Milton Keynes Community Foundation has awarded a grant of £10,000 towards BucksVision’s Befriending Service.
Losing one’s sight is a life-changing experience that can make it difficult for people to get out and about, often leaving them isolated and housebound. Yet sight loss is increasing in the UK, with an estimated 250 people starting to lose their sight each day.
BucksVision is the local sight loss charity supporting blind and partially sighted people in MK and Bucks. They provide specially trained volunteer Befrienders who visit blind people in their homes, to help with reading and paperwork or simply enjoy a cup of tea and a conversation together.
Having regular visits from a Befriender can make a real difference to someone with sight loss. As friendships develop, people regain confidence, feel less lonely and look forward to their visits. Befrienders spend ‘quality time’ with people, helping them to cope more easily with their situation.
“We are so grateful for this funding which will help us to reach out to more people in our area. As we emerge from the pandemic, the need for sight loss support is greater than ever,” says Sarah Fox of BucksVision.
If you are interested in volunteering with BucksVision, or would like to support this project, please contact BucksVision on 01296 487556 or via their website.
