Receiving a sight loss diagnosis in childhood is tough. It is a low-incidence high-need disability, so often a VI child has never met another person like them and schools do not know how to support. This can lead to isolation and disengagement, poor mental health, low confidence, self-esteem and aspiration. As a result, blind young people aged 16-25 are twice as likely to be ‘NEET’ as their sighted peers. Receiving a sight loss diagnosis in childhood can be tough, often leading to isolation, disengagement, and low confidence. Many visually impaired (VI) children have never met another person like them, and schools may struggle to provide the right support. This can affect their mental health, self-esteem, and aspirations, with blind young people twice as likely to be ‘NEET’ (not in education, employment, or training) as their sighted peers.

LOOK beats isolation and increases confidence by connecting VI young people and their families with a mentor with lived experience of sight loss. The mentor empowers them to navigate challenges, engage in education, grow their aspirations and equips them for an independent future. We provide our VI mentors with valuable experience, training and opportunity to increase their own employability too. We are the only VI mentoring service in the UK. With the right support, every VI child can thrive.