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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Thomas Pocklington Trust, Pocklington Hub, 3 Queen Square, London (2026)

05/06/2026

The countdown is almost over.

Tomorrow, we come together at the Sight Loss Councils Conference to celebrate the volunteers whose passion, dedication and lived experience are helping to create positive change across the Thomas Pocklington Trust and Sight Loss Councils network.

Ahead of the ceremony, we’re proud to reveal the shortlisted nominees for Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering – Student Voices, kindly sponsored by Guide Dogs.

Congratulations to:

• Faith McBridge-Harrow

• Khansa Maria

• Maymunah Bashir

• Zehra Yunel

Each nominee has made an outstanding contribution, using their voice and experience to support others and help shape a more inclusive future.

Find out more about why they’ve been shortlisted and view the full shortlist here: https://www.pocklington.org.uk/news/rodney-powell-awards-2026-shortlist/

Who will take home the award? We’ll reveal the winners tomorrow at the 2026 Rodney Powell Awards 2026!

Image descriptions:

Image 1: Graphic banner with a dark blue gradient background featuring soft, translucent circular shapes and scattered gold dots. On the left, a gold‑outlined rounded rectangle displays “2026.” Large white and gold text reads “Rodney Powell Awards,” with “Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering – Student Voices” shown prominently below in white. Decorative curved gold lines sweep across the right side, with a subtle glowing effect near the lower right corner, creating a polished, celebratory feel.

Image 2: Faith, Student Voices member, sits at a wooden desk with a microphone on a stand.

Image 3: Khansa, Student Voices member, looks to her side. She wears a light hijab and beige coat and sits outdoors. Green foliage softly blurs in the background.

Image 4: Image shows Zehra, Student Voices member, smiling at the camera. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, she is wearing a white jumper, and sunglasses.

04/06/2026

Ever spent ages looking for your keys, wallet or phone?

Today is World Day for Assistive Technology, which celebrates the products and innovations that help disabled people live more independently and navigate everyday life with greater confidence.

It’s also the perfect time to register for our upcoming Tech Friday: Finding Things event.

On Friday 12 June, from 11am–1pm at Pocklington Hub, London WC1N 3AR, we’ll be exploring practical assistive technology that can help blind and partially sighted people locate everyday items more easily.

From smart trackers and key finders to accessible apps such as Orrion, we’ll demonstrate a range of solutions designed to take the stress out of searching for misplaced belongings and help you keep track of the things that matter most.

There will also be time after the session to speak one-to-one with our technology experts, ask questions and get personalised advice based on your own needs.

World Day for Assistive Technology is a reminder of how technology can make everyday tasks easier. Join us on 12 June and discover some of these solutions for yourself.

Register here:�https://tinyurl.com/ppcp6pyd

Image description: Text reads: “Tech Friday is back
Finding Things: Explore tools to help you locate lost items independently. Friday 12 June 2026, 11am-1pm, The TPT Hub. Book your place”. The TPT logo is on the bottom left. Towards the right is images of item-finding technology, including a whistle-responsive key finder attached to keys, a smartphone displaying the Orrion object-finding app, and an Apple AirTag attached to a bag.

03/06/2026

Volunteers’ Week Spotlight: Jamie Ward, TPT Trustee

As we continue our Volunteers’ Week celebrations, we’re proud to recognise the Trustees whose guidance and dedication help shape the future of Thomas Pocklington Trust.

“My own sight loss became my purpose to help others.”

Jamie joined TPT’s Board of Trustees following his own sight loss journey and a career focused on helping people succeed in the workplace.

Reflecting on his time with TPT, Jamie says he has been “blown away by the talent amongst the TPT interns” and finds serving on the Board hugely rewarding.

Asked what he would say to someone considering volunteering, Jamie shared:
“It’s incredibly rewarding – you get as much back as you put in.”

Thank you, Jamie, for your invaluable contribution and for helping us create a more inclusive future for blind and partially sighted people.

Image description: Graphic from Thomas Pocklington Trust for Volunteers’ Week featuring large quote text reading “My own sight loss became my purpose to help others.” Attribution below reads Jamie Ward, Trustee, Thomas Pocklington Trust. Layout includes TPT logo at top left and Volunteers’ Week icon with raised hands at top right. Bottom right shows a cropped head-and-shoulders portrait of Jamie wearing a dark polo shirt against a light background.

