Nationally, 75% of visually impaired people of working age are unemployed. 9 out of 10 visually impaired people have an income of less than half of national average. Visually impaired people are more disadvantaged in society than their sighted peers. Sight loss shatters self-confidence and independence and leads to enormous emotional, social, practical and financial problems. Two key factors are widely recognised to be at the heart of this: lack of training opportunities and lack of employer awareness about the abilities of visually impaired people. Unable to access opportunities to further their personal development, many people with a sight loss are forced to rely on benefits and feel devalued by society. We are the only service provider for visually impaired people that offers a pre-vocational training course. - Skillstep is a free, 12-week course for visually impaired people of working age. - We provide the vital first steps and skills to enable them to identify and pursue paid employment, Further or Higher Education, or voluntary work. - The course covers: Vocational Guidance & Training; Information Technology; Personal & Social Development; Independence & Mobility Training; Work Experience. - The course is delivered from our Resource Centres in Manchester & Liverpool, and from the premises of community partners in Newcastle. - The students receive an accredited qualification. - Skillstep challenges employers' misconceptions through arranging work placements and providing Visual Impairment Awareness Training, offering a positive model for challenging discrimination in the workplace. In the last two years, over a third of our students have moved straight into work, voluntary work or further education. Be part of our students’ successes!