Stourbridge sight loss centre secures £300,000 lottery grant
Thomas Pocklington Trust’s Stourbridge centre has secured a £300,000 grant from the National Lottery to expand its successful home support service for people with sight loss.
Since 2009 the Pocklington centre has been running a pilot scheme to support people with sight loss living in Dudley and North West Worcestershire.
Volunteers are recruited, trained and then matched with people with sight loss. They typically offer support with such activities as reading mail, going shopping, going to a social event, or just chatting over a cup of tea and a crossword.The scheme helps to reduce isolation for people with sight loss who may live alone or receive limited support.It is also planned to extend the service to carers of people with sight loss by providing them with respite time, as well as support and expert information.
This grant – spread over five years - will allow Pocklington to expand the scheme. More people with sight loss will benefit from the service, and they will be able to choose from a wider range of activities.
Stephen has some complex medical problems in addition to his sight loss and uses the befriending scheme at Stourbridge. He says “I’ve really benefitted from this scheme.I have family who visit and help but they don’t live very close to me.I really look forward to my weekly shopping trips with Anne – we both enjoy our outings. It’s great news that Pocklington can now expand this scheme.”
Anne agrees - ”We really enjoy going shopping together – it’s great fun as well as helping Stephen to buy the things he needs. I’ve learnt a lot from the befriending scheme – I’ve been humbled by Stephen’s ability to cope with the problems caused by his sight loss.”
Peter Corbett, Chief Executive Thomas Pocklington Trust, says, “This is wonderful news. The scheme gives support to people with sight loss in their own homes, preserving their independence and quality of life. Volunteers help them with everyday tasks and give people vital human contact.
”With this grant we can now expand the scheme and run it for five years. Thank you National Lottery.”
Pocklington would like to hear from anyone who could commit a regular amount of time to support a person with sight loss,All volunteers receive training for the work they do as well as ongoing professional support.
