How we deliver for a visually impaired youth group

February 2024

Phillipa from UK Parliament standing up while speaking to RNIB Haggeye Youth Group members. She is wearing a yellow hoody and gesturing with her hands. There are learning materials including a model Big Ben tower in from of her on a table.

Phillipa from UK Parliament standing up while speaking to RNIB Haggeye Youth Group members

Phillipa from UK Parliament standing up while speaking to RNIB Haggeye Youth Group members

The UK Parliament Outreach team offers bespoke differentiated sessions for community groups with specific needs, and we’ve worked extensively with the visually impaired community in Scotland.

In 2023 we were invited to Haggeye, a youth fourm run by RNIB Scotland, to connect with partially sighted young people in Scotland.

Partner organisation

Haggeye's cartoon logo is a cute cartoon haggis wearing a tartan beret with a white tuft and kilt and sporran. It's standing at a jaunty angle with its hands on its hips.

Haggeye's cartoon logo

Haggeye's cartoon logo

Haggeye is RNIB Scotland's award-winning youth forum that gives young people with sight loss a voice. It provides a friendly and supportive environment which allows young people to raise awareness of what it's like to be blind or partially sighted in Scotland today and what's important to them.

The Workshop

The Forth Valley sensory centre building from outside. It is a low, modern, wooden-clad building with greenery in the foreground and cars parked outside.

The Forth Valley Sensory Centre

The Forth Valley Sensory Centre

We met the Youth Group at the Forth Valley Sensory Centre, which is a fantastic accessible venue, designed to make moving around with a visual impairment as simple as possible.

The session covered:

An image from the seats on the left hand side (opposition side) of the Lords Chamber, facing the throne which is visible in the background, below a large gold canopy. The seats in the foreground are red leather benches. There is ornate dark panelling behind them, with decorative shields painted above.

The House of Lords chamber

The House of Lords chamber

The two houses of Parliament

We use props, such as squeezy Big Bens and different kinds of fabric to provide sensory input as we talk through the topics, covering the House of Commons, House of Lords and the role of the Monarchy.

Devolution

Activities using representative objects develop learning without using visual slides. For example, a bag representing various ‘devolved or not devolved’ issues (a toy car for transport, a penny for the economy) provides a prompt for discussions.

The United Kingdom is in pink

The British Isles on a world map

The British Isles on a world map

Representation

We talk about the breadth of ways members of Parliament can represent specific groups – for example, there are members of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons who are visually impaired. We also work closely with MPs in the constituencies we work in, so the MP came to visit and did a Q+A with participants about their role.

Legislation

We always do our research into important legislation which affects groups we’re working with, so we can talk about ways Parliament directly impacts their lives.

The Act is on aged paper, tied on the left with red ribbon. It says 'Parliament Act 1911' at the top, and AN ACT in the centre of the page. There is a smaller text summary underneath

An Act of Parliament

An Act of Parliament

How we can deliver for your group

Our outreach team can tailor your session for your group's needs

MPs sat in the crowded House of Commons. The Speaker is stood up in front of his chair in the centre of the room, with benches full of MPs either side

The House of Commons, ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

The House of Commons, ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

Our outreach team are experts in delivering to a huge range of audiences, and we'll do everything we can to make your session fulfilling for your group.

We'll work with you

Ahead of your session, we'll be in touch to find out what your group needs. From an overview of the roles of Parliament, to detailed sessions about the work of Select Committees, we'll cover the content you need.

If your group have specific requirements or learning differences, we'll find a way to make the session work for you - from PowerPoints to sounds to props to games.

Find out more
A facilitator wearing a yellow skirt stands in front of a room full of people, gesturing to a screen on which images of someone speaking in the House of Commons and someone speaking in the House of Lords
A facilitator stands in front of a small group of adults sat around a table, laughing with them

What we offer

  • We offer free workshops, events and training to community and youth groups, to help you get your voice heard.
    • We visit schools and colleges in person and online, to run free sessions for your students about UK Parliament and its work.
    • We offer EMPOWER! workshops, for adults with learning disabilities. These highly accessible sessions typically last 45 minutes and are adjusted around the needs of your group. They’re designed for a minimum of 10 people, including carers.
    • We offer EMPOWER! workshops, for adults with learning disabilities. These highly accessible sessions typically last 45 minutes and are adjusted around the needs of your group. They’re designed for a minimum of 10 people, including carers.
    • We also run SEND workshops, which are sensory based sessions aimed at pre-curriculum age students between 7-19 years old

    Please get in touch to find out how the Participation Team can work with your organisation to deliver tailored outreach activities.

    Contact us

    Further information

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