Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland (LLR) Sensory Services

BID Services delivers LLR Sensory Services on behalf of Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and Rutland Council. We support people who are blind, partially sighted, severely sight impaired or deafblind to live independently, stay connected and achieve the outcomes that matter most to them. 

We take a person‑centred approach, providing support in the way that suits you best and at a pace that works for you. This may be face to face at home or in the community, remotely by video call, phone or email, through online resources, or by joining one of our groups.

We’re here to help you feel informed, confident and supported. Whether you are newly diagnosed or your needs/circumstances have changed over time, our friendly and experienced team offers practical advice, emotional support and personalised help. We also offer advice and guidance for families and carers.

Our specialist staff are trained to understand your communication and access needs and will work alongside you to help you maximise independence and remain an active part of your community. 

How we can help

We provide a wide range of support for adults, children and families or carers across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR), including:

• Information, advice and guidance: Easy‑to‑understand information, benefits advice and practical guidance, including support following diagnosis. We’ll help you understand what you’re entitled to, access local services and get the support that’s right for you.
• Assessment and rehabilitation: Support from qualified Vision Rehabilitation Specialists to help you develop independent living skills, mobility skills and build confidence at home and out in the community.
• Deafblind reablement: A specialist service supporting people who are deafblind or have dual sensory loss. We help you build practical skills, improve communication and increase independence in daily life.
• Day opportunities: Personalised 1:1 support to help you achieve your goals. This may include taking part in social activities, attending appointments, ensuring communication is accessible, and supporting you to get around safely.
• Equipment and assistive technology: Advice, assessment and provision of equipment and support with technology to support daily living, safety and independence. This includes help using technology to stay connected, learn new skills and access training. Please visit out Tech Together page to find out more about specialist support with technology.
• Sight Register: Management of the Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) register, with clear guidance and support throughout the registration process.
• Eye Clinic Liaison Service: Practical and emotional support for children and adults attending eye clinics at University Hospitals of Leicester, helping people access information and support at the right time.
• Habilitation service for children: Specialist support for children and young people with a visual impairment, helping them develop independence and life skills. This service is available for those living in Leicestershire.
• Children & Young People’s Services: Social activities and support for children, young people and their families/carers. Find out more on our dedicated Children & Young People’s Service page.

Accessing these services

You can access these services through referral (i.e. from Adult Social Care), self-referral or your family/carer can make a referral on your behalf. Please contact us using the details provided or complete our online referral form below.

You can access this service if you are:

• Over 18
• Have a sight or severe sight impairment or are deafblind
• Live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.

Day Opportunities: Please note, eligibility for the Day Opportunities support is different to the wider services, please check our Day Opportunities page for more information.

Habilitation: Please note this service is for those aged under 18 only and is only available in Leicestershire.

If you’re unsure about eligibility, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to talk it through with you.

Find out what’s happening near you

We host events across the city and county. To find out what’s happening near you, visit our Events page.

Stay up to date with the latest news