Scotland news

The latest news for and from our blind veterans and all the charity's activity in Scotland.

Members gather for lunch in Inverness

April 2024

In April, Members in Inverness enjoyed lunch with Community Support Worker, Jan, to talk about events happening in Blind Veterans UK and the issues they face in their daily lives living in the highlands of Scotland, particularly problems resulting from dual sensory loss. Sight loss and hearing loss are common amongst blind veterans and John Long, one of our Members in Inverness, has recently become an Ambassador for Deaf Blind Scotland.

The charity supports the deafblind community in Scotland. It works to ensure they have personal and professional support networks. It also works towards influencing statutory services and policy.  Currently it is calling for the Scottish Government to recognise deafblindness as a distinct condition and specialist disability in Scotland.

Often, in terms of accessibility, reasonable adjustments are made for either hearing or visual loss, but rarely both.  The group agreed that veterans wi

Scottish Vision Strategy Conference

April 2024

The Scottish Vision Strategy Conference took place on 21 March 2024 in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. The main focus of the day was the eye care support pathway, and how those with sight loss can be supported throughout their journey. There was a wide range of speakers, from optometrists in the NHS, representatives from the Scottish Government and trainee vision rehabilitation specialists from Caledonian University in Glasgow who were completing their studies.

One of the most thoughtful discussions was around a study carried out by Abertay University in Dundee about the mental health impact of sight loss and often the feeling of grief those with sight loss feel.

It was great to bump into Member Rod who had travelled from Inverness and to hear the thoughts of member Janice (accompanied by her lovely guide dog, Megan) who spoke in the afternoon during the Lived Experience Panel discussion.

Members getting together to celebrate Christmas

December 2023

Blind veterans and families came together with staff and volunteers for a series of Christmas events across Scotland.

The festive season started with West Lothian Members coming together for a Christmas Lunch in Deer Park Golf Club, Livingston.

Christmas dinner was also enjoyed by the group who met up at the Victoria Hotel, Kirkcaldy, Fife. One of those Members

Lunch in Toni Macaroni, Dundee and finally blind veterans joined the local Veterans Community Lanarkshire Christmas lunch.