The ICO commissioned this toolkit for (primarily) independent film exhibitors to support their work in making their venues and services more inclusive and accessible for visually impaired people.

Sight Loss in the UK

  • It is estimated that currently, over two million people in the UK live with sight loss that is severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives, such as their not being able to drive.
  • Every day, 250 people start to lose their sight in the UK.
  • As we get older we are increasingly likely to experience sight loss, and the UK population is ageing. In addition, sight loss is strongly linked with certain medical conditions as well as lifestyle factors such as diabetes and obesity – the rates of which are both rising.
  • The number of people with sight loss is estimated to rise to 2.7 million by 2030. By 2050, the current figure will double to over four million.

People living with sight loss want to enjoy the same experiences as everyone else. This includes going to the cinema and there is therefore a strong economic argument for film exhibitors to meet this demand, as well as the obvious social and moral imperatives for cultural organisations to aim to serve everyone within their community.

In addition, cinemas have a legal duty to make their services accessible to all people with disabilities, including visually impaired people, under the Equality Act 2010. People with disabilities who feel they have been refused or denied reasonable access to a service have the option to take the service provider to court.

Organisations that are inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities gain enhanced community reputation and trust. People with disabilities are loyal to organisations which provide a consistently good and inclusive service.

Read the full ICO guide to Developing Visually Impaired Audiences, and check out their web page on Subtitling and audio description for information around screening accessibly to blind and partially-sighted audiences.

Understanding Sight Loss – Bhavini’s story

Action on Loneliness in Care Homes

A report on “Action on Loneliness in care homes: an intergenerational project” which was commissioned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Public Health team and was run by Magic Me between October 2015 and October 2016.

Old School: A Guide for Schools

Now the BBC’s filming and involvement has finished, we at the Oxford Academy are taking the Old School project forward independently. We’re extending the pilot further with the aim of creating a universal framework for schools who would like to run their own similar schemes. In the meantime we’re sharing the things we’ve learnt so … More

Diversity and inclusion, why are we still talking about it? Best Practice Recruitment Guide for Creative Leaders

Creative & Cultural Skills, on behalf of the Creative Careers Programme, has launched a new Best Practice Recruitment Guide for Creative Leaders. The Best Practice Recruitment Guide for Creative Leaders has been designed to help employers reflect on how they might currently approach recruitment and offers simple steps that could help a business reach beyond … More

FACT Liverpool: Dear Future Worker

The Digital Ambassadors, a creative and digital programme for the over 60s, have been working closely with Holy Family Primary School in an intergenerational project exploring the past and future workplaces of Liverpool. Focusing on the idea of a workers’ identity, the groups have worked together with artist Sarah Bailey to create the short film Dear … More

Womxn is Work – Liv Wynter and Grrrl Power Liverpool

Marking one hundred years since the suffragettes secured the first Women’s votes, Womxn is Work delves into women’s working rights and addresses our aspirations for the future through the revisiting of the past. Over the course of 8 weeks Liv Wynter and Grrrl Power Liverpool have collaborated with a group of women and non-binary people to co-design … More

BBC programmes: Intergenerational Volunteering

Intergenerational volunteering is when young and older people volunteer to get together, taking part in activities, programmes and projects. It can happen without the label being attached, but the key thing is the aim of bringing the generations together.

Magic Me

Magic Me is an arts charity that brings the generations together to build a stronger, safer community. Projects often link unlikely partners. Young people aged 8+ and adults aged 60+ team up through shared, creative activity. Intergenerational groups meet on a weekly basis in schools, museums, older peoples clubs, care homes, community and cultural organisations.

Linking Generations Northern Ireland

Linking Generations NI specialise in the promotion of intergenerational practice, providing structured opportunities to link generations, improving understanding and increasing mutual support. This contributes to the building of age-friendly communities where we respect each other, have a voice and get to play our part.