British Blind Sport (BBS) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)are working together to raise awareness among the two million people with sight loss in the UK – and across the sports sector – about how more blind and partially sighted people can get involved with sport and activity and feel the benefits as participants or spectators through their See Sport Differently campaign.
 

See Sport Differently aims to challenge perceptions and demonstrate that blind and partially sighted people can get involved with sport and physical activity. The free toolkits provide resources for clubs and suggest how organisations can work together to strengthen the local work that is already taking place. The toolkits were created in collaboration with National Governing Bodies of Sport and cover topics including adaptable equipment, up-skilling staff and volunteers, and accessible marketing to ensure activities are inclusive for people with sight loss.
 

See Sport Differently is a Sport England-funded initiative that aims to break down barriers and raise awareness among the two million people with sight loss in the UK, and across the sports sector, as to how more blind and partially sighted people can get involved in sport and activity and feel the benefits as participants or spectators.

Based on insights conducted through the programme,  research found that blind and partially sighted people are twice as likely to be inactive compared to the general public and that accessibility, awareness, cost, confidence and transportation are all key barriers to accessing sport and physical activity. Sports clubs often struggle to reach blind and partially sighted people, and sometimes lack awareness of the barriers faced by people with sight loss trying to access sports and activities. The new toolkits aim to provide sight loss organisations and sports clubs with the resources they need to encourage and support blind and partially sighted people to increase their levels of physical activity, ensuring that they can take part in activities, achieve their goals and experience the benefits of physical activity.
 

The new guides can be downloaded from the British Blind Sport website, here.
 

For further information about See Sport Differently or how to get involved, please visit https://britishblindsport.org.uk/see-sport-differently/ or contact RNIB at SeeSportDifferently@rnib.org.uk