Be inspired. We chat with Cath Gilby – Head of Para-Performance at the FA
VICTA was privileged to attend the 10 year anniversary of St. George’s Park, celebrating 10 years of success in English football. We were excited to join the celebrations and find out more about the FA's involvement supporting players with vision impairments. The FA are championing disability sport and have high hopes for the blind and partially sighted teams. We were lucky enough to meet Cath Gilby, Head of Para-Performance, who chatted to the VICTA Student Portal about the teams, her role in disability sport and getting more people involved. Watch the interview below and have a think about [...]
Flying above the limits: My first solo trip!
By Natalia Foster If you had told 14-year-old Natalia, that in six years’ time she would be flying 3,500 miles to meet an internet friend, I think she would have stared at you with fear in her eyes and shaken her head as if to say, ‘No way.’ But, in those six years so much has changed, and I have (somehow) found myself on a transatlantic flight heading towards Toronto. As it is, this isn’t an easy thing to do; but doing something this big with a lack of sight creates a whole array of things to consider [...]
No limits lifestyle – White water kayaking blind
By Sam Roberts Hi everyone, my name is Sam Roberts and I am a Young Ambassador for VICTA. I live what I call a 'no limits lifestyle' where I tell myself every day that there is nothing we can’t achieve, the only person that is stopping you from reaching your goals is yourself. Over the last six months I have been working hard on progressing my white water kayaking skills, with the ambition of taking on the white water of the River Dee. No limits means pushing your boundaries, reaching further than you’ve ever reached before and never [...]
Be inspired. Meet the England Men’s Partially Sighted Futsal Team
We were lucky enough to meet the England Men's Partially Sighted Futsal team at their training session and chat to them about the game, their experiences and ambitions! It was clear from seeing the team train that they're going from strength to strength and are on track for big things in the IBSA World Games in Birmingham in 2023. Talking to the players about their journeys into Futsal and how being part of the team has helped them to grow not only as players but also off the pitch, has been truly inspirational. In terms of having a [...]
Be inspired. Meet the England Women’s Blind Football Team
On Saturday 21 May, VICTA was privileged to attend the England Women’s Blind Team's first official training camp at the home of England football, St. George’s Park. VICTA's exclusive access granted us front row seats to witness this inspiring team of girls in action, showcasing their talent and teamwork. The team made great use of the Tony Larkin Pitch – a bespoke pitch for blind football and one of only two in existence in the UK. We not only got to see them show off their ability, but also interviewed some of the team and coaches, getting a [...]
Be inspired. Video chats with young VI sports stars
The Winter Paralympics are here and we're excited! If the buzz of the snow sport action over the next couple of weeks leaves you feeling inspired to give something new a try, then go for it! These young athletes we chatted to at our Sports Camp did just that... Meet Hester Poole, a Para-Alpine Ski Racer for GB! Hester chatted to the VICTA Student Portal to tell us all about how VI skiing works and how she fell in love with the sport. What started as a tobogganing experience on a dry slope let to [...]
Thailand Adventure with VICTA
I consider myself lucky to be well travelled. But this is only with family. Destinations and attractions have been numerous, but I have always craved something else; to travel with friends, peers, and experience richer, local cultural experiences than traditional family holidays deliver. Though I have many sighted friends through university, beyond hiking across the UK with friends from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Group, opportunity to enjoy any travel like this and with my own friends has been allusive. Finally in 2017 I graduated from university – an extremely testing, and sometimes very dark time in my life [...]
My journey of a lifetime with JOLT
My name is Charlie Beeston. I am a 15 year old student from Lincoln living with a visual Impairment. In 2018 my life was changed forever. I was called into the head teacher’s office at school where she informed me of an opportunity of a lifetime with a charity called Jolt. They take disadvantaged young people on a journey of a lifetime. I spent four weeks in the summer of 2018 trekking through Ecuador, Peru and the Galapagos Islands. Here is my summer story: It all started off in the Amazon Rainforest. After two full days travelling we were [...]
Gaining new skills and confidence through the Infinity Pilot Project
After taking part in this unique project provided by The British Exploring Society (BES) and The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) Roesie and her mother Angela were interviewed regarding her experiences: How and why did you hear about the Infinity programme and BES? Roesie - I saw it advised on the VICTA website, literally by chance. What thoughts and feeling did you have when you first signed up? (i.e. anxious, nervous, excited) Roesie - I was terrified, I was not confident at all. Angela (Rosie’s Mother) – Roesie can loose confidence, she has high levels of anxiety What were you [...]
