RNIB Scotland

11/11/2025

If you know a child with a visual impairment, why not brighten their festive season with a magical surprise?

We've teamed up with Santa to send letters in braille, audio or large-print formats so every child can receive their own personalised reply from him.

Get in touch with us before the end of November: http://rnib.org.uk/Santa 🎅

[Link preview image description: Keira, a young girl in a red Christmas jumper, smiles while holding a braille letter from Santa.]

If you're affected by sight loss, we're here for you

10/11/2025

What's alt-text and how do you include it?

Alt-text is a really simple way to make your posts more accessible. It helps to describe what an image is of, and whether there's any text within it. For those using screen-readers to read aloud posts, they'll hear what an image is of, rather than a computer's guess, or just the word, 'image'!

On Facebook, you can add alt-text by first uploading your image, and then using the edit button, usually at the top left of the image. Select the alternative text option, and write a useful description of what is in the image. Don't forget to click 'Save'.
It can also be useful to write an image description within your post or image caption as we've done below.

[Image description: A box of eye shield glasses, with different coloured filters to help manage light sensitivity. The shields come in green, yellow, blue, and orange varieties. Beside the box, are some other Product Centre items including tips for end of a white cane.]

08/11/2025

As part of Vision Collaborative Scotland, we’re pleased to announce that two new vision rehabilitation courses are now open for applications at the University of Strathclyde starting in January 2026.

These courses have been developed to help grow and strengthen the vision rehabilitation workforce in Scotland and and ensure that more people with visual impairment receive the expert support they need. Thanks to the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, student sponsorships are available for employers from Vision Collaborative Scotland.

Find out more about the course:

The Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma in Vision Impairment Rehabilitation is the only course in vision rehabilitation available in Scotland. The courses offered are modular and intended primarily for off-campus delivery.

07/11/2025

Seagull Trust Cruises provide free, accessible canal cruises throughout Scotland for older people and those living with disabilities. We've been partnering with them to bring audio description to the barge trips, making them even more inclusive for people with sight loss.

Last year, some of our community members and volunteers joined a cruise with the Ratho branch to trial the first version of the audio description. Thanks to their amazing feedback, the system has been improved and we were thrilled to be invited back to experience the latest version in action! 🎧

How can you help? This audio description initiative has been nominated for an award. Vote for Seagull Trust Cruises - Ratho in the Scotmid Coop Membership Choice Awards- don’t forget to cast your vote in store!

[Video description: Stuart, Lilianna, Jimmy, and Barry all speak to camera at the barge. There is footage of the group experiencing the cruise- trying out the headphones, enjoying a cuppa and biscuits, Frankie the guide dog, and the canal-side scenery which includes autumnal trees, leafy waters, wildlife including swans and a faux crocodile!]

06/11/2025

Our very own Neil Atkinson is off to play for England… don’t worry, we still claim him!

Best of luck at the World Championships, Neil! ⚽️

One RNIB staff member is making his way to the Futsal World Championships in Turkey. Hywel Davies has been catching up with Neil Atkinson ahead of the prestigious tournament.

06/11/2025

Ready to start your Christmas shopping? The RNIB shop has advent calendars, festive hampers, gift sets from William Morris and Cath Kidson, and our personal favourite- the Highland Cow collection!

Every purchase helps support people with sight loss. Shop now: https://rnib.in/ChristmasCollection

[Image description: 4 coasters all featuring a majestic Highland cow facing forwards, wearing a red Santa hat, against a snowy background.]

05/11/2025

How can you make your volunteering accessible?

As volunteering in Scotland continues to recover after the pandemic, this is the time to make sure that no one is left behind.

RNIB’s latest research reveals both the huge value that volunteering brings to people’s lives and the changes needed to make volunteering more accessible to all.

Many volunteers are motivated by their lived experience, using their insight to raise awareness, foster inclusion, and support others.

When RNIB asked blind and partially sighted people why they don’t volunteer, the most common barriers included:

• Accessibility concerns – not knowing if organisations will provide reasonable adjustments.
• Inaccessible recruitment procedures – making it difficult to apply or learn more.
• Transport challenges – limited mobility options or costs that prevent travel.
• Awareness – not knowing where to find accessible opportunities.

The good news? Simple adjustments make a big difference. Proactively asking volunteers what they need, offering flexible roles, providing information in accessible formats, and reimbursing travel or expenses promptly can open doors for more people to take part.

