Lived experience is at the centre of our work. We believe visually impaired people are experts in their own lives and we want to champion their voices. Our policy group take the lead on developing our campaigns and play a pivotal role in shaping the direction and focus of various policy issues.

Our Policy Group 

Policy Group members take a leading role in shaping Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland’s advocacy and campaigning work, engaging with the wider sight loss community and others to ensure the voice of blind and partially sighted people are reflected in all campaigns.  

Members of the group contribute to the creation of an annual policy plan, attend internal and external policy events and conferences and take part in external media opportunities acting as spokespeople for the organisations.   

What do policy group members do?

  • Champion the voices of blind and partially sighted people across Scotland.

  • Provide ideas and direction for campaigning, advocacy and research.

  • Speak to decision-makers including the Scottish Government, MSPs and Scottish MPs to make sure they are aware of the issues affecting blind and partially sighted people.  

  • Attend and participate in events, conference and panel discussion on relevant issues that affect the lives of blind and partially sighted people. 

  • Act as a spokesperson in the media, championing our work and the voices of blind and partially sighted people. 

The policy group has had a major impact on myself and my daughter as I now have the motivation and determination to make change and ‘get up and go’. Life goes on after a sight loss diagnosis, but it took me a while to come to terms with that. 

The policy group and Sight Scotland are a force to be reckoned with which shape and mould visually impaired people's lives every day, one policy at a time. 

Being a part of the policy group has made me feel empowered and changed my life for the better. Cut me open and where my heart is there now is a Sight Scotland logo. Hearing different visually impaired people's lived experiences makes me take a step back and think about the future and how to adapt things now before my sight loss deteriorates.

- Amanda Whitfield

Ask us about joining the Policy Group

Our group is currently at full capacity and unfortunately we are unable to take on new members at this time.

Should you wish to join in the future, you can stay up to date on announcements regarding open applications via our social media, sign up to receive the Sight Scotland E-Newsletter or the Sight Scotland Veterans E-Newsletter.