WHAT WE DO
Sight Matters is devoted to supporting people with sight loss so that they are able to lead the lives they want.
We provide the vast majority of our services free at the point of delivery and we do not differentiate on the grounds of circumstance or financial position.
We provide the vast majority of our services free at the point of delivery and we do not differentiate on the grounds of circumstance or financial position.
OUR SERVICES
The Younger Members Group
Our younger members group offers regular opportunities for blind and visually impaired children to connect, learn, and have fun together. From social meet-ups and accessible sports to creative workshops and skills sessions, we aim to build confidence, friendships, and independence in a supportive environment.
The Over-18s Group
Our Over 18s Group offers a friendly, relaxed space for visually impaired adults to socialise, share experiences, and take part in a wide variety of activities—from trips out and accessible sports to guest talks and workshops.
Lunch Club
Our Lunch Club is a warm and welcoming get-together where members can enjoy a hearty meal, good company, and plenty of conversation. It’s a great way to catch up with friends, meet new people, and feel part of the Sight Matters community—all over a delicious, home-cooked lunch.
Audio Library
We are committed to providing services to reduce isolation; our free audio library, which contains over £100,000 worth of audio books, helps people to re-engage with reading and the enjoyment that only a good book can offer.
Recorded News
Our recorded news service helps people stay connected with their community. Every week, we send out local news stories read by volunteers and recorded in our studio to a large part of our membership, giving them access to important information that may not be otherwise available.
Manx Care Low Vision Clinics
We work with Manx Care to run monthly Low Vision Clinics. This involves services associated with functional vision clinics, lighting and magnification assessment, support, and aspects of re-training to help people do many of the things they did before encountering the challenges of sight loss.
Local Services and Benefits Information Hub
Our staff are able to offer advice and support for people needing to fill out a form or apply for a benefit. We regularly help members with bus passes, parking badges, and other administrative tasks.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
We offer free visual impairment awareness training to businesses and organisations. This training allows third parties to engage with the blind and visually impaired community in the most appropriate way. Training is tailored to each organisation’s needs and time requirements. Training covers areas such as general visual impairment education, communication techniques and sighted guiding training.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We also offer a wide range of corporate social responsibility opportunities. These include recording audio news for the local visually impaired community, helping with on-site renovations and gardening, helping to run events and fundraisers and more.
Consultancy and Advice
We are also able to offer free consultancy services for organisations looking to improve accessibility, ensure good practice and adhere to existing disability legislation. This includes accessible design, workspace optimisation, communications, accessible documents and assistive equipment.