Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 46, 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.
Edited by George Sarcov and Paul Grierson.
To contribute to a future edition, please email: fiona@eyematter.org.uk
Important Notice:
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All of our Zoom activities, including weekly schedules, BookWorms. Inspiring Speakers, Bounce, Cookery, concerts and much more can be accessed here in one place. Read more
Here are Some Highlights:
Turning Surviving Into Thriving – Facilitated by Joanna Williams
- Monday 8th June: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Feeling Good and Bad
Is it possible to appreciate the present while grieving the life you used to have (or could have had)? Can you feel sad about what you’ve lost, frustrated by day-to-day challenges, but also feel hopeful about the future? In this zoom session we’ll talk about the conflicted nature of grief after sight loss and how two opposing feelings can both be true at once. If you are unable to attend and would like to learn more please Click here:
Marvellous Me Mondays – Organisational Coaching with Caroline Dove
Monday 8th June: 6:00pm
Everyday Ease: Simple Ways to Make Life Work for You
Caroline Dove is a writer, facilitator and communication intermediary working with complex workplace situations. Her work explores neurodiversity, disability, identity and belonging. Through her book coming this year, on Invisible Grit, Caroline brings together lived reflection, professional insight and a commitment to compassionate conversations, collaboration and finding workable solutions.
This six-week programme offers a welcoming and supportive space for people living with sight loss to explore simple ways of making everyday life feel easier and more manageable. Read more
Summer Choir Practice
Wednesday’s: 6:00pm
Our Summer Choir practice began on Wednesday, 29th April and continues every Wednesday at 6:00pm. These 12-week sessions culminate in our Summertime concert (Saturday 18th July). There is no obligation to attend the final performance or to have any prior experience. It’s a fun social opportunity to enjoy with your Eye Matter friends. Each session is led by visually impaired Rachel, who will guide singers through repetition and fun each week. Read more
Living Well with Sight Loss Course – Week 6
Thursday 11th June: 11:00am
Boost your confidence and get practical advice, information, and resources in this 6-week course. Speakers will Include: 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. Read more
Cathartic Writing Returns
Friday 19th June: 12:00pm
Back by popular demand. Starts with a fun and friendly social on Zoom at 11:00am.
All our future outings can be found in this one place, along with information about past activities and Members’ reviews.
Here are a Few Highlights:
Eye Matter Sports Day 2026
Where: Islington Tennis Centre and Gym, London N7 9PL
When: Saturday 20 June: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Meet and greet: 9:30am at Caledonian Road (Piccadilly Line, within easy reach of King’s Cross St. Pancras)
Cost: £10 Eye Matter members; £12 non-members
In collaboration with
Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being, enjoy trying fully accessible sports with the support of friendly, expert coaches.
Have a go at
Showdown, VI football, VI tennis, VI baseball and even VI touch rugby. Read more
Audio Described Performance of Avenue Q
When: Tuesday 23rd June: 7:30pm
Where: The Shaftsbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8DP
Touch Tour: TBC
Cost: £42.50 per person
Avenue Q is back on the block. Read more
The Third Eye Matter PGL Activity Holiday
When: Friday 28th August – 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 King’s Cross to PGL Windmill Hill
Cost: £415 per guest
What is Included
Three nights’ accommodation in twin en-suite 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. Read more
Eye Matter News:
You can stay in touch with all our news here
‘Keep Laughing’, and We Did!
Rufus sent a second message, “It was a top night, I saw Chris on telly before but never saw him live. He’s hilarious, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hear anything by Ed Sheeran without thinking of him again LOL.”
On Friday, 15th May, 54 Eye Matter members and volunteers enjoyed a night with Chris McCausland’s Yonks! Stand Up Comedy Tour at the prestigious London Palladium.
Irena wrote, “The comedy stand-up with Chris was so good I cried with laughter. His easy delivery, storytelling and natural sense of humour is unique and engaging. He is not trying hard to make people laugh; it’s just effortless. He is naturally very funny. The story of his visit to the doctor is still making me laugh when I think of it. Loved it, can’t wait to see him again. Thank you, Suzie as always, for organising the outing. Love Eye Matter.” Read more
Daniel’s dive into the murky waters of leisure centres that refused to teach him to swim.
