Welcome to Visably: your sight loss tech team

Today marks a huge milestone in our small charity's long and rich history.

After nearly a century of unlocking tech for blind and partially sighted people, today we launch ourselves as Visably. Same team, same passion for what we do, but with an even bigger purpose, and a brand that reflects who we are on the inside.

Our legacy is extraordinary

Our charity was born out of a simple act of compassion. Back in 1928, a group of friends rolled up their sleeves and crafted a makeshift braille-dial radio for our founder Sir Ernest Towse, after he lost his vision in the Boer War. 

That moment sparked a movement that saw our little charity ship thousands of accessible radios to people with sight loss. And enlist the support of the day’s biggest cultural figures—including Sir Winston Churchill, who lent his voice to our very first fundraising appeal in 1929.

Changing to meet our community's needs

As we set our path forward, the people who've been by our side over the years are at the front of our mind. Sir Ernest and those friends who created BWBF. Our supporters the length of the UK who have made us who we are today. And of course, the whole sight loss community. 

That’s why we started this process by delving deep into what this incredible community needs and wants from us, now and in the future. Together with nfpResearch we completed our deepest-ever research into the tech needs, frustrations and wants of people living with sight loss. 

More than 400 people living with sight loss took part. And what they told us was clear. Tech can open a door to the world. And never more so than today. 

Not sure what’s in front of you? Let your AI glasses be your eyes. Want to know the time? Your smart speaker can tell you. Struggling to get lost in a story because the tiny print is just so tiring on the eyes? Ask your audiobook player to read it. 

A key to better mental health

The benefits of tech ran deeper than the practical though. Time and again, people talked about how it can unlock belief, confidence, better mental health, and brighter tomorrows. In fact, 85 per cent of people in our research said access to tech improved their mental health 

But it’s a double-edged sword. When tech isn’t your friend, it can easily feel like your enemy.  

Many of those our researchers spoke to described how, when they couldn’t access or use tech, they were left feeling frustrated—inadequate even. They talked about loss. Opportunities missed. Connections that never were. At its worst a bad tech experience could tap into those feelings of grief that so many people feel their lost vision. 

It’s these people we exist for. 

The 1 in 4 who said they waited more than four months for help with their tech. The 71 per cent who said that the cost of the latest gadget put it out of their reach. The significant majority who said that—despite all the progress society has made—tech still frequently leaves them feeling frustrated. 

Richer support, the right tech and the belief to use it

So, in honour of our founders, and in response to what our community told us, today we are creating our richest ever support services, built to ensure we’re there, side-by-side with those who need us. Together, we will get the right technology into the hands of people who need it and stay until it clicks—growing confidence, connection and independence for every tomorrow.

And to match the charity we are becoming, we are launching Visably, a new identity that conveys the true power of what we do—in 2026 and beyond. A brand that was created alongside the community we exist to support.

Our people are our power

We know a brand is so much more than a logo. It's how we connect and bond with our community. So we started our brand journey by listening. To supporters. To volunteers. To the team. And, most importantly, to people living with sight loss. 

What emerged almost immediately was that nobody talked about the organisation the way charities often talk about themselves. People didn't begin with devices. They didn't begin with services. They didn't begin with outputs. They began with people. 

They spoke about trust. About kindness. About feeling understood. One person described Visably as feeling less like a charity and more like talking to friends.

What our community told us was that our power is our people and our size - the charity they described is small, human, personal, friendly. So we channeled that into a brand that is all about human connection. From our logo which takes the 'v' and softens it into two figures coming together, in a formation that evokes people supporting one another. To our strapline which again speaks to people, rather than tech for tech's sakes. We're not a website. Not a service. A group of people, sleeves rolled up and hearts in it, ready to support our community - until it clicks.

Even our new colour palette speaks to that friendly feeling with soft, natural and calming tones, while being designed to be accessible to the highest standards. Fonts that are picked for readability. Illustrations and images focus on people and show the breadth of lives we touch each day. Our vision was for a brand that is joyfully accessible.

A future to match our legacy

I want to finish by thanking you, our supporters, volunteers, and the people who have used our services over many years. We know that, with you by our side, we can create a world where everyone can reap the benefits of tech. And this is just the start. We will keep listening to what you tell us. We want to know where we fall short, and how we can do better. What you need, and how we can adapt to provide it.

Visably is your sight loss tech team. We belong to our community, and exist to make the world wider and brighter - for all of us.