Vision Foundation

Who they support

The Vision Fund is designed to support innovative projects that are changing the lives of visually impaired people in our communities and their families.

  • The average annual spending of grantees has been £7 million
  • The average age of charities supported has been years.

Grant criteria

In 1921 The Greater London Fund for the Blind was set up to support and give a voice to blind and partially sighted people across London. Today we’re called The Vision Foundation and we’re still transforming lives. We’ve distributed more than £30m to sight loss organisations that work to inform, include and empower London’s visually impaired community. Empowerment is at the heart of what we do; our work focuses on what people can do, rather than what they can’t.

Grant details

The Vision Fund is designed to support projects which empower, inform and include blind and partially sighted people and improve eye health across London. It is available for sight loss organisations and other specialist organisations which wish to reach blind and partially sighted people. We recognise applying for funding can be challenging, time consuming and stressful. Please get in touch with our team by emailing grants@visionfoundation.org.uk if you have ideas but are not sure if they fit our criteria, or if you would like any help with our application process.

www.visionfoundation.org.uk

hello@visionfoundation.org.uk

02076202066

Fight For Sight
18 MANSELL STREET
LONDON
E1 8AA


Charity registered in England & Wales, No: 1074958
Charity Commission for England and WalesFacebookInstagramTwitter
Analysis of Grants Made
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In this period 62 donations have been made totalling £1,790,216 to 43 organisations

