Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 27. 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 is delighted to welcome our seventh trustee, Kinnari Patel
Eye Matter Zoom events
- War of the worlds for our book worms next month- July 2
Eye Matter Outings
- An audio described tour to Frameless
- Eye Matter’s Third Annual Sports Taster Day and Social
Eye Matter’s volunteering opportunities
- Voiceover training
- Members Outreach Programme
Special Features
- Help us help your mental health access
- Nominate Eye Matter
- Your feedback is really important for us
- “Walking on sunshine” at “Sing Into Spring”, with the Eye Matter Singers
- Help improve the support available to people with sight loss with RNIB and Eye Matter
Kinnari Patel joins as our Treasurer Trustee
At last month’s Board of Trustees meeting a unanimous agreement was given to appoint Kinnari as our seventh Trustee. Her role will include working closely with Suzie and our accountant along with reporting regularly at board meetings.
Kinnari said, “I’m an ACCA-qualified accountant with a passion for making numbers work for people. Alongside my professional background in finance, I love tandem cycling, dancing, going to the theatre, and travelling experiences that remind me how rich and vibrant life is beyond what we see.
Joining the Board of Trustees feels like a full-circle moment. Eye Matter played such a key role in my journey, and I’m proud to now contribute to theirs—bringing both my lived experience and professional expertise to support their vital work and the community that means so much to me.”
Please click here for a full list of our Trustees:
Eye Matter Zoom events
Keep up to date with our activities here.
Highlights include:
War of the worlds for our book worms next month- July 2.
June’s book is The War of the Worlds by HG Wells. This book is an absolute classic science fiction novel. The next bookworms is on Wednesday 2nd July, hosted by Queen Sarah at 11am. Please read the book and join in the discussion then.
May’s books were Railway to the Grave and All the Light We Cannot See, both of which got a 7 out of 10.
For more details or to join please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk
Eye Matter Outings
Find all our events here
Highlights include:
Here are the outings and events available for Eye Matter members:
Final two tickets remaining for an audio described tour to Frameless
On Thursday 26th June, 2pm
Meet and Greet at Marble Arch Station Oxford Street exit at 1:30pm
Tickets £9
Frameless is redefining the experiential immersive art world. Situated in Marble Arch, they are the largest permanent multi-sensory experience in the UK. Frameless features four galleries and showcases some of the world’s greatest works of art presented in ways never seen before. Where art breaks free.
Eye Matter’s Third Annual Sports Taster Day and Social
In collaboration with Metro Blind Sport and Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being
Islington Tennis Centre and Gym, Market Rd, London N7 9PL
Over 18s only.
Saturday 19th July 2025 – 10am to 4pm
Meet and greet at 9:30am at Caledonian Road Underground Station
Tickets £10 – including a halal lunch from Tripoli Express.
All abilities welcome. Volunteers will be on hand along with different coaches to provide instruction in each sport. For a taster of VI tennis and VI football, with an audio described warm-up and cool-down with Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being. We have some more sports in the pipeline but cannot release information about these yet.
There will be food from a Lebanese food truck available for lunch with wraps of chicken, halloumi or falafel options and sides of fries and a soft drink. When booking your place, please let us know your preference.
To book any Eye Matter outings please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk stating clearly which event and how many tickets you require.
Eye Matter’s volunteering opportunities
Voiceover training
Eye Matter is delighted to offer iPhone voice over training to its members. We will provide six sessions over a period of six weeks and each session would be for an hour. You would need an alternate number, preferably a landline number in order to carry out the sessions. If you are struggling while using your iPhone, then this training is for you. To join iPhone VoiceOver training please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject iPhone VoiceOver.
Click here to read the testimonials of our past participants:
Members Outreach Programme
We are continuing our member outreach programme, which is being coordinated by our wonderful volunteer Irena Valchera, our member liaison officer. We are seeking more volunteers to assist Irena in reaching out to our members to ensure they are doing well, confirm their continued interest in membership, and ensure that they are able to join our Zoom sessions.
If you would like to support Irena, even committing to make one call per week would be beneficial. If you are able to contribute more time, that would be greatly appreciated. Volunteers will receive basic training for this role.
