Insight Issue 2 - Spring 2026
Local Sight Loss Support across Cardiff, RCT, Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot
Quick contact info:
- Cardiff Office 02920 398900
- Val (Volunteering) 07707 95121
- Natalie (Young People): 07840 339836
- Carys (RCT): 07753 305631
- Adam (Swansea NPT): 07548 8022952
Celebrating Sight Life’s 160 anniversary in style
We’ve wrapped up the end of our 160 year in style with a fabulous 160 birthday party for our members at Cornerstone in Cardiff.
It was an afternoon full of smiles, joy and togetherness with a surprise guest appearance from Beverley Humpreys.
Thank you to all who have played a part in a successful year. Here’s to whatever the next 160 - or even 16 - years may bring!
Celebrating 160
Honouring 160 years of Sight Life - and looking forward to 160 more!
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating Sight Life’s 160th anniversary and took on a Challenge 160 fundraising event - we are truly grateful for your incredible support!
Your creativity, determination and enthusiasm have been inspiring. Together, we’ve raised a fantastic amount and increased awareness of our work and services. Here’s a snapshot of just some of the amazing fundraising efforts over the past year — there have been far too many to list them all, but we appreciate every single one of you!
We have raised over £15,000!
A blue day at Robertsons
The team at Robertsons Solicitors, who have long been great supporters of Sight Life, decided to turn themselves blue for the day back in April, raising funds for us along the way. A blue day at Robertsons The team at Robertsons Solicitors, who have long been great supporters of Sight Life, decided to turn themselves blue for the day back in April, raising funds for us along the way.
An intrepid trek across Gran Canaria
Andrew and Bailey Walsh, the son and grandson of Sight Life member Pam Walsh, took on an adventurous - and potentially dangerous - trek across Gran Canaria to raise funds for us. The pair faced many unexpected challenges during their week-long expedition in which they camped under the stars and faced their fears.
Aria takes on ‘I Am Pen Y Fan’
Six-year-old visually impaired Aria Vanstone, inspired everyone by joining the team to climb her first mountain as part of the ‘I Am Pen Y Fan’ challenge last September and raising over £1,000 for us.
Dafydd’s epic double marathon
Dafydd Trystan took on a very impressive 2 marathons in 2 days and chose Sight Life as his nominated charity.
Starting with Ras y Bannau, in which he climbed over 5,000 feet over mountains during his 26.2 miles, he then headed straight down the M4 to be a guide runner at the London Marathon the following day. It was an incredible feat that saw him raise over £2,000 for us!!
Chain Reaction challenge: Cardiff to Pontypridd on bikes
A team of 12 Sight Life staff and supporters - including visually impaired cyclists - recently took on our 30‑mile Chain Reaction challenge from Pedal Power in Cardiff to Pontypridd. Despite wind and rain, the team’s moral was boosted by fantastic music and encouragement from members and supporters at both Pedal Power and Gatto Lounge. A brilliant day all round!
As we look to the next 160 years, we’re committed to ensuring we continue to deliver excellent services across all our regions. This can only happen by growing our family of donors and volunteers.
Did you know that it costs around £1,600 per day for us to run our services? Sight Life therefore relies heavily on the generosity of our supporters as most of our income is generated through our own efforts. As a result, every volunteer, donation and act of kindness is essential for us to be able to continue making a difference. Get in touch to support.
Partner News
Big news for Sight Life – and lots for you to get involved in
In case you missed it, we’ve been chosen as St David’s Centre’s Charity of the Year 2026!
This is an amazing opportunity that will raise our profile and open up new fundraising avenues, all of which will help us continue to offer our vital support across South Wales.
We’ve got lots planned for the year ahead, starting with our Live Well Expo on Friday 24 April (10am - 3pm), featuring around 40 local business and charity stands.
Then, on Wednesday 13 May, we’re back in the centre for a fun Spin Cycle Challenge, where teams will race the 904km distance from Cardiff to Elgin (the home of Betty Shand)! Come and cheer us on!
If anyone has any ideas of what they’d like to see happening at the centre, please let us know!
Amplified was a truly unforgettable evening
Cardiff’s iconic Llandaff Cathedral hosted an iconic concert on 22 March that celebrated disabled leadership in classical music and showcased the incredible talent within our community.
Featuring in the line-up was sight-impaired conductor, and proud Sight Life member, Georgia Steel who led the Cardiff Chamber Orchestra with outstanding confidence. Together they performed a historic rendition of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. She was fantastic, and we are so proud of her.
The evening also featured Oliver Manning, Charlotte McGregor‑Graham’s Emergence, Mendelssohn’s Die Hebriden, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Well done to all involved.
