Support 4 Sight

28/08/2026

Friday Round Up

Paul from AbilityNet joined us at the Saffron Walden Sight Hub to provide digital skills training. He spent time with people at the hub answering questions and providing assistance on the use of smartphones. “Thank you for introducing me to Paul, he’s been so helpful and I now feel much more confident using my phone.”

We also held our Takeley Sight Hub at the Old School Community Cafe where we chatted about eyes, Support 4 Sight events, holidays and would you believe it even the weather! We had a great time with an early lunch from the cafe with everyone looking forward to next time.

Get ready for the week ahead!

Monday: Office Closed for Bank Holiday Monday. We hope everyone has a restful day off!

Tuesday: Saffron Walden Hub – Stop by for Coffee and Chat. A casual opportunity to catch up with local friendly faces over a warm drink.

Wednesday: Chelmsford Hub – Hearing Help Essex. Drop in for specialized support, advice, and assistance with hearing aids or hearing loss management.

Thursday: Witham Hub – Tech with Tommy. Bring your tech questions or devices to get practical digital help and troubleshooting.

NB Age Concern Lunch Club. Running Monday to Friday to provide delicious, hot meals and friendly social connection. Call Age Concern for more details on 01245 262589.

21/08/2026

Friday Round Up
•Weekend Away at Gunton Hall: Last weekend was full of laughter, adventures, certificates being presented and plenty of fun at the beach. And, of course, a special mention to Nevis, who went into the sea for the very first time!
•Keratoconus Group Zoom: On Wednesday evening, our Keratoconus Group held a Zoom meeting with Zsuzsi, our Employment Manager. Zsuzsi talked about the workplace support available to help people manage their jobs alongside living with keratoconus. It was a relaxed and informative session with plenty of useful advice and support.
•Broomfield Senior Information Sharing Fair: Tommy had a great day at the Broomfield Senior Information Sharing Fair, meeting lots of people and chatting about the work we do at Support 4 Sight. It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet other local organisations, with several showing interest in coming along to our Sight Hubs to talk about the services and support they provide. We shared lots of information and handed out plenty of leaflets, so all in all, it was a very successful day!
•Harlow Voluntary Sector Showcase: Support 4 Sight, along with a fantastic selection of charities and voluntary organisations in Harlow, were out in force at the Water Gardens for the Harlow Voluntary Sector Showcase. It was a great opportunity to showcase the wide range of organisations and services available to support people across Harlow. The event coincided with our regular Sight Hub at Harlow Playhouse, held on the third Tuesday of every month, so it was lovely to have everyone around to offer their support once the Hub had finished.

Next Week
Saffron Walden Sight Hub – Paul from AbilityNet will be joining us to provide technology support, so bring along your gadgets and get some help with any questions you might have. We’ll also have Steve from HumanWare joining us with some electronic magnifiers to demonstrate.

Takeley Sight Hub – Join us for a relaxed coffee and chat session. A chance to catch up, have a cuppa and enjoy some friendly company.

19/08/2026

Our Employment Manager, Zsuzsi, will be joining The Keratoconus Group’s Drop-In Zoom Meeting tonight, Wednesday 19th August at 7pm, to talk about the workplace support available to help you manage your job alongside living with keratoconus.
This is a relaxed and friendly session with no set agenda and no pressure, just an open space to chat, share experiences, ask questions or simply listen.
Whether you’re living with keratoconus yourself or supporting someone who is, you’re warmly welcome.
It’s a great opportunity to connect with others who understand the KC journey and find out more about the support available to help you at work.
https://keratoconus-group.org.uk/

Helping people live with Keratoconus The Keratoconus Group is a UK charity offering a range of resources, support and education for those living with Keratoconus. We hold regular online and in-person events, we would love you to join. Support & Information Connect with the KC Community Sharing probl...

14/08/2026

Friday Round Up

This week
•Chelmsford Walking Group enjoyed a lovely walk followed by lunch at The Ship, where we were very grateful for the air conditioning!
•Paul from AbilityNet was at our Epping group on Monday, continuing to provide helpful technology support and advice. It’s always great to see the group getting to grips with new gadgets and technology.

Coming up
•Weekend Away – Gunton Hall, Suffolk: We’re off on our annual Weekend Away this weekend! We’re looking forward to some hopefully wonderful sunshine, plenty of laughs and, most importantly, making lots of great memories together.
•Monday 17th August: There will be no Supper Club in Braintree this Monday.
•Tuesday 18th August – Harlow Voluntary Sector Showcase: Come along to the Water Gardens from 10am–2.30pm to meet us and lots of other local services supporting people across the Harlow area. A great opportunity to find out more about the information, advice and support available locally.
•Tuesday 18th August – Broomfield Senior Information Sharing Fayre: Head to Broomfield Village Hall from 10.30am–3.30pm to discover local services, health and wellbeing support and information. Free entry.
•Wednesday 19th August – Rebecca Feet: Rebecca Feet will be joining us at the Chelmsford Sight Hub at Broomfield Village Hall. Come along to find out more and have a chat with the team.

