News
All of our Latest News
Just a bit of Clickbait news
Sometimes in the charity world we can be all consumed with BAD news – no funding, our members are not getting the support they need from statutory services and the news in the media can make us all feel that things just aren’t going our way. Well here at Southampton...
Change of Guard
In December we said good bye to Brian Anderson, who has been the Chairman of Southampton Sight since 2015. Brian is relocating north to be nearer his family. During Brian’s tenure of Southampton Sight there has been a deliberate move by Brian to ensure that people...
100 Years Young!
Dorrie recently celebrated her 100th birthday. What a happy day and what an achievement. She has been coming to Southampton Sight for over 10 years but her history is incredible. She tells us that as a civil servant in the Second World War working as a telephonist...
Lived experience has incredible value and needs to be recognised
Sight Loss Awareness training is crucial in a society where many people still know so little about living with sight loss. At Southampton Sight we don’t just support people living with sight loss – we have made it our mission to improve awareness of sight loss in...
Anyone fancy a cuppa next Thursday?
It’s a tough gig when you lose your sight. You lose your independence, you have to make major adjustments and life changes very quickly. That coupled with the emotional and mental changes many of the people coming to Southampton Sight need a lot of help and support...
It takes a village to raise a child
At Southampton Sight we believe that it is the interests of all of us to ensure young people living with sight loss have the opportunity to engage in activities that inspire, build self-esteem and confidence. Statistics show that young people living with sight loss...
Barker-Mill Foundation donates more than £4 million to Hampshire projects
Report from the Southern Dail Echo: A SOUTHAMPTON-based charity has donated more than £4 million to projects across the county. The Barker-Mill Foundation has supported organisations and individuals with their ideas since 1995. In total, projects based in the city...
Seeing Science with Closed Eyes
Today’s blog is all about some Sight Loss Awareness that Southampton Sight have recently delivered with Winchester Science Centre (WSC). Winchester Science Centre have recently raised an incredible £1.2 million to update and improve their exhibits. Their aim is to...
Kris’s Blog – Communication Revelation
Despite the dubious suggested vocational path of politician, the one other consistent theme buried within my otherwise unremarkable school reports was the phrase ‘good communication skills.’ Diplomacy aside, born out of a passion for reading and a love of words it is...
Southampton Sight celebrates 120 years delivering support for people living with sight loss in Southampton
Southampton Sight celebrated our 120th birthday last Saturday at our Centre on Bassett Avenue with a hog roast, pimms and plenty of live music. What a stupendous day – we had fantastic weather and the aroma from the hog roast welcomed our members as they arrived. With...
Telling it how it is living as a blind man and letting children walk in his footsteps. Read Kris’s experience with Primary school children in Southampton.
The current bi-word for inclusivity and diversity, ‘difference’ can be a rollercoaster ride at times. As a member of the impairment club it can still feel as if your invitation to the empowerment parade has somehow gotten lost in the post. When confronted by the...
Eye Health Information Day – Thursday 1st August
Come and find out how small changes to your life can help you to make the most of your sight on Thursday 1st August at St Mark’s Church Centre Archers Road, Southampton, SO15 2LU 10am to 2pm Exhibitors · Action on Hearing Loss · Adjustamatic · ...
When the blind can see – do we know what we are looking at?
Did you know that 93% of people with significant visual impairments can perceive light? In other words, though I cannot see colours, shapes or people I can tell the difference between light and dark. I have light perception and feel that the older I am getting I am...
Ivy’s legacy – we must remember why we were formed, why we exist and who really matters
As a local society supporting people living with sight loss our demographic is typically made up of older people. This means that quite often we receive that dreaded phone call with the bad news that one of our members has sadly passed away. We mourn every single one...
Kris’s Blog – My trip on the Lord Nelson
Today we have a guest blogger, Kris Gibson, who is a member at Southampton Sight and is visually impaired. I‘d be the first to admit that, when offered the opportunity to join the crew of the tall ship Lord Nelson by the good folks at Southampton Sight and the Jubilee...
