Newquay Sight Loss Initiatives Receive Lions Funding

PEOPLE with sight loss in the Newquay area are set to benefit following a £500 donation by the Towan Blystra Lions to Cornwall’s sight loss charity, iSightCornwall.

iSightCornwall, which is one of the oldest charities in Cornwall, provide a range of services to help Cornish residents who have experienced vision loss, regardless of age, condition or circumstance.

From giving emotional support at the hospital to helping someone continue to be independent at home and do the things they love; iSightCornwall aims to help Cornish people with sight loss to live life without limitations.

What the support means

The Towan Blystra Lions’ support means the charity can continue to help and grow their services and support in the Newquay area, with a particular focus on the opportunities aimed at offering social activities and improving clients’ well-being – something iSightCornwall says is more important than ever before.

Jodi Strick, volunteer coordinator at iSightCornwall explained: “One of the many consequences we are seeing coming out of the lock downs and social restrictions of the pandemic is that many people with sight loss have lost their confidence in leaving their homes. Perhaps they used to go to a club or take walks around their community but now they no longer feel able to do so.

Creating Initiatives

“We’ve been working hard to create initiatives and recruit volunteers who can help, these range from social clubs and craft workshops to befriending and walking buddy schemes.”

Members of the Towan Blystra Lions Club, including President Jill Bunt, met with iSightCornwall Chief Executive Carole Theobald to present a cheque for the £500 at Heron Tennis Centre last week.

So pleased

Carole said: “We are so pleased that the Towan Blystra Lions have chosen to support our organisation. This money will help us continue supporting people with sight loss in Newquay with clubs and social activities, all of which can make a huge difference to the well-being of our clients.

“The Lions Clubs International are a fantastic organisation and have been supporters and advocators of blind and visually impaired causes for many years, pledging to help prevent avoidable blindness and improve quality of life for all people with sight loss so it’s wonderful to see a Cornish Lions Club continuing that good work.

“As a charity we’re feeling the pinch following years of disruption to our fundraising activities and now the cost-of-living crisis so we are so grateful for any support we receive. As the only Cornish sight loss charity we want to ensure our services and support are secure for the future so on behalf of everyone at iSightCornwall I would like to say a big thank you to all of the members of the Newquay Towan Blystra Lions.”

For more information on clubs and activities offered by iSightCornwall, click here to open in a new tab.