A new accessibility training programme led by people with lived experience of sight loss has been rolled out at this year’s Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, marking what organisers describe as a significant step towards more inclusive cultural venues in Scotland.
Members of the Sight Loss Councils delivered Visual Impairment Inclusion and Sighted Guiding training to staff from Glasgow Life and the Celtic Connections festival.
It is the first time the training has been delivered on this scale by visually impaired people themselves.
Callum Lancashire, a member of the Sight Loss Council, said the project aimed to take accessibility training beyond traditional classroom approaches.
Glasgow Life has said it plans to build on the training beyond Celtic Connections and explore how it can be embedded across other events throughout the year
Sight Loss Councils are made up of visually impaired volunteers who work to improve accessibility and inclusion at a local and national level.
Councils are currently based in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dumfries and Galloway, with plans to expand further.
Callum Lancashire says “A lot of the training we want to take across different cultural venues, is about hearing directly from people with lived experience.
“This was the first opportunity we had with a larger scale venue that was willing to implement this training in a meaningful way.”
Mr Lancashire said similar checks had been carried out previously at venues during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
He added that delivering the training in an engaging way was crucial.
“There is a lot of training out there that people sit through and forget.
“This gives people a real sense of what it is like and helps them relate to the stories being shared.”
Following the training, Sight Loss Council members carried out a series of “secret shopper” visits to Celtic Connections venues to assess how effectively the learning had been put into practice.
According to the council, members reported positive experiences, with staff demonstrating a better understanding of how to support visually impaired audience members.
As part of the Celtic Connections visit, visually impaired audience members were also given a behind the scenes experience at a concert by award winning piper Ross Miller.
This included a touch tour of instruments and access to the soundcheck ahead of the performance.
Mr Lancashire said moments like these could transform the experience of live music.
“For the performers, it might only take a few minutes, but for someone sitting in the audience it brings a closeness they have never really had before.
“Many performers have never thought about that, and it makes them see their role differently.”
Mr Lancashire said the long term aim was to ensure accessibility was built in from the outset, rather than treated as an extra.
“This is about opening up arts and culture for the whole community.
“If people see that support will be offered as standard, it gives them confidence to go to theatres and gigs without worrying about whether they will be able to access the experience.”
The Sight Loss Councils hope to expand the programme to venues across Scotland, including outside major cities.
“We do not want this to be focused only on the central belt.
“Accessibility and inclusion should be everywhere, and there are tiny changes that can make a huge difference.”
The councils also have several projects planned for the year ahead, including a short film exploring stigma around visual impairment and a fully accessible day time disco in Glasgow.
“Our biggest mission is changing how society sees people with visual impairments.
“It is about breaking down stereotypes and making Scotland a place where everyone feels welcome.”
Sight Loss Councils in Scotland are supported by Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans and Visibility Scotland, and are delivered in partnership with the Thomas Pocklington Trust.
