Welcome to a festive Eye Matter Matters issue 17. This is a fortnightly publication where Eye Matter shares news and information about events and activities, members’ experiences, and other items of interest. Unless otherwise indicated, all articles have been contributed by Fiona Musgrove. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact Fiona at: fiona@eyematter.org.uk
This edition includes:
Festive greetings from Suzie
Eye Matter Zoom events
- You’re never alone on Christmas day with Eye Matter
Training Opportunities
- Opportunity to Teach Android Skills
- Facebook’s positives and pitfalls
Eye Matter Outings
- An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto
Special features
- Stepping Into Christmas with the Eye Matter Singers
- Eye Matter sparkled in the park.
- Eye Matter members jived, twisted, bopped, and dined the afternoon together at their second Winter Extravaganza
Festive greetings from Suzie
Dearest lovely members, friends, and volunteers,
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made 2024 such an amazing year for Eye Matter. In January we began with a visit to the London palladium to Peter Pan and the magic has never stopped. Over 45 in person visits were attended by hundreds of members. These included art galleries, outside theatre productions, London Zoo, Henry Moore Studios in Hertfordshire and walks around various modern art Installations with Festive.org. We also attended Dance City in Stratford and the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
In addition, Eye Matter delivered over 210 Zoom events, producing a weekly schedule including concerts from Andrea Begley, therapy sessions, women’s health innovations project, bookworms, Inspiring Speakers, Bounce, dance sessions with Lesta Woo (a VI dance teacher), cookery, drama, AD chair yoga, quizzes, technology support and so much more. Thanks to our trustee Warren, whose support as head-doorman has been invaluable.
I have represented Eye Matter across the UK at various Sight Villages which culminated in over 1000 people visiting their London venue. Thanks to Fiona, our social media trustee, our profile has been raised on social media. She is also producing this wonderful regular magazine through email and on our website, brilliantly edited by our trustee, Maggie. Earlier this year I was honoured to be awarded the RNIB Volunteer of the year award and attended their lavish ceremony with another brilliant trustee, Rachel Bowden-Waterson, whose support has really helped to lighted the load.
Through education and empowerment, I believe we can overcome the challenges and deep frustrations of our sight loss. This year we ran two tailor-made holidays. The first in June, with Seable Holidays in Sicily had us tasting donkey milk and exploring a volcano. The second adventure was to a PGL experience where members abseiled, threw axes, fired arrows, built rafts and much more in sunny Sussex.
Eye Matter also believes in promoting health and well-being to support our mental health and has delivered different dance classes, Zumba, a sports day which included tennis, cricket, football and Showdown and various walks around London.
2025 is looking equally exciting as once again our first visit is to the London Palladium to meet Robin and his merry men. If you would like to join us for any of these magical activities, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk
In May we commemorated the sudden passing of our dear friend Davinder with our Eye Matter Singers and are immensely grateful to her family and friends, for their generous donation in her memory. As a result, Eye Matter reinvented “Surviving to Thriving” which is a (twice a month) Zoom programme, facilitated by a therapist specialising in grief associated with visual impairment. Also recently, accompanied by a regular blog to support members with their sight loss journeys. And in February 2025, we will be starting a brand-new monthly cathartic writing course.
This year we delivered our first fundraising event at the O2 arena in Greenwich, with over 20 members tackling the 50-foot-high walkover its dome.
We are so appreciative of the efforts of all our fundraisers and donors, who continue to support Eye Matter. For Richard and Fiona’s epic journey through Italy to the private donations from other members who enable us to continue our range of activities, we are so grateful.
If you would like to donate to Eye Matter, please click here: https://eyematter.org.uk/donate/
If you have ever been to an Eye Matter event, you will know that these just would not be able to happen without the dedicated work of our sighted guides. We are so grateful for their time, enthusiasm, patience, energy, and generosity.
Finally, a very special thank you to Eye Matter’s incredible team of trustees who have worked so hard this year. Thank you for sharing this year’s triumphs and challenges. I’m so proud of my team, and myself, and I’m so grateful for all of you who have helped double Eye Matter’s membership and volunteer size this year. And none of us should forget Noemi the Great. I’m looking forward to sharing my year with all of you.
Lots of love,
Suzie xxx
Ps: A link to social media will be shared at the bottom of this magazine.
Eye Matter Zoom events
Keep up to date with our activities here.
Highlights include:
You’re never alone on Christmas day with Eye Matter
Eye Matter appreciates that many of us will be spending Christmas Day alone, but hurrah, we are open for a chat from 10.30am on Wednesday 25th December.
If you would like to drop in to your friends at Eye Matter, please use the usual Zoom link. If you don’t have a link, please email.
Opportunity to Teach Android Skills
We are seeking confident Android users within our membership who are interested in sharing their skills with other visually impaired individuals. For further information please contact Suzie with subject ‘Android’.
Eye Matter is delighted to announce another training opportunity
Facebook’s positives and pitfalls
Facebook is an exciting way to communicate with family, friends and a great source of information for blind and partially sighted people who are often isolated. It provides links to a host of organisations and private groups dedicated to supporting our needs, yet we are aware that myths and high-profile incidents raise concerns for many members.
Eye Matter is working collaboratively with RNIB’s Digital Skills and Engagement team to design a specific session based on accessing Facebook. This pilot course is aimed at those who are concerned about using Facebook or are interested in learning more about the benefits of this social media platform.
This course will be delivered by Eye Matter’s social media manager Fiona and will include an interactive section for Members to ask questions which, if necessary, will be passed onto RNIB’s Digital Skills Engagement Team.
An exclusive toolkit will be sent to all those who attend containing helpful tips and contact details for further support.
