Charity partners

The Strategic Engagement Team for the Third Sector

There is estimated to be about 225,000 charities in the UK, with more than 150 of those comprising of national, regional and local charities working with blind and partially sighted people and those at risk of sight loss.

Working together we can equip and empower blind and partially sighted people and improve conditions in society so they can live the life they want to lead.

The Strategic Engagement Team for the Third Sector at RNIB supports engagement, communications and activity with charity partners. We have a wide range of opportunities including information sharing, awareness raising, training, resources, support, and services, where we are actively seeking to collaborate to help others. If you are interested, please get in touch with the team: [email protected].

The team also support the work of the VI Charity Sector Partnership.

VI Charity Sector Partnership 

Eight of the leading charities in the sight loss sector formed the VI Charity Sector Partnership in October 2020. The aim of this partnership is to provide strategic overview for the planning and implementation of initiatives in the charity sector that will lead to improving the lives of blind and partially sighted people and those at risk of sight loss across the UK.

The founding partners are: Blind Veterans UK, Glaucoma UK, Guide Dogs, Macular Society, Retina UK, RNIB, Thomas Pocklington Trust and Visionary (Visionary are a membership organisation for local societies).

Partners agreed to focus on seven work streams:

1. Crisis response plan
2. Mental health and wellbeing
3. Talent development and lived experience leadership
4. Establishment of a sector-wide Insight base
5. Sector Information Sharing Kickstarter
6. Access to technology
7. Joint awareness raising and campaigning

Each work stream has an identified CEO sponsor and comprises of an operational lead and working group of partners. Interested parties from within the sight loss sector and beyond who are willing to contribute to the work streams are invited to get in touch.

For further information about the VI Charity Sector Partnership please contact: [email protected].