This social impact funding supports projects that are designed to improve the experience of being blind or partially sighted, or at risk of sight loss, in the UK. The Vision Foundation is an evidence-led funder and base their programmes on where they feel their funding will have the greatest impact.
Their current funding round focuses on projects designed to reduce levels of loneliness and/or isolation experienced by blind and partially sighted people throughout the UK. It is open to organisations across the UK.
They are particularly keen to support organisations who demonstrate a strong commitment to involving experts by experience, ie blind and partially sighted people or people at particular risk of sight loss, in their work.
Their latest research suggests that loneliness and isolation affects blind and partially sighted people more than both the general and disabled populations. Through their funding rounds, they would like to explore some of the emerging themes from their research, including projects that:
- Reduce loneliness and isolation for people living in rural areas
- Increase people’s confidence in engaging in activities that reduce loneliness and isolation and improve well-being, eg cultural, physical and work related activities
- Equip people with practical and sustainable tools and skills that reduce anxiety about interacting in person or online, eg digital or interpersonal skills
- Support people to build and maintain healthy personal relationships that reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Address specific challenges faced by under served groups, eg the LGBT+ community, black or Asian communities and people with multiple disabilities or learning differences
- Focus on the ways that challenging life events can increase loneliness and isolation for blind and partially sighted people, eg relationship breakdown, bereavement or experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
The Vision Fund supports organisations who directly support blind and partially sighted people or people at risk of losing sight. The following types of organisation are eligible:
- UK Registered Charities
- Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO)
- Charitable companies, limited by guarantee
- Community Interest Companies (CIC), limited by guarantee
- Exempt charities (e.g. educational establishments)