Vision in Wales.
Vision in Wales (Wales' Council for 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.
RNIB Cymru celebrates success of Eye Clinic Liaison Service
RNIB Cymru has launched a report today on the impact of the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) service in Wales.
The ECLO service in Wales (funded by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, the BIG Lottery, RNIB Cymru, Cardiff Institute for the Blind, and Sight Cymru) aims to reduce risk to the patients' physical and mental health, and increase their ability to live safely and independently. The service provides essential emotional support and practical advice at the point of diagnosis of sight loss, providing an effective link between health, social and community support services.
In the last year alone, the service supported 6,730 patients in a variety of ways: everything from providing information on the patient’s eye condition, to referral to specialist services such as RNIB Cymru's Welfare Rights service, employment service, or education and transitions services for children and young people. The report sets out the positive difference that the service makes, both for individuals and for eye clinic staff. By ensuring people newly diagnosed with sight loss have access to all the information and support they need, ECLOs can help mitigate some of the negative impact associated with sight loss such as poor mental health, increased risk of falls and loss of independence.
Ceri Jackson, RNIB Cymru's Director, said: "Our Eye Clinic support service provides emotional support and practical help to thousands of people at the point of diagnosis. Our objective as the leading charity in Wales supporting people with sight loss is to improve the lives of all blind and partially sighted people in Wales, through embedding our services and working with partners to ensure everyone in Wales has access to the support and services they need to live full and independent lives."
Download the PDF version of the report
Download the Word version of the report
For more information please contact Communications Officer Andy Williams on 029 2044 9593 or by emailing andrew.williams@rnib.org.uk
Refreshing the relationship between Welsh Government and the Third Sector in Wales
A consultation has been launched by the Welsh Government around its relationship with the Third Sector. It aims to inform WG thinking on future support of the Third Sector in Wales; the means of engagement; the Third Sector's contribution to Public Service Delivery and the Programme for Government nationally, locally and regionally; and the development of local Third Sector Compacts.
There will be consultation events and the opportunity to respond online, via email and in writing.
The consultation document and details of the events are online at the Continuity and Change page
World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week: 12 - 18 May
The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is using this year's World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week to target healthcare professionals, and has developed a toolkit to help educate them in the symptoms and treatment of the condition.
You can get more information, download the toolkit, and find out how you can help to raise awareness with local GP practices, opticians, baby clinics etc by going to the CHECT website.