This #VolunteersWeek we want to say a HUGE thank you to ALL our wonderful volunteers - from baking cakes to make people feel welcome at our social groups, to befriending isolated older people to bring the outside world back in, to being a Trustee, to counting the money in our collection tins! 🙏

Something BIG is coming...! 22nd-29th June 2026 sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/exciting-ann...

Our next Information Day will take place on Wed 10th June 2026 from noon - 2.30pm at the St Thomas' Centre & Coffee Bar in Chesterfield. If you or someone you know is experiencing sight loss our Information Days are a great way to access a range of information and support all in one place.

Please nominate us - we could win £5,000 towards our work with local people living with sight loss! It only take a few minutes to nominate. Thank you! movementforgood.com/draws/specia... #MovementForGood

We are #hiring Want to make a difference to the lives of older people with sight loss who are lonely and isolated? We are #recruiting for a Befriending Coordinator to join our team and really make a difference: "I feel connected to the outside world again! I hope her visits never stop".

Drum roll please! We are excited to have been chosen to be part of the #SmallCharityWeek @biggive.bsky.social match funding campaign! Every donation towards our Big Give Befriending appeal from 22-29th June will be doubled thanks to our match funder, @postcodelotteryuk.bsky.social Watch this space!

We are very proud to share that our Chair of Trustees, Martin Wilson, has been recognised for 23 years service to the community through a High Sheriff of Derbyshire award. Thank you Martin for everything you have done, and continue to do, for local people living with sight loss.

We were humbled to attend the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust presentation event recently. So many amazing people from so many fantastic local charities and community groups. Very grateful to receive support from Toyota towards our social activities for isolated older people with sight loss

Less than a month till our annual Sensory Tech Day at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton on Wednesday 13th May from 10.30am-3.30pm. Pop in to find out more about technology available to help people living with sight loss. We look forward to meeting you!

Picture the scene - a sunny day watching the cricket, a romantic evening meal for two, an adventure filled day out with the family or £250 cash to spend. Sound good? Enter our summer raffle for just £1 and you could be a winner! Link in first comment below.

Please take a moment to nominate Sight Support Derbyshire to give us the chance to win a £1,000 from The Benefact Group's #MovementForGood Thank you! movementforgood.com/draws/1000/?...

Fancy getting out a bit more now spring is in the air? Why not become a Community Outreach Volunteer for Sight Support Derbyshire? Details in first comment. Phone 01332 292262 for a chat with Fiona, our Volunteer Coordinator or email [email protected]

Our Summer 2026 Newsletter is now available on our website - with a welcome from our new CEO Kathy Kozlowski, information about our befriending project and social and leisure activities and of course the launch of our summer raffle! So why not put the kettle on and have a read or listen. Link below.

The sun has come out this morning to celebrate the launch of our new programme of social activities for older people living with sight loss. With better weather on the way, the programme include canal boat rides and gentle strolls as well as cafe meet ups and a cinema trip. Visit our website.

A huge thank you to the team at Specsavers Belper for raising money for Sight Support Derbyshire at their 20th birthday event. They raised a smashing £181 and we are so grateful! Many Happy Returns to all at Specsavers Belper!

A big thank you to Bowesbury Care Home from Crystal Care Collection for choosing to raise funds for Sight Support Derbyshire at their Open Day on Saturday. Also a pleasure to meet their Brand Ambassador Anthea Turner. Thank you to everyone involved in raising £140 towards our work.

We are #hiring! sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/rehabilitati...

Just a cheery photo to brighten your day! 😀 Find out more about our social activities here: sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/how-can-we-h...

Come along to Bowesbury Care Home in Boulton Moor from 11am-1pm for cakes, refreshments, entertainment and a chance to meet Crystal Care Brand Ambassador, Anthea Turner, as well as raising vital funds for Sight Support Derbyshire.

We're looking forward to helping @specsaversuk.bsky.social Belper to celebrate 20 years of serving their local community on Saturday 14th February! Cakes, entertainment and fun, all in aid of Sight Support Derbyshire. Pop in from 10am onwards!

Congratulations to the winners of our Winter Raffle and thank you to the local companies who donated the prizes, including Nine Dots Development who helped draw the winning tickets. Together we raised over £2,280 to help local people living with sight loss!

Our first Information Day of 2026 will take place on Thursday 5th March at Buxton Methodist Church. Find out about the support available for people living with sight loss. sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/sight-suppor...

Our new activities calendar is now available: sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/new-social-a... Come and join us!

Our Ready, Willing and Able team have shared a new blog with simple tips to support you on your journey into work. https://www.seeability.org/news/finding-job-simple-tips-help-you-along-way?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=rwa

Time to put your feet up? The daily challenges of living with sight loss can cause stress and anxiety. Taking part in a session like this gives participants an opportunity to relax and meet others to share experiences with. Afterwards the group felt: "relaxed", "peaceful", "less stressed", "calm".

How does an extra £250 in your pocket come February sound? Good? Then why not enter our winter raffle for the chance to win just that, or other lovely prizes! All in aid of support for local people living with sight loss. sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/winter-raffl...

