Celebrating the 'Power of People' this World Sight Day

Released: Friday 9 October 2026

1 – The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney alongside L-R, Robert Shilliday, RNIB NI Country Director and Ken Carson, RNIB NI Ambassador with guide dog Waffle.

RNIB Northern Ireland and Ards and North Down Borough Council hosted a joint event in Bangor Castle to celebrate the 'Power of People' on World Sight Day (Thursday 8 October).

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The event took place to recognise community champions, and to honour a partnership between theRoyal National Institute of Blind People in Northern Ireland (RNIB NI) and Ards and North Down Borough Council who are working together to create a 'Visibly Better Borough' for blind and partially sighted people in the district.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney welcomed guests to Bangor Castle to shine a spotlight on the impact of collaboration between local council, charities, volunteers and community advocates in creating a more inclusive society.

This year's World Sight Day theme, 'The Power of People', recognises the vital role individuals and communities play in driving positive change. Guests heard how partnership working and local sight loss ambassadors are helping to improve accessibility, awareness and opportunities for people living with sight loss. Speakers also reflected on achievements to date and shared ambitions for the future.

Special tribute was paid to local man Ken Carson who, himself, lives with sight loss and is a long-standing RNIB volunteer and sight loss campaigner. Ken was celebrated for his years of dedicated advocacy and worked tirelessly to improve accessibility and raise awareness of the barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people across Northern Ireland. Through sharing his own sight loss journey, Ken has used his considerable influence to raise awareness and bring about real positive change in his community.

Ken said: "Losing your sight is a grieving process and it takes time to find your feet but for me, the support given to me by RNIB NI and Sensory Support has been a game changer.

"At the beginning of my journey I wasn't in a good place, but now I take part in groups, Visually Impaired Tennis and VI Golf, kayaking, snowtubing, you name it, I'll try it. RNIB NI opened so many doors for me and I chose to walk through them. I needed the vital peer-to-peer support that these groups offered."

Ken chairs the local Bangor campaigning group - SIGHT - a group that was instrumental in lobbying for a new controlled crossing on the Bangor Ring Road recently. "This group makes change happen and patience and positivity pays off," he said.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney said,

"World Sight Day shines a spotlight on the importance of accessibility and inclusion. By working closely with RNIB and listening to the experiences of people living with sight loss, we are helping to create a borough where barriers are reduced and opportunities are increased. I am delighted to celebrate the progress being made through this partnership and to recognise the invaluable contribution of Ken Carson, whose commitment to improving accessibility has made a lasting impact across Ards and North Down."

Speaking at the event, RNIB Country Director in Northern Ireland, Robert Shilliday, said,

"World Sight Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible people who help create positive change every day. From volunteers and campaigners, to local authorities and community groups, I believe partnership is key to building a more accessible and inclusive society. We are delighted to be working with Ards and North Down Borough Council to not only mark this important day but recognise the real-life contribution Ken Carson has made to his local community. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Mayor Councillor Craig Blaney for hosting this event at Bangor Castle and we very much look forward to continuing our work with Ards and North Down Borough Council to make the borough even more inclusive of people living with sight loss."

World Sight Day is an annual global awareness day focused on eye health, sight loss and the importance of creating inclusive communities for people living with vision impairment.