Thomas Pocklington Trust

13/01/2026

The Rodney Powell Awards 2026 nominations are officially open.

These awards recognise the outstanding contribution of TPT volunteers, including Sight Loss Council members, Student Voices and Young Voices. They’re about celebrating the people whose work makes a real and lasting difference.

This year’s awards will recognise:

- Volunteer of the Year
- National Campaign of the Year (team award)
- Local Campaign of the Year (team award)
- Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering – Student Voice
-Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering – Sight Loss Councils

We know many volunteers don’t always put themselves forward, so your support in nominating and encouraging them is vital. If someone or a team comes to mind, now’s the time to act.

The deadline for nominations is 28 February 2026, with winners to be announced at the Sight Loss Council Conference in June 2026.

Find the nomination form and guidance here:https://tinyurl.com/29wxke4e

For support or questions, contact volunteering@pocklington.org.uk



Image Description: ‘2026 Rodney Powell Awards. Nominations for this year’s awards are now open! Closing date: 28th February 2026’ The TPT logo is positioned at the top of the post. The text is decoratively positioned on a sparkly navy background.

12/01/2026

Well, looks like we've got a celebrity in the house. Nicki Guy Slc has officially gone national… and at this rate, international recognition is just around the corner!

As the first person in the UK to receive a pioneering treatment for hypotony, a rare eye condition that can lead to sight loss, Nicki's story has now featured on BBC News, Good Morning Britain and even landed among the top stories on the BBC website.

Her bravery in trying something new, paired with her openness in sharing her lived experience, has not only transformed her own journey but is now giving hope to others facing the same condition.

We've always known she's a star, now the nation does too. 💫

Nicki's eye had collapsed in on itself, but a new gel injection method has saved her vision.

12/01/2026

Quick reminder, our Let’s Talk Jobs webinar is on today at 2pm, and you can still sign up.

We’ll be talking all things Get Set Progress Internship, including real experiences from one of our current interns and insights from our employment team on how the programme supports blind and partially sighted people into work.

If you’re looking for a paid opportunity that helps you build skills, confidence, and career direction, this session is well worth your time.

Register now and we’ll send you the joining link ahead of the webinar.

Registration Link: https://pocklington.tfaforms.net/5069021?event=701Pz00000pu4gM&tfa_168=6



Image description: Text reads: “It’s today! Join our ‘Let’s Talk Jobs’ webinar at 2pm and find out how the Get Set Progress Internship could work for you. 2 - 3pm. Last chance to sign up” with a right pointing arrow. The words: “Live Webinar” are highlighted in red about this. The TPT and GSP logos are at the bottom. Towards the top left features an image of five individuals laughing during a conversation.

09/01/2026

Not a fan of typing on a smooth slab of glass?�You’re not alone, and you’ve got options.

On Friday 23 January, we’re hosting Tech Friday 3.0, a hands-on session all about buttoned phonesfor blind and partially sighted people who want more confidence using a mobile.

This isn’t about flashy tech, it’s about phones you can feel.�Phones with proper buttons, clear layouts and features that actually make life easier.

You’ll be able to try devices like the MiniVision 2, SmartVision 3, BlindShell and the Big Purple Phone (SilverFox Edition), from simple talking phones with reassuring tactile keys to smarter options that blend buttons, voice control and essential apps.

The session will be led by Iain Kennedy from Sight and Sound Technology, alongside Graham Page from Thomas Pocklington Trust, with plenty of time to ask questions and try things out at your own pace.

Event details

Location: Thomas Pocklington Hub, 3 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AR

Start time: Presentations begin promptly at 11am

Travel support: A meet-and-greet from Russell Square Underground station is available on request

And if you missed our first Tech Friday, or haven’t tried them before, the Meta smart glasses will also be available to explore after the session.

Places are limited, so booking early is recommended.

👉 Register here for Tech Friday 3.0:https://pocklington.tfaforms.net/5069021?event=701Pz00000pVUdx&tfa_168=6

Because sometimes, confidence really does come at the push of a button. 😉



Image description: Title reads: “Tech Friday returns!”. Below reads: “fed up with typing on flat screens? Try buttoned phones designed for blind and partially sighted people, 23 January, 11am, Register to attend” with a right pointing arrow. Towards the right is a silver buttoned phone. The TPT and Sight and Sound logos are on the bottom left.

08/01/2026

After more than five years of delay, the Government’s response on pavement parking represents a missed opportunity to deliver the clear, national action that campaigners have long called for. Instead of ending pavement parking once and for all, the Government has chosen a diluted, piecemeal approach that passes responsibility down to local authorities.

While proposals to devolve powers to councils and mayors are an improvement on the status quo, the evidence highlighted throughout the consultation itself shows a consistent warning: without a clear national rule, pavement parking enforcement will remain inconsistent, under resourced and deprioritised. This is not a new risk, it is precisely the problem that people with sight loss have been living with for years.

For far too long, blind and partially sighted people have been forced into the road, put at risk, and effectively excluded from their own communities because pavement parking is treated as an inconvenience rather than a serious safety issue. Allowing councils to decide whether, when and how to act does not provide the certainty or protection that is needed.