Where are the Beneficiaries?
How big are the Recipients? ?
Which activities are being funded?
How old were the charities when supported?
Growth in Spending
(per annum over last 3 years)
Main Overlaps with other Grant Makers ?
By ValueBy Number
The National Lottery Community Fund 81% 60%
City Bridge Trust 58% 40%
Co-operative Group 35% 28%
DCMS 33% 26%
BBC Children in Need 32% 16%
The Clothworkers' Foundation 31% 19%
Masonic Charitable Foundation 28% 16%
Garfield Weston Foundation 26% 30%
Wolfson Foundation 21% 14%
Community Foundation for Surrey 20% 7%
Sole supporter: 26% by number, 9% by value.
Individual Grants Made
When Amount Annual
Spending
Grantee To be used for
13/12/2023 £30,000 CAMDEN DISABILITY ACTION To train 5 blind and partially sighted people (BPS) to lead change, transforming our Centre, into a community connectiveness hub for 300 members of the PBS community. They will have their access needs met in full and receive leadership training to run fi
13/12/2023 £30,000 £377,278 LOOK UK The core purpose is to reduce isolation and tackle barriers faced by VI young people and their families living in London.
13/12/2023 £30,000 £3,413,000 THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR BLIND CHILDREN At RSBC, we want every blind and partially sighted child, young person and their family to have the skills and confidence to live their life without limits. The project will reduce loneliness and isolation affecting blind and partially sighted children
13/12/2023 £29,623 £227,792 SUTTON VISION The project will reduce isolation and loneliness by increasing social connection for blind and partially sighted people through one to one befriending (telephone and community based) social / interest and peer support groups by utilising the skills of sta
13/12/2023 £7,000 INTERGENERATIONAL MUSIC MAKING The core purpose of our project is to create a vibrant and inclusive intergenerational experience in Islington, Westminster, Hackney, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets. Through five distinct intergenerational initiatives, each spanning ten weeks, we aim to add
13/12/2023 £24,947 £197,812 METRO BLIND SPORT Metro will create and implement an activity programme for VI people in London to fight loneliness and isolation. The programme will revolve around a calendar of 12 low intensity, high impact activities. We will target our less active members who are les
13/12/2023 £10,000 4SIGHT VISION SUPPORT Core funding
13/12/2023 £10,000 BERKSHIRE VISION Core funding
13/12/2023 £9,375 ISLE OF WIGHT SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND Core funding
13/12/2023 £10,000 £377,278 LOOK UK Core funding
10/03/2021 £9,500 £116,766 SUTTON VISION Assistive Technology Outreach for Visually Impaired People
10/03/2021 £9,990 £5,083,000 MACULAR SOCIETY Telephone Befriending: peer support for people with sight loss due to macular disease
10/03/2021 £49,979 £517,974 DISABILITY ADVICE SERVICE LAMBETH Working with visually impaired people of working age from across London to develop their radio and podcasting skills. They will learn how to present, interview and produce a weekly radio chat show remotely and face-to-face once COVID restrictions end and how to produce and promote podcasts.
10/03/2021 £50,000 £42,210,000 BLIND VETERANS UK Remote support services for elderly blind and partially sighted people living throughout Greater London, including provision of remote rehabilitation interventions, creative activity support, and 1:1 and group emotional and rehabilitative support.
10/03/2021 £50,000 £21,141,249 SEEABILITY Recruitment of a London Pathway Expert by Experience and a Co-ordinator to engage with Local Optical Committees and health commissioners and present to them the need for commissioning of the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) Learning Disability eye care pathway in all London boroughs.
10/03/2021 £43,890 £278,420 METRO SPORT AND SOCIAL CLUB OF VISION IMPAIRED PEOPLE This project targets blind and partially sighted young people and adults from the Asian community to be active through dance. This project will support those disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, using dance to tackle inactivity, isolation and the loss of independence. This project combines 4 elements: 1) 8-week home based virtual dance programme to initiate engagement with inactive people; 2) support material to empower people to transition from home to community-based activity; 3) 12-week dance programme in 5 London Boroughs with high Asian populations; 4) stakeholder engagement programme to imbed support.
10/03/2021 £47,450 £4,830,000 THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR BLIND CHILDREN Support for blind and partially sighted young people living in London (aged 16-25) to access employment by providing bespoke, 1-2-1 employment support to young people and working with employers to open up the employment market for blind young people. The support will be available both online and in person.
23/09/2020 £9,700 £2,557,176 KENT ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND Covid-19 Assistive Technology Support Service for visually impaired people (Covid-19 response grant)
17/08/2020 £8,890 £702,380 LONDON VISION Establish Sight Loss Council for London and virtual network of engagement champions to tackle inequality and challenge decision makers. (Covid-19 response grant)
09/06/2020 £10,000 £257,888 BLIND IN BUSINESS The funding is for staff to support blind and partially sighted people back to work who have been directly unemployed due to Covid-19. This work will be done remotely to abide by social distancing rules. (Covid-19 response grant)
19/05/2020 £5,800 £3,716,291 THE PHOTOGRAPHERS' GALLERY "Slow Looking" sessions on Zoom led by audio-describers. Although open for all, they are particularly designed for people who are blind and visually-impaired. Over one hour, participants unpack and discuss three photographs by one artist. 10 sessions for up to 30 people each. (Covid-19 response grant)
