Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 20. 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.musgrove@yahoo.co.uk
This edition includes:
Eye Matter Zoom events
- Are you struggling with Facebook or concerned about your safety using social media?
- cathartic creative writing on Zoom supported by the Ronson Foundation – starting on 14th of February at 11am.
- Accessing grief support in different ways
Eye Matter Outings
- Grieving the life you expected
- You are invited to hang out with our Suzie on her birthday!
- A day at Bletchley Park
- A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens
- Ciao visit Sicily with Eye Matter.
Special features
- Three miles swam and nineteen to go!
- Welcome to new members joining our Confidence building workshop.
- “I should be so lucky, lucky lucky” with Katriona Taylor.
External activities
- Important transport consultation for blind and partially sighted travellers.
- Do you live in London and use TfL? Do you have any accessibility needs?
Eye Matter Zoom events
Keep up to date with our activities here.
Highlights include:
Are you struggling with Facebook or concerned about your safety using social media?
If you answer yes or are curious about accessing Facebook as a blind or partially sighted user, then this two-day (One hour) course is for you!
Tuesday 11th and 18th February at 2pm on our usual Zoom link.
Written in conjunction with RNIB’s Digital Skills Engagement Team, Eye Matter’s Director of Communications, Fiona Musgrove will take you through the process and discuss some of the concerns in using Facebook. Each session will be accompanied by a Resource Sheet so just sit back and immerse yourself in the merits of joining a global community on Facebook.
To find out more please click our Facebook page: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid035hDPrNPwPHpFArmbNzyhHdNjrkGij5B4hihQHs69pHaq8n1hrQEzid9X5FvTr9VYl&id=100032751800652
cathartic creative writing on Zoom supported by the Ronson Foundation – starting on 14th of February at 11am.
Release your inner writer in these cathartic creative writing sessions. We will meet on Zoom and discuss a different theme each time. Facilitator Joanna will share pieces of writing on the theme, from selected works of fiction, memoir, or creative nonfiction, and we’ll discuss how we feel about the pieces. Then, you’ll be invited to use the class as inspiration to create your own piece of writing in the intervening weeks, to be shared at the next class if you so choose. You can send the writing to Joanna in advance or read it yourself. There is no obligation to write or to share; if you prefer to just listen, that’s fine, too.
This is a drop-in session for Eye Matter members (you do not need to let us know The first session’s theme on Valentine’s day will obviously be love.
Please read more and future dates on our Facebook page:
Accessing grief support in different ways
there are now 10 blog posts on our website from the amazing Joanna Williams, writer and therapist accompanying our “Thriving to Surviving” Zoom (twice monthly) programme:
In our latest blog we consider humour as: The Best Medicine?
Here are a few extracts:
“There are a few things that happen physiologically when we laugh. First, you increase your intake of oxygen – good for the heart and brain. Laughter causes your muscles to relax, which in turn eases tension. We also release dopamine and serotonin, the brain’s happy hormones. Having a laugh with other people can increase these positive effects even further, as you gain that all-important sense of connection and community which is so great for wellbeing.”
“If you are looking for ways to bring more humour into your life, try one of these:
- Revisit an old comedy show you enjoyed
- Chat with a friend who makes you laugh
- Smile more! (Remember, fake it to make it)
- Make time for fun activities, especially ones that require trying something new
- Try out ‘laughter yoga’
- Hang out with young children or pets
And of course, you could come along to one of our zoom calls! Although we discuss serious subjects relating to grief, we do a lot of smiling and laughing, too.”
24th February: Beliefs
How have your spiritual and philosophical beliefs been affected by your sight loss? In today’s workshop we discuss how grief can shake your faith in the world, your trust in others, and your beliefs about yourself. We learn how beliefs are formed and how to forge new, healthy beliefs that will help you moving forward.
Eye Matter Outings
Find all our events here
Highlights include:
Due to popular demand, Suzie bought additional tickets for Stranger Things. 6 tickets are remaining.
Sunday 9th March, Phoenix Theatre
Experience Hawkins in a whole new way at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End with Stranger Things, live on stage.
