Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 42, our fortnightly publication sharing news and information about events, activities; members’ experiences and other items of interest. Unless otherwise stated, all articles have been written by Fiona Musgrove. To contribute to a future edition, please email: fiona@eyematter.org.uk
This edition includes:
Eye Matter’s volunteering opportunities
Forthcoming Eye Matter Zoom events
- Are you part of Eye Matter’s Marvelous Me Mondays?
- A truly extraordinary, Inspiring Speaker’: Penny Melville-Brown Joins us on Friday 13th March live on Zoom.
- New dates announced for Cathartic Writing.
- New Eye Matter Living Well with Sight Loss Course
Eye Matter Outings
- An invitation to attend “Eye Matter, Our Journey” on disabled access day
- In-person “Turning Surviving into Thriving” group Grief workshop with Joanna Williams
- Eye Matter is climbing the O2 again
- Audio Described performance of Avenue Q
- Eye Matter Sailing Opportunities
- Eye Matter’s third PGL activity holiday
Special Features
- £5 covers your membership until 31st March
- MARVELLOUS Me Mondays Summary
- RNIB Celebrates World Book Day 2026
- Euan’s Guide
Eye Matter’s volunteering opportunities
Volunteer Magazine Editor
Location: Remote
Time Commitment: Approximately two-three hours per week (flexible)
Closing Date: 30th April 2026
Eye Matter is delighted to announce a new volunteering opportunity: Editor of “Eye Matter Matters”, our twice-monthly magazine.
We are looking for a dedicated volunteer with excellent grammar and spelling with strong attention to detail to help ensure our magazine is clear, polished, and engaging for its readership.
Role & Responsibilities:
- Proofreading and editing articles before publication
- Checking grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting
- Helping maintain a consistently high standard across the magazine
What We’re Looking For:
- Excellent written English and proofreading skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Reliable and able to meet deadlines
- Previous editing or proofreading experience is required
This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to an organisation supporting the visually impaired community while helping produce a magazine that informs, celebrates, and connects our members, friends and supporters across the UK and beyond.
If you’re interested in getting involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Please email info@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Editor”.
Volunteer Website Manager
Location: Remote
Time Commitment: Approximately 3 hours per week
Website: www.eyematter.org.uk
Application Deadline: 31st March
The Role
This is a new opportunity for a Volunteer Website Manager to help oversee and maintain our busy and growing website. It is a fantastic opportunity for someone with WordPress experience to use their technical skills to benefit a fantastic cause.
Please click here for the full article or email info@eyematter.org.uk with the subject ‘Website’.
Forthcoming Eye Matter Zoom events can be viewed here.
Are you part of Eye Matter’s Marvelous Me Mondays?
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing with Laura Brody. from Adventures in Albinism
Started on 19th January
This 11-week program offers accessible, guided mindfulness practices, reflection and practical tools to support emotional balance, self-awareness and resilience. Inclusive for blind and visually impaired participants.
Laura Brodie is a lifelong learner, educator and mindfulness practitioner. Founder of Adventures in Albinism and creator of The Teacher’s Compass, she supports people with albinism and low vision, plus families and teachers, to build clarity, confidence and emotional wellbeing through accessible, evidence-based mindfulness grounded in lived experience.
New to Marvelous ME Mondays, Confidence Coaching with Vic Hogg
Starting on Monday 13th April.
This five-week course is all about confidence: what confidence is, why it’s sometimes hard to find, where to find it and how to hold onto it. Each week will tackle a different confidence-related topic. Inclusive for blind and visually impaired people. It will be an accessible, lighthearted journey of self-discovery offering tools and techniques towards gaining more confidence.
Expect neuroscience explanations, useful advice, small discussion groups, audio samples from experts, an improv game or two and a warm atmosphere that will support your understanding of how confidence shows up for you and how you can tap into confidence more regularly.
A truly extraordinary, Inspiring Speaker’: Penny Melville-Brown
Joins us on Friday 13th March live on Zoom.
From being a Commander in the Royal Navy to the acclaimed ‘Blind Baker’, join Penny for a truly inspiring and informative talk live on Zoom from 12 pm.
Penny was first brought to our attention when she was featured in the RNIB’s ‘Seen’ photography exhibition in London, amongst a host of other VIPs! With a career spanning 30years including launching her own business, taking on government roles, writing books and a host of recipes, let’s welcome Penny to Eye Matter.
New dates announced for Cathartic Writing.
