Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 38. This is a fortnightly publication where Eye Matter shares news and information about events and activities, members’ experiences and other items of interest.
A quick roundup of the year from Suzie.
Dear Lovely Members,
We cannot believe we are at the end of 2025, hasn’t it gone fast! We have done a lot of fundraising this year and are delighted to have raised over £8000. We are proud and delighted to have received help in funding from Richard Simpson (Who ran the Athens Marathon in November), the participants of our first Hyde Park fun run, walk, dance in September, to those who supported our Grief therapy campaign launched in May and the fantastic Nicky Newport who swam the distance of the English Channel in March, and we have now launched our Christmas appeal:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eyematterchristmasappeal
We are also incredibly grateful for the generosity of our members who donate monthly on the link below to support us. Click here to make a monthly donation via PayPal:
Volunteers play an enormous part in supporting access to our events. To all of our many sighted guide volunteers who help make our event accessible through their incredible work, we are so grateful for your support, patience, understanding, friendship and giggles. We couldn’t do this without you. Click here to read one volunteer’s experience.
We are also grateful for the members who volunteer their experience to help us run voiceover training with Charu for over 40 people. I was also delighted that we ran social media workshops in conjunction with the RNIB.
I would like to personally thank my Board of Trustees whose continued support and care enables Eye Matter to operate at so many levels: Rachel, Belinda, Maggie, Warren, Fiona and Kinnari. Another person to thank is the incredible Noemi for her unwavering support and patience!
Over 200 Zoom events were hosted by various facilitators, including; Steve Reed, Danielle Cleary, Joanne Williams, Diane Bramson, Sarah Brooks, Malcolm Day, Steve Wax, Louise, Jackie Turner, and Warren. These have included ‘Poetry Appreciation’, cathartic writing, twice monthly grief counselling, “Bookworms”, our monthly book club, a music production workshop, drama improvisation sessions, quizzes, socials, Chair Yoga, audio-described Zumba, “Neurobics” (brain aerobics) and the Eye Matter Singers. Music continues to play a huge part within Eye Matter and our twice a year Eye Matter Singers continues to attract familiar and new faces. In September we were delighted to host international VI Jazz singer/composer Katriona Taylor, accompanied by pianist Duncan Clarke. Our ‘Inspiring Speakers’ continues to provide a range of speakers from within our own community such as the renowned Blind Poet Dave Steele. We have delivered our 14th series of ‘Living Well With Sight-Loss’ which continues to provide practical help to those experiencing sight-loss at any stage.
I really enjoyed travelling around the UK to promote and meet our nationally growing members at Sight Villages, including Sight Village London and Wales. Also Havering and Hounslow with local groups.
We visited over 40 different venues, theatre productions, art galleries and places of interest, beginning with an audio described performance of Robin Hood at the London Palladium. February began with a ‘Confidence Building Workshop’, amongst the weekly Zoom activities which included a concert from our friend Katriona Taylor, members attended the Tate Modern to explore art installations and took part in a FlowSense project specifically designed for women. March included a trip to SnowZone, a theatre trip to ‘Stranger Things’ and our second in-person grief counselling group therapy session with Joanne Williams. April began with a visit to Hair and Care before members celebrated pushing Suzie off a zip wire high above treetops – see video:
Thirty Eye Matter members joined VocalEyes for a stunning performance of ‘The Devil wears Prada’ Before Sing into Spring with the Eye Matter Singers took place at the end of May. Sicily was the destination for our first holiday of 2025 with Seable. We visited the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens . July included an immersive experience with our second audio described tour of ‘Frameless’. In August, we were delighted that Mike Brace CBE (Deputy Lieutenant of London) became our Patron and we re-visited PGL for a week of adventures. Lots of fun this month as we experienced Harry Potter for the first time this year. Later in August we allowed the animals in London Zoo to stare at us. September we stepped into the Royal Mews. Another exclusive visit was arranged in October to the Kings Gallery at Buckingham Palace. In October we also attended the Regents Park Open Air Theatre to see an audio described performance of Brigadoon. Nearly 180 people are set to enjoy Eye Matter’s four Christmas celebrations including: festive Eye Matter Singers , our third Winter Extravaganza hailed as “the best so far!”, Harry Potter experience and our annual panto visit in January.