Witness the story of young Jim Hopper, Bob Newby and Joyce Maldonado, as they navigate the regular worries of a small town in 1959. But when newcomer Henry Creel and his family try to start anew, they find that the shadows of the past are not so easily left behind.
Grieving the life you expected
Saturday 29th March
At Somerstown Community Centre Kings Cross, London.
A voluntary contribution of £5 is appreciated.
All of us have expectations about life and the world around us. Some are societal, some we learn from friends and family, some we figure out for ourselves. The experience of sight loss is what we call a ‘non-finite loss’ in that it may occur as one event, but the repercussions are ongoing – and may interrupt or derail what we thought our life would be. Even if you are sight impaired from birth, you still might have absorbed ideas about a so-called ideal life and experience grief about those aspects you don’t have and fear for what the future holds.
In this special in-person workshop, there’ll be the chance to share experiences with your peers and, crucially, learn ways of re-working your expectations and letting go of fear.
A day at Bletchley Park
on Saturday 5th of April
Meet and greet 09:50am Euston Station
Tickets are £35, including you return train tickets from Euston to Bletchley £16.40, entry to Bletchley plus a private tour £16.50, admin fee £2.10
A self-guided tour will be available on arrival. They have limited headsets, and we have been given permission to bring speakers to attach to the devices so we can share.
Please bring a picnic, although there is a cashless café if you choose.
Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, is now a museum and vibrant heritage attraction open daily, managed by the Bletchley Park Trust.
To book your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Bletchley’
Click to our Facebook page for more information: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Zx8d71rzTHtbryr7hT3qcdc5u6xk53zjgnxhQm8arvVCZVPeoEw6xZoxuq2cNRtEl&id=100032751800652
You are invited to hang out with our Suzie on her birthday!
In a change to the original plan at Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium you are invited to a thrill seeker’s dream day at Hangloose Adventure with Eye Matter. Get set to enjoy fun, thrilling, adrenaline fuelled adventures with the UK’s most exciting Outdoor Adventure company, offering England’s longest zipline, and a brilliant high ropes course – It’s a great trip away from the big city life!
Bluewater, Kent
On Saturday 26th April
Tickets are £35, this is with a massive discount. Price does not include travel.
Zip Lining at Bluewater – wheelchair accessible
Over 720 Metres Long, Over 100 Metres Tall, Reach up to 50 mph!
Soar through the skies on England’s longest zipline – an impressive 720 metres of airtime! This will be followed by a picnic, please bring a packed lunch
Hangloose Adventure on the thrilling treetop adventure
Challenge yourself to conquer our daring high ropes course. With tons of heart-pumping obstacles, it’s sure to be an unforgettable sky-high adventure.
A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens
Hertfordshire
On Thursday 5th June
Meet and greet at Stratford Station at 12:50pm
Tickets cost £30 – this covers the train from Stratford to Ware, only paying from zone 6, the minibus from Ware to the Gardens, entrance to the gardens and the return travel to Stratford.
Eye Matter will visit the gardens where Moore created his world-famous sculptures. Share in the artist’s experience of viewing his work in the landscape ‘in changing light and weather’ and ‘so that near to, and far away it reads as three-dimensional form.’ Please note, we will be visiting different sculptures from last year.
Click here to read about last year’s fantastic visit: https://fb.watch/xxZBBE3P4q/
Click here to find out about 2025’s exciting schedule: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0GmhochLW5rrqm1xceoXUxq7FkKg33KBMzQwgDPGCxFgsTmvpPfK4q8uyBVrRkGugl&id=100064088379673
Ciao visit Sicily with Eye Matter.
Based on the success of last year’s Eye Matter and Seable holiday to Sicily, we are offering it to you again, 16th to 21st June 2025.
Activities include: A tactile museum and city tour including local markets.
