Christmas is just around the corner, a time when we are constantly exposed to bright lights and displays – imagine this without being able to see. That is the reality for over 23,000 people who live with sight loss in Wiltshire and Swindon.
Local charity – Wiltshire Sight – launched their £2,018 for 2018 Christmas campaign on Friday 1st December to light up 2018 for people living with sight loss. They aim to raise money to help them provide their community-based information and peer support sessions across the county.
People like Angela and Carol get information from a Wiltshire Sight advisor and try new activities at the Friday peer support group in Devizes. These community hubs give people with sight loss and other challenges the opportunity to share experiences.
“I like coming to Friday Club because I enjoy art and I like to help.”
“I like club because I have lots of lovely friends.”
Operating from its specialist centre in Devizes, the charity has supported over 500 individuals through its information and peer support programme, but recognise there is a real need to provide more of these services within local communities.
Leanne Hubbard, chief executive said, “Our peer support and information sessions have been a huge success this year, but we know that there are so many more people out there that need our support. We have been asked by people with sight loss to run sessions in their communities. We would love to be able to run these vital and much-needed services, but haven’t been able to due to our limited resources. We receive no Government or Health Service funding, we rely on the generosity of local people to provide our services.
“We are excited to launch our £2018 for 2018 campaign and hope that local people will support us to provide more services to people with sight loss in their own communities. Please help us raise £2,018 this Christmas to support us in 2018!”
2018 is a special year for Wiltshire Sight as it will be celebrating 100 years of providing support to blind and partially-sighted people in Wiltshire and Swindon. As part of the campaign, they will be running an information and advice advent calendar on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
If you would like to help people with sight loss to get the support they need in 2018, donations can be sent to St Lucy’s Sight Centre, Browfort, Bath Road Devizes SN10 2AT or made via their website www. wiltshiresight.org. Anyone who would like more information about Wiltshire Sight’s services is encouraged to call their helpline on 01380 723682.
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