VICTA
Changemakers
We’re excited to introduce to you our team of VICTA Changemakers for 2024! Passionate about sharing their views on the topics that matter your young vision impaired people, they’ll be bringing you stories, videos, podcasts and more across the year so watch this space and stayed tuned.
It’s time to meet our Changemakers, find out what they love and what they’d like to change about the world.
If you’d like to get involved with future Changemaker projects, email Emily at emcmillan@victa.org.uk
Latest stories from the Changemakers…
Changemakers on TikTok
@victauk Thanks to @UCFB Manchester for hosting the VICTA Changemakers for a two-day sports marketing workshop. Upping our skills and ready to ask the right questions to get all the answers! We loved hearing all about what the university has to offer and the positive outreach to students who have a disability. Thank you for having us! Video description: The video pans around different clips of eight members of the Changemakers team in a classroom style setting. Videos show the group chatting, asking Chris, the lecturer questions and listening to the session. It ends on a group photo in front of the Quays in Manchester at night which is lit up. #VICTAChangemakers #UCFB #University #Manchester #SalfordQuays #MediaCity #Disability #Blind #BlindnessAwarenessMonth #BlindTok #VI #VisionImpairment #VICTA #Charity ♬ original sound - VICTAUK
@victauk What happens at a VICTA Changemakers session? Ellie lets you into our social media session with some special guests! Keep following as we share our voices... Video description: The video opens with a clip of Ellie at the session, you are laughing while using her braille note. Next is a pan of the outside of the RSBC building showing the Shard across the Thames and then spinning to show the entrance. Clips show Georgie Williams talking through her slides and the group listening. Seren talks to the group and Ambi and Abu hold up wooden frames that represent the frames of a phone screen. Close ups of show members chatting about ideas happily and finishes with a group photo, including guide dog Bertie. @ruqaiya.art @somewhatellie @tegan_blind_star @otters.have.pockets @slashqueer @roakelee @lifewithabu #VictaChangemakers #BlindTok #VisionImpaired #Blind #PartiallySighted #SightLoss #VisualImpairment ♬ original sound - VICTAUK
@victauk Good luck to VICTA Changemakers Scarlett & Eliza Humphrey taking part in the #Paris #Paralympics #TeamGB #ParaSwimming ♬ original sound - VICTAUK
Meet the VICTA Changemakers
My name is Kieran Clarke…
I am 23 years of age and currently living in Birmingham. I am honoured to be part of the England Blind football men’s team. I am also a qualified judo instructor and Brazilian jujitsu competitor. I am a massive fitness enthusiast, and if I could change one thing about the world, I would make everybody gym freaks.
Hi my name is Lucy Booker Wilson…
I have recently finished my A-levels in biology, chemistry, maths and English and am starting university in September, studying biology. A fun fact about me is I’m absolutely horse crazy and love competing in all disciplines. If I could change one thing in the world it would be ensuring enough information is available about sight loss to stop prejudice.
Hello, my name is Scarlett Humphrey…
I am 19 years old and I am currently on a gap year after completing my A-Levels. My hobbies include: playing the piano and flute, listening to sport on the radio, and swimming. I also enjoy listening to audiobooks and languages. If I could change one thing, I would have all written material, such as books and music, in a format that all could access so that there are no barriers and people are not disadvantaged.
Hi, my name is Eliza Humphrey…
I am currently on a gap year, after completing my A-levels in the summer of 2023. I have many interests, which includes reading, music and sport. I compete in para-swimming, which keeps me busy, and also enjoy listening to sport on the radio. In my free time, I also play the piano and saxophone.
If I could change one thing in the world, I would like to encourage more people to appreciate nature and the environment. Not only is this good for our mental and physical health, but it would also improve people’s actions towards the environment and global warming.
Greetings, my name is Talha...
I’m a creative writing student, studying at Kingston university. A fun fact about me is that I am a story teller. I create and perform my stories live bringing my characters to life through voice acting. I aspire to become an author and to continue my passion for voice acting. If there was one thing I could change about the world, it is that I would become the next king of England!
My name is Rhiana Ralls...
I am currently volunteering in a school with my dog as a reading dog (with the Burns by your Side organisation). A fun fact about me is that I like nature and I volunteer in the children's ward at Glangwili Hospital. I would like to change climate change and people’s attitude to vision impairment and other disabilities.
Hey! My name is Tegan Skyrme...
I’m 18 years old. I am a passionate activist for disability rights, mental health, the LGBTQ+ community, and various other areas where I feel people’s voices, especially young people's, are not being heard. I’m excited to be a part of the Changemaker programme and hope that we can help to make a difference!
As a singer/songwriter, I love expressing my passions through my music. Sometimes, all it takes is sitting down with my guitar to get my thoughts and feelings out there. Currently, I’m studying song writing and music production at university.
A fun fact about me is that I love riding horses, which has been a hobby of mine for a few years now. I just love animals! If I could change one thing about the world, it would be to get rid of discrimination. Nobody should be treated differently because of their race, gender, disability, or sexuality.
Hi! My name is Ruqaiya Asim...
I’m a mixed media artist, studying Fine Art at the Slade School of Art. My artistic practice is about disability awareness, accessibility and sharing my experience as a blind person. A fun fact about me is that I love animals, I’ve got a cat and a guide dog. If I could change one thing in the world it would be societies perception on disability, I wish they’d see us as people. You can also find me Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @ruqaiya.art
Image description: this is an image of me and my Guide Dog Bertie. Bertie is a golden retriever he is wearing his Guide Dogs harness standing by my side smiling at the camera. I am stood next to him I have long dark hair, brown skin, wearing sunglasses, A full sleeves dark top and a pair of black geans. This photo was taken outside there is a small canal in the background and a building towards the back on the left.
I'm Ellie Wallwork...
I’m a VI, LGBTQ+ actor and writer based near Brighton. Even though I do it for a career, I still sometimes get stage fright before a show or when I’m presenting. If I could change one thing in the world, it would be the perception and representation of visual impairment in the arts - it’s something I’ve always been hugely passionate about.
Hi! My name is Ikra Shakoor...
I am 27 years old and from Bradford. I have a condition called Bardet Biedal Syndrone which is a rare genetic condition which can affect different part of your body and I also have an eye condition called RP and cataracts. I am studying psychology with counselling at Leeds Arden University. I am also starting my own business in mentoring and life coaching. My hobbies are being a MMA fighter, playing and watching football, playing darts, going to the gym and Youtube.
My name is Lee Roake...
I have an ultra-rare genetic condition called WAGR Syndrome. This means I am registered blind. I have been really lucky to be supported by some wonderful charities. I am currently studying media at college. I am also a presenter of the ‘Feel Good Show’ on Surrey Hills Community Radio every 4th Saturday of the month between 6 and 8pm. I would like to continue making the world more inclusive and accessible for all.
Bennett Pierce
Student of Art, Media, and English, and also an independent game developer (GDScript and Unreal). I have made a multimedia video game where you play as Robin Hood trying to catch geese around real locations in Nottingham. Something I would like to change if I had the power is making sure all crosswalks have working rotation knobs.
My name is Kiranjeet Khurana...
I am currently a full-time student at Kingston University. I am studying a bachelors degree in law in hopes to pursue my career goals of becoming a solicitor. In addition to this, I am also a professional beatboxer and I’m currently training for the world beatbox championships happening in December. If I could change anything in the world, I would probably start off by fixing England’s bipolar weather 😂 in all seriousness though, I’d love to live in a world where people with disabilities can live a life with absolutely no limitations.
Keep an eye out for my future posts and follow my adventure on this project💪
My name is Mohammed Alomrani...
I am an international student from Saudi Arabia, studying a degree in Digital Education. A fun fact about me is that I really like tea. If I had the chance, I would make all video games accessible for the visually impaired.
My name is Bilaal Ali
I’m severely blind male age 21 from Sheffield. I am currently studying accounting and finance at Sheffield Hallam university- just finished my second year and moving onto doing a placement at my current workplace Nicholson and co accountancy as an assistant accountant. I play blind football and tennis go gym swimming and love going to the cinema. If I was to change one thing it will be how the environment is with the amount of littering people do.
Hey, my name is Grace, my pronouns are She/Her
I am 24 years old and I live in Suffolk. I was a member of the 2022/23 cohort of VICTA Young Ambassadors where I was lucky enough to enjoy one of the greatest experiences of my life, so I am super excited to be a part of the re-modelled Changemakers programme and grow my skills even further to get towards where I want to be. I work part time in service user participation in mental health in the NHS, using my own experiences around mental health and representing the voice of young people to help them improve the system and speak up for the care they deserve. Outside of work I try to volunteer as much as I can, both inside and outside of the VI sector, and I am incredibly creative with writing, music and (brutally bad) dancing. I have been a massive fan of Kiss FM since I was very young, and the dream of being played on Kiss as an artist is one of my main motivations to take care of every aspect of my health, even on the hardest of days.
Fun fact: I have been playing piano, both self taught and with lessons, since I was around 4 years old.
If I could change one thing about the world, it would be to get rid of as much social pressure as possible. I find myself personally frustrated, particularly in recent years, with the belief that as we grow up we have to fit in and mask over the parts of us that aren't 'perfect.' I wish we could all just be ourselves without shame, because it is our differences that make us great and set us on the road to where we want to be.
Abu-bakr Ishtiaq
I am registered blind - severely sight impaired with a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa RP with Laurence Moon Biedl syndrome and I also have tunnel vision. I am a passionate and confident presenter on my community radio station I also have a degree in computing. I am a passionate about watching and playing sports and I have my own podcast that I set up in lockdown. One thing that I would tell you as a fun fact about myself is that I always have a smile on me and always stay happy and stay positive. One thing that I would change in life is that one day if a radio station or the sporting industry give me a fantastic job on the radio or on the sports platforms, or with technology because I love assistive technology and giving other people the knowledge of how to use assistive technology .
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You might also enjoy...
Before our VICTA Changemakers Programme, the VICTA Young Ambassadors were busy sharing their stories. Here are some you may be interested in!
'A bit of advice'
Natalia shares her five wellbeing tips
Natalia shares five pieces of helpful advice to help you look after yourself and hopefully take some of the pressure away when you are feeling overwhelmed. As a student with a vision impairment there can be a lot to navigate and it’s easy to compare yourself to those around you. Natalia has been able to take stock of past experiences and hopes her tips will help you to a place of acceptance and growth.
Tatum McGreal at KISS FM chats to Grace!
Through highs and lows with her mental health, KISS has been a safe space for Grace, bringing positivity and fun and even inspiring her to write her own music. A huge fan of Tatum's afternoon show, Grace digs deeper into what makes KISS so special to listeners like her and to everyone who works there. Find out how Tatum discovered radio was the career for her and get some top tips if you have a passion for working in radio yourself.
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