What impact can sports have on the lives of people with vision loss?
Join us as we speak with Metro Blind Sport and Bloomsbury Football Foundation to explore how sport goes far beyond physical activity. Both organisation have been supported by Fight for Sight through our Social Change grants. Together, we’ll unpack the ripple effect that taking part in sport can have on confidence, independence and mental health, and why access to inclusive opportunities matters.
This webinar featured Rory, CEO of Metro Blind Sport; and Georgia and Owen from Bloomsbury.
It will take place on 24th June, 12 - 1pm.
“Sport participation is one of the healthiest and best reasons for us to get out and about. It is far more than the physical benefits but include social and mental benefits too. It increases our level of independence, self-esteem and self-confidence."
About the speakers
Rory Field
Rory is CEO of Metro Blind Sport. He has been taking part in sport from a vey young age and has first-hand experience of the pawer of participation in sport and physical activities. Rory started losing his sight when he was 7 years old. He has very limited sight and is classified as blind. Rory is fortunate enough to have achieved in sport on the international stage for two different countries. He has no doubt that sport has helped him in other areas of his life.
Georgia Webster
Georgia coordinates Bloomsbury Football Foundation's Blind and Partially Sighted Football Programme. From weekly training sessions to their annual Blind and VI Football Festival, Bloomsbury uses the magic of football to give young people with VI a place to play, a community to belong to, and the tools they need to move forward in life. Georgia is committed to breaking down the barriers that stop young people with VI from accessing football and its many benefits.
Owen Locke
Owen is an England International and sighted goalkeeper for the national blind football team. With 6 years of experience in VI Football, he is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of athletes. At the Bloomsbury Football Foundation, Owen leads weekly coaching sessions dedicated to empowering young blind and partially sighted players, helping them develop their skills on and off the pitch.
“Sport can offer so much beyond its obvious physical benefits. At Bloomsbury we have seen players in our Blind and Partially Sighted Programme work towards shared goals, forge friendships, and grow in confidence. These things may start on the pitch, but it’s when players take them into everyday life that we see the true magic of football!."
Who will benefit from this webinar?
The session will interest:
Anyone with vision loss interested in sport and physical activity
Families of children and young people interested in sports
Anyone curious about inclusive sports
Coaches, mentors and volunteers involved in sport
Anyone interested in the impact of sport on confidence, independence and mental wellbeing
“Sport is vital for individuals with visual impairments, providing a fantastic platform to develop physical and social skills that create a framework for success in later life. I have seen countless cases of young people begin their sporting journeys as shy individuals, only to blossom into well-rounded, confident adults who navigate the world with genuine self-belief."