As one volunteer told us:

“The biggest adjustment for me is plenty of notice. Lots of sighted people don’t realise that the day-to-day of dealing with sight loss is often hospital appointments, doctors, and everything else. You can’t just turn up for meetings with, you know, 24-48 hours’ notice.”

When organisations build in flexibility and accessibility, everyone benefits. Let’s make sure the recovery of volunteering includes everyone.

Find out how to make volunteering accessible: https://www.rnib.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/volunteering-hub-for-current-volunteers/top-tips-to-make-your-volunteering-opportunities-accessible/

[Image description: Two volunteers having a cup of tea together. The gentleman on the left is holding his white cane, and they are both leaning in and smiling.]

03/11/2025

Huge congratulations to marathon superstar Archie MacGregor!

Last weekend in sunny Lisbon, Archie completed his 20th marathon for RNIB and surpassed his lifetime fundraising goal of £26,200.

Over the past two decades, Archie has run marathons around the world to support RNIB, a cause close to his family. His son attended our youth group as a child, helping him build confidence and independence.

Despite setbacks, including injury earlier this year and even catching COVID before Lisbon, Archie finished strong in his milestone race.

Now 65, he says he’ll “keep running until my legs tell me to stop,” with hopes to add Sydney, London (again!), and Athens to his marathon list.

Thank you, Archie, for 20 years of dedication, determination, and support for people with sight loss!

Inspired by Archie’s story? Find out how you can run, walk, or volunteer to support RNIB at: https://www.rnib.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/challenge-events/

[Image description: Two photos side by side, on the left Archie in 2005 wearing a blue RNIB -shirt and holding up his medal, on the right, Archie in a pink RNIB vest stretching out his arms, wearing his medal in sunny Lisbon.]

31/10/2025

We were back at Seagull Trust Cruises - Ratho today to try out their audio described cruises!

Some of our community members visited last year to hear the first iteration of the audio descriptive tour, and their feedback was taken on board -literally- to make big improvements to today's experience! We'll be sharing more about this next week, but enjoy some photos of our cruisers in the meantime!

Seagull Trust Cruises is a charitable organisation, wholly run by unpaid volunteers, that provides free barge trips for disabled people. Find out more about their Ratho branch by visiting their website: https://seagulltrust.org.uk/ratho-branch/

[Image descriptions: 1. The group smiling at the bow of the boat, modelling their audio headsets. 2. The barge indoors, everyone sitting down and listening to the audio. 3. Esther sitting on Barry's knee, both smiling with their headphones on. 4. Jimmy and Daryl smiling on the bow, surrounded by autumn trees. 5. The group back on land at the Seagull Trust, 12 people smiling, plus Frankie the guide dog.]

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween to all our ghouls and ghosts!

Have a frightfully good night from all of us at RNIB Scotland!

[Image description: A luminous pumpkin against a dark background, with the RNIB Scotland logo carved into it.]

30/10/2025

We’re incredibly proud of our colleague Neil, who has been called up to represent England at the IBSA Partially Sighted Futsal World Championship in Turkey next month!

Neil, 26, was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease as a child, a rare genetic eye condition that causes progressive vision loss. Despite this, he has gone on to become one of the leading players in the British Partially Sighted Football League, helping Merseyside Blind & VI FC to an outstanding season – winning both the league and league cup, and reaching the FA Disability Cup final earlier this year.

Alongside his sporting achievements, Neil plays a vital role here at RNIB Scotland as a Community Social Action Coordinator, supporting blind and partially sighted people across Scotland to stay connected, build confidence, and raise awareness in their communities.

Neil said:

“To be selected for the squad to represent England at the upcoming IBSA Partially Sighted Futsal World Championship in Turkey is one of the biggest honours of my life.

I am fairly new to the squad and this will be my first set of competitive fixtures as an England player, so I’m looking forward to doing all I can to help the team on and off the court to achieve what we want to achieve.

I’ve known a lot of my teammates for many years and know how hard they have worked to get to where they are, and I’m very proud to be part of this squad heading over to Turkey.”

Congratulations, Neil! We’ll be cheering you on in Turkey.

[Image description: Neil, wearing a purple jersey with the logo “Leigh Day” on the front, focuses during an indoor futsal game. Other players and a referee are visible in the background on the court.]