Visionary - linking local sight loss charities LTD

What Visionary - linking local sight loss charities LTD does

Visionary - Linking Local Sight Loss Charities is a UK charitable incorporated organization (CIO) registered in England and Wales (charity 1135360) and Scotland (charity SC044163), founded in 2010 and operating with 1-10 staff from a registered office in Edinburgh. Its sole purpose is to act as a membership network for local and regional sight loss charities across the United Kingdom, addressing the fragmentation of frontline services by providing peer-to-peer networking, shared resources, training, and a collective voice for the sector. The organization delivers value through a web-based platform (www.visionary.org.uk) that hosts a Knowledge Hub of curated resources, an events programme of regular Zoom-based Connect, Develop and Share forums across themes such as Leadership, Technology, Rehabilitation, Children and Young People, and Fundraising, an Annual Conference held at Conference Aston in Birmingham (2026 edition on 23-24 September), and a vacancy advertising service targeted at the sight loss sector.

Its product portfolio is centered on five core offerings: Visionary Membership, the Events and Forums Programme, the Knowledge Hub, the Vacancy Advertising Service, and the Annual Conference, supplemented by a podcast series ("A Space of Our Own") and a mailing list newsletter. The technology stack is conventional and lightweight, relying on WordPress-based website content delivery and Zoom for synchronous engagement, with no proprietary software, mobile apps, API surface, or AI/ML components disclosed. Visionary's revenue model combines recurring membership fees (specific tiers and pricing not publicly disclosed) with a tiered transaction-based vacancy advertising service priced at £100-£200+vat per two-week listing depending on organization size (free for members), and event-based revenue from the Annual Conference through delegate bookings, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. The organization is financially supported by Thomas Pocklington Trust as a core funding partner, with additional sponsorship from Roche Products Ltd for the Annual Conference 2026, and a portfolio of GTM partnerships with providers such as Core Telecom, Wingman Enterprises, Abbeystone Insurance, Seable, SafeCIC, and Roots HR CIC that supply member benefits.

Name

Visionary - linking local sight loss charities LTD

Legal name

Visionary - Linking Local Sight Loss Charities

Website

https://visionary.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Visionary is a UK CIO and membership organization that supports and connects local sight loss charities through a Knowledge Hub, regular Zoom forums, an annual conference, vacancy advertising, and a podcast. It serves member charities across the United Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charity membership services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Sight loss charities
• Charity membership network
• Nonprofit sector support
• Disability services network
• Voluntary sector networking

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Visionary operates as a membership organization for local sight loss charities. Membership fees are mentioned as being applicable with an Eligibility and Pricing page referenced. Revenue supports the organization's operations and member services.
2. Vacancy advertising fees: Free vacancy advertising for member and partner organizations. Non-member organizations can advertise vacancies for two weeks on the website with pricing based on organization size: 0-10 employees £100+vat, 11-20 employees £150+vat, 21-100 employees £175+vat, over 100 employees £200+vat.
3. Annual Conference revenue: Annual Conference held at Conference Aston, Birmingham on 23-24 September 2026 generates revenue through delegate bookings, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Visionary is a UK-wide membership network that connects and supports local sight loss charities through annual membership, training forums, an online Knowledge Hub, a vacancy advertising service, and an annual conference. It acts as a collective voice for the sector, providing peer learning, shared resources, and representation for independent local sight loss charities across the UK.

