Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 24. 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 Zoom events

“Sing into Spring” with The Eye Matter Singers🎶

Eye Matter Outings

“Neurobics” with Steve Wax.
Sight Village Glasgow
Eye Matter Spring Concert with the Eye Matter Singers.
Henry Moore Studios and Gardens- A private audio described tour.
An audio described tour to Frameless

Special Features

17 miles swum and £700 raised for Eye Matter
“Thank you to everyone at Eye Matter – you make being blind fun!”
Members praise Eye Natter’s creative writing programme.
Hair and Care for Eye Matter members.
On Tues 8^th April Eye Matter participated in Sight Village Wales.

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

“Sing into Spring” with The Eye Matter Singers🎶

Sessions will run every Monday for 11 weeks and Wednesday 28^th May 6pm to 7pm. A performance will take place on Saturday 31st May (this is optional).

These sessions are aimed at all levels and abilities of singing as a fun, social programme.

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

Here are the outings and events available for Eye Matter members:

“Neurobics” with Steve Wax.

In partnership with Hounslow Council, RNIB, and The Middlesex Association for the Blind.

Thursday 8th May time 2pm to 4pm

80 St John’s Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 6NY

Meet and greet at 1:40pm at Isleworth Station or 1:55pm at the hall.

This is in conjunction with our monthly Zoom sessions. Neurobics is a preventative and rehabilitative treatment programme which supports people to “Challenge the Body, Stimulate the Brain & Lift the Heart.”

Brain and body Fitness has become a vital element for lifelong well-being. As a response, Neurobics can help you to manage, postpone or eliminate cognitive decline. Every day, your brain forms NEW NEURAL CONNECTIONS, provided you give it what it needs. Your brain’s ability to change and grow is called NEUROPLASTICITY. It has been proved that the brain is like “plastic” – it can physically remodel itself. Simple brain-fitness exercises, and being more mindful of various lifestyle habits, are an essential way to slow down cognitive decline, improve brain fitness, and harness the power of the brain’s ability to change! This can help with improving memory, speed of reaction, concentration, focus, sleeping patterns, outside the box thinking, stress management and enabling an overall SHARPER BRAIN.

Sight Village Glasgow

Wednesday 21^st May from 10am.

At The Science Centre, Glasgow, Scotland.

Join Eye Natter at the Sight Village who are the UK’s leading exhibitions and an integral part of the blind and low vision landscape. Each year they attract thousands of visitors eager to explore the latest technology, products and support services.

Eye Matter Spring Concert with the Eye Matter Singers

On Saturday 31st May, 4pm to 6pm

Meet and Greet at St Pancras International Station Midland Road Exit by the Thameslink barrier at 3:30pm.

St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre,150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF

For twelve weeks our magnificent members have been learning

A variety of upbeat songs including: “Walking On Sunshine”, “Dancing In the Street”, “Oh What A Night” and many more. Spend your afternoon toe tapping along with Eye Matter.

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens- A private audio described tour.

On Thursday 5th June

Meet and greet at Stratford Station at 12:50pm

Tickets cost £30 – this covers the train from Stratford to Ware, only paying from zone 6, the minibus from Ware to the Gardens, entrance to the gardens and the return travel to Stratford. Sighted guides will need to have a ticket to cover them from Stratford to Enfield Lock (zone 6)

Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, SG10 6EE

The tour will include some context about the site, house, visit a couple of studios & of course interact with the outdoor sculptures! Experience Henry Moore’s iconic work in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside with a visit to the artist’s former home, studios and sculpture gardens.

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.

To book any Eye Matter outings please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk stating clearly which event and how many tickets you require.

Special features

17 miles swam and £700 raised for Eye Matter

A huge thanks to our mermaid Nicky Newport as she nears the virtual French coast. If you would like to attempt something amazing to ensure Eye Matter’s activities continue, please contact Suzie for a fundraising link.

In the meantime, please continue to support Nicky: Nicky is so appreciative of the staff at Forest Hill swimming pool as she continues to simulate 22 miles from Dover to Calais. Please continue to support Nicky.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nickynewportswimsforeyematter

“Thank you to everyone at Eye Matter – you make being blind fun!”

Eye Matter members review their experience with FlowSense

Hina Majeed and Tasha are currently taking part in Eye Matter’s collaboration with FlowSense. Generously funded by Innovate UK and led by Muna Daud, FlowSense is the world’s first accessible period blood detection device for visually impaired women which aims to help manage and track menstrual cycles (as well as providing information about their general health).

