Visibility Scotland

What Visibility Scotland does

Visibility Scotland is a registered Scottish charity (SC009738, legal entity GWSSB) founded in 1859 and headquartered at 2 Queen's Crescent, Glasgow, with regional operations in Edinburgh and Dumfries. Operating under the tagline "You don't need sight to have vision," it provides a comprehensive portfolio of free support services to vision-impaired people of all ages across Scotland, including NHS hospital-based Patient Support Services, an assistive technology programme (EyeT), a Scotland-wide telephone support line (The Listening Ear), a stroke and Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation programme (SCaN), a skills-based children and young people programme (EyeCan CYP), community services, and a lived-experience advocacy network via Scotland Sight Loss Councils.

The organisation blends a charitable model with a social enterprise subsidiary called Visibility Trading and Training, which generates revenue by selling professional accessibility training, private vision rehabilitation sessions, digital accessibility document support, expert witness legal reporting, and room hire to NHS Health Boards, councils, charities, and businesses. Pricing is unit/hourly based (e.g., commercial vision rehabilitation at £105/hour, room hire at £35-£100/hour, digital accessibility support at £50/hour). Charitable services are free at point of use, funded by a mix of NHS contracts (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Edinburgh and West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnerships, Dumfries and Galloway HSCP), trust and foundation grants (Wolfson Foundation, Bradbury Foundation Hong Kong, RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, National Lottery Community Fund, The Powell Family Foundation, Essentia Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation), and individual/corporate donations. Leadership is provided by CEO Laura Walker (appointed 2021), who is a University of Strathclyde-accredited ROVI and co-developed the institution's postgraduate Vision Impairment Rehabilitation course.

Name

Visibility Scotland

Legal name

GWSSB (Glasgow and West of Scotland Society for the Blind)

Website

https://visibilityscotland.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1859

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Visibility Scotland is a Glasgow-based registered charity (SC009738) founded in 1859 that provides free vision impairment support services across Scotland, including NHS hospital-based patient support, assistive technology, stroke rehabilitation, and a children and young people programme, supplemented by a social enterprise trading arm delivering professional training and consultancy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and fundraising: The organisation relies on donations from individuals, corporate partners, and community fundraisers (Kiltwalk, firewalk, tea parties, can collections, home money boxes). Monthly giving and one-off donation options are available via their Enthuse platform. Corporate partnerships and matched donations are also solicited.
2. Trust and foundation grants: Grants from trusts and foundations support core work and specific projects. Funders include Wolfson Foundation (£80,000 for ForSight), Bradbury Foundation Hong Kong (£50,000 for ForSight), Glasgow City Council, Community Area Partnership – Hillhead (£6,000 for ForSight), RS Macdonald Charitable Trust (The Listening Ear), Essentia Foundation (EyeCan CYP via Foundation Scotland), The Powell Family Foundation (Family Advocacy 2025–2027), National Lottery Community Fund Young Start (EyeCan CYP), Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Blindcraft Charitable Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation, See Hear Glasgow, See Hear Inverclyde, See Hear West Dunbarton.
3. Visibility Trading and Training – Vision Rehabilitation: Private vision rehabilitation sessions delivered through the social enterprise at commercial rate (£105/hour), standard private rate (£55/hour), and supported rate (£40/hour for individuals meeting criteria). Travel time billed at half the hourly rate plus £0.45/mile. A university-accredited vision rehabilitation specialist delivers the service.
4. Digital accessibility document support: Document transformation service converting Word documents and PowerPoint presentations into accessible versions compliant with screen-reader and low-vision guidelines. Billed at £50 per hour.
5. Room hire: Hire of meeting room (Room 7, first floor, up to 14 guests) at £35/hour and sensory play space (basement, up to 10 children plus caregivers) at £100/hour through the social enterprise. Optional catering at £4/person (tea/coffee/biscuits) or £10/person (sandwich platter lunch).
6. Digital suite equipment sales: The digital suite offers assistive technology equipment for purchase directly from the team, including digital magnifiers and Cocoons anti-glare glasses. Any profits are reinvested into the charitable arm of the organisation.
7. Expert witness legal reporting: CEO/ROVI Laura Walker provides independent medico-legal reports for personal injury and clinical negligence cases involving sight loss across Scotland. Revenue supports the social enterprise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Visibility Scotland provides free, person-centred support to vision-impaired people of all ages across Scotland through assistive technology advice (EyeT), NHS-embedded patient support, telephone wellbeing services (The Listening Ear), stroke/ABI rehabilitation (SCaN), children and young people programmes (EyeCan CYP), community services, and a café. Its social enterprise arm, Visibility Trading and Training, sells professional accessibility training, private vision rehabilitation, digital accessibility document transformation, expert witness legal reporting, and meeting/sensory room hire.

