Sight Scotland – Page 3 – The NEN

Blind woman left traumatised after she feared falling in front of speeding train

A blind woman footballer from Edinburgh was left traumatised after she feared falling in front of a speeding train when rail staff never showed up to help her.

Samantha Gough – who plays blind football for England despite being a Scot – booked assistance before starting her journey at Edinburgh Waverley, but when she got to Doncaster station en-route to a competition, no-one was there to help.

The station also did not have tactile paving – a system of textured ground surface indicators on platforms to assist the visually impaired.

Samantha, 20, from Lasswade, (pictured, in glasses) who attended the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh, said: “It was a nightmare, a really horrendous situation to be in. People have died falling on the tracks before and I thought it was about to happen to me.

“I was in full panic mode and there was not one person there to help despite me booking assistance before I set out. I waited for about five minutes and then really began to panic. I had no idea how close I was to the platform edge as there was no tactile paving.

“Fast trains were screaming past with the wind hitting me and despite screaming on the platform for help, no one heard. I called my mum at home in Scotland and she had to phone the police. A few trains later, a guard got off and asked if I was ok and took me to station staff. They said my assistance request was not on the system but I had been told at Edinburgh that staff were phoning Doncaster to inform them that I was on the way.”

The news comes as train operators are preparing to cut 2,000 staff in line with plans to close almost every train station ticket office in Britain.

Rail companies have already outlined proposals to make thousands of job cuts by October – even though the UK government is yet to approve the planned ticket office closures.

Plans to close 974 out of 1,007 railway station ticket offices were first announced by industry body Railway Delivery Group in July. Scotland’s busiest station Glasgow Central, which serves 15.3 million passengers each year, could also lose its ticket office.

EDINBURGH, UK – 21st June 2022: Royal Blind School pupils and families take part in a fun filled Fiesta Day at the school. (Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY)

Samantha added: “I was travelling on to an event in Conisbrough. I was just left outside Doncaster station in a distressed state and had to wait for someone to come and get me from Conisbrough.

“It is a disgrace and has really knocked my confidence. It has really made me think twice about going anywhere without support.”

Samantha has been visually impaired from birth due to cerebral visual impairment (CVI) – a condition which means the eyes are healthy but the brain’s visual pathways do not work, resulting in sight loss. 

She competes in a number of sports and plays for the England women’s blind football side as Scotland does not have a team in the sport.

Last year, Samantha, who is severely sight impaired, competed in the European Para Youth Games and was the only Scot representing her country at goalball. She scooped bronze with Team. The para sport consists of three players on each side of the court, with 18 metres wide goals at either end. Players use a blue ball with bells in it which is thrown by hand and never kicked.

Samantha said: “We complained about this situation and we were offered two first class tickets as compensation. But I don’t want to go near their trains after my experience so it completely misses the point.

“This is the most extreme situation I have faced on the train. Sports people need to use the rail network all the time to get to training and events. There is a real issue here about accessibility and fairness. It really is a disgrace.”

Midlothian MP Owen Thompson has written to LNER demanding action. He said: “I was extremely concerned to hear about this constituent’s traumatic experiences. It is simply unacceptable. I find it hard to comprehend how something like this can happen in this country in the 21st century.

“There is a real issue about accessibility, equality and fairness here. Blind and partially sighted people should be able to travel safely and comfortably at all times. I wrote to LNER a couple of weeks ago and have still to receive a response. I am concerned that tactile paving is not an essential at every station in the UK.

“I do not think that the Secretary of State for Transport’s statement that tactile paving will appear in all mainline railway stations in Britain by the end of 2025 at the latest is good enough. Samantha has my full support. We have already met with Samantha and her mum to hear their concerns and I will stay in touch as we battle to get this resolved.”

Craig Spalding, chief executive of Sight Scotland, said: “We’re deeply concerned at Sam’s experience and the dangerous situation she was left in.

“Being left without any assistance and on a platform with no tactile paving highlights just how inaccessible travelling can be for people with visual impairments. Sadly, train journeys like this are not uncommon for blind and partially sighted people.

“We’ve heard first hand of other cases where people have waited for assistance to arrive and nobody turn up. This has a knock-on effect on someone’s confidence to travel independently and being able to safely get from A to B.