Hina, who has been a member for a year, has Macular Dystrophy, which affects her central vision expressed her thoughts, “This experience was important for me as it felt good to connect with other women with the added connections of sight loss. It’s imperative to feel like we are part of a community as the greater community and society can be very discriminating and unaware of how isolating it can be to have an eye condition which affects every part of our lives.”

About her experience of testing the product she said, “This device would be amazing for those who are blind as they may struggle the most.” FlowSense is an experimental prototype device that detects period blood once placed directly on a sanitary pad or underwear. Thus, empowering visually impaired women to independently differentiate between period blood and discharge. Tasha confides, “knowing if and when one has started bleeding can be difficult or close to impossible.”

Tasha has been involved with this project since November 2024 (after meeting Suzie at Sight Village London). Her sight loss occurred unexpectedly during the COVID lock-down (2020) due to a rare genetic disease called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy Plus (LHON). LHON Plus is an extension of the genetic disease Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Over a few months she lost central vision in both eyes and her remaining peripheral vision has become affected by colour blindness. “The journey to finding the cause of my vision loss was long and difficult: This seemed like a perfect opportunity to meet new people similar to myself, learn and contribute positively to an amazing and innovative product. My background is in research and data analytics, so I love this kind of thing. One of the first audiobooks I listened to after losing my eyesight was cycle tracking, ‘Period Power’ by Maisie Hill.”

About the FlowSense project Tasha said, “I was so impressed to hear that the FlowSense team were working to improve the accessibility of menstrual care for blind and partially sighted women by developing a device that can detect and confirm period blood. It amazed me that something like this didn’t already exist! The FlowSense device will give women with sight loss greater control and independence over how they manage and track their menstrual cycle. It will reduce the stress and anxiety felt by visually impaired women in addition to helping us grow in confidence – what a game changer!”

Members praise Eye Natter’s creative writing programme

Eye Matter are delighted with the response from members to their new cathartic writing programme, delivered monthly, by author Joanna Barnard. Each session consists of a different theme which is reflected in her selected pieces of prose or writings which she reads aloud to engage group discussions. For many members being able to share their own personal writings is the highlight of the session. New member Hayley said, “I have attended three cathartic writing sessions with the lovely Joanna as facilitator. I have found these sessions to be inspirational and deeply moving. I love the different themes that are presented to us to explore and direct our creative writing cells. Thus, given every Person who chooses to participate in writing a piece of prose a voice, presence and most importantly to be heard by others. Thank you, Eye Matter, for collaborating with Joanna Barnard. It is truly reignited the creative flame I have within me and what is more, a safe space has been created in order for us to share.”

“I had a great time at the creative writing session it was such a fantastic way to spend a Friday morning with friends” agreed Tasha.

Thanks to the Ronson Foundation, we were able to engage Joanna Williams, a qualified counsellor and also a novelist (published under the name Joanna Barnard) to lead these sessions. She is very interested in the intersection between creative writing and mental health and has been facilitating writing for wellbeing classes for over seven years, as well as using therapeutic writing tools in her counselling practice.

This is a drop-in session for Eye Matter members (you do not need to let us know you are interested or put your name down.) These sessions will be every 4 weeks.

Dates for your diary: Here’s a list of all the remaining dates:

9^th of May, 6^th of June, 1^stof July, 12^th of September, 10^th of October, 7^th of November, 5^th of December, 2^nd of January 2026, 30^thof January 2026

Hair and Care for Eye Matter members

On Wednesday 9^th April Eye Matter were invited to the Hackney Depot (East London) to the offices of Hair and Care for an exclusive workshop.

The workshop was led by Anna and a team of industry professional hairstylist volunteers. The group were taught hair care fundamentals such as accessible hair washing, scalp care, how to safely and confidently use different tools, brushes, combs, and how to style for different occasions.

“It was such a joy to have everyone there, including Anna and Noemi. The group had so many thoughtful questions, which was amazing! Our volunteers and Anna, our founder, were able to share some great tips and advice.”

Leanna, Social Media Manager for Hair & Care.

Eye Matter are looking at setting another date with this fantastic team in the near future. Please contact us if you would like to attend.

