Sight Scotland, and Sight Scotland Veterans, in partnership with Visibility Scotland, have appointed Callum Lancashire (above) as their new Engagement Manager to oversee the launch of Sight Loss Councils in Scotland.
Sight Loss Councils, funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust, are led by blind and partially sighted people who use lived experience to tackle local and national issues to improve the accessibility of services. The work of Sight Loss Councils is driven by three key priority areas: employment and skills, health and wellbeing, and inclusive communities.
Callum Lancashire, who has vision impairment, previously worked for Visibility Scotland as a Patient Support Worker, where he provided help and support to blind and partially sighted people at the Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh. Callum is tasked with spearheading the establishment of Sight Loss Councils throughout Scotland, commencing with the Central Belt in March 2024.
He explains: "I am delighted to get started in my new role, as I believe it aligns perfectly with my skills and experience both from a professional point of view and a personal one. If I wasn’t in my current role, I would aspire to join the Sight Loss Councils, as I really believe they have the opportunity to create a tangible impact by amplifying the voices of individuals who are blind or partially sighted.
“I lost my sight when I was fifteen after a blow to the face caused macular degeneration. It was obviously a huge shock and extremely hard to take. What made matters worse is I was given no help or support; the doctors basically told me that at some point I was going to go blind and there was nothing they could do. After my accident I had huge problems at school and found myself in a bad place, I was constantly angry and upset. I just pushed it all down and as a result my mental health was all over the place. I want to try and make sure this does not happen to anyone else. I want these Councils to speak up for people with vision impairment, to show that their rights and well-being are just as important as anyone else’s and to create a supportive community where members feel empowered to share.
“My life changed when I started to speak to other people who had vision impairment, it was like something switched in my brain. Just talking to these people brought up feelings I didn’t know I had. I began to understand that I could still live my life although I had vision impairment, and that I didn’t have to feel sorry for myself. I began speaking to people more, my family and friends, and tried to explain to them what I was going through. I didn’t want extra help, I just needed them to understand.
“This is why the Sight Loss Councils are so important, as we want people to talk, share their experiences, share the things they like, their struggles and hopefully collectively we can make real changes for the better. Everybody has the right to be treated the same, whether that is going to work, the shops, football, rugby, or concerts; people with vision impairment shouldn’t be looked at as a problem, inclusivity should be a necessity.”
Callum adds: “I am incredibly proud to be in this job and to be representing the vision impairment community. Blind and partially sighted leaders bring firsthand experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those with vision impairments ensuring their perspectives are accurately represented, leading to more informed decision-making.”
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, adds: “I am delighted that Callum Lancashire has joined us to spearhead the launch of Sight Loss Councils in Scotland. These councils will use lived experience to amplify the voices of blind and partially sighted people, helping to make vision loss the priority it needs to be in Scotland.”
For more information please visit: sightscotland.org.uk or sightscotlandveterans.org.uk