“Urgent action is needed now to ensure all train stations have tactile paving, in person ticket booths and assistance to ensure rail travel is accessible for all.”

Charities to launch new Sight Loss Councils in Scotland

Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans and Visibility Scotland are delighted to announce that, in partnership with the Thomas Pocklington Trust, they are launching new Sight Loss Councils in Scotland. 

Sight Loss Councils (SLCs), funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust, are led by blind and partially sighted people who use lived experience to tackle local and national issues to improve the accessibility of services. 

Each SLC is made up of a small group of blind and partially sighted volunteers who meet monthly to discuss accessibility issues and plan projects in their regions. These priorities include accessible transport and streets so everyone can travel independently and safely.

They also work to increase the accessibility of healthcare, shopping, museums and galleries, and sports and leisure facilities, depending on the needs of the local area. 

There are currently 20 SLCs across England, but this is the first time SLCs will exist in Scotland. The charities will begin recruiting volunteers, firstly across the Central Belt, in 2024.

Emma Hughes, Director of Services at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “I’m delighted to announce that Thomas Pocklington Trust will be working with Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans and Visibility Scotland to deliver Sight Loss Councils across Scotland.

“Our Sight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, are a tried and tested model designed to create positive change for others.

“This partnership builds on the success of Sight Loss Councils in England to amplify the voice of more blind and partially sighted people across Scotland. We look forward to Scottish Sight Loss Councils launching in the near future.”

Craig Spalding, Chief Executive, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, adds: “I am delighted that Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, in partnership with Visibility Scotland and Thomas Pocklington Trust are bringing Sight Loss Councils to Scotland.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to amplify the voice of those with lived experience in Scotland, making vision loss the priority it needs to be in Scotland.”

Laura Walker, Visibility Scotland’s CEO: “Sight Loss Councils in Scotland is an exciting new opportunity to provide a safe platform for people’s voices to be shared, listened to and acted upon.

“Visibility Scotland is thrilled to be part of the consortium of organisations that will launch and deliver this new initiative.”

For more information please visit:

sightlosscouncils.org.uk

sightscotland.org.uk

sightscotlandveterans.org.uk 

visibilityscotland.org.uk

pocklington-trust.org.uk

Sight Scotland: Volunteer Befrienders held battle loneliness and isolation

Sight Scotland, Scotland’s largest sight loss organisation, is appealing for more volunteer befrienders to help battle loneliness and isolation. The charity says that a regular visit to a vulnerable person can be life changing.

A volunteer befriender is someone who provides trained support and companionship to a lonely, or emotionally distressed, person. Befriending is proven to battle seclusion and self-isolation while increasing self-esteem and confidence.

Tamas Danyi-Nagy, a 31-year-old Hungarian who moved to Scotland eight years ago, is a Sight Scotland befriender. Tam visits Freda Steel, 67, from Musselburgh, every week and says the friendship they have built up has been life changing for both of them.

He explains: “Loneliness affects us all, whether that is directly or through someone close to us. Befriending offers supportive, reliable relationships, through volunteers to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. Befriending often provides people with a new direction in life and can unlock a range of activities that a person would struggle to do on their own.

“I visit Freda every Tuesday and help her with whatever she needs to do. Whether that’s a coffee and a chat, going shopping, or going for a walk. When I was a teenager, I had a friend who was blind, we were quite close, and I used to help him a lot. I found this very inspiring and felt I had a real instinct for helping, so I decided I wanted to help others in a similar way if I could.

“I started at the beginning of January 2023 and have found it just so rewarding. Freda and I have built up a strong friendship and we both get a lot out of the experience; I find it very humbling. I know I am really helping her, but in many ways, she is helping me just as much.

“When I first started it was like meeting anyone new, it was a little awkward as we were both trying to get to know each other. But we soon started to click, and Freda could see I was there to try and help her, and gradually she started to open up and tell me about what help she needed, and what struggles she was having. We had to build up trust with each other and it has now developed into a real friendship, where we both look forward to spending time in each other’s company.

“I try to explain everything to her when we are together, whether that is in the house, at a café, or out for a walk. She is a real inspiration, and so knowledgeable on many subjects. Freda is about the same age as my Mum, so I feel a real connection. She has made me appreciate everything I have and has made me listen to the beauty we hear every day around us.

