York campaign is making a 'lasting' difference to the city - one venue at a time
MySight York has been working with businesses and organisations to make changes and remove barriers so that people with sight loss can enjoy more of what York has to offer.
Sixty people with visual impairments have been lending support to the Community Connect project, by highlighting what they require to enjoy places such as museums and leisure facilities to help shape services.
MySight York's Community Connect project has led to more adapted sports in York, such as chair exercise sessions. Photo: MySight York(Image: )
More than 200 blind and partially-sighted people have joined in with museum tours, adapted sport and more as part of the project which aims to make York an easier place to navigate.
As part of Community Connect, MySight York has been working with York Explore on sensory storytelling and with York Learning to run accessible computer skills courses. It has also helped to set up a Visually Impaired Tennis Club, which runs at the University of York.
A Visually Impaired Tennis Club now runs at the University of York. Photo: MySight York(Image: )
At the heart of the campaign is the Sight Loss Friendly Status; a charter mark of trust and quality that shows a venue or organisation has been trained, audited and approved by MySight York. It tells anyone with sight loss: you're welcome here.
Vicky Colombi, special projects lead at MySight York in Walmgate, said: "Community Connect isn't a one-off event, it's a lasting legacy. It gives people confidence, builds partnerships, and sets a standard that can be shared nationwide.
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"Our aim is to reduce the social isolation and exclusion of those with sight loss, while increasing the skills and confidence of community organisations and providing them with an understanding of sight loss awareness."
Vicky said the charity draws on the skills and knowledge of people with sight loss to identify activities and experiences they would like to access.
Community Connect is now in the running for the 2025 Visionary Awards in the Accelerating Impact category for its commitment to make York a sight-loss-friendly city.
Thanks to support from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, MySight York was able to consult people who use its services as part of its aims to improve access to places that matter to people with sight loss.
Museums, heritage experiences and sport were high on the list, leading MySight York to collaborate with 40 organisations which have made practical and lasting changes.
These include guided sensory tours at Treasurer's House, which the National Trust worked on in partnership with MySight York, hands-on history sessions as part of the York Festival of Ideas, and 'Blind Golf' at York Golf Club, in collaboration with the club and England and Wales Blond Golf (EWBG).
Other partners include Burnholme Sports Centre, York Sport, Krya Women's Project, Holy Trinity Church, and the National Centre for Early Music.