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In the UK around 250 people begin to lose their sight every day. I work for SSW, a charity that has existed since 1910, as their fundraiser & benefits advisor. I work in a team of 13 people ( 2 registered blind, 2 registered visually impaired (VI) and 2 with lived experience). SSW is based in the heart of Worthing In an adapted fully accessible center, with over 600 members we offer at least 2 VI activities & outings a day to suit all needs, ages, genders & faiths. We need to raise money in order to ensure we can offer our services to all members old and new for another 100 years.
We offer assistive technology advice & support (including scam awareness sessions for vulnerable people), wellbeing & counselling service , accessible events and trips, and benefits & Advocacy support. Our activities and support are available to all members experiencing or living with sight loss.
Sight loss can lead to people losing their jobs, their confidence and other means to support themselves. Many members experiencing sight loss have to re learn basic skills and this is where we as a charity come in, supporting all aspects of inclusion and wellbeing. Many of our members would not be able to maintain independence or the financial stability to buy in the support they need without the assistance from SSW and our trained sighted guides.
The impact of our support services enables people to stay in their own homes, access the care support they need, and use our ( Sighted guide trained ) volunteer transport to attend medical appointments. Our tech advisors provide digital inclusion by helping people gain access to online information or request large print/braille statements, large print bank cards, as well as internet banking or online shopping, while educating on scam awareness. We ran a series of scam awareness sessions last year, giving members a safe space to talk about their experiences, and we always making our information available in a variety of formats. These sessions (funded by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner) build independence, resilience and confidence for people, some of whom are not experienced online. It also removes the burden for family and friends. We would love to re-host these sessions for our newer members.
My role involves helping members complete a benefits check and apply for any benefits they should be accessing. The most common benefits after a registration of sight impairment ( Disability status ) is Personal Independence Payments, Attendance Allowance, Bus & Train passes, Blue Badges & Nimbus Access cards. These benefits when awarded have increased members income, reduced the financial stress and allow members to be able to know what's coming in each month to budget. The Nimbus Access card allows members to re access activities they have previously enjoyed ( Theatre/cinema/museum ) with the support of a friend / carer /sighted guide.