Back by popular demand. Cathartic writing dates for your diary:
Friday 20th March, Friday 22nd May and Friday 19th June. All start at 11am on Zoom with a fun and friendly social followed by cathartic writing at 12pm.
Living Well with Sight Loss Course starting 7th May 2026
(in partnership with RNIB).
Boost your confidence and get practical advice, information, and resources in this 6-week course, meeting every Thursday at 11am for 2 hours.
Transport for London Accessibility speaker, low vision advice, understanding welfare rights, sports and leisure, learn about rehabilitation and ECLOs, mental health well-being session and resource centre with everyday gadgets.
Our free and informal Zoom based Living Well with Sight Loss course is an ideal way to help you adjust to your sight condition, increase your independence, and grow your confidence.
Through our sessions, you will find out about practical solutions and support that can help you adjust to life with sight loss. You will also have the chance to learn from each other’s personal experiences and share your top tips.
For more information and to book your place, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject ‘living well’.
Eye Matter Outings
Find all of our events here
Invitation to attend “Eye Matter, Our Journey” on disabled access day
We are delighted to invite you to the launch of our first short, 3-minute animated film, “Eye Matter, Our Journey” on disabled access day on Monday 16th March. Disabled access day was started by Euans Guide in 2015. For more information on Euans Guide, see below.
The film uses integrated audio description within a powerful and creative animation. The film features the voices and lived experiences of Eye Matter members, who describe images representing what the charity means to them. As the animation unfolds, these reflections come together to reveal a shared message of gratitude and a call to action to support Eye Matter’s vital work by making a donation.
11am start, meet and greet at 10:30am at St Pancras Station. Tickets are extremely limited and as always, they are first come, first served. Tickets are free. Please join us for bubbles, softs drinks, teas and coffees, cakes and fruit to celebrate. Limited seating. To reserve your ticket, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Party’
Eye Matter Group Grief workshop With Joanna Williams
on Sunday 22nd March
At The Living Centre, Kings Cross, London
2pm-5pm
Meet and Greet: 1:30pm, St Pancras Station, by the Midland Road exit, at the Thameslink barriers.
Grieving the life you expected
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 will be the chance to share experiences with your peers and, crucially, learn ways of reworking your expectations and letting go of fear.
Only 2 VI Spaces remaining for Eye Matter Climbs the O2
On Saturday 11th April 2026 11:45am
It’s been two years since 27 Eye Matter members conquered the O2 raising more than £2500 in sponsorship from our wonderful friends, family and supporters.
Eye Matter is delighted to be taking on the challenge again!
Come and join us on Saturday, 11th April as we take an exhilarating 90-minute climb over the world-famous roof of The O2. Celebrate at the summit, as you stand 52 metres high surrounded by historic Greenwich, The Olympic Park and Canary Wharf.
Every step of the climb raises vital funds for Eye Matter, so come and join in the fun!
Cost: £25 per person
To secure your place, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘O2’
Audio described performance of Avenue Q
Tuesday 23rd June 7:30pm
At Shaftsbury Theatre
Touch tour TBC
Tickets are £42.50 per person
Avenue Q is back on the block.
For its 20th anniversary, the three-time Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q returns to the West End in all its glory.
Fresh out of college and searching for his purpose, Princeton ends up in a shabby apartment on New York’s rundown Avenue Q. He quickly meets his new and colourful neighbours where together they navigate the life struggles of work, love and paying the bills in their own hilarious way.
Irreverent and irresistible, Avenue Q is the mischievous and charming musical full of infectious songs and loveable characters that will leave you smiling for days.
With original Broadway director Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect, Shrek the Musical) and original puppet designer Rick Lyon, re-discover the fun, fuzz and felt for a strictly limited season.
Content warning
Avenue Q contains strong language and adult themes and content. Parental guidance is advised.
To buy your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Q’
Eye Matter and Tideway Sailability are delighted to announce sailing opportunities for Eye Matter members
Thursday 13th August
from 12:30pm- 3:30pm
We will be starting with a picnic followed by 2 hours sailing.
We have limited spaces available for this amazing opportunity.
Venue: Surrey Docks Watersports Centre, Greenland Dock, Rope Street,
London, SE16 7SX
Meet and greet at Canada Water Station at 11:50am
Cost: £6. To book, please email Suzie with the subject “Sailing”.
Eye Matter’s third annual UK holiday to PGL Activity Centre
When: Friday 28th August 2026 – Monday 31st August 2026
Where: PGL Holidays, Windmill Hill, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 4RZ.
