Insight Reports
There is a lack of robust evidence into experiences of people who are blind and vision impaired.
We've funded research to help plug the gaps and to inform our funding, including feelings of loneliness, surviving domestic violence and abuse and access to employment.
Funding research into the lives of blind and vision-impaired people
There's a lack of robust evidence, data, and real-life stories of lived experiences of being blind and vision impaired. Fight for Sight funds research into all aspects of life - from employment opportunities to the prevalence of loneliness and isolation.
It helps us direct our funding into areas where we know there is the biggest need - and towards projects that promise the most impact.
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- 1 in 4
- Only one in four blind and vision impaired people have paid employment
Informing our work
The unique insights we gather inform the projects we fund to tackle them. Bright ideas include ensuring the natural world is accessible, boosting mental health, or funding farm visits to build confidence and grow friendships for young people.
We aim to work with funded partners and gather insights from their work, which we'll publish, making it easier for others to start similar projects.
Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences within these reports.
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- 76%
- 76% of survey respondents said they felt lonely some or all of the time while 25% of the general population feel lonely some or all of the time
Tackling loneliness and isolation
In April 2024, we released Outside, a report that explored experiences of loneliness for people who are blind and vision impaired.
KEY FINDING: 76% of survey respondents said they felt lonely some or all of the time (while 25% of the general population feel lonely some or all of the time).
COLLABORATION: We commissioned the report from Abertay University, where Dr Mhairi Thurston and Craig Dunlop conducted in-depth interviews with 18 blind or vision impaired people, and a survey with 162 responses.
INSIGHT: ‘The friends that you thought you had, they sort of slowly disappear’ (female, 68)
Read the full report (PDF) >
Explore the research data (Excel) >
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- 1 in 12
- 1 in 12 vision impaired people in the UK is estimated to be a victim of domestic abuse.
Domestic violence and abuse
In October 2022, we published The Unseen, the first-ever research into the shocking scale and prevalence of domestic abuse among blind and partially sighted people.
KEY FINDING: 1 in 12 vision impaired people in the UK is estimated to be a victim of domestic abuse.
COLLABORATION: The report was researched and compiled by the charity SafeLives, and served to highlight the lack of relevant knowledge and experience among organisations and professionals working in both the fields of sight loss and domestic abuse. The Unseen also put forward proposals for how to tackle the challenges and break down the barriers to help.
INSIGHT: ‘People don’t think it is a big deal, ‘Well she can’t see. If she can’t see then she is going to have to put up with a bit of that.’ Anonymous participant.
Read the full report (PDF) >
Read the full report (plain text) >
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- 300k
- Over 300,000 blind and partially sighted people are currently excluded from the workplace
See My Skills
In July 2021 we published a report to better understand what factors contribute towards more positive employment outcomes for blind and partially sighted people.
KEY FINDING: If you’re a blind adult of working age in the UK, there is only a 1 in 4 chance that you’re working. That means that over 300,000 blind and partially sighted people are currently excluded from the workplace.
COLLABORATION: We commissioned this research from the University of Birmingham’s Department of Disability Inclusion and Special Needs. The briefing outlines the research findings and makes recommendations for a united response from the public, private and charity sectors to level the employment playing field for blind and partially sighted people.
INSIGHT: ‘One of the biggest barriers from my point of view is employer perception.’ Annika
Read the full report (PDF) >
Read the full report (plain text) >
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- £25.2bn
- The cost of sight loss to the UK economy is a staggering £25.2 billion a year.
Time to Focus
In 2021 we published a report to better understand impact and cost of sight loss on a growing number of individuals and broader society.
KEY FINDING: The cost of sight loss to the UK economy is a staggering £25.2 billion a year. That’s more than the combined annual expenditure of both the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.
COLLABORATE: As a leader in the fight against sight loss, we brought together sector partners, academics and people with eye conditions, including Kaleidoscope Research, London School of Economics (LSE) and Clarivate, to find out how best to catalyse action.
INSIGHT: ‘Eye research changes lives. Over the last decades we have seen the sight and lives of millions of people improved by advances due to research.’ Professor Sir Peng Khaw, consultant ophthalmic surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL institute of ophthalmology.
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Loneliness
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Domestic Abuse
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Employment
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Time to Focus
- Loneliness
- Domestic Abuse
- Employment
- Time to Focus