Eye Matter Matters concludes 2025 with its 38th edition. Each fortnight, members access an array of features around sight-loss, information about future in-person and on-line events and volunteering opportunities. Content has included campaigns from `RNIB, Blind Baking with Penny Melville Brown, special features including ensuring the national alert system was publicised, sharing event reviews, promotion of external activities and much more. We greatly appreciate the hard work of Fiona Musgrove who has continually reported and articled about Eye Matter’s work over the last year to show all of Eye Matter’s incredible projects.
We very much look forward to reading your reviews on our WhatsApp events page, or please feel free to send feedback via email. Your feedback means that we can listen to you, our members and continue to give you what you want and need for 2026.
Please click here to see our audio described photos.
And finally, a massive thank you for all of the support our members have given us this year. With now over 480 of you, we are so proud and excited for all the services we are offering for 2026. We really hope to get you involved and are so grateful for your continued support of Eye Matter. So, whatever you’re doing this Christmas week, we send you love and good wishes for a happy, healthy festive season and a brilliant 2026. We hope to see loads of you, please join us, and please enjoy the 38th edition of Eye Matter Matters.
Unless otherwise indicated, all articles have been written by Fiona Musgrove. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please email fiona.musgrove@yahoo.co.uk
Eye Matter Matters has arrived in your mailboxes, to read previous issues click our link below:
This edition includes:
Eye Matter Zoom events
- We’re here Christmas Day.
- Next Cathartic Creative Writing session Friday 2nd January 2026.
- Bookworms returns Wednesday 7th January 2026 at 11am
- Join us for an inspiring talk by Suresh Kuwar from British Wireless for the Blind Fund on Friday 9th January
- A New Year, a New You?- assertive training workshop.
Eye Matter Outings
- Private Audio Described tour of Tate Modern
Eye Matter’s volunteering opportunities
- Voiceover training
- Members Outreach Programme
Special Features
- Eye Matter is delighted to launch their Christmas Appeal 2025, celebrating another wonderful year.
- Christmas time bop at our third Winter Extravaganza
- It’s beginning to look a lot like our Eye Matter Singers smash Christmas!
- The impact of Voice Over Volunteering opportunities.
- The twelve days of Turkey with Penny Melville-Brown along with a festive menu.
Forthcoming Eye Matter Zoom events
Highlights include:
Eye Matter Outings
Find all of our events here
We’re here Christmas Day.
Once again Eye Matter will be opening its Zoom window on Christmas morning at 10am to 12pm for people to socialise. This opportunity is available for all our members on our usual Zoom link. We can’t wait to see you there.
Click here for our Eye Matter Snowman.
Next Cathartic Creative Writing session Friday 2nd January 2026.
December’s theme was: list poetry
Here are the prompts for our next session:
Write your own list poem beginning each line with ‘I come from…’ or ‘I like…’
Write a list of any of the following:
- Things that remind you of home.
- Things you would do if you were a superhero.
- Reasons to be hopeful
- Objects that are meaningful to you
- I remember…
- Things you’re thankful for
- Things you wish for
In our December session Jo shared two examples:
Dean Atta- I Come From
“I come from lullabies and pop songs, Hip Hop and poetry
I come from griots, grandmothers and her-story tellers
I come from published words and strangers’ smiles
I come from my own pen but I see people torn apart like paper
Each a story or poem that never made it into a book.”
Some Things I Like by Lemn Sissay
“I like the way the career-less career,
I like flat beer,
I like people who tell half stories and forget the rest,
I like people who make doodles in important written tests,
I like being late. I like fate. I like the way teeth grate,
I like laceless shoes cordless blues,
I like the one-bar blues,”
You can either submit your work to Jo or read it out yourself. Of course, participation is always optional and you are welcome just to listen to others.
