A new parliament for people with visual impairment has launched in Kingston.

Based on youth parliaments and the borough’s successful learning disability parliament, the group will eventually have 10 MPs advocating for improved health, transport and other services.

It has been created through negotiations between the Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), Kingston Hospital’s Royal Eye Unit, Kingston Council officers and former borough mayor Mary Heathcote.

Michelle Baxter Wickham, from TPT, said: “The idea is people having a say in the services that they use, any decisions made about those services, and about how those services will develop.

“It is using the other models that are around.”

Mrs Heathcote, who has a visual impairment herself, said: “Employers should be encouraged not to be frightened of employing people with a visual impairment – to overcome that lack of awareness.

“Sight problems can lead people to “show innovation in the way they approach day-to-day issues, and they bring that innovation into the workplace.”

She added: “If they get a member of staff that they have had for some time, who develops a visual impairment, then they can retain their skills if they continue to employ them.

“From my own experience I’m fully aware that there are very high levels of unemployment among people with visual impairment.”

Mrs Heathcote praised Hooman Sherafat, a doctor at the Royal Eye Unit, for his support of the project and said he has been a “breath of fresh air”.

The TPT will also sponsor volunteers at the Royal Eye Unit – including recent Surrey Comet unsung hero David Broughton – who will help people newly diagnosed with visual impairment take their next steps.