12/08/2026

Glaucoma UK: National Patient Voices Survey

Glaucoma UK want to hear about your experiences - good and bad - of living with glaucoma and the care you receive for the condition.
The survey is for adults aged 18 or over who live in the UK and receive glaucoma care or monitoring in the UK. This includes people diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) and those with suspected glaucoma.
Taking part in this survey is voluntary. If you decide not to take part, this will not affect the care you receive in any way. Your answers will be treated in confidence and cannot be traced back to you.
The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete.
Unless otherwise specified, please answer the survey about your glaucoma care over the last five years. If you need any help to complete this survey, please ask a friend or family member, but make sure that it is completed based on your views and experiences.

Glaucoma UK National Patient Voices Survey 2026

07/08/2026

Friday Round Up

Technology support with AbilityNet
Paul from AbilityNet has been out and about with us this week, visiting our Braintree, Takeley and Chelmsford Sight Hubs. It’s always great to have Paul along to help with all things technology, answer questions and give people the confidence to make the most of their gadgets.

Coming up next week:
Paul will be at our Epping Sight Hub on Monday 10th August, so bring along your gadgets and any technology questions you might have!
Chelmsford Walk & Lunch
Next week we’ll also be enjoying a walk in Chelmsford, meeting up before heading for lunch at The Ship at noon. A lovely chance to get some fresh air, enjoy a bit of exercise and catch up with friends along the way.
A quick August reminder:
There will be no Potter Street group in Harlow during August. We’ll be back to our usual activities soon!

Save the Date – Bridge End Garden Tour
We’re looking forward to a special visit to Bridge End Garden on Tuesday 8th September, with Liz Lake showing us around the beautiful gardens. Afterwards, we’ll head to The Eight Bells for lunch and a chance to relax and catch up. Please contact us to sign up for this as spaces are limited on 01245 933572.

06/08/2026

Throwback Thursday to the sunshine, laughter and beautiful riverside views made for a perfect day as Support 4 Sight service users enjoyed a memorable trip along the River Stort with Canalability on 27th May.
Travelling aboard two fully accessible boats, Stort Daybreak and Stort Challenger, everyone had the chance to relax, socialise and enjoy a wonderful day on the water.

We were incredibly fortunate that the trip was able to go ahead despite the heatwave that week, and everyone enjoyed a relaxing cruise in the sunshine. Along the way, many of our visually impaired passengers embraced the opportunity to steer the boats under the guidance of the experienced Canalability volunteers. Their achievements were recognised with certificates, making the experience even more memorable. Some also enjoyed helping to open the locks, supported every step of the way by the fantastic volunteer crew.

Delicious cream teas, complete with scones, jam and cream, along with refreshments, were served on board, adding to the enjoyment of the day. It was a lovely chance to catch up with friends, make new connections and simply relax while taking in the peaceful scenery along the river.
After returning to the marina, some of the group rounded off the day with a visit to The Moorhen pub for an early dinner and more chatting!

A huge thank you to the incredible crews of Stort Day Break and Stort Challenger, and to everyone at Canalability, for making the day so welcoming, enjoyable and accessible. We are so grateful for your kindness and support in creating such a memorable experience for everyone! CanalAbility

31/07/2026

Friday Round Up – 31st July
•Our Saffron Walden Sight Hub welcomed Angela from Essex Fire and Rescue Service, who shared valuable advice on staying safe at home, including fire prevention and some helpful crime prevention tips. Thank you, Angela, for such an informative session especially at this time of year when you are all so busy, we all came away having learned something new!
•Today, our Takeley Sight Hub met for its regular coffee and catch-up, giving everyone the chance to enjoy good conversation, friendship and peer support.

Coming up next week
•Monday 3rd August – Braintree Sight Hub
Paul from AbilityNet will be joining us, so bring along your phones, tablets or other gadgets for expert advice.
The Picture Place, CM7 3HA. 10.30am–12.00pm
•Tuesday 4th August – Saffron Walden Sight Hub
Join us for coffee, a chat and friendly support.
Community Link, CB10 1HX. 9.30–11.45am
•Wednesday 5th August – Chelmsford Sight Hub
Paul from AbilityNet returns to help with all your technology questions.
Broomfield Village Hall, CM1 7AH. 10.30am–1.45pm
•Thursday 6th August – Witham Sight Hub
Liz will be bringing a selection of magnifiers, anti-glare glasses and daily living aids for you to try. Witham Hub, CM8 2YT. 10.30am–12.00pm

29/07/2026

28/07/2026

Paul has been visiting each of our Support 4 Sight hubs to introduce the fantastic support offers to people aged 55+, share experiences of using technology, and demonstrate practical tips and tricks to help make everyday tech easier to use.

One attendee summed it up perfectly:
"He was great and so patient with us."
The good news is that Paul will be continuing to visit our Sight Hubs throughout the year, so bring along your smartphone, tablet, laptop or other gadgets and get friendly, one-to-one support.

Upcoming AbilityNet sessions:
• Takeley: 31 July & 25 September
• Braintree: 3 August & 5 October
• Chelmsford: 5 August & 7 October
• Epping: 10 August & 12 October
• Harlow Playhouse: 15 September & 17 November
• Saffron Walden: 25 August & 6 October
• Witham: 3 September & 5 November

Whether you're looking to build confidence with technology or solve a specific problem, we'd love to see you there!