Local Business Spotlight
Why eye checks are still important with sight loss
Many people who live with sight loss don’t realise they’d still benefit from seeing an optometrist, even if they don’t wear glasses or already attend hospital appointments. Opticians actually do far more than just prescribe spectacles, so we asked our friends at Canton Optical to share the top 5 reasons why regular optometrist visits still matter.
1) At Canton Optical, we detect other eye conditions - many of which are treatable - such as cataracts and dry eye, and we can often prescribe treatment or liaise directly with the hospital.
2) We provide a range of lowvision aids and can signpost you to further support, including Sight Life’s services.
3) We can register you as Sight Impaired (SI) or Severely Sight Impaired (SSI), giving access to benefits such as help with NHS costs and free public transport.
4) Eye exams also assess general health. We can spot early signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol issues and more, as well as work with your GP and pharmacist to support your overall wellbeing.
5) We stay up to date with new screening techniques and technology, ensuring you receive the best guidance for you.
One exciting new tool is Ray Ban Meta smart glasses. These are hands‑free glasses that can read text, identify people and objects, tell you which bus is arriving, send messages and much more. These can be very helpful to people with sight loss in maintaining their independence.
If you would like to see how the Meta glasses could support you to maintain independence, give us a call at Canton Optical to plan a demonstration.
Contact Canton Optical on: 029 2038 3708 232 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1GY www.cantonoptical.co.uk
Member Story
New doors opened for Judi
Judi Brown was referred to Sight Life in June 2022 by Ruth, our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer. Living with hereditary retinal dystrophy and registered as sight impaired, she had been coping well until the loss of her partner, which led her to seek emotional support.
Determined to stay independent, Judi wanted to boost her tech confidence. After speaking with Craig, she visited Sight Life for support with her phone, reading apps and VoiceOver, and also received iPad VoiceOver training to help with daily tasks. She then sought help managing letters and was interested in hiring a Personal Assistant through Direct Payments.
Sight Life referred her to her local Social Services for guidance and to the Cardiff Rehab Team for mobility training, which she was keen to start. To reduce isolation and boost her wellbeing, Judi then discovered Sight Life’s activity groups and she quickly became an active member, enjoying trips to St Fagans, Barry Island, Porthcawl, museum visits and local rambles, making many new friends along the way.
Reflecting on her journey, Judi said: “Sight Life has had a hugely positive and liberating effect on my life. I’ve loved every minute of it - from all the various activities to joining in with the camera group. Having been signposted to Blind Veterans UK even led me to have a go at visually impaired skiing, which is something I never imagined I’d do. But I loved it! Huge thank you, Sight Life, for everything!”
Interested in joining Sight Life? Get in touch!
If you’d like to meet others with shared experiences, we offer a wide range of groups and activities for all ages. Anyone living with sight loss is welcome - you don’t need to be registered.
All areas news
Volunteer spotlight on Jeanette
If you pop into our Cardiff Resource Centre, you may meet one of our newest volunteers, Jeanette.
Jeanette first connected with Sight Life in the late 1990s at Shand House, where touch‑typing and computer training helped her continue her career in accounting as her sight deteriorated. The support helped her stay independent while at Cardiff Council.
After retiring in January 2025, Jeanette wanted to give back and joined us as a volunteer in January 2026. She’s now a valued part of our admin team, volunteering on Mondays and Wednesdays, answering calls and supporting staff across the charity.
Jeanette said, “I was nervous at first, but everyone made me feel so welcome. I love being in Sight Life and am proud to be able to help.”
Watery fun for our young people’s group
There’s only a couple of spaces left for our free all‑day taster session at Llandaff Rowing Club this April, so don’t miss out!
Also, with watersports sessions at the Cardiff White Water Centre coming soon and even more outdoor adventures and social activities planned as summer approaches, we’ve got lots to get excited about for people aged between 18 and 45. So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to get involved in fun activities and make new friends, this is it! Contact Natalie to get involved!
Calling potential volunteers from all areas!
Do you have a few hours to spare to donate each week or month?
We have a range of volunteer opportunities available across all our localities. If you enjoy chatting, helping others, or simply want to make a difference, please do contact Val to get involved - she’d love to hear from you.
Cardiff Update
Celebrating Michelle’s 40 Years
On 17 March 2026, we celebrated Michelle Jones, Operations Manager, for an incredible 40 years of dedicated service.
Michelle joined in 1986 as an office junior, planning only to stay for a year, but quickly found that she loved her job. She has seen the charity transform from CIB to Sight Life and played a key role in achieving many targets.
A highlight of her career was meeting Princess Diana in 1991 at the opening of the new Resource Centre - a moment featured in the South Wales Echo as “Michelle’s Great Day.”
“It has been an absolute pleasure working for Sight Life,” Michelle said. Everyone here thanks her for her outstanding commitment and service
Services in Cardiff’s Local Hubs – and Sight Life’s Monthly Drop‑In Sessions
Did you know that Cardiff’s local Hubs offer welcoming, accessible spaces with books and audiobooks, computer and WiFi access, community activities, wellbeing support, and help with form‑filling, digital skills, and local information?
