Support 4 Sight

12/10/2026

CHANGE OF VENUE

CHELMSFORD LUNCH CLUB!

A quick update for everyone joining us this Wednesday!

Our Chelmsford Lunch Club will now be meeting at The Plough, by Chelmsford Railway Station.

We look forward to seeing you there for a lovely get-together!

For more information, please contact Tommy on 01245 933572.

Please share to help spread the word!

09/10/2026

This week’s Saffron Walden Sight Hub was well attended with people who had recently attended for the first time joining us again and familiar friends we haven't seen in a while. At our Chelmsford Hub we had a fantastic turnout at our latest session, welcoming several new joiners alongside our regular members. A special thank you to AbilityNet for partnering with us to deliver valuable digital skills training to the entire group! We also recently had Hearing Help Essex join us at our Witham Sight Hub giving information on the work they do and answering any questions that members had.

Next week on October 14th, our Chelmsford Dining Club will be enjoying some lunch at The Globe. On October 12th, AbilityNet will be joining us at our Epping Sight Hub held at Epping Library, St Johns Road, Epping, CM16 5DN. Bring along your mobile phone to learn new skills or for help with any issues you may have.

October is also our listening month and as part of this month, we want to make sure our services and support continue to meet the needs of the people we work with.
We invite you to take part in our annual survey and share your views, you can also enter for a chance to win £100. Every response helps us learn, improve and make sure our services continue to be relevant.
The survey only takes a few minutes and can be found here: https://forms.gle/vNpCCmr3onhFj8wp7
Your responses help us:
• Understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve
• Shape the services and support we provide in the future
• Demonstrate the impact our work makes.
If you need any assistance we can take your survey answers over the telephone, please call us on 01245 933572.

02/10/2026

Friday Round Up

It was lovely to welcome a handful of new faces to our Saffron Walden Sight Hub this week! It was a great opportunity for new and existing attendees to get to know each other, share their experiences and swap helpful tips and advice.

We’re always delighted to welcome new people to our Sight Hubs across Mid and West Essex, so if you haven’t joined us before, why not come along?

Next Week

Braintree Sight Hub – AbilityNet will be joining us to provide technology support.

Saffron Walden Sight Hub – AbilityNet will be on hand to offer technology advice and support.

Chelmsford Sight Hub – AbilityNet will also be joining us to help with technology and answer your questions.

Witham Age Well Fair
Thursday 8 October | 10am–1pm
Witham Public Hall, CM8 2DY
We’re looking forward to meeting attendees, sharing information about Support 4 Sight and catching up with other local organisations. We hope to see you there!

25/09/2026

Friday Round Up
Visionary Conference
Sharon has been attending the Visionary Conference at Aston University, joining the opening panel question time and a range of workshops. She was also joined by Amrat to deliver a workshop on Maximising Your Board of Trustees. The conference finished with a wonderful awards dinner and was a fantastic opportunity to meet, network and share ideas with organisations and people from across the sight loss sector.

National Eye Health Week
On Wednesday, Liz joined Nicki, ECLO (Eye Clinic Liaison Officer), and Ginny, Clinical Nurse Specialist, at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow. They were highlighting National Eye Health Week and providing information, advice and support to people living with sight loss and their families.

Coming up at Saffron Walden Sight Hub
Hearing Help Essex will be joining us on Tuesday 29 September to provide information and support around hearing loss.

October is Listening Month!
Throughout October, we’ll be asking for your views on our services and the difference they make to you. We’ll be sending out a short feedback form and holding focus groups at our Sight Hubs. We’d love to hear from you!

National Eye Health Week may be coming to an end, but looking after your eyes is important all year round. Regular eye tests can help detect eye conditions early and can also pick up signs of other health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Early detection can make a real difference, as many conditions can be treated or managed more effectively when identified early.

Keep looking after your eyes – and remember to get your eyes tested!

21/09/2026

This week, we’re encouraging everyone to get their eyes tested as from the 21-27 September 2026 is National Eye Health Week!

Regular eye tests are important for everyone, including people living with sight loss.

Eye tests can help detect changes in your vision and identify signs of other health conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Early detection can make a real difference.

Five simple tips for healthy eyes:
1. Have an eye test at least every two years, or as advised by your optician
2. Eat a healthy, balanced diet
3. Don’t smoke
4. Stay active
5. Protect your eyes from UV light

Look after your eyes – book your eye test today and encourage your family and friends to do the same!

18/09/2026

Friday Round Up

This week, the Essex Wellbeing Service joined us at our Harlow Playhouse Sight Hub to speak to the group about the services and support they provide in the local area. It was lovely to meet Valery, who is hoping to join us at our Potter Street group soon, so keep an eye out for more information! Essex Wellbeing Service
At our Chelmsford Sight Hub, Tommy was on hand to provide some tech support, helping members of the group with their phones and iPads. If you’re having any problems with your technology or would like some help getting the most out of your devices, please let us know. We can arrange an appointment for you to meet Tommy at one of our Sight Hubs.

