On Tuesday 24th September 2024, the Island’s oldest working charity, Sight for Wight, will be teaming up with Wight Sense, the Island’s Sensory Support Service, to welcome Islanders who are living with all levels of Sight and Hearing Loss to join them at the Riverside Centre Newport.
The event, held last a year ago attracted local people living with both reduced hearing and sight and chatted with 16 other organisations to gain one to one help support and advice. They were given the chance to trail equipment first hand.
Keeping it local
The event on Tuesday 24th September – between 11am and 2.30pm – will offer the same but with a difference. This time the theme of the event has been kept very local,
Lisa Hollyhead CEO of Sight for Wight said,
“We have reduced the number of equipment suppliers this time, significantly, as our aim is to ensure Island residents have a chance to meet as many other Local Charities and organisations who offer help as possible.
“Each stand has been carefully selected to ensure visitors to the event can speak with as wide a range of service as possible.
“We are offering a one stop shop for on the spot advice, equipment demonstrations and signposting for support any Islanders living with sight or hearing conditions.”
The feel of the day will be Coffee cake and one to one, no hard sell of expensive items just genuine people who have dedicated their working lives to people.
Hollyhead: Important to receive the right help at the right time
Lisa Hollyhead, CEO goes on to say
“As someone born blind, but also someone who is losing their hearing rapidly, I understand what having both a congenital lifelong sensory loss is like and what acquired second sense also brings.
“I understand firsthand how important it is to receive the right help at the right time, so this open day is doing just that.
“We, as a charity, cannot provide everything, but we can understand you, as an individual, and point you in the right direction when we cannot help directly. Our aim here at the Charity is to help people live safely, independently, and confidently.”
Sight for Wight
Sight for Wight offer a wide range of services, activities and events for their members including Weekly groups, a befriending service, drop in IT accessibility advice, Audio Library and weekly Talking News service as well day-to-day advice, support, and reassurance to those who need it.
See the Sight for Wight website for more information about its services.
Wight Sense
Wight Sense offer home visits for one-to-one assessments to look at your individual needs, offer equipment loans, mobility training and daily living skills.
See the Wight Sense website for more information about its services.
Everyone is welcome with homemade cakes on offer.
News shared by Lisa on behalf of Sight for Wight. Ed