02/06/2026

Sight loss groups are concerned about new-style bus stops in places including Leeds and Cleckheaton.

02/06/2026

Leonie Milliner, CEO of the General Optical Council, described Get Set Progress Internship as “transformative” for her organisation.

That word matters.

Because for years now, the General Optical Council has continued to host interns through the programme, not as a one-off gesture, but as an ongoing commitment to inclusive recruitment and accessible workplaces.

Get Set Progress gives blind and partially sighted people the opportunity to build meaningful careers through nine-month paid internships, while giving employers the support and confidence to create more inclusive teams.

And you will not be doing it alone.

We support employers throughout the process with recruitment, accessibility guidance, training and funding support. What we ask in return is simple: create the opportunity and be open to the impact it can have.

Expressions of interest for the 2026/27 programme close on 10 June, so we encourage organisations to submit their interest as soon as possible.

If your organisation has been thinking seriously about inclusion, this is a practical and proven way to take action.

Submit your expression of interest here: https://tinyurl.com/693svrb9

Image description: Branded graphic from Thomas Pocklington Trust promoting the Get Set Progress internship programme. The image has a dark teal background with the TPT logo in the top left and “Get Set Progress internship programme” in the top right. A large quote reads: “As an employer, the programme has been transformative for us. Now we have so much more confidence in our ability to offer employment and internship opportunities to blind or partially sighted colleagues.” The quote is attributed to Leonie Milliner, CEO of the General Optical Council.

01/06/2026

Volunteers’ Week 2026 starts today, and throughout the week we’ll be celebrating the incredible volunteers who help make our work possible.

Today, we’re shining a spotlight on our Student Voices volunteers, young people who are using their voices and lived experience to help shape a more inclusive future.

Through the Student Voices programme, blind and partially sighted students can share their experiences, develop their confidence, and help improve understanding of accessibility in education and beyond.

“I became a Student Voices volunteer to advocate for visually impaired students while developing my public speaking and advocacy skills.”
- Zehra, Student Voices

We’re proud to support the volunteers who are helping to raise awareness, challenge barriers, and show what is possible.

Find out more about Student Voices and Young Voices: https://www.pocklington.org.uk/education/engage-with-us/student-voices-young-voices/become-a-volunteer/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Image description: Graphic from Thomas Pocklington Trust for Volunteers’ Week featuring large quote text reading “I became a Student Voices volunteer to advocate for visually impaired students while developing my public speaking and advocacy skills.” Attribution below reads Zehra, Student Voices Volunteer. Design includes the TPT logo at the top left and a Volunteers’ Week icon with raised hands at the top right. Bottom right shows a cropped portrait of a person wearing round sunglasses and a light top, set against a colourful outdoor background.

01/06/2026

We know real Pride month isn’t just about a logo change.

What is real is that blind and partially sighted people who are LGBTQ+ continue to be underrepresented, underserved, and too often overlooked altogether.

We hear it again and again.

People who don’t feel fully at home in LGBTQ+ spaces because things aren’t accessible.

People who don’t feel seen in sight loss or disability services because their identity isn’t recognised or understood. And when you’re navigating both at once, those gaps stack up.

We’ve known as a society for a while that disabled LGBTQ+ people are being let down. Back in 2019, more than 9 in 10 said their needs weren’t properly considered in care and support, and there’s little to suggest things have meaningfully changed since then.

Too often, LGBTQ+ blind and partially sighted people are excluded from q***r spaces because venues, events and communications aren’t accessible. At the same time, disability services can overlook or ignore LGBTQ+ identity entirely.

And still, the data is patchy. The lived experiences behind these figures are even harder to find.

That absence isn’t neutral.
It means people get overlooked.
It means support isn’t designed accessibly.
It means people are left to figure things out on their own.
That’s without the expectation to remain grateful for the crumbs of inclusivity which is exhausting.

So yes, we do change our logo during Pride month, because visibility matters during Pride month, especially if you’re someone looking for a sign that a space might be safe, or at least trying to be.

If that small, visible signal helps even one person feel recognised, safer, or less alone this month, then it matters.

But we know that’s the smallest part of it.

The work is in everything else, the listening, the learning, the changes we make behind the scenes and the ones we’re still figuring out.

We want blind and partially sighted LGBTQ+ people to feel like they don’t have to edit themselves to access support. Not here. Not anywhere.

