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About WCB.
Wales Council of the Blind is the umbrella agency representing vision impairment within Wales. We work to campaign, lobby and support the improvement of services for people with sight loss. [Read more...]
Latest news.
National Eye Health Week 2025
National Eye Health Week (22nd to 28th September) is the annual event promoting the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all. Research for this year's event reveals that the UK faces a dramatic rise in number suffering sight-threatening eye disease. You can find out more about this research on the Vision Matters website.
Each day, there will be a focus on a different aspect of eye health. The daily themes will be:
- Monday – Primary eye care services
- Tuesday – Children’s eye health
- Wednesday – Eyes at work
- Thursday – Live well to see well
- Fr-eye-day – Self-care
- Saturday – Sports vision
- Sunday – Ageing eyes
During the week, Wales Council of the Blind will be posting information on Facebook about eye health and sight loss using #EyeWeek. You can also find out more about eye health and services for people with sight loss on our Perspectif portal, using the tab at the top of this screen. If any organisations in Wales are running events for National Eye Health Week, let us know.
Introducing Anita Davies, WCB’s Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager
Anita Davies has recently taken up the role as Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager with Wales Council of the Blind. This is a two-year pilot project funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust. There are also Sight Loss Councils in England and Scotland.
The Sight Loss Council is for and about people who are blind and partially sighted having a voice through areas such Health, Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport, and Transport. The Sight Loss Council for Wales will be made up of volunteers who are blind or partially sighted. There will be two volunteers from each health board geographic area. Anita will develop Local Action groups in Hywel Dda, Betsi Cadwalader and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas and will be working with members to achieve this. This is a very exciting opportunity to be involved in making a local or national change around the things you are passionate about.
Anita says 'I am so excited and pleased to be involved in setting up the Sight Loss Council for Wales. It not only enables me to bring all of my skills to the table but it also enables you to be part of something that can make a difference not only to your life but to the lives of blind and partially sighted people'.
If you want to be involved and or want a chat about the Sight Loss Council and the local action groups, please contact Anita on either anita@wcb-ccd.org.uk or ring her on 02920 473954.
Have your say on sight loss support
In April this year, RNIB ran a survey asking people living with sight loss, their family and carers, about their experiences and ideas to improve support before a person is diagnosed with an eye condition. There was a great response and RNIB is now seeking help to prioritise which ideas it should focus on exploring further. A second survey is now live and open until Wednesday 8th October.
To be eligible to take part people must be aged 18 or over. Please note that it doesn’t matter whether people completed the first survey. The more people who complete this survey, the better the insight we get will be. This insight will help shape new services in coming years, helping to ensure people living with sight loss get the support they need, when they need it and in a way that works for them.
The survey can be accessed here and takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
Wales Eyecare Conference 2025 - Waiting list open
The Wales Eyecare Conference on Thursday 6th November is now fully booked. However, cancellations often occur closer to the date, so a waiting list is available.
We would encourage applicants to add their details to the list, and notifications will be sent once a place is available. You can do this here or ring WCB on 029 2047 3954.
The event will be held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, and this year's theme is 'Mental Health of Patients and the Workforce'. For full details including the Programme of the Day and information about the venue, click on the 'Eyecare Conference' tab at the top right of this screen.