Free Music Workshop – Friday 12th July
Inner Vision Orchestra is the UK's only Professional Blind Orchestra. Baluji Shrivastav, OBE who leads the orchestra has offered to run a workshop at our centre on Friday 12 July. The music of Inner Vision Orchestra moves between songs from Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan,...
Sight Loss Frequently Asked Questions
Over the past 12 months a group of national charities have collaborated to create the Sight Advice FAQ Portal: a one-stop-shop for sight loss related questions. The portal is an information hub featuring frequently asked questions aimed to save you time when looking...
Thank you Laura
Thank you Laura….
Shared Spaces
Many of you that have been following Kate’s On the Road blog will know how frustrated she is about ‘shared spaces’ and the effect on her day to day life. When you do not have sight loss, and don’t have to rely on tactile paving or a sighted person to help you navigate...
Life As A Visually Impaired Single Mum
Becoming a mother for the first time is already a challenge within itself. However, being a visually impaired single mum is a completely different world. As visually impaired people; we complete day to day tasks in our own unique ways. This is the same with being a...
The fun you have when traveling with passenger assistance through airports – COMMUNICATION MATTERS!
Tuesday was the first day back in the office for me after a week’s holiday. I didn’t visit a hot sunny country and sit on a beach the entire time, not me! I visited the republic of Ireland with my partner and our friends. I recently wrote a blog about the Sunflower...
Southampton Sight’s time aboard Tenacious
I’d like to start this blog by thanking everybody at the Jubilee Sailing Trust and Global Marine who made it possible for Southampton Sight to join Tenacious and her crew for a day sail. Although I have sailed with the JST twice before on Lord Nelson (affectionately...
Looking at stars with our ears: Making astronomy accessible to the Visually Impaired community
Today we have a guest blogger, Steve Boswell, who is a Trustee at Southampton Sight and is visually impaired. Last Tuesday Kate, Brian, Sue, Angela and myself took part in an Astronomy Focus Group at the University of Southampton where Poshak Gandhi has been working...
Bikes, Silent Cars and White Canes – They don’t mix well
Health warning: please do not read on if you are easily offended, the following post discusses cyclists, silent cars and shared spaces and although I will try to not be too one-sided these are all my own thoughts and opinions. Before I say what I really think I will...
Equality and Diversity in action – great feedback from Kanes Hill Primary School teachers – Penguin and Elephant classes
We were really impressed with the thought and detail that had gone into the session, which was fantastically run and the children really enjoyed. Children are already showing a clear understanding of the different experiences people have and the activities allowed...
UK Airports Hidden Disabilities Scheme
Kate has been traveling again but not over land or sea. This time she visited Belfast so took the quick option – a flight. Whilst traveling I was made aware of a scheme that makes it easier for people who have a hidden disability to travel through airports in the...
Problem Solving, Team Building and Cooking your own lunch!
Problem Solving, Team Building and Cooking your own lunch! 4 young people from Southampton Sight spent a very cold and windy Saturday at Woodmill Activity Centre last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to problem solve and work together to build bridges, make...
Retro Mobile Phone with New Technology
This morning I had a visit from Tony Shrub who works for Sight and Sound Technology. He brought me a MiniVision mobile phone for demonstration in our resource centre. How many of you remember the old-style mobile phone that had no touch screen and a numerical keypad?...
Kate on the Road
Firstly, I’d like to wish you all a very belated happy new year and hope you had a well earnt rest over the festive period. Now the pleasantries are out of the way we can hopefully get on with the real reason I’m writing this and hopefully you’re interested to read...
Blind Ambition
Our own Kate in action who is part of Blind Sailing UK, a charity that encourages blind and visually impaired people to get into racing and compete for their country. Here is a link to the article: Blind Ambition @BlindSailingGBR @JubileeSailing @YandYMagazine...