Visibility Scotland

09/01/2026

Attention! Self Defence course in Dumfries and Galloway.

The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety will deliver a self-defence class that has been designed specifically for people living with vision impairment.

Join us for a practical and empowering self-defence class delivered by the Scottish Centre for Personal Safety.
Techniques will be adapted for all individual abilities, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and confidence-building experience for everyone.

Registration for the event is essential due to limited slots available; this can be completed by calling Visibility Scotland on 0800 987 1087.

Attendees are more than welcome to bring a plus one, but please inform staff of this when registering.

Time and Date:
Wednesday 21st January 2026
10:30am - 2:00pm
St Georges Church (Main Hall)
50 George Street
Dumfries
DG1 1EJ

There is no cost to attend this class; however, all donations are welcome in order to support this event.

Image description;
One; Visibility Scotland text is written in white, and the background is blue. The logo is a yellow almond shape representing an eye with a heart in the middle.

Two; Two Visibility Scotland staff members practice a personal safety technique which involved a guide cane being used to defend against an attacker.

05/01/2026

We've listened to your feedback, and we're expanding our focus groups to include Orthoptists and Vision Rehabilitation Specialists as well as OT's!

Are you currently working as an Occupational Therapist, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist, or Orthoptist?

Do you have experience of working with stroke survivors with vision impairments?

Visibility Scotland and the University of Strathclyde would like your help in the development of our new rehabilitation programme and technology.

We are running 2 focus groups:
• Tuesday 20th January 11-12pm (online)

• Thursday 22nd January 11-12pm (in-person at Visibility Scotland, 2 Queen's Crescent, Glasgow G4 9BW)

For more information please or to register to attend please contact: Dr Lauren Forsyth – lauren.forsyth@strath.ac.uk

ID: Text heavy graphic which contains the same information as detailed above, as well as logos for Visibility Scotland and the University of Strathclyde engineering department.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from the entire team at Visibility Scotland!

2025 was a big year for us, and we're reflecting on it with pride, thoughtfulness, and a whole lot of gratitude. You can now find our 2024-2025 impact report on our strategy webpage, linked below. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in our organisation this year, from funders to service users to volunteers. Each and every one of you is an important part of Visibility Scotland, and we couldn't do this without you.

As we reflect on 2025, we're also looking forward to 2026 and continuing to pioneer services that drive positive change for vision impaired and blind people across Scotland. We're excited for our office to re-open and our services to resume, and at the same time enjoying the time of rest during the last few days of the festive season.

Our phone lines and email will be up and running starting on Monday 05 January, with in person services resuming on Monday 12 January, and activities starting up again the following week.

Visibility Scotland's organisational strategy including mission, vision, values, and impact on the community - Our strategy

29/12/2025

Visibility Scotland (and specifically our brilliant Social Media Content Creator, Lara) is in The Times and The Sunday Times! For the past few months, we’ve been helping people learn how to best use Ray-Ban Metas as accessibility aids for vision impairment and blindness. Earlier in December, Lara was invited down to Meta HQ in London, and given the exciting opportunity to share her story and speak about the impact of digital inclusion and Visibility Scotland’s support. The article is out now and can be read at the link in the top comment of the shared post!

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about how Ray-Ban Metas can be used to support independence, please contact us on or after 05 January by calling 0800 987 1087 or emailing info@visibilityscotland.org.uk

P.S. The Times does require a paid subscription to read so please do not feel any pressure to read the article if you are not already a subscriber! Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have after we return from our holiday break on Monday 05 January.

Image description for image in shared post: Lara smiles while wearing Gen2 Ray-Ban Metas. Text below her reads “Sceptical of Meta glasses? They’re ‘magical’ if you’re blind.”

For Lara Maudsley, it’s in restaurants where she notices the difference. She likes to go out for brunch but, since losing much of her vision, doesn’t like asking for help. Now she doesn’t have to.

“Instead of having to say to my friends, ‘Can you read me that menu?’, I can just put the glasses on and say, ‘Tell me about the pizzas, the pastas, the avocado on toast.’” And they do.

She is not alone. Other people with vision problems tell Meta they like to use its glasses to read emails at work, or to describe signage while out. One said he had been able to read his own post for the first time.

This was not what the parent company of Facebook had in mind when, in 2020, it made some glasses that took pictures. Back then, the goal was for people to use the £300 specs to update their Instagram pages. “It was basically a social media tool,” said Matt Sanders, from Meta.

But then they added an AI function with voice controls and started getting unexpected feedback. They had reviews not in the technology press, but from the Guide Dogs society and the American Foundation for the Blind (“There were times,” wrote the reviewer, “that I thought of them as magical”).

26/12/2025

Our December highlight was not one but two visits down to Meta HQ in London! The first was for a wearables demo event where our Marketing and Administration Manager August had the opportunity to hear about Meta's commitment to accessibility and try out some exciting new technology that will be coming to the UK soon.

On the second trip down, our Social Media Content Creator Lara participated in a very exciting opportunity that we can't wait to share more about when we're able! It was a very busy month, and an absolutely amazing way to wrap up 2025.

Image descriptions:
One: Lara from Visibility Scotland stands in the Meta HQ reception area smiling.

