Kindness Packs for members

Here at 4Sight Vision Support, a little joy has been spread to their 2,000 members, all of whom are living with sight loss. When Coronavirus caused the UK to go into lockdown, we were forced to close our centres, stop running our clubs and support groups and cease all other face-to-face services. From our conversations with members we know that living with sight loss can be incredibly lonely and isolating at the best of times – and many of our members will have experienced this at some point – however Coronavirus made the situation a lot worse:

Chief Executive, Nik Demetriades said: “Coronavirus continues to have a huge impact on people living with sight loss. Our members have felt lonely, isolated and at times very vulnerable. Many have not left their homes in the past four months. We recognised the need to go the extra mile and do something which would help to lift our members’ spirits at this difficult time.

So, in May we set out to fundraise just over £10,000 to enable us to make up a ‘Kindness Pack’ for every member. Thanks to the generosity of local Trusts Funders, West Sussex County Council and the local community we have been able to provide every one of our members with a Kindness Pack, helping to lift their spirits and let them know we are here for them at this challenging time.

Thank you to everyone involved for helping to make this happen and to our wonderful volunteers who helped us with the massive task of getting the packs sent out!”

 

The pack included a large print crossword book, sight loss friendly pen, a poem by the Blind Poet, newsletter, tea and biscuits.

The gifts have been incredibly well received by members, here are just a few examples of some of the kind messages of thanks we have received:

 

This is so extremely kind of everyone at 4Sight and I felt quite overwhelmed but also so touched by this parcel – thank you.

Thank you so much for the surprise package that arrived last week! What a lovely idea and so thoughtful. The idea that we could all put the kettle on, settle down to a cuppa and a biscuit whilst having a go at a puzzle, despite the fact we cannot be together, is lovely! Excellent member care.

What a wonderful surprise, it made us feel so valued and that we were not forgotten about, a marvellous thought.

The Charity would like to thank and acknowledge the generous support of the funders who enabled this project to take place, including: Sussex Community Foundation, The Kathleen and Sidney Linkins Trust, Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council, Bid Food Worthing, Schoolcraft, Waitrose Chichester and Waitrose Storrington as well as individual donors. They would also like to give credit to Dave Steele, The Blind Poet, for allowing them to include his “Covid-19 Poem” in the packs, too.

Find out more about the support and services we are providing members during this time here.