Getting there: Eye Matter’s chartered transport will take and return guests from London Kings Cross to PGL Windmill Hill.
Cost: £415 per guest. This includes: three -night’s accommodation in twin ensuite rooms; all meals from arrival on Friday lunch until our departure after lunch on Monday; all equipment, all activities supported by PGL instructors as well as evening entertainment. Guests are welcome to bring extra treats and snacks.
A £75 non-refundable deposit is required for each guest, by the 1st April 2026.
The remaining balance is payable by 19th June 2026.
Eye Matter is delighted to announce our third UK holiday for our members, their families, friends, and our sighted guides. We will be going to the hugely popular PGL Activity Centre which is located in 21 acres of glorious countryside on the Sussex Downs.
Our three-night multi activity holiday will offer everyone the opportunity to try exciting, accessible pursuits including Archery, Axe Throwing, Canoeing, Fencing, Abseiling, Aeroball, Rifle Shooting, Climbing, Disc Golf, Buggy Building, Giant Swing and Problem Solving. Our evenings will also have activities including games, quizzes and a pool party.
All over 18s must have a valid Enhanced DBS check to stay at PGL Windmill Hill. This is included in the c price. don’t miss out on this always wonderful experience! To secure your place, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “PGL holiday”.
Special Features
Membership
£5 per person covers your membership from 1st January to 31st March 2026. £15 will then be payable to cover your membership from 1st April 2026 until 31st March 2027.
2025 has been an exciting year for Eye Matter. We are delighted that our membership has grown to 480 of you lovely people, with many of you regularly enjoying our range of online and in-person events.
To ensure your continued membership, please click the following JustGiving link to pay your membership fee ticking the gift aid option if applicable.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eyemattermembershipfee
Alternatively, please pay by bank transfer:
Name: Eye Matter
Sort Code: 20-92-63
Account number 83521087
Business bank account.
Please always remember to tell us it’s you by emailing suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the reference you’ve used, thank you for your continued support.
MARVELLOUS Me Mondays Summary
Session 5 – Self Compassion.
Putting ourselves first.
In this session, we explored self-compassion, which means responding to our own suffering with the same kindness we would offer a close friend. We clarified that compassion comes from the Latin meaning “to suffer with,” and includes three core components: mindfulness (noticing our pain without exaggerating or suppressing it), common humanity (remembering that struggle and imperfection are part of being human), and kindness (offering warmth rather than harsh criticism).
By considering mindfulness is awareness we can truly notice suffering in ourselves. Through appreciation of ‘Common Humanity’ lessens the sense of isolation in our suffering and enables a sharing of common experiences. Within this setting we considered struggle or suffering, being part of the human experience. We discussed the difference between self-compassion and self-pity, learning that self-compassion connects us to others rather than isolating us.
Pema Chordon’s view of us:
“You are the sky and everything else is just weather”
We explored how self-compassion differs from self-esteem, as it does not depend on success, comparison, or being “above average.”. The group was encouraged to acknowledge the notion that Imperfection and failure, are part of being human and that the kindness shown to others needs to be redirected back to ourselves sometimes. The importance of once recognizing this struggle is the need to make space away from it. One suggestion was to use Pema’s imagery to create a list of what those passing clouds contain.
It was acknowledged that thinking about everyday struggles may need assurance, rest, comfort, setting boundaries to make these changes. Ultimately, by knowing oneself can enable self-compassion. The guided practice encouraged the group to concentrate on a struggle or suffering, which has potential to be resolved. The meditation focused on grounding our thoughts to the space we were in and using our abilities to seek solutions. One example shared was the frustrations of needing to constantly improve IT skills and knowing who to ask for help. Yet within their struggle was the realisation that this would benefit them.
Initially the groups reflections were muted with one person saying they felt ‘very relaxed’. One thought shared was the inability not to be constantly self critical. Whereas another explained their difficulty in identifying one single struggle. The idea of ‘separation’ and not taking on board other peoples negativity is one way to engage in understanding ‘self compassion’. Acknowledging that we are not superheroes! Please click here for the full article.
Session 6 – Expressing Our Potential- Integrating Mindfulness and Character Strengths
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom”
Viktor Frankl– an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor-
In this session, we explored how mindfulness and the character strengths of the Virtues In Action Framework support one another in a bidirectional way. We learned that mindfulness helps us recognise and use our strengths more clearly, while strengths deepen and enrich our mindfulness practice.
In the early 2000s, something groundbreaking occurred in the social sciences: Scientists discovered a common language of 24-character strengths that make up what’s best about our personality.