Excursions to Mount Etna feature a cable car trip up to 2300m, a 4×4 Jeep ride to 2800m and an Etna products food tasting session. Guests will also be treated to an Etna Vineyard visit with a 4-course lunch and accompanying wine pairing. Half day at the beach with sunbeds and umbrellas with Sicilian dessert tasting, before a sunset boat trip with aperitivo on board
Organic farm including local donkeys, horses, goats and chickens
5 nights/ 6 Days to stay at the four-star hotel Malavoglia resort in Sicily.
The bed and breakfast price, which includes all activities, van hire, 3 guides, including 1 Seable member of staff and 2 guides from Eye Matter, is £1843.34 per person sharing a twin or a double room.
The single room supplement is £250.
Return flights from Gatwick will be approximately £150-200 plus luggage. Each traveller is responsible for arranging their own travel insurance.
Seeable Holidays requires a £200 non-refundable deposit for each person.
Click here for feedback from last year’s holiday: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02FJXBJLJXt3YqxffUzXA2UtX72WtkL2DTjKMnWoCtPg6qDT4Jd7rHAjc5YSS17CEYl&id=100064088379673
To book any Eye Matter outings please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk stating clearly which event and how many tickets you require.
Special features
Three miles swam and nineteen to go!
In our last edition of EMM, we were introduced to Eye Matter’s member Nicky Newport from Dulwich (who lost her sight when she was sixth months old) quest to swim the English Channel (Dover to Calais) 22 miles (1408 lengths) in her local swimming pool. Incredibly she has already completed 3 miles and would appreciate your support as she powers towards her end goal:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nickynewportswimsforeyematter
Over the past year Eye Matter has been so appreciative of the various fundraising activities achieved by its members. Nicky (aged 52) explained “I only moved to London in April and have been made to feel so welcome by eye matter. I guess I just want to give something back. I’m not really a sporty person, but swimming is something I can do and like.”
Nicky (when aged six months) was diagnosed with Retina Blastoma. Which means tumours on the retina. Subsequently, years of life-saving treatment resulted in her sight loss at an early age. For many years swimming provided an escape for Nicky and she was delighted to be able to join London Sports for the Blind who provide a swimming session when she moved into the city. Like so many blind and partially sighted people, particularly outside the main cities, Nicky has struggled accessing regular exercise, “Sadly what I am hearing from a lot of visually impaired people is that they would really like to take part in fitness but can’t as there is no support in mainstream centres.”
As well as participating in Eye Matters activities she now swims 2-3 times a week in her local pool at Forest Hill. Nicky appreciates the physical and mental effects of being able to swim regularly, “it allows me to unwind and jump off the planet for a while. I think we all need a bit of escapism from time to time!”
If you would like to know how to access a supportive swimming session, please see our Facebook page or read our next edition of Eye Matter Matters.
Welcome to new members joining our Confidence building workshop.
On Saturday, 1st February, 15 Eye Matter members attended this specially designed workshop based in Kings Cross. It was led by Steven Reed, who demonstrated his wide experience of sight loss within the arts and education sector, as participants joined in a range of fun confidence boosting games and activities.
Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s Founder and co-ordinator) said, “Along with our existing fabulous members we were delighted to welcome Five new Eye Matter members. The confidence building was delivered using drama improv games run by Steve Reed, actor and facilitator extraordinaire! The group took part in some brilliant team games, working together, using our listening skills to present fun scenes to each other. This was a great afternoon.”
Cheyenne (one of our new members) enjoyed the session, “It was my first time attending an Eye Matter event and I really enjoyed it.”
A huge thanks to all our volunteers who supported this event, especially Hayley for the photos.
Click here to read the article and view the photos on Facebook: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ZGPDWqv5Ar6xhmhgCfYWWQeFQA5Y3ezmGcHfU74M3FzbQsdiErLmYTBBGUmkP1d9l&id=100064088379673
“I should be so lucky, lucky lucky” with Katriona Taylor.
Nearly 20 members joined Jazz composer/singer Katriona Taylor for an exclusive live performance on Zoom (Tuesday 4th February) accompanied by fellow Eye Matter member, Duncan Clarke on the piano and vocals. “I was delighted to meet Duncan a few years ago. We were moving in similar music circles, and I was surprised to find that not only was he an accomplished pianist, but he could also sing. And on top of that, he also had Stargardts.”