Read the full article here:

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02xkbixeexSkqtpjQ3u7X9c3Y3Seg1JYaRwF2QLgqadGF4Q8dBz5SkMuwtAeDE4hApl&id=100064088379673&_rdr

On Tues 8^th April Eye Matter participated in Sight Village Wales. A very husky Suzie and Noemi brought Eye Matter to Wales and have been welcomed with open arms. Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s Founder) said, “Eye Matter has had a fantastic time at sight village Cardiff, meeting Retina UK, Sight Life (formerly Cardiff Institute for the Blind), The Royal National College for the Blind and Sight Cymru.” Thanks to everyone who came over to say hello and welcome to our new members.

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 23. 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:

Join Eye Matter as Our Treasurer Trustee.
Eye Matter iPhone voiceover training opportunities

Eye Matter Zoom events

Our “Bookworm” is on the move to the first Wednesday of each month.
The changing seasons within our cathartic writing course.
Mental Health Wellbeing Blog
“Sing into Spring” with The Eye Matter Singers🎶

Eye Matter Outings

“Hair and Care Visit
Hangloose ZipWire and Treetop adventure
“Neurobics” with Steve Wax.
Sight Village Glasgow
Eye Matter Spring Concert with the Eye Matter Singers.
Henry Moore Studios and Gardens- A private audio described tour.
An audio described tour to Frameless

Special Features

Calais on the horizon as Nicky crosses the14 miles mark in the North Sea.
Are blind people being kept in the dark?
So, let’s groove tonight in Zumba with Louise.
“Stranger Things” happen at Eye Matter!
Our life online.
A poet and did he know it?

Join Eye Matter as Our Treasurer Trustee.

March 2025

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of visually impaired people?
Do you have financial expertise and a keen eye for detail?
Can you spare a few hours each week?
Do you want some accounting experience?

Eye Matter a charity dedicated to empowering people with sight loss) has expanded its membership reach and activities in 2025 and subsequently, is now looking for another dynamic person to join our board of Trustees. Currently there are five board members all fulfilling different roles within the charity under the Chairship of Suzie Simons.

If you would like to know more, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

iPhone voiceover training opportunities

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.

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

Our “Bookworms” is on the move to the first Wednesday of each month.

Eye Matter’s book club (Bookworm) is being moved from the last Wednesday of the month to the first Wednesday of the month, with immediate effect. Therefore, the next book club will be, live on Zoom, on the 7^th May A murder is announced by Agatha Christie.

It will be hosted by the gorgeous Queen Sarah. All books are selected from the RNIB’s Reading Service and downloaded straight to smart phones.

If you would like to read our previous choices, please click here:

Bookworms

The changing seasons within our cathartic writing course.

Session 3: Friday 11th April from 11am.

At our March session, Joanna Barnard read a number of short passages which related to the theme of “The Seasons”. The group discussed their feelings about these examples and how they felt about the effect of each changing season. In addition to the current theme Jo encourages members to contribute writings based on the previous session which was “Love”. At next month’s session we will hear how members are inspired from the discussed pieces and their own personal interpretations of the changing seasons. Join us again on Friday 11^th April at 11am for 90 minutes live on Zoom.

Writing Prompts:

🌼 Write about your favourite season and why you like it

🌼 If you were a season, which would you be? Why? What about the people close to you?

🌼 Write a story about any two of the seasons meeting

🌼 If you could spend spring anywhere in the world, where would it be?

🌼 What is your favourite way to spend a rainy day?

🌼 How are you feeling going into a new season?

🌼 Spring is the perfect time for…

Please send your contributions to Jo by Wednesday 9th April:

joannabarnard76@gmail.com

To read the full article please click here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02nS1WEet1aibYqtbyAaFLm1ZVuLh4RoFhTuS2SgfEsoYVD9cjJKqv2uB3ecvhQsuzl&id=100064088379673

Mental Health Wellbeing Blog by Joanna

Please don’t forget to check this out. We now have 15 editions, please use the below link to read.

Mental Health Wellbeing Blog

“Sing into Spring” with The Eye Matter Singers🎶

Eye Matter were delighted with the initial response from members who joined their first practice session on Monday 17th March as part of a 12-week programme culminating in an in-person event on Saturday 31st May.

People from all across the UK joined Choir Mistress Rachel to discuss the range of songs intended to entertain Eye Matter members. These sessions are aimed at all levels and abilities of singing as a fun, social programme. Attendance at the spring concert is optional.

Rachel explained, “We will be learning a wonderful selection of upbeat songs including: “Walking On Sunshine”, “Dancing In the Street”, “Oh What A Night” and many more.” Sessions will run every Monday for 11 weeks and Wednesday 28^th May 6pm to 7pm.

