Embedded Files
Paralympian Roy Turnham Delivers VI Tennis Taster Days with IPaSS Vision Support Team
This autumn, Paralympian and Hull-based blind athlete Roy Turnham and his team from RT Vitals visited St Mary’s College and Priory Primary School to run VI Tennis taster sessions for ten young people with vision impairments. Roy, who has been blind from birth and represented Great Britain in blind football, cricket, and athletics, worked with students to build their confidence and team working skills. Alongside his team, he provided one-to-one support to help develop better movement skills, and spatial awareness before introducing the young people to VI tennis.
Looking ahead, Roy is working with the Vision Support Team to co-lead a PE training event in January 2026 alongside Blind in Sport. Around 30 staff, including the Vision Support Team at IPaSS and school staff from across the city, will participate in the day to learn how to create more accessible, inclusive, and engaging PE lessons for students with vision impairments.
Empowering Futures: IPaSS Vision Support Team Hosts Careers Event at Craven Park
On Thursday 6th November 2025, the Vision Support Team at IPaSS hosted an inspiring and informative careers event specifically for young people living with sight loss. The session brought together 15 teenagers from across the city for a day focused on confidence-building, self-advocacy, and practical guidance for taking their next steps into employment or apprenticeships.
The IPaSS Team partnered with Jonathan Sheils from Blind in Business, a charity dedicated to supporting vision impaired young people as they prepare for the world of work. Blind in Business specialises in helping students and young adults develop the skills, knowledge, and self-belief needed to navigate career pathways and secure meaningful employment.
Throughout the day, Jonathan who himself has a vision impairment, led interactive sessions covering topics such as how to present your strengths, how to discuss vision needs confidently with employers, and how to request appropriate adjustments in the workplace. The sessions also explored key aspects of applying for jobs and apprenticeships, empowering students to feel more prepared and self-assured when approaching future opportunities.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. The young people made new friends and described the event as motivating and useful. The Vision Support Team hopes to build on this success with further opportunities designed to encourage friendships and equip young people with the tools they need to thrive in education, training, and employment.
The event was a strong reminder that with the right support, advice, and encouragement, young people with sight loss can pursue their ambitions with confidence and purpose.
Ella climbs to success!
Ella, 5, on climbing equipment. As a result of retinoblastoma Ella has had her left eye removed and she has reduced functional vision in her remaining eye. But with all the challenges she has faced, she does not let anything get in the way of achieving what she sets out to do!
This is an animation created to show a Y7s views on the ways he is supported with his vision needs.
LumoTV
The famous actor, presenter and writer Nadia Nadarajah and audience engagement officer Beth Kelly visited IPASS to tell us all about LumoTV. We found out why they rebranded BSL Zone, all of the work that gets done behind-the-scenes, and even how to become a contestant in "Food Fighters", an all-Deaf cooking contest that is aired on TV and on their website! Our students asked lots of brilliant questions to make the most out of the visit, and were even gifted phone stands to film their auditions with.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People UK
'Sirius Academy West/IPASS Resource Base had two very special visitors on Wednesday 29th January 2025.
Beck and Greta from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People UK brought in their owners (Graeme, Sue and Joanne)to show us the exceptional skills they have learnt in training and the hard work they do.
Students from both the Primary and Secondary Resource bases for the Deaf, were lucky enough to have plenty of snuggles and doggy kisses with Beck and Greta who were both adorable, talented, and so well behaved.
Graeme presented how they use a team of volunteers to support the charity, explaining topics such as:
Volunteering and Fostering
Choosing the right puppies
Reward based training - how it is fun for both owner and dog
How the dogs support their owners
The impact of owning a hearing dog on a deaf person's life and the benefits.
How to apply for a dog
Donations and sponsorships
The students asked many sensible questions and were totally engaged in the visit.
We all agreed that we learnt how Hearing Dogs for Deaf people make a huge difference to the lives of a deaf person.
Lexi (Year 8): I learned that hearing dogs can help in dangerous situations, such as a fire alarm going off!
Saraia (Year 7): My favourite part was watching the dogs learn tricks. I also liked petting them.
Jay (Year 8): If I had a hearing dog, I would bond with it, teach it commands and mostly have fun!
All students gave the visit a five star rating, and would love to have them back!
It was a fantastic afternoon and we all loved it!'
The Herd – Counting Sheeps
The IPaSS deaf preschool children and their families attended The Herd’s performance of Counting Sheeps at their performance space, which is located on the third floor of Princes Quay shopping centre. The performance gripped the children and parents alike. The show was fully accessible to the children, with lights, visuals, signing, singing, and using their sense of touch. The children were involved in the sensory play throughout the play and part of the performance. They were invited to stay and play with the different props after the show. I think the grown-ups enjoyed it as much as the children!
Going Up!
Jacob and Mason worked hard on their cane skills and progressing to using an escalator was a big step for them. After spending time learning about and exploring escalators, they were ready to jump on! They took to using the escalators like ducks to water, putting all the skills that they had learned into practice, showing their growing independence and confidence.
Jacob and Mason worked hard on their cane skills and progressing to using an escalator was a big step for them. After spending time learning about and exploring escalators, they were ready to jump on! They took to using the escalators like ducks to water, putting all the skills that they had learned into practice, showing their growing independence and confidence.
View the Newsletters from IPaSS at Sirius here
View the Newsletters from IPaSS at Sirius here
Guide Dogs - My Time to Play programme.
Guide Dogs - My Time to Play programme.
Click on the link to enter their website
The Children’s Commissioner launches ‘The Big Ambition’
The Children’s Commissioner launches ‘The Big Ambition’
Follow the link to take part in the survey
A useful website with lots of Activities taking place for school age children 5-16 years in Hull.
Click on the link to enter their website
Go Kids Go wheelchair skills training - courses across the UK
Go Kids Go wheelchair skills training - courses across the UK
Click on the link to enter their website
Click on this link to see our past Newsletters
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