Shop RNIB Donate now

Visibly Better Spaces membership

Image of RNIB Visibly Better Spages Logo Landscape

Image of RNIB Visibly Better Spages logo landscape

Become a RNIB Visibly Better Spaces member and make a real difference for blind and partially sighted people.

Visibly Better Spaces (VBS) is a membership programme designed to help organisations create inclusive environments that support people with sight loss. Once a member, organisations are supported to work towards becoming a Visibly Better Spaces certified organisation, demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity.

Membership benefits

  • Training and skills in supporting people with sight loss.
  • Support in applying inclusive and attractive building design.
  • Award recognition of inclusive practices through the Visibly Better Spaces certification.
  • Support in creating accessible information.
Image of two ladies receiving the RNIB Visibly Better Spaces award for Ty Ynyswdre

Members

VBS is now a UK-wide service and is open to all types of organisations.

Our non-domestic building membership is open to organisations such as healthcare settings, offices and other public areas. Our supported living buildings membership is designed for social housing providers and care homes.

Image of a person reading the braile on tactile building signage that can be read both visually and by touch.

Nearly two thirds of social housing providers in Wales are Visibly Better Spaces members, our working partnerships seek to improve the independence and quality of living for people living with sight loss. See the below short videos from our members and the resident feedback of the inclusive design that has been applied:

Want to know more?

Why become VBS members?

  • Your organisation will be recognised and promoted with a RNIB award for applying inclusive practices and principles.
  • By applying the Visibly Better Spaces principles you will also be applying national building guidance and obligatory inclusive practices as part of the Equality Act 2010.
  • Costs of applying the inclusive design are minimal or negated altogether.
  • Members who have applied inclusive design have stated that their environments are more attractive and less clinical.
  • Through our training staff will be more knowledgeable and gain an increased skill set in supporting people with sight loss.

"The design created an environment that was accessible, calming and welcoming."

Sue Bailey, Cardiff University Hospital of Wales on the Visibly Better Spaces design in their Radiology Unit.

Find out more about Visibly Better Spaces

To find out more about applying the Visibly Better Spaces design principles and practices, get in touch by following the link below to complete the form or email [email protected]

Contact us

Health and social care training

We have a broad portfolio of sight loss awareness training to support you and your organisation. For more information please go to our health and social care training page.

Visibly Better Spaces members in the UK

Find supported living and non-domestic organisations which have achieved the Visibly Better Spaces quality standard or are working towards it, proving that they are applying inclusive design principles for people with sight loss.

Download a full list of Visibly Better Spaces certified supported living schemes in each borough

Disclaimer

Visibly Better Spaces is an advisory service and obtaining the Visibly Better Certification means that buildings, environments, social landlords and the individual resident building have been assessed against principles that support people with sight loss in daily living, and that its staff and organisational practices are inclusive of the needs of people with sight loss only. Our assessment is according to the Visibly Better criteria and is correct as at the date of our inspection. We cannot and do not take responsibility for the whole building use or any other aspect of residential Scheme or other Visibly Better assessed environments.