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

Here are the outings and events available for Eye Matter members:

Sight Village Wales

Tuesday 8th April from 10am.

At the All Nations Centre, Cardiff CF14 3N

Suzie will be appearing at this Sight Village which is part of a national programme delivering the UK’s leading exhibitions providing an integral part of the blind and low vision landscape. It attracts thousands of visitors eager to explore the latest technology, products and support services.

Hair and Care Visit

Wednesday 9^th April 2025

At Hackney Depot

On Wednesday 9th April 3pm to 5pm

Meet and greet and London Fields station at 2:40pm

Founded by international hairstylist Anna Cofone in 2019, Hair & Care supports blind and low vision women and girls with hair care and styling, offering workshops to boost confidence and reduce isolation.

To reserve your place, email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Hair’

Flow Sense Ladies only Research

Thursday 10^th April, 11:40am meet and greet

Kings Cross

The session is 12:30pm to 2pm.

We would still love new participants, if you can join us, please get in contact.

Hangloose ZipWire and Treetop adventure

Saturday 26^th April. Meet and greet at 10am at St Pancras Station by the Thameslink barrier.

Tickets are £35 per person including both events, or £25 per person for either Zip Lining or Treetop Adventure. If you are traveling with us, travel will cost £7 if you have a freedom pass. If you are a sighted guide, you will need a travelcard to zone 6.

Celebrating Suzie’s birthday with cake and fun! Get set to enjoy fun, thrilling, adrenaline fuelled adventures with the UK’s most exciting Outdoor Adventure company, offering England’s longest zipline, and a brilliant high ropes course Over 720 Metres Long, Over 100 Metres Tall, Reach up to 50 mph! Soar through the skies on England’s longest zipline. At (approximately) 3pm we will be enjoying Hangloose Adventure on the thrilling treetop adventure.

Children over 8 are welcome, must be a minimum of 35kg, and there is a weight maximum of 120kgs.

N/B: Disclaimer: If you bring children to this event, they are your responsibility and not the responsibility of our volunteer sighted guides.

“Neurobics” with Steve Wax.

In partnership with Hounslow Council, RNIB, and The Middlesex Association for the Blind.

Thursday 8th May 2pm to 4pm

At St John Centre, 80 St John’s Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 6NY

Meet and greet at 1:40pm at Isleworth Station or 1:55pm at the hall.

Sight Village Glasgow

Wednesday 21^st May from 10am.

At The Science Centre, Glasgow, Scotland.

Eye Matter Spring Concert with the Eye Matter Singers.

On Saturday 31st May, 4pm to 6pm

Meet and Greet at St Pancras International Station Midland Road Exit by the Thameslink barrier at 3:30pm.

St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre,150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF

For twelve weeks our magnificent members have been learning

A variety of upbeat songs including: “Walking On Sunshine”, “Dancing In the Street”, “Oh What A Night” and many more. Spend your afternoon toe tapping along with Eye Matter.

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens- A private audio described tour.

On Thursday 5th June

Meet and greet at Stratford Station at 12:50pm

Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, SG10 6EE

An audio described tour to Frameless

On Thursday 26th June, 1:30pm

Meet and Greet at Marble Arch Station Oxford Street exit at 1pm

Tickets £9

To book any Eye Matter outings please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk stating clearly which event and how many tickets you require.

Special features

Calais on the horizon as Nicky crosses the 14 miles mark in the North Sea.

With less than10 miles left Nicky is on target to arrive at Calais in April. A huge thanks to everyone who has supported our blind swimmers fundraising efforts to raise over £600 for Eye Matter.

Please dig deep to support Nicky to fundraise for our various activities in 2025. These include theatre trips, a sports day, Zoom events and much more. Nicky is so appreciative of the staff at Forest Hill swimming pool as she continues to simulate 22 miles from Dover to Calais. Please continue to support Nicky.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nickynewportswimsforeyematter

Are blind people being kept in the dark?

There is a lot of speculation and concern, around the changes to new and existing benefits claimed by blind and partially sighted people. Social media continues to provide a range of responses and opinions from organisations and individuals. One person who had been listening live to the Parliamentary announcement was relieved that there were no attempts to means test Personal Independence Payment (PIP). However, this will be of little consequence to over 80,0000 blind and partially sighted people identified by the RNIB a few years ago as still not claiming the correct benefits. Check out the RNIB’s Benefit Checker here:

https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/money-and-benefits

It should be noted that it will take about a year for these changes to take place but here is a summary of some of the key elements:

Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

The payments will go up in line with inflation this year.
The eligibility criteria will be tightened from November 2026, resulting in reduced payments for many.
It will become harder to qualify for the daily living component of PIP, which starts at £72.65 a week.
It is likely there will be more frequent reassessments for people claiming PIP.
Those with more severe, long-term conditions will no longer face any reassessments, under the proposed reforms.

