Internship event breaks down barriers to employing blind people

Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), the national charity supporting blind and partially sighted people to live the life they want to lead, has received a donation of advertising space in today’s Financial Times (FT). It has been used to promote their upcoming round table event with an ad featuring blind and partially sighted interns. 

The event, ‘Ensuring an inclusive workforce; Unleashing talent from the Sight Loss Community’ aims to support organisations to widen their talent pool, increase diversity and innovation, and draw on the value blind and partially sighted employees bring through the ‘Get Set Progress’ internship programme. The programme is run by TPT in conjunction with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). 

Taking place on 8 June 2023 at BMA House, Tavistock Square, in London,  speakers include ‘Get Set Progress’ interns and Paul, a Merseyside Sight Loss Council member, who after losing his sight at the age of 48, was asked to leave his job. Paul is now a Senior Officer for HMRC and will talk about how inclusive organisations helped him get back to work again. 

Charles Colquhoun, Chief Executive Officer of TPT said; “It’s incredibly generous of the Financial Times to donate advertising space to Thomas Pocklington Trust and I’d like to thank them for providing us with the opportunity.” 

Charles continues: “Today over 11,000 blind and partially sighted people are actively seeking work* so we hope this event will encourage organisations to find out how they can tap into that talent. This advertising from the FT will enable us to reach a large number of organisations all around the country and we hope it will encourage people to register to attend.” 

Limited tickets are available via Eventbrite or to find out more telephone 020 8995 0880 or email internships@pocklington-trust.org.uk. 

E-version of the ad can be found here. 

*RNIB