To celebrate 110 years of providing support to local people who are blind or partially sighted, we are today launching our 110 Givers campaign. Will you join us by making a small regular donation?
In 1914 a group of people met in the Victoria Hall in Derby with the aim of coming together to help local people affected by sight loss. From this meeting, Derbyshire Association for the Blind was established, which in 2011 became known as Sight Support Derbyshire. Initial work included working with schools and home visiting, before attention was turned to supporting soldiers returning from World War 1 with often horrific eye injuries. Early benefactors included Herbert Strutt and Mr & Mrs F Arkwright.
Since 1914 we have supported thousands of people of all ages living with a visual impairment and the need is still very much there. With well over 30,000 people estimated to be living with sight loss severe enough to impact on their daily lives across Derby and Derbyshire, we must continue the mission started all those years ago to provide practical, emotional and social support.
But we can only do this with the help of our generous supporters.
That’s why we are asking everyone to come together, like that first small group of people determined to improve the lives of people living with sight loss, by becoming one of our 110 Givers.
Your gifts could make a big difference to someone’s life, for example providing a befriending volunteer to an older people with sight loss who is lonely and isolated.
“My befriending volunteer has given me exactly what I needed to feel connected again.” (‘Lucy’ 85 years old)
“The befriending scheme has been absolutely wonderful for me and made such a difference to my life!” (‘Jean’ 82 years old)
A regular gift of any size really will make a difference:
110 people giving £5 a month would raise £6,600 a year – enough to recruit, train and support 20 new befriending volunteers over the year
110 people giving £10 a month would raise £13,200 – enough to run our social and leisure activities for a whole year
110 people giving £20 a month would raise £26,400 – enough to run our Hospital advice and support services for 5 months
There are two ways to make a regular gift to Sight Support Derbyshire.
- Set up a Direct Debit via our secure website here: https://sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/donate/regular-giving/
- Set up a Standing Order by printing and completing this form and returning to us here at Sight Support Derbyshire. We will then forward this form to your bank to set up the donations.
Please help to secure the future of Sight Support Derbyshire so we can continue making a difference to people’s lives, by becoming one of our 110 Givers today. Any gift, however large or small, really will make a difference.
