VICTA Changemaker Programme 2026/2027

We’re recruiting for our next wave of VICTA Changemakers, if you’d like to join a team of like-minded individuals and have your voice heard, it’s time to apply!

Changemakers understand that to lead change, they need to be willing to change and adapt, and that true innovation happens through learning what works and what doesn’t, adapting and adjusting accordingly. Join us and use your lived experience to reimagine and affect change through the lens of social action.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to bring their own personality to the VICTA channels, to share their voice by generating video, audio and written articles for our Student Portal and social media, and to create thought provoking content to challenge and inspire our audiences.

Whether you’re a budding journalist, emerging vlog star or simply want to learn, we have a place for you on our team. It’s about working with others and encouraging them to make a change with you. Use your words, actions and influence to inspire others and create positive change. VICTA Changemakers are collaborative, team players who understand that by sharing, everyone benefits.

The VICTA Changemaker Programme

At the heart of the VICTA Changemaker programme is the principle that your views, and those of other young adults with a vision impairment, are heard, valued and influence decision making; and that you are engaged in driving change.

As a VICTA Changemaker, you will join a twelve-month programme of online and in-person workshops and experiences that explore a variety of media and content creation topics.

While this year’s programme is being finalised, it will ultimately be shaped inline with the interests of the individuals who join us. Our current workshop plans are:

• 3-4 September 2026: Residential at the University Campus of Football Business in Manchester
• November 2026: Social media workshop with Seren, from @Otters.Have.Pockets and @BlindTobes (Birmingham TBC)
• Podcast recording sessions: Dates TBC (Milton Keynes)

To give you a taste of things to come, our current group also launched the Changemakers podcast ‘See it our way’,  took part in a blogging and advocacy workshop and enjoyed a virtual Q&A session with broadcaster Fern Lulham.  The programme is flexible and always developing with the help with the team who join us, if you have great ideas, bring them to the table!

As a changemaker you will develop collaboration, teamwork, creativity, imagination, critical thinking and problem-solving, using methods and tools such as blogs, YouTube, video and animation. You can expect to be challenged, supported and stimulated.

To apply for this opportunity, you need to be aged 18 to 29 years and be registered or registerable as blind or partially sighted. Applications close on 3 August 2026. Successful applicants will be expected to contribute two articles (can be in any media format) and attend in-person and online sessions during a one-year term. We understand not everyone will be able to attend every opportunity, so there is flexibility across the year to accommodate those who are studying or in employment.

To apply for your place on this programme, please complete the application form below. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Apply to join the VICTA Changemakers

Note for applicants completing this form After completion, if you have successfully submitted the form, you should receive a successful submission message. If you do not it may be because you have not completed a required field. After your form has successfully gone through you will also receive notification via email. If you do not receive an email please contact the office on 01908 240 831 as there may have been a problem with your application.

Applicant details

First name *

Last name *

Gender *

• Male
• Female
• Other

If other, please state below how you would best describe yourself

Date of birth *

Contact details

Email *

Phone (please provide us with the most convenient number to contact the activity applicant on) *

Address 1 *

Address 2

City *

County *

Post code *

Your changemaker application

Please tell us about your interest in and any relevant experience in writing, blogging, vlogging, podcasting and/or social media.

Why would you like to become a VICTA changemaker?

Anything else you would like to tell us about your application?

Please select the areas you currently feel confident in (select as many as are relevant)

• Writing/blogging
• Creating video content
• Creating audio content
• Podcasting
• Social media
• Photography
• Design
• Disability advocacy
• Marketing/promotion

Which ares would you like to grow your skills in? (select as many as are relevant)

• Writing/blogging
• Creating video content
• Creating audio content
• Podcasting
• Social media
• Photography
• Design
• Disability advocacy
• Marketing/promotions

Please rate the following from 1 to 5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.

How would you score your communication skills? *

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

How interested are you in new things? *

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

How interested are you in other people? *

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

How confident are you in your ability to make decisions? *

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Do you currently volunteer? *

• Yes
• No

Are you a member of a social group? *

• Yes
• No

Dietary information including any allergies. Please ensure this is as accurate as possible as this information is used to inform catering teams. *

Independence skills

Please indicate your level of independence in the following areas by selecting your response and giving details if the assistance is required.

In order to ensure that activities are adequately staffed we need full and accurate information about all participants. Please note we reserve the right to refuse admission to the activity or ask a participant to leave the activity if the information given proves inaccurate or the conduct of the participant reaches an unacceptable level.

Your personal independence - please include information on your levels of independence using public transport to travel to events and general mobility for activities such as workshops, visiting venues and dining so that we can best support you.

Confirmation of vision impairment

To qualify for this activity the lead applicant must be either registered or registerable as blind or partially sighted (sight impaired/severely sight impaired). VICTA will ask for supporting evidence post application if we have not previously received it.

Please confirm that the applicant is registered or registerable as Sight Impaired or Severely Sight Impaired *

• Sight Impaired
• Severely Sight Impaired

Do you have a guide dog? *

• Yes
• No

Would you like to attend the Changemakers residential 3-4 September 2026 at UCFB Manchester? *

• Yes I can attend
• Sorry I can't attend

Photographs and filming

Photographs and video footage may be taken during our activities and workshop sessions. These will be used to create photo albums both on our website and on social media after the activity to share with family and friends and to promote the activity. VICTA may also use any photographs or video material taken during an event for the future marketing, publicity and fundraising of activities. Do we have your permission to do so? *

• Yes
• No

Declaration, privacy and consent

To be signed by the applicant or a responsible person.
a. I agree to take part in VICTA's activity and have read all the information sent to me.
b. I acknowledge the need to behave responsibly at all times during the activity.
c. I confirm that this form has been completed accurately and I undertake to update VICTA's organisers should any information contained on the form or personal circumstances change.
d. In the event of an emergency/accident, I consent to emergency medical treatment, which may include the use of anaesthetics.
e. WhatsApp is a great tool that can be used to communicate activity information and help facilitate social interactions. From time to time, VICTA facilitates WhatsApp groups for 18+ participants who have given consent to do so to get to know one another before an activity. While VICTA facilitates these opportunities, they are not monitored and therefore your behaviour and language used on WhatsApp must match the expectations we have of you when we meet in person – polite, courteous, and inclusive at all times. If you have any questions surrounding this, please contact the Activities Team on [email protected]
f. By signing this form I consent to VICTA using the information supplied for the purpose of administering the named event. All the information will be treated in the strictest of confidence and made available only to those staff working with the participant. We may need to share your details with third-party suppliers in relation to this activity. Contact information will be retained and used for marketing of other relevant services.
g. I give consent for VICTA to carry out the following in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulations as supplemented by the Data Protection Act 2018 and related laws and to store my personal information on VICTA's database and/or any other suitable system.

Agreement to declaration *

• I agree
• I do not agree

Do you give us consent to use your information for marketing purposes such informing you of future VICTA activities? *

• Yes
• No

Applicants must be aged 18 to 29 years *

• I confirm that the applicant will be 18 to 29 years old at the time of this activity

Signed (insert name) *

Date *

My relationship to the applicant (if applicable)

• Parent
• Legal guardian
• Other

If 'other' please state

How did you hear about this opportunity? *

• VICTA email
• Social Media
• Referral from a professional
• Web search
• VICTA website
• Word of mouth
• Other

Submit

Would you like to find out more about the VICTA Changemakers?

Follow the team on the VICTA Student Portal: victastudents.org.uk/changemakers

Listen to the podcast on Spotify >