If you are interested in attending this event, please email with the subject title “Facebook training”.
Eye Matter Outings
Find all our events here
Highlights include:
An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto
At the London Palladium
8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF
On Thursday 9th January 2025 at 7:30pm
Touch tour time tbc
Meet and greet at Oxford Circus Station time tbc
Tickets are £25.50 each
To buy your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Panto’
Special features
Stepping Into Christmas with the Eye Matter Singers
Nearly 50 members and friends attended our Christmas Eye Mattr Singers concert held at Somers Town Living Centre, Kings Cross on Saturday 30th November. Since September, singers from across the UK have joined weekly Zoom rehearsals in preparation for the concert.
Rachel Bowden Waterson, the Choir’s singing teacher said: “everyone is welcome to join and sing at our weekly sessions for fun and well-being but for those who can make it in person, the concert is the icing on the cake. It’s so special to be able to share our hard work with our families and friends. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for members to perform solos and duets in addition to the Choir programme”.
The concert featured some of the best loved Christmas anthems, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Shakin’ Stevens, Bobby Helms, Slade, and Wizard.
Suzie Simons, Eye Matter’s founder and keen singer said “it’s amazing to hear the songs develop week by week and the singers grow in confidence. The concert is the perfect way to start the charity’s festive celebrations. I’m so proud of everything we have achieved as a visually impaired Choir that is run by Rachel, our blind singing teacher and we were accompanied by fabulous Blind, musician, Kevin Satizabal.” Suzie added, “the sensations of being able to perform and work collectively really gelled our friendship and sense of achievement.”
Eye Matter was also delighted that deaf blind composer and pianist, Mark Pampel performed a special solo. The afternoon culminated with a drinks reception and raffle which raised £74 towards future activities.
A special thanks to our fabulous volunteers, Hayley, Olga, Charles, and Richard, for guiding us along with the fantastic photography/video editing.
Please click here to view our video: https://fb.watch/wuUC6iaqze/
There are two opportunities to participate in our Eye Matter Singers in 2025 planned for May and December. Rehearsals begin again in March.
No experience is necessary and all abilities welcome.
For more information or to book your place please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject title “Eye matter Singers.”
Eye Matter sparkled in the park.
We were invited to an audio described tour of “Sparkle in The Park” produced by Festival.org which took place at Charlton House (Woolwich, London) on Sunday 1st December. Over four days (27th November- 1st December) 25,000 visitors walked along its lighted paths, enjoyed the four unique installations and sampled food at its Christmas market. Kat Gill (Access Producer For Festival.org), who lead our group, explained that this event is staged in different parks around the borough and encourages local communities to become involved with its presentation. She said, “
It was such a pleasure to have Eye Matter at Sparkle, I’m so happy the group enjoyed it.”
Twenty-seven Eye Matter members and volunteers, participated in this festive light trail (run annually by the Royal Borough of Greenwich (which is in its fifth year) around the parkland towards the beautifully lit Victorian stately home (now used as a public library and cafe). Audio describer, Tony McBride related the various exhibitions from local communities including colourful oil drums from St Lucia and brightly lit doors representing the LGBTQ community. We were able to touch and walk around some of the larger installations and experience the vibrations from a pulsating drum beat emanating from rows of perfectly set white balls.
Vicky Blencowe (Eye Matter member) said “Great evening visit to ‘Sparkle in the park’ at Charlton house and gardens, Greenwich with Eye Matter. It was audio described by the fabulous Tony McBride with help from the excellent Kat. We followed the light trail in a group of 27, with stars, light installations, a snow machine, and snowflakes wafting across Charlton house which was lit up in blue.”
For more information about this event please click here:
https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/events/sparkle-park-2024
Please click here to view our photos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid022Dv91friydWKTWTEvRuzgFgpoZXEiAHSmr9iCuCY4in7Di3PQEKdD9UqvUs913LPl&id=100064088379673&_rdr
Eye Matter members jived, twisted, bopped, and dined the afternoon together at their second Winter Extravaganza
Belinda said, “My second time at Winter Extravaganza, lovely to see familiar faces and meet the new members, remembering last year when I was new and how everyone was so welcoming. Hotel staff were really lovely the food was really delicious and I’m looking for to the next one. Thank you to Eye Matter for organising all these wonderful events, truly appreciate all that you do. x.”
Danielle agreed, “The winter extravaganza was great fun.
It was so wonderful to meet new people, meet people from zoom properly, and spend time with old friends. The food was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. I felt the catering team did a wonderful job serving us all as well. They were so attentive and helpful. Just a shame they wouldn’t give us the soup recipe because it was so yummy!
Thank you so much Suzie and all the Eye Matter team and sighted volunteers who made the day happen. Your hard work is so appreciated and I for one am so grateful to you. Looking forward to seeing you all again in the new year and hoping that you all have a wonderful holiday season whether you celebrate Christmas or not.
Seventy-two people attended our Winter Extravaganza at the Crown Hotel, Cricklewood, London on Thursday 12th December. Along with a festive quiz from Steve Reed, a raffle and a four course lunch guests bobbed the afternoon away on the dance floor to the music from the fantastic 1960’s group “The Beats”.
Suzie (Eye Matter’s Founder) said, “It was so lovely to celebrate with our members, friends, volunteers, and partners. It was a truly amazing afternoon, and the dance floor was always full! It has been such an exciting year for Eye Matter”
We would like to say a huge thanks to all those who contributed to the raffle (where we raised over £250) and to our fantastic sighted guides for their care and attention throughout the event.
Please click here to see our video and photos.
If you have any photos or memories, you would like to share please email us.
If you would like to view some alt tagged photos on Facebook, please click here to our pages: