Sight Loss & Sport: New Report Launched for Northern Ireland
Landmark Report Investigates Physical Activity and Exercise Engagement for People Who Are Blind and Partially Sighted Across Northern Ireland
27th March 2026
Vision Sports Ireland (VSI) and RNIB Northern Ireland (RNIB NI), along with project partners Disability Sport NI (DSNI) and Angel Eyes NI, have launched the Shared Island Sport Report, a piece of research that provides the first dedicated insight into the physical activity and exercise engagement of blind and partially sighted people across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties.
This project was funded through the Shared Island Civic Society Fund from the Department of Foreign Affairs and brought together key agencies who support people who are blind or partially sighted to gather data on physical activity levels and opportunities.
Key Findings
The report reveals significant gaps between the activity levels of vision impaired people and the general population:
- Fewer than 1 in 20 children with vision impairment (under 5%) are meeting WHO physical activity guidelines.
- Only 1 in 5 adults (22%) with a vision impairment meet the recommended activity levels, compared with the general population in the Republic of Ireland 40% and Northern Ireland 36%.
- Nearly half (44%) of adult respondents reported that their local sporting facilities were largely inaccessible to a person who is blind or vision impaired.
- More than 2 in 3 adults (70%) said that greater education about blindness and vision impairment in the community would help them be more physically active.
- Nearly 2 in 3 adults (59%) called for more physical activity programmes specifically designed for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Project Manager Ian McKinley reflected at the launch “As the first study of its kind to specifically examine the physical activity levels and experiences of people who are blind and partially sighted in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties, this report provides us with a valuable foundation from which to build real, lasting change. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our partners at RNIB Northern Ireland, Disability Sport NI, and Angel Eyes NI, as well as to the Department of Foreign Affairs for their support through the Shared Island Civic Society Fund. Most importantly, I want to thank every individual who shared their experience, their voices are at the heart of this work, and it is for them that we must now turn these findings into action.”
A legacy of this project is that partners have committed to establishing an All Island Blind and Partially Sighted Sport and Physical Activity Forum to promote greater cross-border collaboration between sport and vision impaired agencies.
Robert Shilliday, Country Director for RNIB Northern Ireland commented on the report launch “In this report we find examples of where some progress is being made in Northern Ireland. However, it also makes very clear the significant obstacles that still stand in the way of creating the levels of confidence, opportunity and access required for blind and partially sighted people to better engage in sports and physical activity. From educating the wider community about sight loss, building awareness and understanding among coaches and facilitators, to having sporting facilities that are truly accessible, there is much to do. Therefore, we welcome the proposal to create the All Island Blind and Partially Sighted Sport and Physical Activity Forum and look forward to playing our part in making the positive change that is needed.”
For more information and to read the full report, visit Shared Island Sport Report