VICTA is searching for its next content creating superstars to be featured here on the VICTA Parent Portal. By sharing your voice to support others, you could win one of three £50 vouchers.

Launched over a decade ago, this parent website has become the cornerstone of parent support services provided by the charity. In its humble beginnings, it was initially a blog platform – inclusive to all parents, organisations, and charities. It has evolved from this format but is still utilised by many people within the VI sector.

One of the most popular elements on the website is the real-life experiences section. Parents and carers regularly utilise the stories section of the website with a view to better understanding what it’s like to grow up as a vision impaired young person or to benefit from the first-hand experiences of other parents. Having this insight, helps parents empathise with and support their own children and we really value the young writers and parent bloggers who have contributed to the website over the last 10 years.

Previous writers include, Holly Tuke, founder of ‘Life of a Blind Girl’ and Elin Williams, founder of ‘My Blurred World’. Both really gifted writers, who have used their voice to raise awareness and to help guide our parents.

We are looking to feature even more writers, whose voices, thoughts, and ideas will become an integral part of the website and are running a creative content writing competition over the next 3 months. We will feature chosen contributions on the website and each month a winning entry will be chosen to win a £50 e-voucher for a shop of your choice.

Who are we looking for?

• Do you have a passion for writing and want to develop this talent further?
• Do you feel your opinions and thoughts on living with vision impairment would help to shape the views of others?
• Do you have an interest in social media?
• Are you looking to develop your skillset and CV?
• Are you passionate about disability rights?
• Do you find writing a therapeutic activity?

If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, then this could be the competition for you.  Your voice could be an asset to others, and we are keen to offer you an established platform to express yourself.

The topics and how to enter

We have set some challenge topics for you to write about, you can enter as many as you like and be as creative as you like.

October – Blindness Awareness Month

Submission deadline: 30 September 2023

We would like you write or create something that helps to raise awareness about what it is like to live with vision impairment, whether that be raising a child or living with sight loss.

November – Your Best Self

Submission deadline: 23 October 2023

What it means to evolve as a person! We would like you to reflect on aspect or anecdotes in your life that you feel have helped you to develop and grow as a person. Or as a parent, how you have seen your child find their way and build their confidence.

December – Celebrations

Submission deadline: 20 November 2023

It’s the time of year to spread good cheer. Do you have an achievement you’d love to share? Did you discover an organisation or activity that deserves some recognition and you feel others would benefit from?

The rules

• To enter you need to be over the age of 16 and either a young adult with a vision impairment or a parent of a vision impaired child.
• Entrants must be permanent residents of the United Kingdom.
• One winner will be chosen each month from all of the entries. Winners will be chosen by VICTA staff members.
• All submissions will be published on the Parent Portal website and any affiliated social media accounts.
• Each winner from each month will be awarded a £50 e-voucher from a store of their choice (deemed reasonable by VICTA).
• You can submit written, audio or filmed content.
• Each submission needs to reach us by the closing dates stated above.

To enter please send your entry and any accompanying media by email to parents@victa.org.uk.

Support

Our team will be on hand throughout the process to offer guidance and advice, this competition is challenging but we also want you to enjoy yourselves while taking part. At any stage in the process, you can contact cmellor@victa.org.uk for assistance.

If you need a little help in the inspiration department, please visit the ‘stories’ section of the website, there’s lots of content from both parents and young people to get your creative juices flowing: visit your stories >

Best of luck,

Team VICTA!