Visage – Improving employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people
Three out of four visually impaired people of working age in the UK are unemployed. It is 10 years now since the Disability Discrimination Act and these figures still hold true.
Visage is a UK and European employment project led by Action for Blind People, focused on improving employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.
Over the next two and half years, the Visage Partnership will be investing £3 million in a series of projects designed to support both employers and employees, which includes:
• Research to gain a better understanding of the barriers that blind and partially sighted people face in the workplace,
• Toolkits for employers and employees providing advice and guidance,
• The setting up of small businesses that will directly employ blind and partially sighted people, giving them first hand knowledge and real experience in establishing and running a successful business.
This year, five businesses have been established in London involving Catering, Procurement, Computer Refurbishment, Document Scanning and Storage and Warehouse Distribution. They are the first of their kind to be set up and managed by teams comprised totally of blind and partially sighted people. Practical and financial support are provided, but the aim is to produce businesses that are commercially viable and sustainable.
As a fast paced project with finite deadlines, Visage will deliver real businesses with real work experience that offer true progression into ongoing employment.
“Without Action for Blind People, I would never have had the opportunity to pursue a career in business, which is what I’d always wanted to do. Before I was stuck doing very unrewarding manual work, but I’m now living my dream.”
Rob, a Visage Business Manager from London
To find out more about Visage, download the brochure below or visit the Visage website www.visage-equal.org.uk
What is VISAGE? 
What is VISAGE? 
What Is Visage Word version (98 KB)
To find out more about the companies that have been set up as a result of the visage project, please visit their websites:
www.pdsdirect.net/
www.irisdigitalarchiving.co.uk/
As well as providing support to blind and partially sighted people, the Visage project is also supporting employers who are interested in recruiting staff with disabilities or have a member of staff who has developed a disability. There is an online support package available at www.visage-employers.org.uk