“It is amazing to see how Freda’s life has changed through the befriending programme, she has become so much more confident and outgoing. During Covid, Freda was stuck in her house with no one to talk to, or help her, and this really affected her mental health. The difference I have seen in Freda since I started has been incredible, she has become so much chattier with me, and with others when we are out, I could see her confidence returning and growing week by week.

“She used to get all her food delivered, but now she looks forward to going out to local her local butcher for example, or local grocer. They all know her and treat her like a long-lost friend, it is so nice to see, and you can tell she is really enjoying it. We meet up every Tuesday and every week she is making more plans and has more appointments. I am just so happy I could help her.”

Tam adds: “If anyone is considering becoming a volunteer befriender my advice would be just go for it, it really is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. You are making such a difference to a person’s life; it is incredible to have the ability to do this for someone.”

James Whyte, Volunteer Development Manager for Sight Scotland comments: “Befriending is often transformational to a person with sight loss and can open a whole new world to someone who lives alone.

“We are currently looking for more volunteers like Tam, who are willing to give up their time to help others. Just doing the simplest things like having a coffee and a chat can make such a difference to someone who is isolated and lonely. A regular visit can be quite literally life changing.”

If you are interested in becoming a Sight Scotland Befriender or finding out about the many other ways you can volunteer with the charity, please visit:

sightscotland.org.uk/volunteer.

Alternatively, you can contact James Whyte, Volunteer Development Manager at james.whyte@sightscotland.org.uk or call 0131 446 3154.

Douglas Ross visits Sight Scotland’s Hawkhead Centre

The Scottish Conservative Party leader, Douglas Ross MP MSP, has praised Sight Scotland Veterans for all the outstanding help and support it provides to veterans living with sight loss across the country.

Douglas Ross, MP for Moray and MSP for Highlands and Islands, recently visited Sight Scotland Veterans’ Hawkhead Centre in Paisley to see first-hand the great help and support the charity provides.

He was joined on the visit by local Scottish Conservative MSP for West Scotland Russell Findlay. Sight Scotland Veterans provides free support to armed forces veterans affected by sight loss throughout Scotland to help them regain confidence, restore independence, and make new connections.

During his visit, Douglas Ross was given a tour of the Hawkhead Centre and met many of the staff and volunteers who work there. He also spent time and chatted with some of the veterans the charity helps, discussing the issues they have and what support they require.

Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “I was delighted to visit Hawkhead Centre in Paisley and learn more about the fantastic work they are doing to support veterans.

“It was truly inspiring to meet many of veterans and hear directly from them about how Sight Scotland is helping them cope with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Many of those being supported at the Hawkhead Centre have overcome many challenges thanks to Sight Scotland and I applaud them for bettering the lives of many.”

Scottish Conservative West Scotland MSP Russell Findlay said: “We must always go the extra mile to support our veterans and those at the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley doing exactly that by empowering veterans to live as independently as possible.

“The spirit of comradeship is uplifting and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of activities. It was great to join Douglas Ross at the centre and I hope to return soon for another chat with the incredible veterans.”

Davina Shiell, Director of Communications at Sight Scotland, comments: “We were delighted to welcome Douglas Ross MSP to our Hawkhead Centre in Paisley.

“As a society we need to look after our vulnerable veterans and Sight Scotland Veterans plays such an important role in combatting social isolation, seclusion, and loneliness.

“We are hoping that having such a high-profile visitor to one of our centres can shine a brighter spotlight on the charity and all great things it does, plus provide a platform to discuss many of the issues facing the vision impaired community, such as increased ophthalmology waiting times, public transport cuts and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

“In simple terms, people living with sight loss across Scotland need more help.”

Sight Scotland Veterans provides support to all veterans in Scotland who are experiencing changes to their sight.

The Hawkhead Centre in Renfrewshire is an activity hub for ex-servicemen and women with sight loss. It’s a warm, welcoming place that brings veterans together. With a variety of activities and outings, the activity hub offers the means and support to adapt to life with sight loss and try new things.

Many veterans who attend the centre say the things they do there and the connections they have made have transformed their lives.

For more information on Sight Scotland Veterans please visit

sightscotlandveterans.org.uk

or call our support line on 0800 035 6409.

