The Founder’s Story: How Football Inspired a Nationwide Vision of Inclusion

I’m Andrew Birch, founder of Game Day Vision. Living with sight loss, football has been a huge part of my life. Attending live matches isn’t just about the game; it’s about connection, energy, and feeling part of something bigger. But getting to these events and navigating them safely can be incredibly challenging when you can’t see. I’m lucky to have friends and family who support me, but I realised many visually impaired people don’t have that help or face barriers that stop them from joining in.

Identifying the Challenges

Even though venues are improving accessibility, public transport and simple navigation remain major obstacles for many. I found that without a sighted companion, the experience was daunting. This sparked the idea: why not create an organised support system? A way that visually impaired people could confidently access live sporting and cultural events, accompanied by trained volunteers who guide and assist, breaking down those barriers.

Making the Vision a Reality

Game Day Vision was born from that idea. We recruit and train volunteers who act as companions, providing the essential support to get to, from, and around events. Our goal is simple: no one should miss out because of sight loss. Starting in Essex, we are now working to grow nationwide. We want to help more visually impaired fans enjoy their favourite events, improve wellbeing, and build community. Football inspired this vision, and we’re proud to see it come to life.