Product overview

Visibility Scotland operates as a charity providing a comprehensive portfolio of support services for vision-impaired people across Scotland, alongside a social enterprise arm called Visibility Trading and Training. The core charitable services include EyeT (assistive technology), Patient Support Services (NHS-based), The Listening Ear (phone support), SCaN (stroke/ABI support), EyeCan CYP (children and young people), Glasgow Community Service, Charged Up café, Out and About (Dumfries and Galloway), West Lothian services, Scotland Sight Loss Councils, and various Groups and courses. The Visibility Trading and Training sub-brand offers commercial services including training programmes, private vision rehabilitation, digital accessibility support, expert witness legal reporting, and room hire. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but rather delivers services through direct support, training, and community programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Visibility Trading and Training: Social enterprise providing professional training, expert witness legal reporting, vision rehabilitation, digital accessibility support, and room hire services.

Products and services

• EyeT Assistive Technology Programme Free digital inclusion programme providing a safe space, hands-on experience, and specialist advice on assistive technology for vision-impaired people aged 16+, covering phones/tablets, employment support (Access to Work), education support, and digital suite appointments.
• Patient Support Services Free, non-timebound practical and emotional support for vision-impaired NHS patients delivered by patient support workers in hospital low vision clinics across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (e.g. Gartnavel General, RAH Paisley, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Vale of Leven) and NHS Lothian (Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, St John's Hospital Livingston), plus telephone support.
• The Listening Ear Free Scotland-wide phone-based advice and wellbeing service offering an information line (9am-4pm), wellbeing calls, Positive Outlook courses (delivered via Zoom), and monthly information sessions for people struggling with the impact of vision impairment.
• SCaN (See Confidently and Navigate) Stroke and ABI Vision Rehabilitation Free holistic vision rehabilitation programme for people experiencing vision changes post-stroke or with Acquired Brain Injury in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, including compensatory vision strategies, DVLA advice, technology, peer support, and emotional support.
• EyeCan CYP Children and Young People Programme Free skills-based life-skills programme for vision-impaired children and young people from birth to age 25, including family advocacy, messy play, EyeCan Cook, socialisation and peer support workshops, and sensory play sessions, delivered in partnership with Freedom and Joy and Food Heroes across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian.
• Glasgow Community Service Free support and information services for vision-impaired people in Glasgow City Council area, including skills-based classes, the Charged Up café, signposting, groups, events, and community activities.
• Charged Up Café Free weekly wellbeing café at the Glasgow headquarters (Tuesdays and Fridays), offering homemade nutritious food, device charging, and a safe community space for vision-impaired people and their families/carers.
• Out and About Community Support Service (Dumfries and Galloway) Free emotional and practical support for Dumfries and Galloway residents, including information on eye conditions, strategies for remaining vision, equipment demonstrations, and referrals to other services, plus lunch clubs.
• West Lothian Vision Impairment Services Free person-centred rehabilitation service providing practical and emotional support, teaching visual strategies and essential skills to increase independence in home, workplace, and community settings for West Lothian residents.
• Scotland Sight Loss Councils Free regional groups led by vision-impaired volunteers that use lived experience to influence local change and improve access across Scotland, delivered in partnership with Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans and funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust.
• Visibility Trading and Training - Professional Training Commercial evidence-based accessibility training sold to NHS Health Boards, councils, charities, and businesses, including vision impairment awareness, sensory loss understanding, accessible employer training, human guiding, inclusive communication (CPD certified), stroke/brain injury training, and bespoke programmes. Free consultation offered prior to purchase.
• Visibility Trading and Training - Private Vision Rehabilitation Commercial person-centred vision rehabilitation covering orientation and mobility, cooking, assistive technology, and independent living skills, delivered by accredited Vision Rehabilitation Specialists at three pricing tiers: £105/hr (commercial/Access to Work/DSA), £55/hr (standard private), and £40/hr (supported). Travel billed at half the hourly rate plus £0.45/mile.
• Visibility Trading and Training - Digital Accessibility Support Commercial document transformation service converting Word documents and PowerPoint presentations into accessible versions compliant with screen-reader, low vision, and dyslexia guidelines, billed at £50 per hour.
• Visibility Trading and Training - Expert Witness Legal Reporting Commercial independent medico-legal reports on the impact of sight loss for personal injury and clinical negligence cases across Scotland, provided by CEO Laura Walker.
• Visibility Trading and Training - Room Hire Commercial room hire at Glasgow headquarters offering Room 7 (first floor meeting room, up to 14 guests, £35/hour with hybrid meeting technology) and a sensory play space (basement, up to 10 children plus caregivers, £100/hour), with optional catering add-ons at £4/person (tea/coffee/biscuits) or £10/person (sandwich platter lunch).
• EyeCan Cycle Programme Free cycling programme developed with Cycling Scotland that applies compensatory scanning strategies to enable people with neurological visual field loss post-stroke to cycle safely and rediscover independence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,537 people supported through online, phone, and face-to-face services in 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HumanitixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHumanitix is an accessible, non-profit ticketing platform that reinvests profits in social good. Visibility Scotland supported Humanitix's launch in Scotland in 2025, sharing the vision of an inclusive and accessible world where everyone can participate.
• Freedom and JoycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQualified coaches and counsellor facilitating workshops on goal-setting and aspirational plans for vision-impaired children and young people in the EyeCan CYP programme. Delivers socialisation and motivational peer support sessions split into age-appropriate groups (10-17s, 18-25s). Also co-hosted a summer pizza party for children and young people in 2025.
• Food HeroescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo Specialist Dietitians delivering messy play sessions for families of vision-impaired pre-school children, incorporating exploring food through play to build positive food relationships. Sessions take place at the Glasgow headquarters and across West Lothian.
• Cycling ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in the EyeCan Cycle programme, which enables stroke survivors with neurological visual field loss to experience cycling safely by applying compensatory scanning strategies. Jointly developed programme piloted in summer 2025 at Kelvingrove Park.
• Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland VeteranscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partners for Scotland's Sight Loss Councils, alongside Visibility Scotland. Sight Loss Councils are regional groups led by vision-impaired volunteers using lived experience to tackle issues affecting vision-impaired people. Funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust.
• RNIBminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRNIB is partnering with Visibility Scotland to host monthly meetings for vision-impaired people to improve communication skills and public speaking confidence. Meetings held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Glasgow headquarters.
• QuarriersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuarriers North West Carers community and education outreach worker Jordan Green served as a guest speaker at a coffee and chat webinar hosted by Visibility Scotland's Training and Information Specialist in July 2026.
• Nicola Beedie (Glasgow-based sensory artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlasgow-based sensory artist collaborating on the EyeCan CYP programme to deliver sensory art workshops for vision-impaired children and young people.
• Jamie Keenan (musician)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusician (bands include The LaFontaines and Glass Cheques) collaborating on the EyeCan CYP programme to deliver music workshops for vision-impaired children and young people.
• Jim McAnulty (musician/guitar tutor)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusician and guitar tutor collaborating on the EyeCan CYP programme to deliver music education workshops for vision-impaired children and young people.
• Edinburgh Community Rehabilitation and Support Services (ECRSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based support service in Edinburgh providing patient support on alternating Mondays by appointment, in addition to the hospital-based service at Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.
• OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator)coreOthersVisibility Scotland is a registered charity regulated by OSCR. Registered Scottish Charity Number SC009738.
• University of StrathclydecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisibility Scotland's CEO Laura Walker played a pivotal role in developing the University of Strathclyde's newly launched Postgraduate Vision Impairment Rehabilitation course (beginning January 2026). In 2025, Visibility Trading and Training was commissioned to lead course content development. This is the same expertise trusted with educating the next generation of sector professionals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): UK's largest sight loss charity offering advice, advocacy, employment support and assistive technology services comparable to Visibility Scotland's EyeT, Patient Support Services and Listening Ear offerings. Already a Visibility Scotland partner (hosting monthly meetings at Glasgow HQ), operates at materially larger UK-wide scale.
• Guide Dogs: UK-wide charity providing mobility and rehabilitation services for people with sight loss, including children and young people. Comparable vision rehabilitation, orientation and mobility training remit to Visibility Scotland's EyeCan CYP and core rehabilitation programmes.

