VICTA UK

17/06/2026

Opportunity on behalf of Bolton Futsal:

Bolton Futsal Club are starting a new VI football session for children under 16.

The sessions will run Thursdays, 6 to 7pm at Ordsall Leisure Centre.

You can register your interst via email at [email protected] or [email protected]

16/06/2026

We are partnering with RSBC for our next Navigating the Early Years session!

Join us on 4 July for a friendly family information day, designed for parents of children aged 0 to 5 who have a vision impairment.

The session is free, and will be relaxed and supportive as always, giving you the opportunity to meet other families, connect with specialists, and gain practical information to support your child's development. We can't wait to see you there!

To sign up, click the link: https://www.victa.org.uk/victa-calendar/navigating-the-early-years-with-victa-rsbc/

12/06/2026

It's time to grow wild! 🌻

We are hosting a fun family activity day in Bristol on Wednesday 5 August with Avon Wildlife Trust.

We will be exploring the beautiful grounds at their Grow Wilder learning centre and wildflower nursery. We’ll also be decorating wooden plant pots with tactile and sensory materials to take home!

Families will leave this day with a pack of wildflower seeds to create a vibrant and attractive space for the birds and bees in your garden or on your windowsill.

If you'd like to join us, click the link: https://www.victa.org.uk/victa-calendar/grow-wilder-with-victa-in-bristol/

12/06/2026

This week is all about exploring nature using all of your senses! What can you feel, hear, smell and move like?

Try our Sensory Bingo Challenge as part of with The Wildlife Trusts.

If your child has a vision impairment, you can share your photos as you take part to receive a well done treat from VICTA!

Find out more and share your photos at:
https://www.victa.org.uk/sensory-bingo/

Register with 30 Days Wild before Monday at:
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild

If you would like your Sensory Bingo in large print or braille, please email [email protected] with your preferred format.

11/06/2026

Make the most of your summer holidays and earn your Young Achievers Community pin badge with VICTA and Blatchington Court Trust 💗

Join us in Brighton on 11 August for a lovely family activity day. We will be painting plant pots, exploring nature to complete a Sensory Bingo, and creating Braille boxes to fill with food and donate to somebody in need.

It’s a great opportunity to meet other VI families and make friends, so sign up here: https://www.victa.org.uk/victa-calendar/community-family-day-brighton/

10/06/2026

A huge thank you to all our workshop providers and panel speakers who helped make VICTA's first in-person Parent Network event such a success!

We were delighted to welcome a mix of parents and professionals who shared their expertise and experiences on important topics including children's mental health, online safety, and sustainable advocacy.

Special thanks to Jenny Elsick, Jane Ring, and Amit Kalley for delivering informative, engaging, and practical workshop sessions.

We're also incredibly grateful to Louis Fuller, Laura Fuller, Sarah Dolphin, and Laura Hughes for leading a fantastic panel discussion that provided the perfect close to the day.

Thank you all for your valuable contributions, insights, and support in making this event so impactful.

10/06/2026

Join us for our next VICTA Parent Workshop – Building Connections: Supporting social skills, friendships and confidence in children with vision impairment.

How can we help our children build friendships, social confidence and independence?

We're delighted to welcome Viv Hollis, a Qualified Teacher for Vision Impairment and Multi-Sensory Impairment, who will explore how vision impairment can affect social development, and share practical strategies to support children in building friendships, developing confidence and fostering independence.

Aimed at parents and carers of primary school-aged children, this interactive session will consider ways to nurture positive peer relationships at home, in school and within the wider community.

With more than 25 years of experience in education, alongside her own lived experience of being VI and a guide dog user, Viv brings both professional expertise and personal insight to this important topic.

Places are limited, so book early to secure your place through the link: https://www.victaparents.org.uk/our-events/victa-parent-workshop-building-connections/

09/06/2026

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our keynote speaker, Claire Sisk for her inspiring speech at VICTA Parents LIVE this weekend.

Claire's vibrant outlook on life and the positivity she shares through her work as a content creator shone through. Using humour and personal experiences, she gave parents a glimpse into her journey of navigating sight loss and the challenges she has faced along the way.

As parents raising vision impaired children, it can sometimes feel as though life is filled with barriers and uncertainty. Claire's story was a powerful reminder that challenges do not define a person's future. Her resilience and determination for life demonstrated what is possible when opportunities are embraced and confidence is nurtured.

The positivity and hope Claire brought to the room was felt by everyone in attendance. By sharing her experiences so candidly, she helped many parents see beyond the challenges of today and feel reassured that their children can go on to lead fulfilling and exciting lives.

Thank you, Claire, for your honesty and encouragement. Your words left a lasting impression on all the attendees.

09/06/2026

Opportunity on behalf of Skylarks Hounslow:

Sensory play session for young VI children.

Skylarks is an independent charity based in Twickenham and Hounslow which supports families who have children and young people with any additional needs and disabilities. We offer a wide range of services, from inclusive activities and therapies for children; support, information and advice for parents to an employability and life skills programme for young people.

We are starting a new sensory playgroup for parents of babies and young children with Visual Impairment.

This will take place on Wednesday mornings at our new centre in Hounslow.

The first taster session will be on Wednesday 15th July and then the group will start on Wednesday 9th September, with the second session a fortnight later on Wednesday 30th September and then fortnightly sessions thereafter.

We will provide a warm, welcoming space for parents and carers, together with their young children and babies with a visual impairment. This playgroup is run by a Qualified Teacher for children with a Visual Impairment (QTVI) who will facilitate sensory-rich play, with songs, rhymes & interactive activities and peer support for parents and carers in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment.

These sessions are open to all families from any borough and are provided free of charge. Families do not need to be referred, but can register with Skylarks via our website and then book this, plus any other of our activities and services.

To find out more, please visit:

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08/06/2026

The latest episode of the VICTA Parent VOICE podcast is out now: The Moment That Everything Changed.

In this episode, we explore those overwhelming first moments after receiving a diagnosis for your child; the emotions, the questions, and the advice that follows.

We’re joined by RNIB’s Mark Chapman, who shares what he recommends parents focus on in the first 24 hours and explains how his role as an ECLO provides a vital listening ear during such a life-changing time.

What do you remember about those first 24 hours? What advice would you give to other parents facing a diagnosis today?