As usual before exploring the theoretical aspects of mindfulness we began with a five-minute meditative body scan to understand the importance of our body’s needs and how they are supported. Through listening to the rhythm of our breath Laura encouraged awareness of any points of tension, tingling or warmth.
- Curiosity invites us to explore experience with interest rather than judgement.
- Perspective helps us step back and see the bigger picture.
- Self-regulation allows us to steady ourselves and respond rather than react.
We discussed how combining mindfulness and strengths increases psychological flexibility, balances negativity bias, and helps us recognise our goodness more clearly. The importance of being able to self-regulate by balancing curiosity and enabling better perspective through having the awareness to ‘zoom’ in and out. Additionally, being aware that underusing awareness or overuse can equally cause an imbalance. The realisation when to step back from a situation or step in closer.
Through a strengths-based meditation practice, we explored how awareness and strengths work together. We also reflected on how perspective can sometimes feel difficult, and how creating space, like gently turning down the volume, can help us relate differently to strong emotions. Laura encouraged us to step back to consider ourselves. Being aware of existing in this sense of space, feeling the air on skin, position within a room both alone and yet, part of something larger. Posing the question, ‘can u be within your body and thoughts in this space feeling steady and aware?’
Overall, this session invited us not just to cope, but to express our potential with awareness and balance. At the end of the session there was space for reflections. Please click here for the full article.
RNIB Celebrates World Book Day 2026
The RNIB Library announced they hold all the 2026 titles on both audio and Braille formats.
Click here
Of course, our Bookworms will be returning next month so keep tuned. We will be discussing Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession.
Euan’s Guide
Eye Matter is launching its first short, animated film, “Eye Matter, Our Journey” to coincide with Disabled Access Day 2026
On Monday, March 16th, Eye Matter will join with other charities and organisations celebrating the biennial event that highlights the importance of better access to venues for disabled people across the UK.
Disabled Access Day was founded by
Euan’s Guide, a charity started in 2013 by the late Euan MacDonald MBE, a powerchair user, and his sister Kiki. Euan was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in 2003, aged 29.
The siblings discovered how the lack of disabled access information made every day experiences stressful and after learning that other disabled people experienced the same challenges., Euan’s Guide was born. Euan lived in Edinburgh with his wife and sons. sadly, he passed away on 21st August 2024, aged 50, but the team at Euan’s Guide continues his legacy through the charity and its award-winning website. At Euan’s Guide they say, “we see the impact of our work every day in the lives of disabled people, their families, friends and carers. For over a decade, we’ve been the “go-to” place for accessibility information, helping over 50,000 people each month find great accessible places to go with confidence. This has a huge effect on wellbeing and independence; in fact, 60% of people who took our Access Survey said the information we provide gives them the confidence to try somewhere new.”
Listing on EuansGuide.com is free and helps venues reach thousands of disabled people. One source from Euan’s Guide explained, “Many businesses don’t actually realise how accessible they already are – they just need a nudge to see it!” Although every review is published, Euan’s Guide admit they encourage a positive attitude,” Every review we receive is passed directly to the venue; it shows them that a disabled guest has already had a great experience and encourages them to showcase their accessible facilities.” Despite this, Euan’s Guide revealed how many venues still hesitate to discuss their access for fear of ‘getting it wrong’.
Regular users of Euan’s Guide, “tell them the most critical information they need involves the practicalities of a visit: can they get in and around easily, is there accessible parking or nearby public transport, and – most importantly – are there accessible toilets? Providing accurate, up-to-date details on these essentials allows disabled people to visit with confidence.” Although adopting a national benchmark for providing disabled access could be helpful, Euan’s Guide suggests the most important thing any venue can do is to be transparent about their current access. It’s not just the right thing to do; there is a massive business case, with the “Purple Pound” i.e. the spending power of disabled people and their families, estimated at £274billion a year in the UK alone. Providing clear information removes the ‘fear of the unknown’. About awareness days they said, “we need people to recognise that disabled access is an everyday struggle for disabled people.”
EuansGuide.com has lots of information for people who want to get involved, whether it’s disabled people, their families, friends and carers who want to submit disabled access reviews, or businesses who want to reach thousands of disabled people looking for great places to go. With the recent launch of their new website Euans Guide concludes, “We continue to work on developing EuansGuide.com so that we’re providing the best support to our community of disabled people and venues. And yes, we have more exciting plans for our small but mighty charity – stay tuned!”