To feature in our new Eye Matter Effect series coming soon…
And my experience as a blind person, visiting this Stratford-based leisure centre for the first time.
It took Daniel over two years to find a suitable swimming coach and venue willing to support his needs. During this time, he had been in contact with leisure centres from Newham to Tower Hamlets. One swimming coach refused to leave the pool to guide him, whereas others declined his entry to their venues. Frustratingly, this is in contrast to a pledge given to me by the then London Mayor, Boris Johnson, on LBC Radio (2014) that grassroots disabled sports opportunities would be one of the legacies from the 2012 London Olympic Games. Ironically, Daniel struck gold at the heart of the Olympic Park in Stratford. A call to the London Aquatics Centre, managed by Everyone Active (established in 1987), introduced him to Louise Wray.
Daniel explained, “Louise was the first person who listened and understood my requirements.” More importantly, she was willing to ensure he learnt to swim. Read more
Vicky Dances into the Spotlight
Vicky fondly remembers watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ with her children when they were younger, often wondering what it would feel like to be whisked around the dance floor by a partner, while wearing a beautiful dress!
Waltz forward to mid-May 2024, Vicky signed up for a series of Ballroom and Latin Dance classes (specifically for visually impaired people) delivered by Step Change Studios.
In a strange twist of fate, later that year, she started watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ again and there was Chris McCausland, the blind comedian, learning to dance and going on to win the competition.
Like many of Step Change Studio’s dancers, Vicky has ‘fallen in love with dancing’. Classes are held on Saturday mornings at King’s College London in Holborn. The dances, steps, and routines are carefully explained by the teachers, making the classes inclusive, supportive, and enjoyable. Everybody is paired with a sighted dancer who also accompany them to various competitions. Read more
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing: An Experiential Course for Eye Matter
Session May – Shared Human Experience & Kindness
Delivered as part of our Tranquil Tuesday by Laura Brodie.
About this session Rick said, “thanks so much, Eye Matter for bringing us a series of Zoom presentations about mindfulness hosted by Laura Brodie who helped us improve our mental strength by introducing us and working on Waze to make us stronger.
For me it is all summed up in one word and that is ‘kindness’. Kindness to ourselves, to those around us and to the world in general. It has been a great source of inner strength for me and my thanks again, go to Eye Matter, for yet again producing, and introducing us to, Waze and strategies of coping with site loss.” Read more
Access, Care, and “Obscure” Pet Shop Boys at Electric Ballroom
Review by Eye Matter member George – April 2026
Firstly, nothing about setlists or synths, it’s about access that determines whether someone can attend at all.
Charming, responsive, quietly efficient, Mel (from Electric Ballroom) guided the process from the start. Medical proof was emailed to confirm mobility and visual impairment, allowing a free companion ticket. The show itself became a magical night. Another “Pethead” fan met through Facebook, was willing to come as a companion. Access is not complicated, it’s just having someone nearby to steady a walking frame or offer an arm. Mel helped us settle into a balcony space with barstools, with a sense of dignity. Attentive throughout and ready to assist. Not intrusive, just present. She helped pick the right size T-shirt at the merchandise stand, a small detail, but that matters. The walking frame was stored in the cloakroom, no awkwardness, no delay. Read more
Movement Training for Blind and Visually Impaired People with Martial Attitude
Wing Chun is a traditional Chinese martial art focusing on close-range simultaneous attack-and-defence techniques. It emphasizes economy of motion, centerline theory, and sensitivity through touch. This martial art became widely known in the West through Bruce Lee, who studied under Grandmaster Ip Man.
Martial Attitude has designed a free series of programmes around London based on this martial art. These sessions are designed for people who are blind or have significant visual impairment to help increase confidence, independence, physical and mental health. Read more
Cruella becomes President of the RNIB
Before you start hiding your beautiful Guide Dogs, this was one of the many roles played by Irish-born actor Victoria Smurfit, who was recently announced as the new RNIB’s President. Read more