How We Can Help

Our Helpline is your direct line to support, advice and products from RNIB to help you remain independent.

Call us on 0303 123 9999, or email [email protected] to speak to one of our advisors. We’re available from 8am to 8pm weekdays and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

Our specialist team of Sight Loss Advisers are dedicated to providing you with in-depth help and advice on a range of issues, such as:

• Common eye conditions
• The help you’re entitled to from your local council and health trust
• Certification and registration of sight loss
• Benefits and concessions to which you might be entitled
• Daily living, including shopping, travel and technology
• Education and employment
• Housing
• Social and leisure activities
• Other sources of local support and organisations that may be useful to you.

You can also learn about our reading services, and how you can borrow books and learning resources for adults and children in braille or audio, from the largest library of its kind in the UK.

Call us on 0303 123 9999 or email [email protected].

Our Eye Care Liaison service is an immediate point of contact for someone diagnosed with serious sight loss or an eye condition.

Our Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs) provide emotional and practical support. We are a confidential point of contact for anyone affected by sight loss, and their families, who are seeking help and advice. We don’t want you to feel as if you’re facing sight loss alone. Get in touch with your local ECLO today via our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email: [email protected].

Our Community Connections Team provide practical and emotional support to build confidence and independence. We can also help you meet or connect with others who are blind or partially sighted to share interests, experiences, and support for each other.

To get in touch with our team, contact: [email protected].

Join our welcoming and supportive space of over 1000 members on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/RNIBConnectscotland

We support blind and partially sighted children and young people, including those with complex needs, from birth to 25 years old, through specialist advice and guidance.

We also run events the whole family can enjoy. Find out more through our Children, young people and families in Scotland page.

We sell aids and equipment that can help you maximise your independence. Chat to our Product Co-Ordinator to find out more.

Our online booking system lets you arrange an appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays in person at our store, or over the phone or on video if you have access to Microsoft Teams.

Book an appointment by calling our helpline on 0303 123 9999, or online through our booking site.

Our Digital Skills team can give you information and support with:

• making the best use of your smartphone or tablet
• using accessibility software such as screen readers or magnifiers
• understanding the specifications of products
• discovering new products that could be useful to you
• troubleshooting and problem solving.

Our Digital Skills Volunteers provide one-to-one support for people with sight loss.

Contact RNIB’s Digital Skills team by calling our helpline on 0303 123 9999.

RNIB Scotland actively campaigns on matters of interest or concern to blind and partially sighted people, engaging with MSPs, MPs, councillors, civil servants, media, and commercial, public, and other third sector bodies.

Every day, people with sight loss meet barriers - from obtaining important information in a format they can’t read, to obstacles in the street making their journeys unsafe, and misconceptions of their abilities and ambitions.

If you have met any barriers to fully accessing your local town, services, or feel you have faced discrimination of any kind, our campaigns team can provide advice and support. Contact us on [email protected].

If you are or know a blind or partially sighted young person (16 –27 years old) then our Haggeye campaigning group may be of interest.

We can help you ensure your services and products are accessible and improve your overall customer experience, both face to face and online.

We can advise on website and app accessibility, provide transcription services, training and help you achieve our RNIB Tried and Tested accessibility certification.

Visit Services for business for further information.

Eye health information

The newly launched Scottish Government website Eyes.Scot shares useful information about eye health for individuals and professionals.

Diabetic Retinopathy screening

NHS Inform page gives details on how to protect against diabetic retinopathy and information about routine screening in Scotland.

Benefits

Social Security Scotland provides information on eligibility and applying for those benefits devolved to Scotland. For more guidance from RNIB on benefits, you can also visit our Money and Benefits page.

Travel Concessions Card

The National Entitlement Card (NEC) offers access to many public services including free travel for blind and partially sighted people.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Sight Advice FAQ website has answers to frequently asked questions around being blind or partially sighted.