11/03/2020 £90,000 £515,154 CROYDON VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £90,000 £86,357 KINGSTON ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £90,000 £394,281 MERTON VISION Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £180,000 £1,039,532 BLINDAID Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £90,000 £2,472,592 SIGHT FOR SURREY Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £180,000 £21,141,249 SEEABILITY Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £90,000 £116,766 SUTTON VISION Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £126,000 £489,813 MIDDLESEX ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND Transition grant offered at end of membership structure (core funding for 3 years)
11/03/2020 £5,000 £257,888 BLIND IN BUSINESS To enable Blind in Business to offer employment support to blind and partially sighted people
04/03/2020 £40,000 EYE HEROES To run workshops for children to raise their awareness of the importance of eye health and so that they can inform others in their community.
04/03/2020 £15,000 £69,471,916 SENSE UK To pair young blind and partially sighted peole with additional difficulties with a buddy who can help them take part in activities.
04/03/2020 £14,873 AFGHANISTAN & CENTRAL ASIAN ASSOCIATION Engage and empower a target group of recent migrant, refugee and isolated women to look after their own and their families' eye health.
04/03/2020 £20,000 £21,141,249 SEEABILITY To make eye tests accessible to adults with learning disabilities.
04/03/2020 £15,000 £1,109,384 THE CHANGE FOUNDATION VI Rugby Festivals: creation of the first national visually impaired rugby festivals in London (2 annual events)
04/03/2020 £16,000 £202,289 TIMEBANKING UK To make Timebanks in London more inclusive and accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
04/03/2020 £16,000 £581,848 TIME AND TALENTS ASSOCIATION Inter-generational project bringing young and old blind and partially sighted people together to build friendships and peer support through joint experiences.
04/03/2020 £15,000 £116,766 SUTTON VISION To provide outreach services to reach more blind and partially sighted people in the community.
04/03/2020 £13,560 £338,941 THE AMBER TRUST To run Music Makers workshops for blind and partially sighted young people with additional disabilities at Linden Lodge School in Wandsworth and Joseph Clarke School in Waltham Forest.
04/03/2020 £3,000 LUNCH CLUB + 4 THE BLIND Lunch Clubs for older blind and partially sighted people.
04/03/2020 £20,000 £1,056,876 QUEEN?S CRESCENT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION To raise awareness of the importance of having eye tests and leading a healthy lifestyle as a way of preventing avoidable blindness. To enable blind and partially sighted people to exercise by giving them support to use the Gym.
04/03/2020 £2,898 £11,889 BROMLEY DISTRICT TALKING NEWS Talking News in Bromley for visually impaired people
04/03/2020 £14,850 £279,392 LOOK UK Mentoring project officer to run the Look mentoring programme in London. The programme aims to support visually impaired young people.
04/03/2020 £4,997 £517,974 DISABILITY ADVICE SERVICE LAMBETH Smashing Records Radio Show: Visually impaired people will be invited to be guests on and host the show once a month and to attend two VI radio training workshops
04/03/2020 £15,000 £27,460 BALUJI MUSIC FOUNDATION To increase employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired musicians by facilitating performances, recordings, and other activities through the Inner Vision Orchestra.
04/03/2020 £4,980 COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE EAST LONDON Feasibility study to develop a community leadership programme for BAME people who are blind and/or partially sighted.
04/03/2020 £10,000 £92,866,000 ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BLIND PEOPLE Funding for a London employment advisor to raise awareness amongst employers re. employing blind and partially sighted people. To prevent those who have newly lost their sight from losing their jobs.
04/03/2020 £19,914 MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FOR REFORM AND PROGRESSION To run martial arts and self-defence classes for blind and partially sighted people.
04/03/2020 £5,000 £182,093 EXTANT No Dramas: regular, free monthly drama club in London for visually impaired adults
04/03/2020 £10,000 £2,472,592 SIGHT FOR SURREY To run the 'Today Matters for Tomorrow' Project which involves providing ECLO support, benefits advice and making materials available for other organisations on how to support blind and partially sighted people.
25/09/2019 £6,000 £731,066 PANATHLON FOUNDATION LTD To run sports sessions for blind and partially sighted children in London
25/09/2019 £6,000 £27,460 BALUJI MUSIC FOUNDATION To run music spotlight workshops for blind and partially sighted musicians in London as part of the 2020 inner vision orchestra festival.
25/09/2019 £6,000 £768,290 MOUSETRAP THEATRE PROJECTS To run 3-4 Envision days. Envision gives visually impaired young people an opportunity to experience London?s West End in an accessible way. Each trip includes a workshop, on-stage touch tour and audio described matinee performance at a West End play or musical.
25/09/2019 £6,000 £515,154 CROYDON VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND To run Seeing Beyond the Eyes workshops for Eye health professionals to enable them to be aware of the need to refer to other services.
25/09/2019 £6,000 £61,356,000 JEWISH CARE To support older blind and partially sighted people in acquiring the digital skills they need for everyday life.
25/09/2019 £6,000 WOOD STREET WALL CIC To create tactile and accessible art in London
25/09/2019 £6,000 £581,848 TIME AND TALENTS ASSOCIATION To continue to run social activities for older blind and partially sighted people.
05/06/2019 £15,000 £257,888 BLIND IN BUSINESS To provide unemployed visually impaired undergraduates and graduates with employment support.
05/06/2019 £5,000 LUNCH CLUB + 4 THE BLIND To provide a weekly lunch club for isolated blind and partially sighted older people who face additional challenges e.g, accessing transport.
05/06/2019 £7,500 £2,557,176 KENT ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND To provide a counselling service in partnership with a local college to blind and partially sighted people in South East London.
05/06/2019 £7,500 £3,158,360 DEAFBLIND UK To run social groups for deafblind people in Greater London
05/06/2019 £10,000 £489,813 MIDDLESEX ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND To run 1-to-1 IT sessions for blind and partially sighted people in Middlesex.
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