Next week is a little quieter, with no Sight Hubs taking place. However, it is National Eye Health Week, so keep an eye out for information and guidance from us throughout the week.
We’ll be highlighting the importance of looking after your eyes and having regular eye checks. A little bit of prevention and early detection can make a big difference, so make sure you’re giving your eyes the attention they deserve!

14/09/2026

11/09/2026

Friday Round Up

Rain certainly didn’t stop play this week! Support 4 Sight joined Liz Lake, Chair of the Garden’s Board, for a wonderful guided tour of Bridge End Gardens in Saffron Walden.
Liz shared fascinating insights into the history of the gardens, as well as the importance of the trees and plants throughout. She also made sure the tour was a truly tactile experience, giving everyone the opportunity to get hands-on and explore the gardens through touch. A huge thank you to Liz for sharing her expertise, knowledge and infectious enthusiasm with us! We all dried off our wet coats at Knead Food at the Blue Egg, Great Bardfield to enjoy lunch and refreshments.
Monday was also a day for celebrating, as we enjoyed some birthday cake for Sharon’s birthday during our office day. We also spent time planning some exciting events and activities for Support 4 Sight, so keep following us to see what we have coming up for the rest of 2026!

Tuesday 15th September – Harlow Playhouse Sight Hub 10.30-12pm
AbilityNet will be joining us again to provide digital skills support. If you have a gadget or device you’d like some help with, bring it along!

04/09/2026

Friday Round Up

Hearing Help Essex joined us at our Chelmsford Sight Hub this week, offering advice and support to those living with hearing loss. It was a great opportunity to find out more about the services available and ask questions.
Tommy also visited our Witham Sight Hub on Thursday to help with technology. Whether it’s getting to grips with a gadget or finding a way to make technology work better for you, it’s always lovely to see our members getting the support they need.

Next Week
Braintree Sight Hub - Monday 7th September, 10.30am–12 noon, The Picture Palace, CM7 3HA. We’ll be joined by Essex Fire and Rescue Service, who will be talking about the services and support available to people in the local area. A great chance to find out more and ask any questions you may have.

Bridge End Garden Tour with Liz Lake - Tuesday 8th September, 10.30am. Meet on Castle Street, Saffron Walden
We’re looking forward to a special tour of Bridge End Gardens with Liz Lake, Chair of the Friends of Bridge End Gardens. Liz is kindly giving her time to lead this free tour and is hoping to bring the garden to life through sensory experiences and words, helping us appreciate all its different sights, sounds, smells and textures.
We still have a few spaces available, so please contact us to let us know you’re coming along. After the tour, we’ll be heading to The Eight Bells for lunch, giving us a chance to rest our feet, enjoy a bite to eat and continue the conversation.

Harlow Potter Street Meeting - Tuesday 8th September, 10.30am–12 noon, Potter Street Church, CM17 9AW. A lovely opportunity to catch up, enjoy a cuppa and spend time with friends.

We hope to see you at one of our groups next week!

03/09/2026

Gunton Hall 2026
We were delighted to enjoy another wonderful holiday at Warners Gunton Hall this year. Blessed with sunshine, fresh air and plenty to keep us busy. There were walks, archery, water aerobics, quizzes and lots of opportunities to relax and enjoy ourselves. Add in good food, great company and plenty of laughter, and it was another holiday to remember.

A highlight of the weekend was our day trip to Southwold, where we enjoyed a lovely day out exploring the town, taking in the seaside atmosphere and making the most of the beautiful weather. It was a great opportunity to get out and about and enjoy everything this popular coastal town has to offer.

Another memorable part of the holiday was the awards ceremony, which gave everyone a chance to celebrate the achievements and contributions of our group. There were plenty of smiles, applause and, of course, a few laughs along the way!
A special mention must go to the Warners staff, who were exceptionally accommodating with our visually impaired group. They were friendly, helpful and understanding throughout our stay, making sure everyone could enjoy the holiday to the full. They were also incredibly welcoming to Nevis, the guide dog, which was very much appreciated.

A special thanks to Cliff, from ACME Coaches for being the ‘Best Driver Ever!’

And, of course, we couldn't fail to mention the exciting new addition to Warners, the ice cream machine! If you know, you know!

All in all, Gunton Hall 2026 was another fantastic break, filled with sunshine, laughter, friendship and happy memories. From our activities at the resort to our day in Southwold and the fun of the awards ceremony, there was something for everyone to enjoy. We returned home with lots of happy memories and perhaps a renewed appreciation for the wonders of an ice cream machine!