January can be a downer after all the festivities, but one sure fire way to feel better is to try something new and connect with others. Why not become a volunteer befriender with Sight Support Derbyshire? "I started thinking I’d just be helping others, but it’s been equally rewarding for me."

Christmas magic is in the air... Why not send a charity e-card and donate the cost of cards and stamps? For a donation amount of your choice send up to 100 e-cards via email, whatsapp or messenger - and know that your donation will be making a difference to local people living with sight loss too.

Want to make a real difference in your community for just an hour or so a week? Find out more about becoming a befriending volunteer, bringing companionship into the life of an isolated older person living with sight loss. Email [email protected] or phone 01332 292262

What an interesting post from @derbyshiredro.bsky.social We love finding out parts of our history that may have been forgotten. We are still going strong providing a range of services for local people living with sight loss and constantly adapting and changing with the changing needs of society.

Santa's coming to Chesterfield! Thanks to our good friends at Elliott and Heath Opticians you can meet him! Book your space now to see him on Saturday 20th December from 11am. £5 a child with funds raised going to Sight Support Derbyshire. Phone 01246 275847 or pop in to the practice.

Running any organisation costs money. Without the essentials we can't continue to support 5,000 visually impaired local people every year. That's why we are delighted to have received a generous grant from the wonderful people at the @westonfdn.bsky.social towards our running costs. Thank you!

Our music room project with renowned tabla player Mendi Singh is proving to be a big hit! In week 3 we were joined by guest artist, Ruthie Lindsay who led some wonderful jigs. Confidence is growing and although everyone looks very serious whilst they are concentrating the smiles are wide afterwards!

A huge THANK YOU to Co-op Members for supporting Sight Support Derbyshire this year. By nominating us you have helped us to receive a fantastic £2,348.94 from the #CoopLocalCommunityFund towards our befriending project for lonely older people with sight loss. Thank you! #coopcelebration

The second of our four-part webinar series with @sharethevision.bsky.social on using the accessibility features on library reading apps can now be rewatched in full. This bitesize session focuses on the PressReader app. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD9O...

Thank you to everyone who joined us on #easyfundraising this week! Did you know retailers will donate to us when you shop via easyfundraising? Join via the app this November and we’ll get a £2 bonus! Get the app: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/easyfundrais...

We'll get a £2 donation this month if you sign up to support us on @easyfundraising.bsky.social via their app! Raise for us for free when you shop this Christmas and get their app now: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/easyfundrais...

Have you got a minute? Please nominate us to be in with a chance of winning £1,000 to help local people living with sight loss. Thanks to the Benefact Group, 10 charities will win £1,000 every day for 12 days in December! We need your nominations - thank you! movementforgood.com/index.php?cn...

Could 2026 be your lucky year? If you enter our Winter Raffle it could be! Tickets just £1 and you could win £250 cash or other great prizes. And you will be improving the lives of local adults and children living with the daily challenges of sight loss. sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/winter-raffl...

Elevenses? Why not take five minutes to ready our latest newsletter! sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/winter-2025-...

This week is #BefriendingWeek and we will be celebrating all things Befriending - highlighting the power of social connection in reducing isolation and loneliness. Find out about our Befriending Project for visually impaired people: sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/how-can-we-h... @befriending.co.uk

Sign up today for the #DerbyCommunityLottery and you could be in with a chance to win the Super Draw of this amazing Nintendo Switch 2 bundle (or cash equivalent). Not only that, but we could win £500 too! Tickets just £1 each. www.derbycommunitylottery.co.uk/support/sigh... @derbyca.bsky.social

Our children and young people's group had a great time at 'Mr Pumpkin' this week for our half term activity. If you have a youngster at home with sight loss we would love to welcome them along. Find out more: sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/how-can-we-h...

We offer a Befriending service for older people who are blind or partially sighted and feeling isolated. We match trained volunteers who visit once a week or once a fortnight for a chat. Just knowing someone is coming can make a huge difference. sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/how-can-we-h...

We are pleased to launch our new partnership with Octopus Legacy. In conjunction with the @rnib.bsky.social and local sight loss charities across the country @visionaryuk.bsky.social we can offer a FREE basic Will worth £100, for a limited time only. Get started: octopuslegacy.com/online-will?...

The next activity in our programme for children and young people living with sight loss is a fun evening of bouncing at Oxygen, Derby. To book your space please contact Rachel King on 01332 292262 or email [email protected]

Our new social and activity autumn/winter programme is now available. Our activities help address the isolation that can sadly so often go hand in hand with sight loss, especially in older people. Find out more: sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk/social-and-l...

Just a few spaces left for our trip for visually impaired adults to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Winding Wheel Theatre, Chesterfield, Sun 21st Dec. Touch tour 4pm, performance 5.30pm. This promises to be a fun event - it certainly was last year! Book ASAP!

How amazing is this? A pioneering procedure has seen five patients with an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration being fitted with microchips which, when combined with glasses featuring a built in video camera, has restored some of their vision! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

There were 12 winners on the #DerbyCommunityLottery last week. A winning ticket could be a week away - jackpot prize of £25,000 plus the chance to win an iPhone 17 Pro! All whilst supporting local people who are blind or partially sighted. www.derbycommunitylottery.co.uk/support/sigh...