Product overview

Visionary is a membership organization for local sight loss charities operating across the UK. The organization provides a suite of services including membership benefits, an annual conference, regular online forums and training sessions (delivered via Zoom), a Knowledge Hub with resources, vacancy advertising, and a podcast series. These offerings work together to support, connect, and inform the network of sight loss charities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visionary Membership Annual membership programme for UK local sight loss charities, providing access to the Knowledge Hub, training forums, peer support, national representation, and shared sector resources. Member organisations include Vision Support, Essex Sight, Sight Concern Bedfordshire, FVSC, and others.
• Training Forums and Events Regular facilitated forums and events (including the Peer Forum for member CEOs) that bring together staff and leaders of local sight loss charities for training, peer learning, and best-practice sharing on topics such as safeguarding and outcomes measurement.
• Knowledge Hub Online resource portal hosted on the Visionary website that provides templates, toolkits, guidance documents, model policies, and shared resources for member sight loss charities.
• Vacancy Advertising Service Paid job vacancy advertising board on the Visionary website, with tiered pricing (£50, £75, £100) based on organization size, used by sight loss charities to recruit staff and by job seekers to find roles in the sector.
• Annual Conference and Exhibition Annual in-person conference and exhibition that brings together local sight loss charities, national sight loss organizations, and sector partners for networking, learning, and exhibition, with paid exhibition and sponsorship opportunities for partners.
• Visionary Voices Podcast Podcast series featuring conversations with leaders, staff, and partners from local sight loss charities across the UK, covering topics relevant to the sight loss sector.
• Newsletter Regular digital newsletter distributing sector news, member charity updates, and information about Visionary programmes and events to member charities and the wider sight loss community.

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2024, the Cheshire Sight Loss Information Line (partnership) supported 461 individuals with 83% reporting wellbeing improvement and 71% feeling more independent

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Wingman EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 July 2026New Visionary member benefit offering services to elevate sight loss charities. Wingman Enterprises provides support specifically for Visionary member organizations.
• SafeCICminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 March 2026Visionary member benefit supporting employer safeguarding needs. SafeCIC provides safeguarding specialist services.
• Roots HR CICminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 March 2026Visionary member benefit supporting employer HR needs for social sector employers. Roots HR CIC provides human resources services for charities.
• Abbeystone InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2025New Visionary member benefit providing insurance services tailored for sight loss charities and organizations in the sector.
• SeableminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 April 2025Visionary member benefit providing accessible holidays support for blind and partially sighted people. Seable offers accessible travel services.
• Core TelecomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCore Telecom offers completely free 0300 contact numbers to Visionary member charities, eliminating rental fees and inbound call charges. Supports over 500 charitable organisations with free 03 numbers including national names like MIND and Breast Cancer Now.
• Conference AstonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Visionary Annual Conference 2026. Located in Birmingham, Conference Aston hosts the key annual event.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): The largest membership body for charities and voluntary organisations in England. Comparable to Visionary in delivering membership services, policy representation, knowledge resources, and events for a UK charity constituency.
• NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): UK membership network for local voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations. Closest direct peer to Visionary as both operate as membership bodies connecting local charities through events, training, and shared resources.
• ACEVO: Membership association for charity chief executives and senior leaders. Comparable to Visionary's leadership-focused forums (CEO Monthly, Small Organisations Forum, Trustees Forum) and its peer-learning mission for voluntary sector leaders.
• Locality: UK membership network for community organisations and social enterprises. Operates a similar model to Visionary: membership fees, member benefits, training, events, and policy advocacy for locally-rooted organisations.
• UK Community Foundations: Membership body for community foundations across the UK. Highly comparable model: a small national membership organisation that links local place-based charities through events, knowledge sharing, and a shared brand identity.

Broad incumbents

• Guide Dogs (formerly Guide Dogs for the Blind Association): Major UK sight loss charity providing mobility and rehabilitation services. Operates broadly in the same sight loss sector as Visionary's member organisations but as a direct service provider rather than a membership network.
• Disability Rights UK: UK-wide disability organisation led by disabled people, providing advocacy, policy, and resources. Overlaps with Visionary's mission of supporting disability-sector organisations and includes sight loss within its broader disability constituency.
• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): The UK's largest sight loss charity, providing direct services, campaigning, and membership. While a much larger direct-service incumbent rather than a network convener, RNIB operates in the same UK sight loss ecosystem as Visionary's members and partners.
• Sense: UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including deafblindness. Operates in the same disability/sensory loss space as Visionary's members and shares an interest in accessible services, partnership-based growth, and policy advocacy.

Others

• Thomas Pocklington Trust: National sight loss charity and Visionary's core financial partner. Comparable in operating focus (UK sight loss) but functions as a funder and direct programme operator rather than a membership convener; included because the funding relationship makes it the most strategically entangled peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Visionary_UK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visionary-linking-local-sight-loss-charities-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Visionary - linking local sight loss charities LTD