And we’re not going to pretend we’ve got that perfectly right.
If we miss the mark, tell us.

If something doesn’t feel accessible or inclusive, we want to hear it.
Because Pride, like accessibility, isn’t about saying the right thing.
It’s about whether people are actually included.

If you are blind or partially sighted and would like to talk to us about employment, education or anything else, visit pocklington.org.uk

Image Description:
Pride rainbow flag in multicoloured stripes, overlain my a white rectangle with curved corners with the TPT logo inside it.

29/05/2026

Thinking about your next career step?

Our Get Set Progress Internship applications open later this summer, and before they do, we’re inviting blind and partially sighted job seekers to join a special Let’s Talk Jobs webinar on 8 June.

This online session is a chance to hear from our Internships and Employment teams about what the programme involves, the support available throughout the internship and what to expect from the application process.

The Get Set Progress Internship is a paid 9-month opportunity designed to help blind and partially sighted people build confidence, develop workplace skills and gain valuable experience.

Webinar details:

Date: 8 June
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Location: Microsoft Teams

Register here: https://pocklington.tfaforms.net/5069021?event=701Pz00000pxaoc&tfa_168=6

If you know someone who could benefit from this opportunity, please share this post with them.

Image description: Live Webinar event. Text reads: “’Let’s Talk Jobs’ Spotlight on GSP Internship, Join our internships and Employment teams, live webinar, 8th June 2-3pm, Sign up now”, with a right pointing arrow. An image of Muhammed, a past GSP intern, is on the top right. The TPT logo is on the top left.

28/05/2026

Volunteering that changes lives deserves to be recognised.

The Thomas Pocklington Trust’s Rodney Powell Awards 2026 shortlist is here, and we’re delighted to highlight two outstanding finalists for Volunteer of the Year.

Khadija Hassan – Student Voices
From shaping digital content to supporting events and partnerships, Khadija has helped create a stronger, more inclusive space for young people.

Tom Ashforth – Young Voices
Through advocacy and national campaigning, Tom is empowering young people with sight loss and championing their voices on a wider stage.

These incredible volunteers represent the energy and impact being celebrated throughout Sight Loss Councils Activity Week.

Special thanks to Arriva North West for sponsoring this award.

We can’t wait to celebrate the winners on Saturday, 6 June at the Rodney Powell Awards.

Explore the full list of shortlisted candidates here:�https://www.pocklington.org.uk/news/rodney-powell-awards-2026-shortlist/

Image descriptions:

Image 1: Navy background with gold glitter. Text reads: “2026 Rodney Powell Awards. Volunteer of the Year”.

Image 2: Tom standing inside a white building with colourful decorations behind him. He is wearing a blue denim jacket, white t-shirt, a colourful land-yard and glasses. Tom is smiling at the camera and has brown curly hair.

Image 3: Selfie taken by a male with Khadija and another female. They are all smiling happily and dressed casually.

27/05/2026

Tech Friday returns!

Join us on Friday 12 June 2026 for our upcoming Finding Things Tech Friday session.

Losing everyday items is something we all experience. For blind or partially sighted people, however, locating misplaced belongings can be especially difficult. Even when something is close by, not being able to see it can make the search frustrating and time-consuming.

In this session, we will look at three practical solutions to help you find lost items:

* Key finders that respond when you whistle
* Smartphone apps, such as Orrion, that help locate nearby objects
* AirTags, which can track belongings over longer distances using the Find My app

The event will take place from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Pocklington Hub, 3 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR.

You are also welcome to stay after the session to speak one-to-one with our technology team for any questions you may have.

Sighted guide support from Russell Square Underground station (Piccadilly line) is available on request, with a 10:30am meeting time.

Please note this is a face-to-face event only and will not be recorded or streamed online.

Register here for Tech Friday:�https://pocklington.tfaforms.net/5069021?event=701Pz000011eMf4&tfa_168=6

Alternatively, you can ring us on 0208 995 0880 to register.

See you on 12 June!

Image description: Text reads: “Tech Friday is back.
Finding Things: Explore tools to help you locate lost items independently. Friday 12 June 2026, 11am-1pm, The TPT Hub. Book your place”. The TPT logo is on the bottom left. Towards the right is images of item-finding technology, including a whistle-responsive key finder attached to keys, a smartphone displaying the Orrion object-finding app, and an Apple AirTag attached to a bag

Thomas Pocklington Trust

05/06/2026

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm