Sight Concern Worcestershire

What Sight Concern Worcestershire does

Sight Concern Worcestershire (legally Worcestershire Association for the Blind, registered charity 1136716, company 07258623) is a Worcester-based charity that provides information, advice, and direct support services to blind, vision-impaired, Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deafblind residents of Worcestershire. Its core service portfolio comprises Information and Advice, Low Vision Clinics, Wellbeing Activities (walking groups, yoga, clay workshops), Digital Technology Support, a dedicated Technology Support Officer, the SocialEyes Befriending Service, and monthly Connections Groups operating across Worcester, Malvern, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest, and Evesham. In October 2023 it launched Sensory Matters, a county-council-funded sensory-impairment advice service delivered in partnership with Action Deafness.

The charity operates a Talking News network covering Malvern, Redditch and Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest, Worcester, and the Vale of Evesham, distributing fortnightly local-news audio via a custom Amazon Alexa skill, a dedicated mobile app (iOS/Android), web player, BWFB playback devices, and phone lines. Adjacent technology channels include Zoom for monthly Live Well and Future Vision sessions run jointly with five other UK sight-loss charities, a moderated closed Facebook peer-support group, and integration with the Be My Eyes app. A 200+ volunteer workforce underpins befriending, trustee governance, and community-event delivery.

Sight Concern Worcestershire is funded by individual donations, Gift Aid, legacies and bequests, corporate Charity-of-the-Year partnerships and matched-giving schemes, community fundraising events, online-shopping donation platforms (Amazon Smile, Easyfundraising, Give as you Live), and grant funding from Worcestershire County Council (primary commissioner of Sensory Matters), the National Lottery Community Fund, and Postcode Local Trust. All client-facing services are provided free of charge. The charity received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2018 and the Visionary Rainbow Award in 2021.

Name

Sight Concern Worcestershire

Legal name

Worcestershire Association for the Blind

Website

https://sightconcern.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sight Concern Worcestershire is a Worcester-based registered charity providing information, advice, low-vision clinics, technology support, befriending, and Talking News audio services to visually impaired, hearing-impaired, and deafblind residents across Worcestershire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Individual donations received through the website, phone, or in-person at the Bradbury Centre. Supports Gift Aid scheme for UK taxpayers.
2. Legacies and Bequests: Gifts left to the charity in Wills, which are described as essential for continuing sight loss services across the county.
3. Fundraising Events: Income from events including Worcester Carnival participation, running events, and corporate fundraising activities.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Companies can become Charity of the Year partners, corporate sponsors, or implement employee match funding schemes.
5. Grant Funding: Funding from Worcestershire County Council for Sensory Matters service, National Lottery Community Fund, Postcode Local Trust, and other charitable foundations.
6. Online Shopping Donations: Income generated through Amazon Smile, Easyfundraising, and Give as you Live platforms when supporters shop online with participating retailers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sight Concern Worcestershire is a registered charity that delivers free information, advice, and direct support services to people with visual and hearing impairments across Worcestershire. Its core portfolio includes the Sensory Matters sensory impairment advice service, low vision clinics, digital/assistive technology training, a telephone and in-person befriending service, wellbeing activities, and a network of audio Talking News services providing local news via web, phone, Amazon Alexa, and mobile apps.

Product overview

Sight Concern Worcestershire is a charitable organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services for people with visual and sensory impairments in Worcestershire. The core offering includes Sensory Matters (a specialized sensory impairment advice service launched October 2023), Low Vision Clinics, Digital Technology Support, and Information & Advice services. The organization operates a network of Talking News services (Malvern, Redditch/Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest, Worcester, and Vale of Evesham) delivering audio local news via Alexa, web player, and phone. Social support is provided through SocialEyes Befriending services (in-person and telephone), Connections Groups across multiple towns, and Wellbeing Activities including walking groups, yoga, and clay workshops. Technology support includes a dedicated officer who sources and trains clients on assistive technology. The services are integrated with third-party platforms including Amazon Alexa, Zoom, Be My Eyes app, and various mobile apps for maximum accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sensory Matters: Specialised information and advice service for anyone in Worcestershire who is blind, vision impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing, have dual sensory loss or is deafblind. Launched October 2023, supported by Action Deafness and funded by Worcestershire County Council.
• Malvern Talking News

Products and services

• Sensory Matters A specialized information, advice and guidance service for people in Worcestershire who are blind, vision impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or have dual sensory loss; delivered by Sensory Impairment Advisors who provide information, signpost and refer clients to specialists and other services.
• Information & Advice Comprehensive information and guidance on living with sensory loss, including advice on equipment to help maintain safety and independence, provided free of charge to clients in Worcestershire.
• Low Vision Clinics Clinical assessments and support for individuals with low vision, helping clients maximize any remaining vision through specialized aids and techniques at the Bradbury Centre in Worcester.
• Digital Technology Support One-to-one technology advice and training from a digital technology advisor, covering mobile phones, computers, tablets and smart speakers (e.g., Amazon Alexa) to help visually impaired clients adopt assistive technology.
• Malvern Talking News Fortnightly audio summary of news from the Malvern Gazette and Ledbury Reporter, delivered to visually impaired listeners via web player, Amazon Alexa skill, mobile app (iOS/Android) or dedicated phone line.
• Talking News Network Network of talking news audio services covering Redditch & Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest, Worcester and Vale of Evesham, providing local news in audio format for visually impaired residents of Worcestershire.
• SocialEyes Befriending Service Volunteer befriending service providing bespoke support including home visits for companionship, help with everyday tasks, assistance getting out and about, and regular telephone befriending to reduce loneliness and isolation among visually impaired people.
• Wellbeing Activities Range of social and leisure activities including walking groups, clay workshops, yoga sessions, connection groups and sensory experiences designed specifically for visually impaired individuals in Worcestershire.
• Connections Groups Monthly peer-support meetings for people living with sight impairment held in Worcester, Wyre Forest, Evesham, Bromsgrove, Redditch and Malvern, featuring guest speakers and advice sessions to help clients form supportive friendships.
• Hearing Impairment Services Information and friendship services for people with hearing loss in Worcestershire, including hearing-loss cafes and support groups, delivered through the Sensory Matters programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 telephone befriending partnerships established during pandemic
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Worcestershire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Primary funder for the Sensory Matters service launched in October 2023. Provides essential funding enabling the charity to offer information, advice, and guidance to anyone in Worcestershire with sight or hearing impairment.
• Action DeafnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Collaboration partner for the Sensory Matters service, bringing together expertise in both sight and hearing loss to provide comprehensive sensory impairment support.
• Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sight loss charity collaborating on the Get Set Progress internship programme and running Sight Loss Councils that advocate for blind and partially sighted people in Worcestershire.
• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sight loss charity collaborating on Get Set Progress internship programme to create employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.
• Sight Advice South LakesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent sight society in Cumbria partnering on the 'Independent Sight Societies' collaboration running joint Zoom sessions on assistive technology and wellbeing.
• Support 4 SightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent sight society in Essex partnering on the 'Independent Sight Societies' collaboration running joint Zoom sessions.
• My Sight NottsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent sight society in Nottingham partnering on the 'Independent Sight Societies' collaboration.
• Sight AiredaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent sight society in Airedale partnering on the 'Independent Sight Societies' collaboration.
• Sutton VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent sight society in Sutton partnering on the 'Independent Sight Societies' collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): The UK's largest sight loss charity, offering nationwide advice, campaigning, and technology services. Direct overlap with Sight Concern's information/advice, technology support, and Talking News functions, but at a national scale with significantly larger resources.
• Guide Dogs for the Blind Association: National charity providing mobility and life-skills services for blind and partially sighted people. Comparable in mission (independent living for visually impaired) and overlapping in advice/referral services, although Guide Dogs' core mobility services differ.

Direct peers

• Macular Society: UK charity dedicated to macular disease, providing information, local support groups, and befriending for people with macular conditions. Comparable in peer-support, advice, and local-meeting service model, though condition-specific rather than whole sensory impairment.
• Retina UK: UK charity for inherited sight loss, providing information, research funding, and a peer support network. Comparable in advice/peer-support for visually impaired members and the small-charity operating model.
• Thomas Pocklington Trust: National sight loss charity running Sight Loss Councils and employment programmes like Get Set Progress — both collaborations with Sight Concern Worcestershire. Highly comparable in advocacy and employment-focused services for visually impaired people.
• Support 4 Sight: Independent sight society in Essex and a Live Well / Future Vision Zoom partner. Comparable regional scope, social-activity offerings, and assistive-technology support for visually impaired residents.
• Warwickshire Vision Support: County-level sight loss charity operating in neighbouring Warwickshire, delivering information, advice, equipment, and social activities. Closest geographic analogue and the most direct comparator on size and service mix.
• My Sight Notts: Independent sight society in Nottingham participating in the cross-charity Zoom session collaboration. Comparable on regional scale, peer-support and information services for visually impaired people.
• Glaucoma UK: UK charity supporting people with glaucoma through information, peer support, and local engagement. Comparable as a condition-specific sight loss charity with community-based support services.
• Sight Advice South Lakes: Independent sight loss charity in Cumbria and an active partner in Sight Concern's 'Independent Sight Societies' Zoom collaboration. Comparable regional operating model and joint-session delivery approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sightconcernworcestershiresupport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sightconcern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sight Concern Worcestershire