Remaining dates:
2nd of January 2026, 30th of January 2026
Bookworms returns Wednesday 7th January 2026 at 11am
Next month’s book is What Eden Did Next by Sheila O’Flanagan. Next bookworms session hosted by Queen Sarah will be on Wednesday 7th January.
Even if you haven’t read the whole book, didn’t like it or just enjoy listening to others, come along to this friendly, relaxed session and let us know your choice for next time.
all of our books are available on the RNIB Readings Services as a downloadable audio book. Please contact RNIB directly for more information.
Thank you to queen Sarah for hosting this month’s bookworms where we discussed Love marriage by Monica Ali, which got 6 out of 10. Please check out our list of future books and lots of ideas from our past Bookworms:
We would love it if you could give your book recommendations from the RNIB reading services library. Please send recommendations to info@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘bookworms’.
Join us for an inspiring talk by Suresh Kuwar from British Wireless for the Blind Fund on Friday 9th January
Suresh is a Technical Assistant at the charity, working specifically on the Alexa (Lady A) scheme to make smart speakers as accessible as possible for the visually impaired community. As someone who is visually impaired himself, Suresh will be sharing a little about his personal story, his work, and practical tips on how to get the most out of your Lady A.
A New Year, a New You?- assertive training workshop.
Tuesday 13th January 7-8pm on Zoom.
- Do you often experience poor self-esteem and low confidence?
- Do you have trouble saying no?
- Do you end up agreeing to do things you don’t want to do?
- Do you have difficulty asking for help?
Do you struggle to express your needs and opinions?
Eye Matter member and freelance trainer, Terry James offers assertive training
In this workshop, we will explore practising assertive behaviour, which will include:
- How to improve your self-esteem and increase your confidence
- How to feel comfortable saying no
- How to avoid doing things you don’t want to do
- How to feel empowered to ask for help
- How to express your needs and opinions clearly and positively
Eye Matter Outings
Find all of our events here
Eye Matter in collaboration with Tate Modern
A private audio described tour of Máret Ánne Sara: Goavve-Geabbil
Wednesday 18th February 2026
Please join us for an audio described tour of this year’s Hyundai commission. Experience a new site-specific work by Máret Ánne Sara in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.
Máret Ánne Sara is a Northern Sámi artist and author known for her work exploring global ecological issues through the lens of her lived experience within the Sámi community.
Through her multidisciplinary practice, Sara highlights the impact of Nordic colonialism on Sámi ways of life, exploring the importance of preserving Sámi ancestral knowledge and values to protect the environment for future generations. Often using materials and methodologies derived from reindeer herding, Sara creates powerful sculptures and installations which uphold the reciprocal relationship between animals, lands, waters, and humans.
Tickets to this private AD tour are free, we ask that you make a £5 voluntary donation.
Eye Matter’s volunteering opportunities
- Eye Matter encourages peer support amongst its members.
- No experience is necessary
- Provides work experience within a safe, supportive environment.
- All work takes place via Zoom or by phone (unless otherwise stated).
- You will learn to work both independently and as part of a team.
- These roles are for anyone who wants to support others or upskill for future employment opportunities
- Training is provided
Voiceover training
- Required participation of six (one hour) sessions over six weeks.
- An alternative number is required (preferably a land line).
We are seeking confident iPhone and Android users within our membership who are interested in sharing their skills with other members.
We are delighted to introduce our brilliant Volunteer VoiceOver Training Manager, Charu Bansal, who will facilitate a short training program designed to enhance your teaching abilities.
Click here to read the testimonials of members who have benefitted from this project.
Members Outreach Programme
Would you like to join us in an exciting new volunteering opportunity to engage in our community callout programme?
Eye Matter has a member outreach programme with volunteer opportunities, coordinated by our wonderful volunteer liaison manager, Irena Valchera. We are seeking volunteers to assist Irena in reaching out to our membership to see how they are, confirm their continued interest in membership, to ensure they are able to access our Zoom sessions and to ask whether they have any suggestions for future Eye Matter events or opportunities.
