The UK Vision Strategy

The UK Vision Strategy

The UK Vision Strategy is a ground-breaking VISION2020 UK initiative to develop a unified plan for action on all issues relating to sight loss and eye health, across the four countries of the UK. It was launched on Friday 18 April at a conference in London, and to celebrate the launch a supplement in The Guardian about the UK Vision Strategy and what it means for people in the UK is now available.

Over 650 organisations and individuals - including many guide dog owners and Guide Dogs staff - have played a role in developing the Strategy and contributing to the supplement, including people with sight loss, users of eyecare services, eye health and social care professionals and statutory and voluntary organisations. The UK Governments have also given their support to the Strategy.

It is the first time that such a breadth of groups have come together to set the direction for eye health and sight loss services. Together, they make a powerful force for change.

The UK Vision Strategy aims to:

Improve the eye health of the people of the UK

Eliminate avoidable sight loss and deliver excellent support to those with a visual impairment Enhance the inclusion, participation and independence of blind and partially sighted people

The UK Vision Strategy has been developed in response to a World Health Assembly resolution in 2003, which urged the development of national plans to tackle sight loss.

The ten-strong Strategic Advisory Group, steering the development of the Strategy, is made up of the following organisations:

Action for Blind People

ADASS

British and Irish Orthoptic Society

Eye Health Alliance

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People (NALSVI)

NHS Confederation

RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists

VISION 2020 UK

For more information go to www.vision2020uk.org.uk or visit www.societyguardian.co.uk/visionofthefuture to read The Guardian supplement

Free copies of The Guardian Society supplement are also available, in normal and alternative formats (braille, audio and large print), from RNIB Customer Services by phoning 0845 702 3153 or emailing cservices@rnib.org.uk