We, together with our sector partners, have been campaigning for action on pavement parking for years, and we are clear that this response does not end that campaign. Our position remains unchanged. We continue to call for a national ban on pavement parking, with exemptions clearly defined, so that everyone knows where they stand and pavements are safe everywhere and not just where enforcement happens to be prioritised or a council chooses to act.

We will continue to challenge the Government to go further and work with both national and local decision makers to ensure progress is made. Until blind and partially sighted people can travel independently and safely on the pavement, this issue is not resolved.

Image description:
Andy Law, Policy and Campaigns Manager at TPT, Martha Foulds, Policy and Campaigns Coordinator at TPT, Paul Hsu, North London SLC, Bhavini Makwana, Policy and Campaigns Manager at TPT, Liam O'Carroll, Interim Engagement Manager for London Sight Loss Councils', and Shalini O'Kane, SW London SLC member, are stood outside Westminster holding cupcakes and candles, and a 5th birthday card with the words '5 long years of waiting'

08/01/2026

Throwback to Friday 29 August 2025, when we said a huge thank you to our Young Voices at their end-of-year celebration as they completed their two-year journey with us.

This pioneering group has done it all; from collaborating with Goalball UK and ParalympicsGB, to producing a major report on accessible retail, and presenting at conferences and to trustees. Each achievement speaks to their drive, leadership and vision for creating a more inclusive world for blind and partially sighted people.

But what truly stands out is the confidence they’ve gained to share their voices and the example they’ve set for others. They’ve shown us all that age is no barrier to making an impact.

To our Young Voices: thank you. You’ve led the way, and we know this is only the beginning. May the courage you’ve shown remind us all that the most powerful change often starts with simply choosing to speak, and daring the world to listen.

PS: If you're blind or partially sighted, aged 13 - 16, and want to join our young voices group to help shape a better future, get in touch via: volunteering@pocklington.org.uk



Image descriptions:
Image 1: four young voices wearing their Thomas Pocklington Trust young voices hoodies. The hoodies are navy with the numbers 25 and “YOUNG VOICES” is displayed below. The four young voices stand beside each-other in a classroom setting looking away from the camera to show the back of their hoodies.

Image 2: Tom holding his awarded trophy and certificate. Tom stands in front of a power point that reads: “The Human Swiss Army Knife Award”. Tom is smiling happily, wearing a black and white striped t-shirt. He has short curly hair and is wearing glasses.

Image 3: Samih holding his awarded trophy and certificate. Samih stands in a classroom setting, smiling happily. He wears a grey polo top.

Image 4: Phoebe holding her awarded trophy and certificate. Phoebe stands in a classroom setting with a white board and PowerPoint screen slightly visible in the background. Phoebe has long pink hair, glasses and dressed casually.

07/01/2026

Our first Let’s Talk Jobs webinar of the year is coming up, and we’d love you to be part of it.

On Monday 12 January, 2–3pm, we’ll be shining a spotlight on our Get Set Progress Internship, a 9-month paid opportunity designed to support blind and partially sighted people to build confidence, skills, and real career momentum.

You’ll hear from Charlie, our Internship Coordinator, alongside one of our GSP interns and our employment team, as they share what the programme offers and why it could be the right step for you as we prepare for our next cohort.

If you’re blind or partially sighted and thinking about your employment goals for the year ahead, this could be a really valuable place to start.

Register now via the link below to receive your joining information.

https://pocklington.tfaforms.net/5069021?event=701Pz00000pu4gM&tfa_168=6



Image description: Title reads: “Let’s Talk Jobs!”. Below reads: “Start the year by exploring the Get Set Progress Internship. Monday 12 January, 2-3pm, Sign up now”, with a right pointing arrow. Above the title the words “live webinar” are highlighted in red. Towards the top left features an image of the current GSP interns. The TPT and GSP logo’s are at the bottom.

06/01/2026

When we thanked the Anne Frank Trust on World Braille Day for their donation of a Braille copy of The Diary of a Young Girl, we did so with gratitude, but without knowing the full weight of the moment.

Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and co-founder of the Trust, had passed away the day before.

That knowledge has stayed with us. What was already a generous gift now feels like something more; a final, meaningful reminder of Eva’s life’s work: education, remembrance and humanity.

We are deeply thankful to the Anne Frank Trust and we stand alongside them at this time of loss. Eva’s legacy lives on through their work and through every act of learning and understanding they continue to inspire.

You can read our news story, published in Eva’s honour, via the link below.

https://bit.ly/3NceY7i


Image description: Image features six Braille copies of The Diary of Anne Frank from the Anne Frank Trust. They have red covers with the writing “The Diary Of Anne Frank, In Five Volumes: Volume 1” written on the front.

04/01/2026

The first thing you notice when you pick up a Braille book is the weight. The second is the texture, raised dots that seem almost alive. For blind and partially sighted readers, those dots are freedom. They’re independence. They’re the difference between being told a story and owning it.

That’s why the Anne Frank Trust Uk ’s donation of a Braille edition of The Diary of a Young Girl means so much to us at Thomas Pocklington Trust. Anne Frank wrote her diary as a way to be heard in a world trying to silence her. To have her words now available in a format blind readers can explore directly feels not only right, but profoundly powerful.

People often point out that only 7% of blind and partially sighted people in the UK read Braille. Sounds tiny, until you realise that’s over 152,000 people. A stadium’s worth of readers. People who prefer the tactile certainty of raised dots, the grounding feel of a book in their hands, the faint scent of paper. Even here at TPT, some of our team will tell you there’s nothing quite like it.

The Anne Frank Trust’s commitment to challenging prejudice and discrimination echoes our own values. Because discrimination can be subtle. It can be someone assuming Braille is outdated, or that reading with your fingers makes you less capable. It doesn’t. Every reader deserves dignity, respect and access to the stories that shape us.

And Braille certainly hasn’t stood still. In the over 200 years since Louis Braille created it, those six dots have travelled far. From specialised embossers to everyday life on medicine packaging, lift buttons, public buildings, railway stations and even passports. And now, Braille has taken a digital leap too. With modern tools like refreshable Braille displays and Braille note takers, readers can carry entire libraries in their backpacks.

So today, on World Braille Day, we celebrate progress, the power of touch and the people who read the world differently. And a big shout-out to the Anne Frank Trust for helping create a world where Anne’s words can be felt, held and truly owned by all readers.

Happy World Braille Day!

Edited: P.S. Since sharing this post, we were saddened to learn of the passing of Eva Schloss, Anne Frank’s sister and the founder of the Anne Frank Trust. Our thoughts are with everyone at the Trust at this difficult time. Eva dedicated her life to education, remembrance and standing up to prejudice in all its forms. That makes this gift of Anne Frank’s diary in Braille even more poignant. We are deeply grateful to the Anne Frank Trust for their generosity and for continuing Eva’s powerful legacy, ensuring Anne’s words reach, and are felt by generations to come.



Image description: Text reads: “History you can feel. We’re proud to receive the Braille edition of the Diary of Anne Frank. Happy World Braille Day”. Below this is the TPT and The Anne Frank Trust UK logo. Towards the top left is an image of six books titled “The Diary Of Anne Frank” with red covers.

01/01/2026

Cheers to a fresh start! 🥂

Happy New Year from all of us at Thomas Pocklington Trust.

Image description: Illustration of golden glitter falling on a black background, with decorative rectangular graphical elements on the top right corner in gold and white. The TPT logo is placed near the bottom of the image followed by text which reads: Happy New Year! from all at Thomas Pocklington Trust.

29/12/2025

Looking for a Christmas gift that’s a little different this year? The Visually Impaired Sailing Association of Great Britain (Visa Gb) has just unwrapped its 2026 sailing programme, and it’s packed with brilliant adventures for visually impaired adults.

Set sail from Southampton, Portsmouth, Cowes, Milford Haven or Largs. Explore Scotland, Wales, the South West coast and even the Greek islands. Whether you’re trying sailing for the first time or ready for a longer challenge, there’s a voyage waiting for you.

Here’s what’s on offer for 2026:

Trip 1: Pre-Season Training Sail – 25–29 April, Southampton, £220

Trips 2 & 3: New to Sailing – 29 April–3 May, & 3–7 May, Southampton, £220

Trip 4: Greece Ionian Flotilla – May (TBC), 7 days, approx £850 including flights

Trip 5: Scotland Explorer – Forth of Clyde – June (TBC), Largs, £385

Trip 6: Wonderful Wales – Milford Haven – July (TBC), £385

Trip 7: Cross Channel Adventure – 12–19 August, Cowes, £385

Trip 8: Plymouth & the Southwest – 14–20 July, £385

Trip 9: Young Adults (18–25) – 30 August–2 September, Southampton, £25

Trip 10: South Coast Sailing from Portsmouth – 11–18 September, £385

You can express interest in up to three trips, and concessionary prices may be available for UK voyages. All trips include on-board accommodation, meals, snacks and safety gear.

To join the adventure, email Membership Secretary Dee Jones at membership@visa-gb.org.uk.

Make sure you get your name in by 31 December. A perfect goal to set before the Christmas biscuits run out.

Image description: Text reads: "Ready for an adventure? If you're blind or partially sighted VISA-GB's 2026 trips are for you.Register by 31 December: membership@visa-gb.org.uk". TPT logo is on the top left and the VISA-GB's logo is on the bottom left. The bottom right features an image of a white and red sailing boat.

24/12/2025

Tomorrow is Christmas, and before the festive rush takes over your timelines, we just wanted to say:

Season’s Greetings from everyone at Thomas Pocklington Trust!�Wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with joy and rest. 🎄✨

Image description: Illustration of snowflakes falling on a navy background, with decorative rectangular graphical elements on the top right corner in blue and white. The TPT logo is placed near the bottom of the image followed by text which reads: Season’s Greetings from all at Thomas Pocklington Trust.