If you would like to support Eye Matter, even committing to making one call per week will make a difference. If you are able to contribute more time, that would be greatly appreciated too. Volunteers will receive basic training for this role.
To join our member outreach team, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Outreach Volunteer”.
Special features
Eye Matter is delighted to launch their Christmas Appeal 2025, celebrating another wonderful year.
Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s founder) said, “Your support has made a huge difference, and we are so grateful for everything you’ve helped us achieve.”
This festive season, your donation will help us continue to offer peer support, online and in-person activities, and opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to learn, laugh, and live well.
Please click the link below to visit our Christmas Appeal page and make a gift to Eye Matter.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eyematterchristmasappeal
Christmas time bop at our third Winter Extravaganza
On Thursday (11th December) 50 Eye Matter members joined us for our annual Winter Extravaganza, at the Crown Hotel Cricklewood. The five-hour event included a three-course meal with tea/coffee and mince pies, coach transfer to and from Kings Cross, a quiz, raffle and the amazing 1960’s inspired group “The Beats”.
Amongst the jiving members Daniel said, “Wow, what a truly brilliant day with fabulous people I am all danced out thank you, Suzie and Naomi, and all of the rest of the team at Eye Matter 5star.”
Elsie agreed, “Fantastic day yesterday at the Extravaganza.”
Belinda added, “Fantastic day as always brilliant time, wonderful people lots if laughs. Always good to see some new faces too.”
Rachel (Eye Matter’s Trustee) said, “I love Eye Matter. Thank you so much Suzie and Naomi for another incredible Winter Extravaganza🙌 What a wonderful day catching up with friends and meeting new ones. stunning food, dancing and Steve’s brilliant Quiz🥂 I feel so lucky to be part of something so amazing; kindness generosity and care is everywhere.”
Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s Founder) exclaimed, “Absolutely delicious food fantastic music and best of all a full dance floor all day. The coach was so convenient transferring us directly to and from the hotel from Kings Cross. It was brilliant to see so many new faces and very familiar ones. I was overwhelmed by how successful the winter extravaganza was this year. Noemi and I were so delighted with how everything went.”
Please click here for the full article and photos.
It’s beginning to look a lot like our Eye Matter Singers smash Christmas!
On Saturday 6th December, 50 people attended our festive celebration in Kings Cross London. The Eye Matter Singers Amrit, Andy, Kevin, Jessica, Oleksandra, Rachel, Ron, Sam, Suzie, accompanied by pianist, Fiona Dunn entertained their audience with an eclectic range of songs. This originally, hybrid choir had been together for over 12 weeks, with other singers; Daniel, Faz, Gloria, Malcolm and Sara.
Registered blind vocalist Rachel Bowden Waterson led the UK’s only totally visually impaired choir. Their performance had been the culmination of weeks of rehearsals and careful planning to ensure everyone was able to learn the many different tunes. One singer said that singing at home in front of a screen where everyone’s voice had a slight delay was completely different to singing together as a group. Songs included: ‘Sleigh Ride’, ‘Deck the Halls’, ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ ‘Electric Dreams’ and ‘Mistletoe and Wine’. Participants could also choose to perform a solo piece like Andy who sang ’Fly Me To The Moon’, Amrit (AKA Madonna) ‘True Blue ‘and Suzie in her Cindy Lauper stance performed “True Colours’.
Each session was designed to suit different vocal ranges, abilities and repetition of lyrics for those unable to read the words in-front of them. On the day, rather than waving her arms like a musical conductor, verbal prompts were given both by Rachel and visually impaired pianist Fiona.
Rachel, a classically trained vocalist, lost her sight nearly 10 years ago and it has only been through Eye Matter that she has been able to enjoy music once again, ‘Through Eye Matter, I’ve visited more shows without sight, than with sight! It’s been wonderful to have the opportunity to be both, part of and managing, this fantastic choir.”
She added, “it was wonderful to be able to sing with other people and feel part of a community group providing entertainment for others.”
Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s Founder) agreed, “The day had the most incredible atmosphere. After rehearsing on Zoom for many weeks it was the first time the choir had performed in person together and I am so proud of them all. Eye Matter has become such a great example of a brilliant community coming together. There was laughter and tears amongst all the fun. The audiences’ reactions of appreciation and enjoyment really enhanced the experience for everyone involved.”
Eye Matter would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make this day possible. A special thanks to Olga for providing all the video evidence of this great day and to Hayley and Noemi for helping with the catering. If you would like to take part in our next Eye Matters Singers event which is planned for Saturday 18th July at Kings Cross and will once again involve a number of Zoom rehearsals please contact Suzie. Please click here to view our video.
The impact of Voice Over Volunteering opportunities.
Personal testimonial from Jay (December 2025),“I am very thankful to Charu Bansal for contacting me and assigning Tahira as my trainer. This training has made a significant difference in my daily life.”
Charu, who has been Eye Matter’s Voice Over Trainer Manager since its inception (October 2024), is keen to express her appreciation of her team who have enabled around 40 members to use their smart phones more effectively, “It’s been wonderful to see so many individuals taking the initiative to build their skills and confidence”.
Like many of Eye Matter’s projects and events, this programme was created from the needs of its members wanting support to use their iPhones and who best to provide this knowledge than other assistive technology users within the charity. Charu explains, “We have an amazing peer support group at Eye Matter, where many members have stepped forward to help with training and supporting others. We are currently a proud and dedicated team of five and looking to expand.”
Eye Matter is seeking confident iPhone and Android users within their membership. Volunteers are required to participate in six (one hour) sessions over six weeks, at a mutually agreed time. Charu will facilitate a short training programme designed to enhance teaching abilities. Click here to read the testimonials of members who have benefitted from this project.
Amongst the many rewards of volunteering within this peer support initiative, she said, “I would encourage other members to volunteer their time in this programme because it’s an incredibly rewarding experience. By supporting others, you’re not only helping someone gain confidence and independence, but you’re also giving back to a community that understands the challenges of sight loss. Volunteering allows you to share your knowledge, learn new skills, and connect with people who truly value your support.”
Back to our member Jay for his experience, “To Tahira, my VoiceOver Trainer: The six one-hour sessions, held every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, were exceptionally well-structured and beneficial. I was taught a wide array of essential skills in a clear, patient, and systematic manner, including communication essentials: adding contacts, writing and sending text messages, WhatsApp messages, and composing emails. I am confident that the fundamental skills you taught me will allow me to explore and master more functions independently. Thank you once again for your dedication, patience, and commitment.”
The twelve days of Turkey with Penny Melville-Brown along with a festive menu.
https://www.pennymelvillebrown.com/christmas-made-easy
On the first day of Christmas my true love said to me I’ve brought a nice fresh turkey and a proper Christmas Tree.
On the second day of Christmas much laughter could be heard as we tucked into our turkey – a most delicious bird.
On the third day of Christmas came people from next door – the turkey tasted just as good as it did the day before.
On the fourth day of Christmas came relations young and old -we finished up the Christmas pud and ate the turkey cold.
On the fifth day of Christmas outside the snowflakes scurried but we were nice and warm as we had the turkey curried.
On the sixth day of Christmas the Christmas spirit died, the children fought and bickered and we had the turkey fried.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love he did wince when he sat down to the table and we had the turkey minced.
On the eighth day of Christmas the dog had run for shelter – he’d seen our turkey pancakes and the glass of Alka Seltzer.
On the ninth day of Christmas by lunchtime dad was blotto – he knew that bird was back again and this time as Risotto.
On the tenth day of Christmas we were drinking homemade brew – as if this wasn’t bad enough we were eating turkey stew.
On the eleventh day of Christmas the Christmas tree was moulting – with chilli sauce and oyster sauce the turkey was revolting.
On the twelfth day of Christmas we had a smile upon our lips – the guest had gone – the turkey too – and we dined on Fish and chips!