Unlocking Education For All

LEADING SCOTTISH VISION IMPAIRMENT ORGANISATIONS CALL ON SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO ENDORSE NEW FRAMEWORK FOR VISION IMPAIRMENT EDUCATION

Scotland’s leading vision impairment charities, Sight Scotland and The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland are today supporting the launch of a new Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI). The CFVI addresses significant inequities in access to education for blind and partially sighted children and young people.

Calls for action which are presented in the CFVI report, published today, include:

recognised and referenced in Scotland Additional Support for Learning policies.
embedded in local authority service delivery frameworks.
followed by all educational settings supporting children and young people with vision impairment and their families, in partnership with vision impairment specialists.
To be embedded within competence frameworks for teachers of children with vision impairment and habilitation specialists across the UK.

The CFVI supports children and young people (CYP) with vision impairment (VI) to access an appropriate and equitable education. It ensures they are actively taught a range of independent learning, mobility, everyday living, and social communication skills.

Currently, access to these learning areas and teaching specialists is variable and differences in provision across local authorities mean many young people are missing out. The report details the significant consequences for children and young people which are evident in attainment and employment gaps.

Samantha Gough, 18, of Lasswade, Midlothian has been visually impaired from birth due cerebral visual impairment (CVI). For the last year, Samantha, who is now severely sight impaired, has had a flexible placement with Sight Scotland’s Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.

Her schooling is split between attendance at her mainstream school and the Royal Blind School, where she receives teaching and support from the Royal Blind School’s specialist team, including Qualified Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (QTVIs) and habilitation specialists.

Samantha said: “My sight started to get worse in 2014. As my sight has deteriorated over time, I’ve had to relearn how to live. I needed to do mobility training to find my way around the world again.

“At the Royal Blind School, I’m learning how to use braille, which I love because I had lost the ability to read and write. I’m also learning independent living skills, things like cooking skills and learning how to go to the shops and advocate for myself by saying what support I need.

“I am just learning how to use the bus independently, which will hopefully progress to train travel. There are still struggles and things I’ll always need help with, but it’s about learning coping strategies and how I can do things on my own. I’ve been here for a year, and it’s been life changing. I think giving pupils with vision impairment the opportunity to have this specialist support is the best thing.”

Davina Shiell, Director of Communications at Sight Scotland, said: “We know first-hand just how important specialist education is for children and young people who are blind or partially sighted.

“With the number of pupils in Scotland with a vision impairment close to reaching 5,000, blind and partially sighted children and young people must have full access to their education and for this to be achieved it is crucial we provide them with the additional specialist VI support they require to learn, develop and live independently.

“The title of the report says it all, ‘Unlocking Education For All’, yet access to specialist supports is fragmented across Scotland. That’s why we’re calling on the Scottish Government to embed the framework into ASN policies so that children and young people with a visual impairment aren’t left behind.”

Caireen Sutherland, Head of Education and CYPF at RNIB, said: “We need to work together to address where there are inequities in education provision and support available for CYP with VI.

“The CFVI shares the ambition of the proposed national standards and as it is grounded in both research and practice, it provides the evidence base on how to support CYP with VI.”

The report is the result from partnership working with vision impairment organisations across the UK, including the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) at the University of Birmingham, the professional association for the Vision Impairment Education Workforce (VIEW) and Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), who undertook a review of special educational needs and Additional Support Needs (ASN) across the UK.

For more information about the CFVI, please visit the RNIB website.

For more information on Sight Scotland please visit www.sightscotland.org.uk.

CFVI-Framework_Nov_22 Download

Scotland’s Bottle Deposit Return Scheme: Have visually-impaired people even been considered?

Sight Scotland: people with vision impairment will not be able to take part in the bottle return scheme

Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans have welcomed the delay to the Bottle Deposit Return Scheme and are urging the Scottish Government to use this time to consider the implications it will have for visually impaired people.

The Bottle Deposit Return Scheme, which is used by many other countries to encourage recycling, will charge people a small deposit on certain types of containers, which will be given back to them when they return it to a recycling point. People return their items to a reverse vending machine where they scan their bottles to receive cash back.

The sight loss charities are concerned that people with vision impairment will not be able to take part in the scheme and will incur the increased costs with no way of getting their money back, thus increasing cost of living pressures further.

Craig Spalding, Chief Executive, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, explains: “Although we support environmental initiatives like the Bottle Deposit Return Scheme, we are extremely worried that the rights of visually impaired people have not been taken into consideration when the scheme has been developed. We urge the Scottish Government to take this time to review several unacceptable accessibility issues.

“For many blind and partially sighted people online food shopping is key to being able to shop independently. This is also true for many older people. We are concerned that those unable or who find it challenging to physically go to a supermarket will not be able to participate in the return scheme and will bear a disproportionate cost on bottled items.

“We are aware that new regulations state that some large retailers will provide a vital takeback service. However, we are very concerned about recent reports of one large supermarket possibly cancelling online shopping deliveries to get out of offering a takeback service. If this is the case, it is likely other supermarkets will follow suit which will isolate more people with visual impairment from the scheme.

“For those who are able to shop in person, we are also concerned about how someone with visual impairment will be able to identify what bottles are included in the scheme and how will they be able to operate the reverse vending machine. Will they be required to scan the bottles manually? It is essential the codes are in large print and have a tactile marker to indicate where they are on the bottle. We feel it is a necessity that reverse vending machines should include audio instructions and large print on the screen. The test machines which are currently in some shops around the country have none of these unfortunately.”

Spalding adds: “We have written to the Scottish Government raising our concerns and are currently awaiting a reply. As it stands just now, the Bottle Deposit Return Scheme just does not work for blind or partially sighted people.”

For more information on Sight Scotland, and Sight Scotland Veterans, please visit sightscotland.org.uk or sightscotlandveterans.org.uk.

New First Minister must open his eyes to challenges facing vision impaired

EDINBURGH, UK – 14th February 2022: Sight Scotland community service users meet with staff for a social event at Robertson Avenue. (Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY)

Sight Scotland, and its sister charity Sight Scotland Veterans, are calling on the new Frist Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, to improve inclusivity and accessibility for the vision impaired.

An estimated 180,000 people are currently living in Scotland who are blind or partially sighted, with this number expected to double by 2031 to almost 400,000. People living with vision impairment face a multitude of challenges on a daily basis, including loneliness, isolation, and social exclusion.

If we add in spiralling waiting times, the cost-of-living crisis, and growing problems with accessibility in our towns and cities, it is clear to see that more needs to be done to support people living with sight loss across the country.

Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, comments: “As a former Health Secretary, our new First Minister knows the challenges that are facing healthcare and public health in Scotland.

“You just have to look at the latest ophthalmology waiting times statistics released by Public Health Scotland to realise that the Scottish Government must do better.

“On average 36% of new outpatients had to wait over 16 weeks for eye appointments, a rise of almost 10% in just three months. This number then grows to over 50% in some health boards such as Fife and Lanarkshire.

“People with deteriorating eye conditions just don’t have the time to wait, if ophthalmology waiting times are not improved, many face the very real prospect of permanent damage.

“The cost of living crisis is also hitting the vision impaired community hard. The majority of people living with sight loss already face additional expenses, such as transportation costs, technology assistance costs and support in the home.

“They are also forced to spend a lot more time in their home due to vision loss, which makes fuel poverty a very real threat due to soaring energy bills. This is forcing many to cut back on essentials such as food, heating and electricity, which is having a terrible impact on both their physical and mental health.

“The Scottish Government must address the growing problems of accessibility in Scotland. More streets in Scotland are being transformed to give priority to active travel, but unfortunately there are many instances where these new layouts are dangerous for visually impaired people.

“Issues centring around cycle paths with no kerbs, floating bus stops and staggered zebra crossings, are causing real safety concerns. Meaningful engagement with communities is key to this so that their lived experience can inform plans that meet the needs of everyone.”

Spalding adds: “We are looking forward to working alongside the new Scottish Government to help address many of these issues and to develop further the new See Hear strategy and the National Low Vision service.

“We welcomed the launch of the new eyes.scot website, and the reestablishment of the Graduate Diploma in Low Vision Rehabilitation course at Strathclyde University which is a step in the right direction to ensuring more people with visual impairment have access to specialist support to lead independent day to day lives.

“A new First Minister and Cabinet present a real opportunity to address these challenges. We welcome the chance to work even closer together to ensure the needs of people living with sight loss are at the top of the agenda.”