To join our member outreach team, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject line “Outreach Volunteer.”
Special features
Help us help your mental health access
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eyemattermentalhealthprovision
On Saturday 31st May (at our Eye Matter’s Singers event) we launched our new campaign to provide members more access to mental health provision. Twice a month, over 50 members have already received support from our on-line ‘Surviving to Thriving’ sessions facilitated by therapist Joanne Williams. Please look out for our members testimonials on the impact having such support has enabled them to start feeling more confident again.
Your money will allow continuation of these regular sessions and enable us to deliver three in-person events for members to meet with our therapist in a safe environment.
We have received a good response from our mental health provisions which has recently included a regular blog for those unable to attend sessions and would deeply appreciate your support to raise more money to ensure their continuation.
Eye Matter greatly appreciates your support and would be delighted if you could please share the above link with your family and friends to help support us.
Nominate Eye Matter
Please support our fantastic work by nominating Eye Matter for this award:
Every year the Benefact Trust (part of the Benefact Groups supports hundreds of projects, please ensure Eye Matter is part of this award.
Your feedback is really important for us
After every event you may receive a request for feedback but why should you provide this and why is it so important for Eye Matter?
Feedback is sent onto me (Fiona), and I collate it into a number of areas. Some are used to create articles for social media and Eye Matter Matters whilst others are compressed into bite sized pieces for our new ‘Events Testimonials’ page.
From this array of content our Fundraising manager can paste into funding applications as examples of the impact Eye Matter is creating.
Please continue to send us your thoughts as both Suzie and I really enjoy reading your personal experiences with us. Consequently, it’s less of my chatter and more of yours!!!!
“Walking on sunshine” at “Sing Into Spring”, with the Eye Matter Singers
Our 6th Eye Matter Singers performance was hailed as a great success by around 40 people who attended “Sing into Spring”, on Saturday afternoon in Kings Cross)31st May 2025).
Paula said, “I think the choir is a great example of the Eye Matter ethos. U don’t have to be an expert to have a great time and take part. Really enjoyed it. Like the chap who asked everyone to join in, and I liked the interaction between Sarah, Rachel and Suzie.”
The Eye Matter Singers are a unique visually impaired(vi) choir lead by Choir Mistress Rachel (who is registered blind) and accompanied by vi pianist Fiona Dunn. A huge thanks to: Amrit, Andy, Suzie, Daniel Griffiths, Fiona, Jane, Jess, Rachel and Sarah
Suzie (Eye Matter’s founder) said, “I thought Saturday’s concert was a huge triumph considering after 12 online rehearsals and only one rehearsal earlier that day. We had a fabulous turnout of over 40 guests and such a party atmosphere where everybody was talking to each other whilst celebrating Eye Matter’s choir. I was impressed with the amount of solo performances we had this year and the reactions from the audience. Everybody I spoke to had amazing things to say about what Eye Matter has done for them and how it continues to improve their lives. I was very pleased to launch our new mental health campaign and hope this will ensure future support for members. Thank you to everybody who supported us, especially our sighted guides and to our amazing members, who make every event so very special.”
Amongst the soloists, new member Daniel, lead the audience through a Beatles favourite, after Amrit performed an acapella version of a classic Madonna song with the choir singing some toe tapping tracks.
Our next concert will be on the 6th December, we really hope you can join us there.
Please click here for more information:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=718179297528272
Help improve the support available to people with sight loss with RNIB and Eye Matter
This is not an Eye Matter event
RNIB would like to hear from blind and partially sighted people about the areas of your life where you need support as well as the type of support you have received in the past.
This could be support you have received from RNIB or other sight loss charities such as Eye Matter, or from NHS ophthalmology services, or local vision rehabilitation services.
Your contributions to this important research will help to improve and ensure the right support is available at the right time to people living with sight loss in the future.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a difference. Take part in our online survey today:
https://ylive.online-host.solutions/ASP/P027306/login.asp
This research is being conducted on behalf of RNIB by independent researchers, The Social Agency, and their partners Yonder Data Solutions.