Work capability assessment

Under the proposals, the work capability assessment that determines who is eligible for incapacity benefits will end in 2028.
People applying for health-related financial support and disability benefits will only face one assessment, based on the PIP system.

Incapacity benefits

Incapacity benefits under universal credit will be frozen from April next year – this means they will not be increased in line with inflation.
The amount will be reduced for new claimants.

The RNIB have now produced more information here:

https://www.rnib.org.uk/news/changes-to-benefits-and-employment-support-what-you-need-to-know

So, let’s groove tonight in Zumba with Louise.

Illuminate Freedom Ltd was founded in July 2015 and relaunched in 2022 as Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being CIC. They aim to support, educate and empower people with sight loss by delivering health and well-being related projects that help to increase people’s confidence and improve their mental health and overall health and well-Being. Their work brings in a range of audio described dance, gentle movement and fitness sessions, social activities and audio description services to inactive and active groups of blind and (VI) visually impaired people, sight loss organisations and arts organisations across London and parts of the United Kingdom.

Louise Dickson, Founder and Artistic Director from Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being CIC, explains, “Many studies have shown that individuals who suffer from sight loss or a visual impairment find it more difficult to exercise regularly. A lot of blind and VI people are more likely to be less physically active, often through the lack of suitable activities or the means of accessing them, which can lead to many areas in their lives, including both physical and mental health, being negatively affected. Visually impaired people can and do benefit greatly from having access to regular exercise as it can help to improve physical independence, create better mobility and balance, which can lead to more social inclusion and improved overall mental health and well-being.”

10 members grooved into Zumba on Tuesday 18th March. Join us next month for another lively, fun session filled with laughter, it doesn’t matter whether you have two left feet or are a seasoned Zumba pro! There is something for everyone to enjoy in a session that moves at your own pace.

To read the full article please click here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0n4bpKoTLezq9erHuJPduxmZuVucuxnmU4xSHQr6Z6JUTSQfnhckdUvtaX2L7MQYRl&id=100032751800652

“Stranger Things” happen at Eye Matter!

On Sunday 9th March 37 Eye Matter members and volunteers attended the matinee performance of “Stranger Things”, at the Phoenix Theatre, in collaboration with VocalEyes. Before the show Eye Matter were invited on stage to experience the props and even meet cast members before being handed their headsets. Nicky Newport added “thanks for a lovely day at “stranger things” and for getting me out of my comfort zone as that is the first sci-fi play I have seen in a theatre. Big thanks to Tiana and Toni for all their help. Looking forward for the next one.” The actors brought to live the characters through expressions, special effects, lighting, sound and moving around the space in front of the audience. At one point, jumping down into the front row to escape out the back of the theatre

This dynamic access was reflected in the excellent touch tour, allowing members to walk around and feel all the different sets, whilst speaking to many of the cast members and production crew. JJ, one of the costume designers, described the different colours and textures, denoting these ever-changing scenes. Blind and partially sighted visitors were able to handle many of the props worn by the actors including a bone sculptured mask,1950’s styled skirts and felt the weight of a chest piece worn on stage by its main antagonist. One member commented how it was an interesting to feel the braid type bumps on the sole of the sparkling dance shoes worn by the actors to prevent them slipping.

VocalEyes not only provided the audio description but also, delivered a pre-show commentary describing the layout of the stage and on coming scenes, Wearing headsets blind and partially sighted visitors were able to receive live observations of the on-stage activities picking up non-verbal communications, the change of a characters costume and positioning.

To read the full article please click here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0RVA6pdkKfk3TrjwumrnNXbh2j3KCp6gxXdDcrmfEvJGYKuSHrME7wvJrNBhFYCzFl&id=100064088379673

Thanks to Nando’s and SnoZone for making our sledging so special.

