British Blind Sport (BBS) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) are pleased to announce the release of two new See Sport Differently toolkits to support sight loss organisations and sports clubs in helping blind and partially sighted people to be active.

See Sport Differently aims to challenge perceptions and demonstrate that blind and partially sighted people can get involved with sport and physical activity. The free toolkits provide resources for clubs and suggest how organisations can work together to strengthen the local work that is already taking place. The toolkits were created in collaboration with National Governing Bodies of Sport and cover topics including adaptable equipment, upskilling staff and volunteers, and accessible marketing to ensure activities are inclusive for people with sight loss.

Charlotte Lloyd, National Governing Body Liaison Officer at BBS, said: “Our See Sport Differently research revealed that there is excellent work happening in both the sports sector and the sight loss sector to support blind and partially sighted people, but that the two sectors generally work in isolation, resulting in low levels of involvement. We hope that this resource will enable more organisations and clubs across the country to work together to deliver sport and increase participation for blind and partially sighted people.”

Alice Holloway, Strategic Programme Lead at RNIB said: “The See Sport Differently campaign aims to tackle lower levels of wellbeing amongst people with sight loss by highlighting the benefits of physical activity. The lack of awareness about sight loss is one of the biggest barriers that blind and partially sighted people face, and the story is no different within the sports sector.

“These new toolkits will give local organisations the know-how to support people with sight loss to get active and are just one way RNIB and British Blind Sport are working together to enable more blind and partially sighted people to get involved and feel the benefits of sport and activity.

“We know there are plenty of activities out there for people with sight loss and that activity providers want to be inclusive, and often small, simple tweaks are all that’s needed to make opportunities accessible.”

See Sport Differently is a Sport England-funded initiative that aims to break down barriers and raise awareness among the two million people with sight loss in the UK, and across the sports sector, as to how more blind and partially sighted people can get involved in sport and activity and feel the benefits as participants or spectators. Research conducted through the programme found that blind and partially sighted people are twice as likely to be inactive compared to the general public and that accessibility, awareness, cost, confidence and transportation are all key barriers to accessing sport and physical activity. Sports clubs often struggle to reach blind and partially sighted people, and sometimes lack awareness of the barriers faced by people with sight loss trying to access sports and activities. The new toolkits aim to provide sight loss organisations and sports clubs with the resources they need to encourage and support blind and partially sighted people to increase their levels of physical activity, ensuring that they can take part in activities, achieve their goals and experience the benefits of physical activity.

The new guides can be downloaded from the British Blind Sport website, here.

For more information about See Sport Differently or how to get involved, please visit https://britishblindsport.org.uk/see-sport-differently/ or contact RNIB at SeeSportDifferently@rnib.org.uk

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