What we learned from the Members Survey and what's next for members

We wanted to get an understanding of what was important to you and for this to influence our services for people living locally with a sight loss.  

The pandemic caused big changes to provision of Vista’s social activities and social inclusion programmes, and these findings will shape what’s on offer going forwards.  

At this stage we’re looking at the trends and appetite for different types of provision. Please note any feedback relating to specific individuals will be addressed separately. 

Listed in order of interest, there is a need for the following: 

• Meeting in person with others who have lived experience of sight loss (60% of people) and for the option to attend online (16% of people) 
• Finding out local news, events and activities that are accessible to visually impaired people (71% of people) 
• Support in understanding Visually Impaired people’s rights and benefit entitlements (67% of people) Opportunities to attend regular drop ins for a coffee and chat (65% of people) 
• A group to meet with, and share life with (55% of people) 
• The opportunity to go on group trips with Vista (47% of people) suggestions of trips included garden centres, boat trips, stately homes, holidays, dinners, farms, animal sanctuaries, acoustic shooting, shopping, hikes, cooking, swimming, sporting and music events. Support to develop social interactions (45% of people) 
• Support coming to terms with sight loss (32% of people) 
• To be able to share tips for daily living with others (32% of people) 

We asked a couple of questions to get some insight into how we could develop what it means to be a member of Vista: 

• 58% of people would be interested in in a paid membership if it meant more services and opportunities were available. 
• 66% of people would be prepared to pay a small fee to attend events, courses or activities, if it meant more services could be on offer. 

• There is an interest in a gardening group, which used to run previously 
• Transport Provision across the locality so people can go to events/activities in their area 
• Some people miss the previous social groups Volunteers are needed to enable some programmes to run with enough support.

We’re using this feedback in a number of funding bids to provide the support and recognised needs. This won’t all happen overnight, but we can tell you the plan and how we’ll be realising the spread of support services overtime.  

• We’ll be starting social drop ins so there is a place to meet for a coffee and chat on a regular basis. We’ll start with a couple of meeting points (in and outside of the city) and a Zoom drop in and expand in time and as demand grows. 
• We’re in the process of applying for funding to run a programme of social activities taking place in person with the option for people to attend online too. Following on from the Virtual Activity programme, these sessions will continue to include talks and discussions on relevant subjects, e.g coming to terms with sight loss/ the emotional impact of sight loss.   
• Vista has been funded by the Department of Transport as part of their “tackling loneliness through transport” project, to improve the accessibility of local transport and travel information. Watch out for information about the transport available to you, in your preferred format, which will be sent out this winter. 
• We’re in the process of applying for funding to run a telephone course providing one-to-one support for people to gain confidence getting out of the house and to re-introduce regular social interaction.  
• We’ll be developing plans for a membership where people can have regular communication about local news, events and relevant updates/info around finance (e.g entitlements) that are accessible to visually impaired people, as well as discounts and invites to special events. This would also include ways people can have opportunities to ‘ask the group’ and share knowledge.  
• We’ll plan some group trips and campaign for volunteers to support these events. These trips will be discounted where possible.  

• To start small volunteer led peer support groups around shared interests or area (e.g gardening may be one given the interest).  
• Launch the programme of social activities and the telephone on-to-one support once funding is confirmed 
• Launch the new Vista membership opportunity detailed previously (free membership in current form will still continue).  

Thank you again to those who participated in this questionnaire. We’ll keep you updated with the plans and opportunities as they develop.  

If you have any further questions about our Member Survey or would like the information in an alternative format, please contact Rebecca, our Members Support Manager on 07715 078789 or at rebecca.hogarth@vistablind.org.uk.