Samantha Gough

Sight Scotland has launched its new ‘More Than Meets The Eye’ campaign aimed at dispelling the negative perceptions of people living with sight loss across Scotland.

The charity’s new campaign will show people what life with sight loss can look like when they have the right support. Over the next three months, the campaign will aim to show the 180,000 people living with sight loss in Scotland what is possible, and that vision impairment isn’t a barrier to living a happy and fulfilling life.

Craig Spalding, chief executive of Sight Scotland, said: “Our new campaign message is simple; we know that you are more than meets the eye. We want people living with sight loss to know that we see them for who they are; they are mothers, writers, musicians, children, avid readers, football players, bingo enthusiasts, people who are living happy and fulfilling lives. They may just need a little help sometimes.

“We want to get rid of the negative perceptions surrounding sight loss and change the narrative to what is possible instead of what is not possible. This campaign will look to remove the common misconceptions and look beyond limitations by celebrating both the resilience and achievements of those living with sight loss.”

Samantha Gough, 20, who has a vision impairment and attended the charity’s Royal Blind School in Edinburgh, says she knows living with sight loss can be difficult, but it shouldn’t stop anyone from doing the things they love.

Sam, who features in Sight Scotland’s ‘More Than Meets The Eye’ campaign, explained: “I find the messaging behind this campaign so uplifting as it’s true that living with sight loss can be difficult, and yes you need extra help at times, but it shouldn’t stop anyone from living their life and doing the things they enjoy.

“I now captain the England Blind Football team, row on the pathway for Great Britian and will hopefully go to the Paralympics maybe even the Olympics, I horse ride, I socialise with friends, I am just so busy, and I love what I am doing. But I know a lot of this wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support I was given by Sight Scotland and the Royal Blind School in particular, as they taught me the skills and gave me the confidence to think I can do these things.”

Sight Scotland, formerly known as Royal Blind, is Scotland’s largest visual impairment organisation. It has been dedicated to meeting the challenges of visual impairment for more than 230 years. Its range of services support people with visual impairment and span all stages of sight loss, including learning services, support in the community, residential care, enterprise and funding for research. Sight Scotland runs the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh and the Scottish Braille Press.