Two: August from Visibility Scotland sits with collaborator Melanie on a sofa in Meta HQ. Both are wearing Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

24/12/2025

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the entire Visibility Scotland team. From our family to yours, we wish you a festive season full of good food, quality time with loved ones, and plenty of relaxation.

Our head office and in-person services will be closed from Thursday 25 December until Monday 12 January, with our phone line reopening on Monday 05 January.

Activities and events will resume the week commencing Monday 19 January.

For full closure details please visit the link below:

We help and support anyone, of any age, living with a visual impairment across Scotland - Visibility Scotland festive office closure

23/12/2025

Our November highlight was welcoming Caroline Pakenaite of Deafblind Everest Project on to our upcoming EyeCan podcast - launching in February 2026 - and having the opportunity to hear her speak to our young people.

Caroline aims to be the first ever deafblind person to summit Mount Everest in May 2026, and meeting her was incredibly inspiring. Not only is she an amazing athlete, she also achieved her PhD this year in computer science. We can't wait for you all to hear her story and mountaineering journey in February! Watch this space for more details coming soon.

Image descriptions:
One: Caroline sits in a chair in the Go Radio recording studio. She has medium length blonde hair, glasses, and is wearing a geometric patterned jumper.

Two: Caroline gives a talk to a group of young people involved in Visibility Scotland’s EyeCan CYP project.

22/12/2025

Our October highlight was a truly magical night at GlasGLOW!

This incredible outing was made possible thanks to our wonderful partners hellofreedomandjoy, and the incredible generosity of itison Glasgow.

The attendees had a great time discovering the exhibits, trying out interactive features, and taking in the lively atmosphere.

Favourite moments included toasting marshmallows over the fire, popping fog filled bubbles, and playing in an illuminated tunnel filled with slinkies.

ID: Lynsey from Visibility Scotland stands with an EyeCan CYP participant and her parent, admiring one of GlasGLOW’s light displays

20/12/2025

Taking a look back at September, members of the Visibility Scotland team attended the strategy conference hosted by RNIB Scotland.

Visibility Scotland's CEO, Laura Walker, and Susan Shippey, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, delivered a presentation on the vital work of Vision Collaborative Scotland and its efforts to drive positive change, advance meaningful improvements, and support equitable delivery of vision rehabilitation.

We also heard from a wide range of insightful speakers, including Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto MSP, Chair of Optometry Scotland Eilidh Thomson, Hannah Tweed from Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, and Professor Andrea Williamson from the University of Glasgow.

It was a brilliant day and inspiring, highlighting the impactful work taking place across sectors to support blind and vision impaired people. There is still more to be done, but meaningful progress is underway.

ID: Laura Walker, Visibility Scotland CEO, sits at a table with three members of the Visibility Scotland staff team. All are smiling.

Guide Dogs Scotland RNIB Thomas Pocklington Trust

18/12/2025

In August, Visibility Scotland’s Dumfries and Galloway Community Support Worker, Steph, visited Lydiafield Care Home as part of a Mostly Ghostly Tours initiative. The day brought together residents to explore personal heritage through storytelling and shared memories.

Five residents contributed meaningful items, including a bagpipe chanter, a cherished bible, family photographs, football cards, and a striking image of a stag hunt. Each object opened the door to valuable conversations, reflection, and connection.

Steph supported inclusivity and accessibility at the event, ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to engage with and celebrate their heritage.

ID: ID: Steph from Visibility Scotland sits with a group of four other people in a room with many windows. Everyone is smiling.

17/12/2025

Highlight number seven! In July we had our EyeCan CYP pizza party, and what an incredible day it was. Young people aged 10 to 25 were welcomed to Visibility Scotland for an afternoon filled with creativity, connection, and plenty of fun.

Throughout the day, everyone had the chance to explore three different activity stations. Our arts and crafts area offered a relaxed space to get creative, try new materials, and make something to take home. The gaming station was busy from start to finish, giving participants the chance to play together, share tips, and enjoy some friendly competition. We were also delighted to have live music, which added a brilliant atmosphere and encouraged plenty of singing along.

And, of course, no party is complete without good food. Everyone came together to enjoy delicious pizza and chat with new and familiar faces.

We look forward to hosting more opportunities for young people to connect, have fun, and feel part of our community.

ID: Sharon and Aarti from hellofreedomandjoy and Lynsey from Visibility Scotland stand with EyeCan CYP pizza party attendees.

15/12/2025

June at Visibility Scotland had two special highlights: we celebrated a milestone birthday, marking 166 years of supporting and empowering vision impaired and blind people across Scotland. We also launched our neuro cycling programme, EyeCan Cycle, for the first time in partnership with Cycling Scotland and Bike for Good Glasgow.

For many people, visual field loss after a stroke can mean giving up driving and losing confidence on the road. Through the rehabilitation opportunities and compensatory strategy training offered by Visibility Scotland, participants were supported to rebuild that confidence and enjoy getting back on a bike.

We ran a second session of the programme in November, and are hoping to run more sessions in the new year depending on funding. If you'd like to learn more or support EyeCan Cycle, please get in touch by calling 0800 987 1087 or emailing info@visibilityscotland.org.uk

ID: EyeCan Cycle participants stand with Ali from Visibility Scotland and Nina and Josh from Cycling Scotland outside the Bike for Good headquarters. Everyone is standing next to their bike and smiling.