For more information about the activity groups please visit:

https://sightscotland.org.uk

Tens of thousands of Scots wait more than four months for vital eye care, campaign group tells MSPs

Approximately 29,000 people wait more than 16 weeks for eye care services in Scotland after initial referral¹
The situation has worsened following dramatic falls in outpatient activity during the COVID-19 pandemic²
National partnership, The Eyes Have It, call on Scottish government to prioritise eye care services as part of NHS post-COVID recovery plans

Nearly 30,000 patients are waiting more than 16 weeks on NHS waiting lists for specialist ophthalmology treatment in Scotland, Members of the Scottish Parliament have been told during a reception at Holyrood.

And, according to NHS figures, these patients make up more than 50% of the entire ophthalmology waiting list.

Scottish parliamentarians from across the political spectrum who attended the event in the Scottish Parliament on 1^st June learnt about the challenges patients with deteriorating eye health face in Scotland. The event was sponsored by Stuart McMillan MSP and hosted by the The Eyes Have It (TEHI) partnership with Sight Scotland.

Sight loss, the complete or partial loss of vision not correctable by usual means such as glasses, affects 200,000 people in Scotland³, more than the number affected by dementia⁴. Ophthalmology is now the third busiest outpatient specialty in the Scottish NHS and accounts for 10% of new outpatient appointments in Scotland².

Cathy Yelf, CEO of the Macular Society, speaking on behalf of TEHI, which is made up of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the Macular Society, Fight for Sight, the Association of Optometrists and Roche Products Ltd, said: “Capacity shortages can have very serious implications for patients, with delayed follow up (both at the time of diagnosis and during ongoing care) found to be a factor in sight loss.

“The progressive nature of conditions such as wet age-related macular degeneration means that delays to treatment can result in poorer outcomes for patients with sight loss.”

Craig Spalding, CEO of Sight Scotland, one of Scotland’s oldest charities, said: “Eye conditions are estimated to cost the Scottish economy £2bn annually³, and despite the introduction, in 2006, of free primary eye exams in Scotland and strategies to identify priority areas for action to improve eye care services, Scotland continues to face challenges.

“The situation has worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic which led to a dramatic fall in outpatient activity, but there is now an opportunity to improve efficiency, effectiveness and patient experience as the healthcare system looks towards COVID-19 recovery. Reducing waiting lists must be a key priority.”

Stuart McMillan MSP, Convenor of the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment, said: “Sight loss can have a devastating effect on a person’s quality of life and emotional well-being.

“The implementation of free primary care eye examinations by the Scottish Government in 2006 helped to reduce pressures on secondary care but the Covid-19 pandemic has created new challenges meaning there is still more to do to improve patient access and expand capacity.

“It has been a pleasure to host this event with The Eyes Have It partnership to raise awareness of this important issue”

The Eyes Have It partnership, with Sight Scotland, has drawn up a series of recommendations calling on the Scottish government to prioritise eye health within NHS service recovery.

Help Sight Scotland light up Christmas for children and young people with visual impairment

People of Edinburgh can help Sight Scotland to light up Christmas for children and young people with visual impairment this festive season.

This winter, the charity hopes to provide new sensory lighting equipment for the children and young people with sight loss who are supported by Sight Scotland’s residential services in Edinburgh.

The bright colours and warmth of sensory lighting brings joy and relaxation to children and young people with visual impairment and can support their development.

New sensory lighting equipment would play a huge part in the day-to-day tailored interactive activities at the residential services.

Sight Scotland is also inviting Edinburgh residents to decorate paper Christmas baubles to provide unique tree decorations for the charity’s residential services.

A selection of the delightful designs which are sent in will also be shared on Sight Scotland’s social media pages.

Kerry Lindsay, Sight Scotland Head of Fundraising, said: “We would love to bring some added magic to this time of year for the children and young people we support in our fantastic Edinburgh based residential services.

“Donations to our sensory light appeal this Christmas to help us provide new sensory lighting equipment will help create fantastic interactive experiences for the children and young people we support. We would hugely appreciate anything you can give.

“Our residential staff and colleagues in services across Sight Scotland are also working hard to create beautiful decorations for everyone in our residential services to enjoy. If you would like to help spread some joy by sending us your own decorated paper bauble, we would be delighted to receive your design.”

