ROMSEY Rapids is working with the UK’s national charity for people with sight loss, British Blind Sport, to support the See Sport Differently (SSD) campaign.
It comes as research from the campaign shows that one in two blind and partially sighted people feel that having sight loss stops them from exercising as much as they want to.
Meanwhile, a further one in three says there are sports they want to try but have been unable to.
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The partnership has seen Romsey Rapids staff take part in an interactive workshop with British Blind Sport’s team to educate them about what it’s like living with sight loss, as well as thinking about physical and psychological barriers that exist at the leisure centre for those with sight loss.
The session provided advice on communication such as the suitable questions to ask in a front-of-house role, how to act as a guide for someone and using screen reader-friendly descriptive text for social media images.
Advice was also provided on making physical alterations to the venue, including adopting consistent layouts for equipment, and including tactile markings and contrasting colours.
Danny Churcher, contract manager for Places Leisure, which runs Romsey Rapids on behalf of Test Valley Borough Council, said: “All of our staff came away from the British Blind Sport workshop with a better understanding of how slight modifications to communication and the physical environment can level the playing field for those with sight loss.”
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Leisure and community portfolio holder, Cllr Terese Swain at Test Valley Borough Council, added, “We are pleased that Romsey Rapids has been able to adapt the facilities and train staff to support this new venture so that exercise opportunities are accessible to residents who are partially sighted and those living with sight loss.”
Frankie Rohan, workforce officer at British Blind Sport, is partially sighted and delivered the workshop to staff at Romsey Rapids.
She said: “Leisure centres are at the heart of communities, so to have the backing and commitment from Places Leisure and Romsey Rapids in creating a welcoming atmosphere for those with sight loss will go a long way to making blind and partially sighted people feel that their local leisure centre is a space that they can use easily, comfortably and confidently.”
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