Event Sponsors 2023
The conference would not be possible without the amazing support we receive from our sponsors, providing support for our keynote speakers, workshops, panel sessions, annual awards, accessible content and enabling us to keep costs to a minimum for delegates.
We are extremely grateful to be supported by our members, partners, funders and corporate sponsors:
Visionary Members
Sight Scotland
Sight Scotland is Scotland’s largest sight loss charity. Our diverse services span all ages and stages of sight loss and visual impairment. It also includes the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh and specialist learning services across Scotland, residential care for children and adults, community services, and research funding into sight loss conditions. We also run the Scottish Braille Press which provides supported employment – half of the employees of the Scottish Braille Press are disabled people, including people with visual impairment. Our community services are reaching out to support even more people with sight loss in Scotland, as well as their relatives and carers. We have a sister charity, Sight Scotland Veterans, that provides support to armed forces veterans in Scotland – including those who served National Service – who are affected by sight loss, regardless of the cause. The charity helps veterans with sight loss regain confidence, restore their independence and make new connections. Together, our charities are determined that no one should face sight loss alone.
National Partners
Blind Veterans UK
Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for ex-Service men and women with severe sight loss.
Founded in 1915 in response to blinded soldiers returning from the First World War, and previously known as St Dunstan’s, Blind Veterans UK has supported tens of thousands of Armed Forces and National Service veterans to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
The charity knows that there are thousands of blind veterans out there who could be entitled to its support but are not receiving it.
While Blind Veterans UK initially cared for veterans blinded in active Service, today they help veterans no matter what caused their sight loss.
They help veterans to learn vital life skills and give them the tools they need to be safe in their own homes. Giving veterans free rehabilitation, training and support they need to live independent lives.
Blind Veterans UK has a network of local support teams all over the UK who give blind veterans the rehabilitation and training they need closer to them, either in their own home, their local area, or remotely.
They also have two dedicated centres supporting wellbeing in all aspects of blind veterans’ lives including holidays and respite breaks. As well as providing free specialist equipment, the charity also supports veterans to find new hobbies such as art and other creative activities.
If you or someone you know is entitled to Blind Veterans UK’s free support then please call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk.
Fight for Sight & Vision Foundation
Fight for Sight & Vision Foundation came together in an ambitious merger in April 2023 with a shared mission; to save sight and change lives. Together, we offer a unique proposition as a grantmaker with a mission to solve two urgent questions:
- How do we prevent sight loss?
- And how do we empower people with sight loss to live their lives as equal citizens?
In our mission to end sight loss, we fund ground-breaking research and develop scientific talent from early career researchers. We exist to advance treatments that end sight loss. We protect and grow the community of world-class scientists, technologists, and data scientists across different condition types who will fund tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
As a growing mission-driven community of blind, visually impaired, and sighted people, we are on the move. We are determined to achieve equity in society for people with sight loss. We fund grassroots projects through grantees while delivering blueprints for change so that the impact we fund can be scaled nationwide. Through the evidence we gather scientifically and through social outreach, we influence policy and decision-making to ensure equality for all.
Guide Dogs UK
Guide Dogs’ aim is to help people with sight loss live actively, independently, and well. Children and adults, friends and family. We do this through a combination of information, advice and guidance and a range of holistic, person-centred services provided by our expert staff, volunteers and life-changing dogs.
Three years on from the pandemic we marvel at the innovation, collaboration and partnership that continues to flourish across our sector. The Visionary conference provides a wonderful opportunity for us all to celebrate these developments and the generosity with which new ideas are shared with others, which is why Guide Dogs is delighted to be sponsoring the Develop and Share Award.
Macular Society
Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world-class research, and the best advice and support.
The Society works in close collaboration with local and regional sight loss organisations, and the members of Visionary, to support people affected by this devastating condition and to beat macular disease, for good. The conference is a great opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other, in order to continue to improve the lives of those living sight loss.
RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)
RNIB is one of the UK’s leading national sight loss charities supporting blind and partially sighted people. Our vision is a world where blind and partially sighted people can participate equitably. We recognise everyone’s unique experience of sight loss and offer help and support to people. This can be anything from practical and emotional support, campaigning for change, reading services and the products we offer in our online shop. We’re a catalyst for change – inspiring people with sight loss to transform their own personal experience, their community and, ultimately, society as a whole. Our focus is on giving them the help, support and tools they need to realise their aspirations.