Her set included songs from “An Officer and A Gentleman” along with an ecliptic choice of music. This show was two days before she performed live at the George IV (Chiswick) with her fabulous quintet in a jazz 1980’s style set featuring Madonna, Stevie Wonder, George Michael and even Kylie!
Click here to read more: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0P3A8Caw4jXC3kFBQj99na35FBrivz35WBmxxmWfQpTv4RuAZiUiQPLBSSenWzdADl&id=100000981844667
Sight loss, for Katriona , began at 7 years old when she was diagnosed with Stargardts which would both influence and haunt her education opportunities, “I did have one bad experience when I was learning from a certain educational establishment, they did not make learning music accessible and made no provision for me. It was not a great experience, and I had to challenge them on it, but I was successful in doing so and I think they learnt something which I really hope helps the people who followed me.”
Despite these initial difficulties Katriona graduated as a lawyer and worked in London practising intellectual property law for many years before living her dreams in music. Like most people with sight loss Katriona has struggled with accessibility: “It wasn’t particularly easy for me to learn music, how to write songs and communicate with highly skilled musicians at the top of their game. I had to teach myself a lot and in the way that I could take on the information because there was no accessible music way of learning. I taught myself basic piano skills, guitar and also learn the drums. I applied myself with the discipline of a lawyer to learning how to be a band leader and my stage miles have stood me in good stead. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to stand still for too long, so I’m always learning new material and setting myself new challenges.”
For over 15 years Katriona has carved her way as a professional singer/songwriter working with an eclectic range of singers and musicians, “I’ve always loved all kinds of music, my influencers came from everywhere, from musicals on television to my parents record collection. My childhood was spent in Portugal, where my parents worked, and I was influenced by the great Brazilian singers.”
Last October, 25 Eye Matter members and volunteers, attended Katriona ’s show at Piano Smithfield. This year, she is playing different venues across London and is in talks with a European agent, along with recording three music videos. Katriona also writes the music scores for her band, transforming pop sounds into a jazz vibe, in addition to writing some original pieces. Her shows are definitely toe tapping and I had to keep myself in my seat at some places as I wanted to dance!
For the full article on Facebook click here: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02eS4NYNkFepDxbbz9mC5PAKdQqXxivAVzZ8m1CQf4GWvB1NExXPyZ7mY4JA1rvYQUl&id=100064088379673
You can find out more about Katriona ’s performances here:
Please check out her social media:
www.youtube.com/c/katrionataylor
www.instagram.com/katrionataylor
External activities
Important transport consultation for blind and partially sighted travellers.
Access to good travel services is essential to protect our independence and safety all over the UK. Whether you are a regular traveller, occasional user or travel accompanied, its vital that your ideas are given to this national strategy. We are grateful to Eye Matter member, Ashley Pearce for bringing this to our attention and urge you to take a look:
As you may be aware there is a change to railway operators being phased in with the introduction of “Great British Railways” and we need to ensure that services for visually impaired people continue to be provided.
Ashley, founder of the “London Buddy Scheme” explains that “Together with personal experience of being a visually impaired individual and a disability representative for over 30 years I know first-hand about the transport concerns, which can have major impacts on all types of disability.
Eye Matter members will be able to interact with Ashley further next month, as he has kindly agreed to be March’s “Inspiring Speaker.
Click here to read the full article on Facebook: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02UZ2kMZpBTbE1RtqpuHfF3fjShDB3U88V7i1Jpc7P19wU6UVVZWMhobVirT2P9J7Xl&id=100032751800652
Do you live in London and use TfL? Do you have any accessibility needs?
TFL is looking for Londoners to join the All Aboard Panel and share their experiences on Transport for London (TfL) services. You will be paid as a thank-you for your involvement.
https://revealingreality.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/alm9ol
As a reminder, panellists will receive a £15 Love2shop or Amazon voucher for completing the Snapshot Survey when it launches in mid-February.
If you do become involved, please let us know🤗