Sight Scotland, supported by Sight Loss Councils, has partnered with famous fringe venue the Pleasance to deliver specialist visual impairment awareness training to over 250 of its staff ahead of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The training is set to transform the festival experience for visually impaired audiences, helping to make one of the world’s largest arts festivals more inclusive than ever before.
The training, led by Callum Lancashire, Engagement Manager for Sight Loss Councils in Scotland, focused on raising awareness and equipping staff with the skills and confidence to support visually impaired visitors. From communication techniques to sighted guiding and understanding eye conditions, the training is set to transform the festival experience for visually impaired audiences.
Together, we're transforming how inclusion looks (and sounds), at the Fringe.
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This collaboration builds on the momentum of Sight Scotland’s Accessible Venues Report, launched in 2024. Developed by blind and partially sighted members of its policy group, the report highlights key barriers faced by visually impaired audiences such as poor communication, inaccessible booking systems, a lack of audio descriptions or touch tours, untrained staff, and inadequate design features like low colour contrast and unclear signage.
Jonny Patton, Head of Theatre Edinburgh for Pleasance, said: “Our message is simple – the Fringe is for everybody. We want every audience member who visits the Pleasance to feel welcomed, supported, and able to enjoy their time at the festival comfortably and confidently.
“Following on from last year’s Accessible Venues Report, it has been incredibly valuable working with Sight Scotland and Sight Loss Councils. They have been a brilliant resource for us, giving practical advice, helping us bounce around ideas, and supporting us to make straightforward and effective improvements to accessibility."
“The accessibility training has been fantastic. Our team expands significantly during the festival, and this has given both permanent and seasonal staff the practical tools and confidence to support audiences with visual impairments more effectively.”
Anthony Alderson, Director of the Pleasance Theatre Trust, commented: “We were thrilled to partner with Sight Scotland for the first time this year to provide training for all our staff and volunteers. Pleasance strives to every year improve our accessibility and we think this partnership is an important step to making the Fringe a more accessible place for all.”
Callum Lancashire, Engagement Manager for Sight Loss Councils in Scotland, who led the training at the Pleasance Courtyard, said: “It was encouraging to see so many staff participate, and we hope it will enhance the experience for both Pleasance staff and visually impaired visitors during the Edinburgh Fringe.”
"Training like this is vital for raising awareness, as small changes can make a big difference to someone’s festival experience."
Mark Ballard, Head of External Affairs and Campaigns at Sight Scotland, added: “This is a significant step forward for our Accessible Venues campaign. The Pleasance welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, making it all the more important that accessibility is prioritised. By working with such a prominent venue to raise awareness and provide practical training, we’re helping to create a more inclusive environment where everyone can fully enjoy the festival experience. We hope this sets a positive example for other venues to follow, not just in Edinburgh, but across Scotland and beyond.”
Sight Scotland is also working alongside Extant, VICS (Visually Impaired Creators Scotland), Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) and the Royal Lyceum Theatre to make the arts more accessible for people with visual impairment in 2025. You can find more information about the accessible work these venues and groups are doing in our Guide to Accessible Arts at the Edinburgh Festivals 2025.
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We're working with Extant, VICS, Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Lyceum Theatre, and The Pleasance to make the arts more accessible for people with visual impairment.
Our Campaigns
Our dedicated Sight Scotland policy team work with blind and partially sighted people to campaign for positive change. Read more about our campaigning work here.