If you would like to help make the festive season extra special for children and young people in Sight Scotland’s residential services, please visit

sightscotland.org.uk/bauble

to donate to Sight Scotland’s sensory lights appeal and to download a decorative bauble template.

Or you can text BAUBLE to 70480 to donate £5. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.

£1.5 million Lottery support helps Edinburgh community groups adapt and recover from Covid-19

Edinburgh-based groups helping older people to re-connect, new parents feel less isolated and those with sight loss more empowered are amongst those today sharing in £1,483,518 of National Lottery funding.

The cash from The National Lottery Community Fund is being shared by 30 groups in the city helping local communities adapt and recover from COVID-19.

As lockdown restrictions begin to lift members of the Royston Wardieburn Community Centre’s Spring Chicken’s group are hoping to reconnect in person and get back to the things they love with an award £9,940.

Neil Saddington, Equalities and Inclusion Worker with the group, said: “Most of the Spring Chickens group are elderly people who experience a variety of different health issues and disabilities.

“This essential National Lottery funding has enabled us to do valuable work to combat isolation and loneliness during the most recent lockdown. Now that restrictions are slowly being lifted, we are looking forward to one to one outdoor meet ups to support some of the most isolated members of the group get out and about again.”

There was more good news for another North Edinburgh project as FetLor youth club has also received National Lottery support.

The club said in a statement: “FetLor are delighted to have received an award from The National Lottery Community Fund. We plan to use this funding to support our young people as they return to the Club after lockdown.

“FetLor is a club at the heart of the north Edinburgh community and this funding will support the young people from that community as they make a return to what’s important; being with friends in a safe and supportive space.”

FetLor Director, Richie Adams said, “This last year has been challenging both for our members and for our community. As we move out of lockdown, we are delighted to be welcoming young people back into their club.

“We are looking forward to supporting our members build resilience, achieve their potential and have great fun doing so! The support from the National Lottery enables us to do all we can to make sure our members have a fun time thriving and growing at FetLor”

Based in Edinburgh and working Scotland wide, Sight Scotland offers support to anyone impacted by sight loss, as well as their relatives, friends and carers.

Thanks to an award of £150,000, its Family Wellbeing service will providea range of support to address the loneliness and mental health impacts of sight-loss, and the additional impacts of Covid-19.

Mark O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, said: “A huge thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for this funding. It will enable us to provide practical and emotional support to even more people affected by visual impairment in communities across Scotland via our recently established Family Wellbeing Service.

“With the number of people with sight loss in Scotland set to increase by 30,000 to over 200,000 in the next decade, it is vital that Sight Scotland is there for people with sight loss and their loved ones whenever and however they need us.”

An award of £107,000 goes to Passion4Fusion to deliver a health, wellbeing and support service for Black African people in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

Welcoming the award Jonathan Ssentamu of Passion4Fusion, said: “We are very excited and really grateful for the support of the National Lottery Community Fund to enable us to develop this much-needed project which will help to address the complex issues and needs that Black Africans are facing.

“Experience has shown us that many Black Africans living in poverty and deprivation would choose to be ‘invisible’ rather than admit to needing help and in turn seeking the help they need. Our Project will support people directly within their local community, making it as easy as possible to access culturally sensitive services that will allow them to thrive in life.”

Dads Rock will deliver group sessions to fathers on topics such as parenting advice, health and safety and mental health, thanks to an award of £9,950.

Lisa Holder, Fundraising Manager, said: “This funding will help us give online support to around 1000 parents across Scotland over the next year, helping them to feel less isolated and learn new skills.

“It will enable them to become more confident and resilient and their children will feel safe, loved and supported.”

Networking Key Services Limited is a community organisation working closely with South Asian and other ethnic minority communities in Edinburgh.

Welcoming their £103,840 award, Naina Minhas, Manager, Networking Key Services Ltd, said: “The National Lottery funding we have received in the past has enabled us to set up a forum for South Asian female carers in Edinburgh.

“This new award will go a long way to address the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on South Asian communities and will enable us to support communities in their recovery from the challenges that have further widened pre-existing inequalities.”

Across the country 246 community projects are today sharing in £10,922,832.

Announcing the funding, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “It’s great to see such a variety of projects being funded in Edinburgh to help local people adapt and recover from the physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference, connecting local people to others in their communities.”

National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for good causes in the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk