Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 47, 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 Notices:
Eye Matter Annual Membership runs from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027 and is now due.
£15 covers access to a range of online activities, up-to-date information, receiving our newsletter and an excellent guide to our events. To ensure your continued access to our on-line and in-person events, please click this JustGiving link to pay your membership fee, ticking the Gift Aid option if applicable.
Alternatively, please pay by bank transfer:
Name: Eye Matter
Sort Code: 20-92-63
Account Number: 83521087
Business bank account
Please always remember to email if you have made this payment and ensure we have the reference you used.
Redesigning Our ‘Shop Window’
Over the past few months you may have noticed several changes to our website and this magazine. Along with engaging new volunteers to assist with its editorial content and a website manager, the content presentation on our ‘shop window’ has been transformed.
Now you can engage with our External Facilitators, find out about past and forthcoming Zoom, and in-person events, catch up on past Zoom concerts, learn more about our ever growing volunteer team and get up to date on the news around Eye Matter.
As this is a shop window specifically designed for you, please let us know what you think and if you have any suggestions that can make Eye Matter even better!
Volunteering Opportunities
We are seeking to recruit more Sighted Guides to support our fabulous events. No experience is necessary. Read more
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 at Sight Village Central (Birmingham) 2026
When: Tuesday 7th July 9:30am – 3:30pm
When: Wednesday 8th July 9:00am – 3:00pm
Where: Eastside Rooms Conference Centre, Woodcock Street, Birmingham B7 4BL. ‘In the heart of Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter’.
Cost: Admission is free for all visitors.
Sight Village is the UK’s leading accessibility showcase for blind and partially sighted people, offering free admission to all visitors. It provides life-changing information, products, and support across assistive technology, mobility, education, daily living, safety, employment, leisure, and digital accessibility.
For over 30 years, it has promoted independence, empowerment, and community connection by bringing together specialist organisations and exhibitors. The event is highly interactive, allowing visitors to try and experience the latest assistive technologies first-hand, often demonstrated by visually impaired professionals. Thousands attend each year, including individuals and professionals seeking the latest developments in accessibility and inclusive services.
Eye Matter will be attending this prestigious event to share information on our wide range of events, both online and in-person.
Please come over to Suzie and see if she has a box of chocolates lurking somewhere on her desk.
In the meantime click here to catch up with everything Eye Matter is creating.
If you would like more information about this event, including travel information please click here
Eye Matter Singers Concert
When: Saturday 18th July 3:00 – 5:00pm
Where: St. Pancras Somers Town Living Centre,
150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF
On 24th June, a sweltering Wednesday evening, eleven members the Eye Matter Singers joined Rachel to rehearse their penultimate song prior to this concert.
Join the UK’s only peer-lead, visually-impaired singing group, for this live, not to be missed performance. One of only two they perform each year. Find out more here
An audio described performance of The Producers
When: Wednesday 15th July 7:30pm
Where: Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0HH
Cost: £33 per person
Touch tour: TBC
Hailed as ‘the funniest show in London’ by The Standard, this outrageous musical has audiences and critics roaring, declaring it a ‘masterful comedy – the show we need right now’ (The Times).
The first major London revival of Mel Brooks’ The Producers has exploded onto the West End with ‘his genius for hammily catchy melodies and taboo-busting gags’ (Sunday Express), now playing at the Garrick Theatre after its sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Based on Brooks’ cult classic film, the original Broadway production won a record-breaking twelve Tony Awards, and this revival proves why.
When down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom to stage a surefire flop, their scheme backfires with thunderous applause and unstoppable laughter.
To buy your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Producers’
Audio Described performance of Warhorse
When: Friday 24th July 2026 7:30pm
Where: Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
Meet & Greet: 5:30pm at Waterloo Station, under the clock
Cost: £33.00
Touch tour: Starts 6:00pm
The global phenomenon gallops home to the National Theatre
At the outbreak of the First World War, young Albert’s beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Too young to enlist, Albert refuses to forget him, embarking on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of wartime France – determined to bring Joey home.
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, War Horse is a timeless story of love, courage and friendship, brought to life by astonishing life-sized horses from Handspring Puppet Company and a stirring musical score.
Following a sell-out national tour, the Tony Award–winning global sensation returns to where it all began, nearly two decades after its debut at the National Theatre.
To buy your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Warhorse’
Audio Described Tour of London Zoo
When: Tuesday 15th September
Where: London Zoo, Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY
Meet & Greet: 10:00am Baker Street Station
Cost: £7.00
Learn more here
In Person Neurobics session
When: Sunday 4th October 2026
Where: King’s Cross
Cost: £5.00
For more details check out our events page here
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style Exhibition – Audio Described
When: Tuesday 6th October
Where: The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Cost: £5.00
For more details check out our events page here
All our Zoom activities, including weekly schedules, BookWorms, Inspiring Speakers, Bounce, cookery, concerts and much more can be accessed in one place, here.
Here are Some Highlights:
Cookery on Zoom
Join Sarah from 11:00am on the fourth Wednesday of each month for a fun cookery session. You can try out our previous delicious recipes here.
Rehearsals continue on Zoom from 6:00pm every Monday and Wednesday until our live concert on Saturday 18th July. For more information see earlier in this newsletter or click here
Cathartic Writing returns on Friday 31st July. You can catch up and join in at our next session here.
Eye Matter News
You can stay in touch with all Eye Matter news here
With psychotherapeutic counsellor Joanna Williams.
In her regular blog, Joanna will be touching on different aspects of the grief associated with sight loss and how to take the best care of yourself wherever you are on your sight loss journey.
You can join Joanna’s Zoom sessions on the second & fourth Mondays of the month, or you can check out some of the topics raised in previous sessions here
Ziad Sinno’s Exclusive Zoom Concert
On Tuesday 30th June, Lebanese musician Ziad Sinno joined Eye Matter for another exclusive Zoom concert.
Carrie was moved to write, “I enjoyed Ziad’s concert very much! What a talented man. I enjoyed the music and appreciated him providing each song with an explanation of their meaning or why they were written that way. I hope we hear him again sometime.”
Performing solo, at our Zoom concert, Ziad proved a versatile musician, playing the oud, Arabic violin, and keyboards. Rachel, Eye Matter’s choir mistress, appreciated his amazing vocal range and style. Switching effortlessly from Arabic, Lebanese and back to English, yet always explaining the meaning of each song. One track was a cover of Lebanese singer Sammy Clarke. Throughout the performance Eye Matter was able to interact with him and show their appreciation. Read more here
Our success with National Volunteer Week 2026.
During National Volunteer Week (1st – 7th June), Eye Matter was able to share the experience of several of our volunteers who have undertaken various roles within Eye Matter and who were recognised as top contributors by the governing body.
It was equally appreciative to received thanks from members such as Elsie who expressed her gratitude on a FaceBook post, “Thanks to all you lovely volunteers – we really appreciate your help and support”.
Here are some of our ‘marvellous’ volunteers…
Cheru
For two years, Cheru has been managing our highly successful iPhone and Android voice-over training programme. To read more click here
Paul
Paul recently joined as our Content Editor. Click here to read more
Natasha
Natasha, one of our Sighted Guides, has supported many of our events. To find out more about Natasha, click here
Sight-loss is no obstacle to becoming a volunteer
For more information about opportunities with Eye Matter, click here
Rachel
Rachel is proud to be a trustee and volunteer for Eye Matter. You can read her story here
We are also focused on increasing our team of sighted guides who, by supporting our events, make them possible.
Read more here
June’s Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing Session
An Experiential Course for Eye Matter’s ‘Tranquil Tuesdays’ monthly session – Building Resilience: Taking in the Good.
“Resilience is not just for surviving the worst day of your life, it’s for thriving every day of your life”
Before embarking on our first meditation, Laura asked Eye Matter to consider what resilience means to us. In acknowledging the existence of resilience within ourselves, Laura encouraged us to be aware of how our bodies are positioned. Initially taking three deep breaths at the start of our first meditation, to loosen around our eyes and feel a travelling sense of calm throughout our body. Encouraging us to feel the breath through our nose and giving gratitude to ourselves for existing. Working towards a sense of kindness to ourselves and those encountered throughout the day. Read more here
Experience the FIFA World Cup 2026
Follow Every Match with Audio Descriptive Commentary ⚽️
FIFA will be providing Audio Descriptive Commentary for all 104 matches involving all 48 participating nations, as well as the opening ceremony on Thursday 11 June and the closing ceremony ahead of the final on Sunday 19 July. Find out more here