RNIB is delighted to sponsor and support the Visionary Annual Conference. We wish to build stronger more productive relationships at a local level and are seeking to engage with local sight loss charities to provide more opportunities for blind and partially sighted people and improve equity of access. Opportunities include sharing information, training, support, resources etc. where RNIB is actively seeking to collaborate. If you are interested in having a discussion, please get in touch with the team via the RNIB email.
RNIB – Business Services
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is the largest sight loss charity in the UK. At RNIB, we are passionate about accessibility and usability. This includes supporting local societies and charities to use our services and ensure blind and partially sighted people have the information they need in their required reading format.
We are pleased to be supporting this year’s Visionary conference by providing the conference information in a range of accessible formats including large print and braille.
Our experts are here to ensure businesses websites, apps, products and services not only comply with current legislation, but are accessible and inclusive to all users.
Through web audits, user testing, training, accessible design and consultancy, we aim to help businesses maximise the value of their products and services through a tailored approach.
To find out more please visit: rnib.org.uk/business
See Sport Differently
See Sport Differently is a Sport England funded initiative in partnership with RNIB and British Blind Sport. We want more people with sight loss to get involved and feel the benefits as participants or spectators.
Research shows that blind and partially sighted people are twice as likely to be inactive compared to people without sight loss. We want to change this.
Based on insights from blind and partially sighted people, we have developed a programme of activity to tackle the biggest barriers that stop blind and partially people from getting involved in sport and activity.
Through See Sport Differently we are determined to challenge perceptions about sport and sight loss, so that blind and partially sighted people can get involved however they want to.
Funders and Corporate Sponsors
Associated Optical
Since 1983 Associated Optical, Eschenbach’s UK partner, has sought to provide eye-care professionals with innovative magnification devices to further enhance their patient care. Working closely with all of our key manufacturers and education team, our aim is to inspire our customers to further improve people’s lives using patient-centred optical solutions.
Our key brands include Eschenbach Optik for Optical and Digital magnification, Ocutech Bioptics & LiveEyewear for Cocoons FitOvers and Filters
Bayer plc
Bayer plc has provided sponsorship funding to the Visionary Annual Conference 2023
Motability Foundation
At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Mobility Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year.
Working with others is a huge part of our commitment to improving accessible travel, today and in the future. We help fund other charities and organisations who give disabled people everyday transport options, from community buses to wheelchairs. We provide research grants to better understand the ways transport accessibility needs to change – funding long-term projects like the National Centre for Accessible Transport.
We also use our own research, and work with disability experts, partners and policy makers, to keep exploring and developing new ways to make all transport accessible. Such as making sure all electric vehicle charging points meet the needs of disabled people.
We never stop working alongside disabled people to make sure that their knowledge and experience shapes all of our work.
Roche UK
At Roche UK, we focus our energy and investment in developing tests and treatments that change lives and give us more quality time with the people we love. And, together with others, we’re solving healthcare’s greatest challenges; helping to achieve better results by connecting early diagnosis to targeted treatment and ongoing support. We have provided financial support for the organisation of Visionary’s Annual Conference 2023, but have had no input into the creation of it.
Specsavers
As the leading provider of optometry services for NHS Primary Care and the largest provider of community audiology services, Specsavers changes lives through better sight and hearing. Each practice is owned and run by experts who care for communities throughout the UK. There are currently more than 2,165 optics, audiology, domiciliary and ophthalmology businesses with more than 41,000 dedicated colleagues throughout the UK, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada and this year we have cared for more than 40 million people worldwide. For more information visit www.specsavers.co.uk
Together.ly
Together.ly is a software platform that helps charities supporting people who are older, disabled or vulnerable, to reduce loneliness and isolation by enabling them to remotely deliver social interactions, establish connections and build communities.
Utilising both the telephone and the internet, Together.ly proprietary software is simple to use and designed to meet the accessibility and safeguarding requirements of a vulnerable audience, enabling care providers to easily reach the people that need it the most.
The Powell Family Foundation
We provide grants to individuals and charities, with the aim of creating opportunities for blind and vision impaired children and young people to reach their full potential.
To find out how to apply for a grant or to contact us to discuss how we may be able to help, please complete our online contact form: The Powell Family Foundation Contact Form
Utility Aid
Utility Aid is the UK’s largest energy broker for the not-for-profit sector, and we are delighted to be one of the sponsors for the Visionary Annual Conference. We are passionate about helping our customers become greener, save time, and save money.
Their dedicated team provide a high-level service to manage and maintain your portfolio, covering Procurement, Bureau Services, Full Account Management, Historical Audits, Carbon Reporting and Net Zero Planning. They have saved their charity customers over £4.7m through their invoice validation services.
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