Sight Loss Council Scotland Member

• Type of role: Ongoing role, all year round.
• Restrictions: To apply for this role, you should be at least 18 years old and have lived experience of sight loss
• Suggested Time Commitment: Ideally, you will be available to volunteer for a minimum of four hours per month, subject to change. 

Why do you need me?
Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) are currently expanding their reach across Scotland to enable people who are blind or partially sighted the opportunity to influence positive change and improve services at a local, regional, and national level.

Each Sight Loss Council aims to make a difference by representing the voice of blind and partially sighted people in the key areas of employment and skills, accessible travel, accessible environments, health, wellbeing, and leisure.

What is included in the role?

• ​Draw from your personal experience as a blind or partially sighted person, contributing your skills and knowledge to benefit the key aims of the Sight Loss Council.

• Consult and engage with people living, working, or studying in your local community to identify the key issues faced by blind or partially sighted people, specifically about the aims of the Sight Loss Council.

• Attend monthly Sight Loss Council meetings to represent the views and experiences of blind and partially sighted people in your community.
• Make valuable contributions to Sight Loss Council meetings, suggesting and discussing creative solutions and helping to develop clear strategies for influencing and delivering change.
• Focus on one or more priority projects of the Sight Loss Council as agreed with your Volunteer Manager, providing information, updates, and progress reports.
• Establish cooperative relationships with other Sight Loss Council Members and organisations, promoting a positive environment for meaningful discussion, information sharing, problem-solving, and effective planning.
• Represent the Sight Loss Council at various accessibility testing sessions, formal meetings, seminars, and forums and contribute to public consultations.
• Contribute to regional and national campaigns – write to members of parliament and local councils, and share petitions and personal lived experiences where appropriate.

Why should I volunteer in this role?
We will provide you with core training and ongoing opportunities to learn and develop in your role. Whether you’re interested in public speaking or honing your social media skills, there’s something for everyone to get involved in. 

Other skills you may learn include advocating for yourself and others, improving your confidence in public speaking, organising events, and much more. We’ll focus on your strengths and interests and help you build upon them. These are all skills that will also really help boost your CV if or when applying for jobs.

Our volunteers also tell us that they volunteer with Sight Loss Councils because they can:

• Increase accessibility and make a difference.
• Give something back.
• Create positive change for others.
• Meet like-minded people.
• Build their confidence.
• Have a voice.
• Feel valued.

Who will I be volunteering with?
Your named contact and support will be our Engagement Manager, who is responsible for supporting you and overseeing your development as a volunteer.

You will work closely with them in the development of the new SLCs across the central belt of Scotland.

You will also work as part of a team/ council made up of other volunteers making up specific SLCs around Scotland – This may be initially satellite councils which will then develop into set city SLCs.

What skills, experience, and qualities are required for this role?

• You must be blind or partially sighted.
• Show reliability and good time management skills and be able to give a minimum of 4 hours per month to the role.
• Be enthusiastic about campaigning and lobbying.
• Be able to positively engage with people and organisations.
• Be able to think creatively and solve problems.
• Demonstrate great listening and communication skills.
• Be confident in using technology or a willingness to learn.
• Be able to negotiate, cooperate, and influence.
• A commitment to learn and develop within the role, undertaking relevant training and learning opportunities.

Who can volunteer with us?
It is important to us that our volunteering opportunities are inclusive, and we want our volunteer team to include a diverse range of people and backgrounds. Anyone with a visual impairment is welcome to apply, and when you do, we will get in touch to arrange an informal chat with you. This will help you understand a bit more about the role and see if it is right for you.

What if I need some extra help to volunteer?
Most of our volunteer roles are flexible and can be tailored to meet your needs. Our Engagement Manager will be happy to discuss any help that you might need to volunteer when you first meet up. This can include how we might adapt the role for you and what other support is available.

Will you carry out any checks before I can start this role?
For this role, we will carry out background checks through Disclosure Scotland. We will help you with this and there is no fee to pay. If there is any information that you would like to share with us, you will have the opportunity to do this when completing your application/registration form. We also ask for two references.

What is the next step?

You can apply online now for this role through our website application portal.

If you experience any difficulty or would like support with your application, please contact our volunteering team on 0131 446 3154 or volunteering@sightscotland.org.uk

If you would like some extra information about the role before applying, you can contact Callum Lancashire at Callum.Lancashire@sightscotland.org.uk