Royal National Institute of Blind People

The Vision Friends programme was born from alarming statistics: 40% of people with learning disabilities in care services experience sight loss, and nearly all individuals with severe or profound learning disabilities have eye health needs. These figures underscored the urgent need to remove barriers to tailored eye care for this vulnerable group.

This initiative focused on early intervention and prevention by equipping care professionals with the skills to identify and manage sight loss effectively. It also developed accessible training resources and toolkits to be shared widely across the care sector.

The programme was delivered in phases, with each stage building on the last. From the design and piloting of training modules to the roll-out of resources and the establishment of a sustainable Vision Friend network, Vision Friends exceeded its ambitious objectives.

Key milestones included training 153 social care professionals, surpassing the original target of 40, and expanding the Vision Friends model to include staff from CareTech Ltd and the wider Health and Social Care sector. An extensive SharePoint site was developed to house video materials, toolkits, and additional learning modules. The programme also launched a Train the Trainer initiative, certifying 18 trainers to ensure ongoing delivery of Vision Friends training, and hosted network events to share best practices and sustain collaboration.

The programme introduced tools such as simulation glasses to help participants understand the experience of sight loss. Other resources, including vision passports, environmental audits, and tailored care plans, enabled care professionals to provide personalised, accessible support.

Staff used their training to make practical changes, such as redesigning dining areas with better colour contrasts and removing unnecessary patterns to improve navigation for residents. These seemingly small adjustments significantly enhanced the quality of life for individuals in care.

The Vision Friends training empowered care staff to embed best practices into their routines, with 99% of participants reporting a better understanding of sight loss after completing the programme.

An inspiring example of its success comes from Oakleaf Care, a neurorehabilitation service. Following Vision Friends and Vision Champions training, Oakleaf staff implemented changes like improving dining layouts and introducing vision passports. These efforts led to fewer falls, increased staff confidence, and better support for residents.

Kathryn Mackmin, Quality Manager at Oakleaf, reflected that “Already we’ve seen a huge impact from the training and people are really excited by these changes. I think until we attended the Vision Friends training, we didn’t understand the impact of sight loss, but now we certainly do.” She noted that they had seen fewer incidents and felt better equipped to provide tailored care.

The Vision Friends programme has left a lasting legacy. The Train the Trainer initiative ensures the ongoing dissemination of knowledge, while the resources and toolkits developed during the partnership are set to become a standard for best practices.

The CareTech Foundation is immensely proud of this partnership. Together with RNIB, it has set a benchmark for inclusive care, demonstrating how collaboration can tackle complex challenges and create sustainable, transformative change. The Vision Friends initiative will continue to improve lives for years to come