Direct peers

• Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans: Scottish sight loss charity delivering residential and community services for vision-impaired people. Active delivery partner with Visibility Scotland on Scotland's Sight Loss Councils and adjacent rehabilitation services for the same Scottish beneficiary base.
• Henshaws Society for Blind People: UK sight loss charity delivering person-centred rehabilitation, assistive technology advice and community engagement directly comparable to Visibility Scotland's EyeT, Patient Support Services and community services portfolio.
• VICTA: UK charity supporting children and young people (0-25) with vision impairment through life skills, education and leisure activities. Closely comparable to Visibility Scotland's EyeCan CYP programme in target age range and life-skills focus.

Emerging players

• Thomas Pocklington Trust: UK charity focused on sight loss research, housing and employment, currently a key funder partner (Sight Loss Councils). Operates overlapping accessibility and employment support themes with Visibility Scotland's Assistive Technology and Access to Work programmes.
• Look UK: UK charity empowering vision-impaired children, young people and families through mentoring, education and family advocacy. Strong overlap with Visibility Scotland's EyeCan CYP family advocacy, socialisation workshops and parent/caregiver support.
• ClearVision: UK charity providing touch-access books and sensory literacy resources for children with vision impairments. Partial overlap with Visibility Scotland's sensory play, EyeCan CYP and assistive learning offerings.

Regional players

• Galloway's Society for the Blind: Regional sight loss charity serving Lancashire and Sefton with similar services (assistive technology, emotional support, community engagement) directly comparable to Visibility Scotland's community service portfolio but operating in a different UK region.
• Berkshire Vision: Regional sight loss charity delivering rehabilitation, assistive technology and community support in Berkshire — a comparable operating model (small team, mixed charitable/social enterprise income) to Visibility Scotland but in a different UK region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VisibilityScot
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/visibility-scotland
• Instagraminstagram.com/visibilityscotland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Visibility Scotland