Held in Llanishen and Radyr, Sight Life hold monthly meetings that they are open to anyone with sight loss, as well as their family, carers, and professionals. No appointment needed - just drop in for tailored advice, peer support, or a warm welcome.
RCT Update
Get confident with technology
Digital skills are essential in everyday life.
Whether it’s keeping in touch with loved ones, shopping online, banking, or simply feeling confident using a smartphone or laptop.
We’re working with RCT Work & Skills as well as Age Connects Morgannwg to offer friendly, accessible digital inclusion sessions all across RCT. These sessions are ideal for anyone with sight loss who’s new to technology or wants to build confidence. Support is patient, practical and tailored to individual needs.
For more information about digital skills sessions, RCT services or any of our groups, contact Carys on 07753 305631 or email her on carys.groves@sightlife.wales.
Growing our community in RCT
Did you know we have sight loss groups in Pontypridd, Aberdare, Pontyclun, Treorchy and a Young at Heart social group?
Sight Life has seen a wave of new members joining us to access vital advice, support, onward referrals, and importantly a very warm welcome into our vibrant social groups.
We are also continuing our fantastic collaborations with Cambrian Village Trust, accessing the wealth of their wellbeing activities both indoor and outdoor, Transport for Wales on their ‘Confidence to Travel’ initiative, 3 Valleys Community Rail partnership and Tap and Go pilot as well as the University of South Wales, Treforest.
This year, we look forward to our collaborations with both Valleys Steps and Coleg Y Cymoedd, Nantgarw.
Swansea, Neath Port Talbot Update
Collaboration Station to close
The Collaboration Station will sadly be closing to the public from the third week in April.
Sight Life has been made to feel so welcome by those running the Collaboration Station, including Rhys, Ricky and Julie and we want to thank all staff members for their kindness to us.
Alternative meeting venues are in the pipeline - as soon as we have details, we will let you know. Adam’s last drop in session for support and advice will be Wednesday 8 April.
Allotments are set for summer
Our Swansea gardeners have recently receive some new equipment and materials.
The much needed items will allow the raised beds at our Vetch Allotments to be repaired ahead of summer.
If you’re interested in getting outdoors this summer, or know someone who would like to volunteer their green fingered skills, then do join us at the Sight Life allotment every Thursday from 10.00am to 12 noon at the Vetch Fields, Sandfields, Swansea.
Independent voting trial update
Members of our Mumbles group recently had an informative talk from RNIB Cymru’s Liz Williams, all about voting for blind and partially sighted people in this year’s upcoming Senedd election.
Liz spoke about different ways the Senedd is looking to support blind and partially sighted people to be able to vote independently. However, despite successful trials in Cardiff and Wrexham during February 2025, the Welsh Government has now decided not to automatically provide a solution in every polling station across Wales.
It is currently up to individual voters to contact their local electoral service and ask for the reasonable adjustments they need to vote.
Diary Dates
Upcoming dates for your diary!
Live Well Expo
Friday 24 April 2026 10-3pm at St David’s Centre Come and meet local suppliers
Members 160 Party
Swansea locality Details to be confirmed Celebrate with a fun afternoon
Members’ Ball
Thursday 3 September 5-8pm at Cornerstone Entertainment by Ceri Dupree
Ceri’s Afternoon Tea
Sunday 18 October at Cornerstone In conversation with Ceri Dupree
Why regular donations are vital to keeping our services going
At Sight Life, regular donations are the quiet heartbeat that keeps our charity alive.
Every day, it costs Sight Life £1,600 to deliver our free services that so many people rely on. Consequently, it’s the steady, regular support of kind donors that gives us the confidence to plan, grow, and promise that we will be there for them in the long‑term.
A monthly direct debit, a simple pay‑day gift, joining our lottery, or even writing a future gift into your will helps to secure stability in an increasingly uncertain world.
Regular giving isn’t just helpful — it’s what protects our future. If you would like to set up a regular donation or find out more, please call our Fundraising Manager, Dylan, on 02920 398900.
Sight Loss Awareness Training – Helping Support with Confidence
Did you know that Sight Life offers practical and engaging Sight Loss Awareness Training for local businesses, organisations and community groups?
Our aim is simple: to help people create environments that are inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for visually impaired people.
Each session provides a valuable insight into the most common causes of sight loss, the everyday challenges people may face, and the small changes that make a big difference. We also cover inclusive communication techniques and teach safe, confident sighted‑guiding skills so your team feels fully prepared to offer meaningful support.
By taking part, your team will gain confidence, improve customer service, and contribute to a community where everyone can participate equally.
If you would like to book a session or learn more about the training we provide, contact Michelle Jones on 02920 398900.
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