring scheme which matches graduates with blind and partially sighted students thinking about or starting university. 

The scheme is open to those in further or higher education who are looking to apply to university or have just started. Once matched with a mentor, there will be the opportunity to be supported through key aspects of the university journey from someone who has experienced it first hand.

To find out more visit the LookUK website, contact them on info@look-uk.org or call 07464 351 958 

Blind in Business Pathways Service  

With support from Thomas Pocklington Trust, Blind in Business deliver a Pathways Service which helps blind and partially sighted students aged between 13 – 19-years-old to navigate towards the career of their dreams.  

The service includes a series of confidence building, peer led workshops for young people and their families which aim to empower students to fulfil their professional ambitions. In addition, they support students to access meaningful work experience to gain valuable career skills, whether in person or online.

To find out more visit the Blind in Business website, contact them on  info@blindinbusiness.org.uk or call 020 7588 1885. 

Directory of other services available to support you 

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)  

The CYPF Education Service provides support to children and young people with a vision impairment, their family members and professionals that work alongside them. RNIB offers specialist information, advice and guidance, digitally and by telephone, specific to the need of the individual. This includes: 

• Families can access Parent Pathways training, Parents and Carers Facebook group, Shape and Share events, and online resources.  

• Professionals can access specialist information and advice, training, partnerships, the CFVI and support across the education and vision impairment sector. 

• Legal rights information and advice on further and higher education including, where possible, formal representation to blind and partially sighted people who are looking to challenge a decision or a discrimination.

For further information, call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email at cypf@rnib.org.uk

Guide Dogs  

Guide Dogs’ Education Service offers advice to children and young people aged 0-25 and their families. Their services include:   

• Advice and guidance on areas such as Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), annual reviews, access arrangements, school transport, and out-of-authority placements.  

• Family events across the year to meet others, have fun and relax.  

• Tech Grants for assistive technology including laptops, braille devices and video magnification.  

• CustomEyes Books program, which provides large print, tailor-made books for children and young people.  

• Buddy Dog Services providing companionship and early socialisation for children across the UK.  

• Habilitation Support and MTTP (My Time to Play) programme to help develop crucial life skills.

To contact Guide Dogs’ Education Services, you can visit their website, email them at information@guidedogs.org.uk, or call their helpline on 0800 781 1444

Royal Society of Blind Children (RSBC) 

RSBC provides holistic support, education, information and advice for families and of blind and partially sighted children and young people from 0 to 25. Their services include:  

• A VI specialist college for 16-25 year olds with a vision impairment, some with additional needs, in London and the southeast regions. Combining VI specialist education with a range of mainstream, vocational and sixth form provisions.  

• A large range of groups, activities and events for children and young people including a podcast, youth forum, book clubs and special events.  

• Family First support service with dedicated one to one support for children, young people and their families.

You can visit the RSBC website to find out more, call 020 3198 0225 or email connections@rsbc.org.uk

VICTA  

VICTA supports children and young adults (aged 29 or under) who are vision impaired and their families. Aware that feelings of isolation and loneliness are dominant within the world of vision impairment, VICTA focuses on activity-based learning as a positive setting for social interaction and personal growth. Services include:  

• Activities to support young people and their families grow and gain valuable life experiences through expeditions, outdoor pursuits, cultural events and online challenges and events. 

• Parent services including Early Years, Parent Workshops and Family Days together with a Parent Network delivered by parents for parents providing an online forum for parents to meet, chat, share experiences or ask questions.

You can contact VICTA on 01908 240 831, email admin@victa.org.uk or visit the VICTA website.

Look UK 

As well as the university mentoring programme, LookUK also offers other support to blind and partially sighted students and their families. This includes: 

• LOOK’s flagship Mentor Project which connects VI young people with a trained volunteer VI Mentor.  

• Parent & Carer Support through workshops, peer-led support groups, online resources and online information events. 

• Online and face-to-face events for VI young people, their families and the professionals around them.

Blind in Business  

In addition to the Pathways Service, Blind in Business also offers an Employment Service which supports students and graduates into internships and paid employment. This includes sourcing relevant opportunities, advice on applications and CVs, interview preparation and advice and guidance on disclosure and requesting adjustments.  

To find out more visit the Blind in Business website, contact them on  info@blindinbusiness.org.uk or call 020 7588 1885.