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Listening Month report
Thomas Pocklington Trust has published a new report that brings together evidence on the concerns of blind and partially sighted people, captured during the charity’s nationwide Listening Month 2022 project.
Read the full Listening Month report [pdf version]
Read the full Listening Month report [word version]
In November 2022, Thomas Pocklington Trust and Sight Loss Councils launched Listening Month, a major project to learn about the experiences of blind and partially sighted people.
Through an online survey, face-to-face engagement events, and other channels, the initiative gathered feedback on matters that are important to this community. A total of 1,037 blind or partially sighted individuals shared their experiences and opinions.
Listening Month key findings
The report highlights the key challenges faced by blind and partially sighted individuals. These include:
- accessibility of the street environment
- public transport
- awareness of visual impairment
- employment and benefits
- personal confidence and social isolation
- accessibility of retail and other services
- accessibility of technology
- health and care
- education and learning
Mike Bell, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “Our Listening Month project and this report on its findings helps us to better understand the priorities of blind and partially sighted people and the issues that we need to focus our energies on changing.
“During this project, we heard from more than 1,000 people about their experiences and lives, and about the change they want to see. Together with the network of Sight Loss Councils, and our partners in other organisations, we are campaigning to create a perfect world for blind and partially sighted people. This report gives us more evidence to support this work.”
Thomas Pocklington Trust and Sight Loss Councils have used the Listening Month research to guide project planning for the coming year. This includes identifying priority campaigns and focusing policy and influencing work on the key challenges identified by blind and partially sighted people.
We are also making this report available to a range of partners and organisations so that the findings can influence change on the widest possible basis.