New member, Elsie Wilcox said, “This was my very 1st experience with Eye Matter. I’d never done sledging before and didn’t know what to expect.” On Thursday 6th March Eye Matter’s adventure began at Nando’s (Milton Keynes) Suzie Simons (Eye Matters Founder and Project Co-Ordinator) explained, “we brought 24 members (17 visually impaired people and 7 sighted guides) for lunch. We were made so welcome. Most of us pre-ordered food and they called our names which made the process absolutely brilliant! Staff were always on hand to help the visually impaired people refill their drinks, enabling individual payments and assisting where necessary.”

Paul Bepey, another new member commented, “Everything was extremely well organised.” Along with the fabulous team of volunteers Eye Matter is also so appreciative of the businesses who support these trips, such as Nando’s and SnoZone. Elsie agrees, “The Nando’s experience was a 1st too. I found the staff very accommodating. It was an excellent venue to get to know some of the other members before we started.” Suzie continues, “In particular we would like to acknowledge Adam who went above and beyond, to ensure our members had a fantastic meal. We are extremely grateful for helping make this an amazing day out. A huge congratulations to him and his team for really getting it absolutely right.” Irena said, “From start to finish everything clicked like clockwork. Bearing in mind that there were 24 of us so logistically it could have been tricky, but it just went smoothly and most importantly it was fun.”

To Gemma from SnowZone Suzie said, “thank you so much for the incredible support we received, I am so sorry I can’t remember everybody’s names; Michael, Sophie, Veronika, Nathan.” Their attitude was enabling which created confidence in our members.” Irena agreed, “It was absolutely brilliant. A lot of fun going down the hill trying not to crash into the barriers!” Whilst

To read the full article please click here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02zSSdpJTuddncneomjNieWn8We4Cy2RKBUHxWzMEUi1FZq1pcfJyTa8DFX7N2FCPMl&id=100064088379673

Our life online.

In the news this week we heard how one woman took on Meta who own Facebook in relation to their targeting of personal advertisements. The company’s reaction was to state that this is their main income source in keeping the service free for users.

However, is the point that the claimant felt she was being violated by another organisation having access to her personal information a valid point? Eye Matter and the RNIB recently delivered a series of Facebook training sessions which looked at on-line safety for blind and partially sighted users. Amongst areas of concern was the exposure of us and our lives to people who we may not wish to see our life. The importance of knowing how to protect ourselves through raising our privacy settings seems impotent if the provider can share our personal information without our permission through targeted advertisements. Surely just an opt out clause should be considered?

A poet and did he know it?

With the engagement of our monthly Poetry Appreciation and Cathartic Writing sessions isn’t it any wonder we have produced a new poet:

“A lovely young girl from Winchester

Had a poorly foot that did fester

They rubbed it with honey

That cost plenty of money

And she ran off with a Yorkshire Jester”

From Eye Matter member: Malcolm Day.

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 22. 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 Zoom events

“Sing into Spring” with The Eye Matter Singers🎶
Accessing grief support in different ways

Eye Matter Outings

“Grieving the life you expected” An exclusive workshop.
Eye Can Salisbury
Sight Village Wales
Hair and Care Visit
Flow Sense Ladies only Research
Hangloose ZipWire and Treetop adventure
“Neurobics” with Steve Wax
Sight Village Glasgow
Eye Matter Spring Concert with the Eye Matter Singers
Henry Moore Studios and Gardens – A private audio described tour
Eye Matter Sicily Holiday with Seable Holidays
An audio described tour to Frameless

Training Opportunity:

Voiceover Training for iPhones – be a trainer or a trainee for Eye Matter

Special Features

Report the scammers
Time for a poem with Eye Matter
Engaging VIPs with audio description in museums

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

“Sing into Spring” with The Eye Matter Singers🎶

Please come and join us from 6 pm to 7 pm on Monday, 24^th March, for the second of 12 weekly Zoom sessions ahead of our in-person concert on Saturday, 31st May.

We will be learning a wonderful selection of upbeat songs, including: “Walking On Sunshine”, “Dancing In the Street”, “Oh What A Night”, and many more.

Every Monday for 11 weeks, and Wednesday 28th May from 6 pm to 7 pm.

All members are welcome; there are no auditions, and we sing for fun and well-being.

To join, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Spring Singers”.

Accessing grief support in different ways

There are now 12 blog posts on our website from the amazing Joanna Williams, writer and therapist, accompanying our “Thriving to Surviving” Zoom (twice-monthly) programme:

Mental Health Wellbeing Blog

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here.

Highlights include:

Surviving to Thriving in-person

“Grieving the life you expected” An exclusive workshop

On Saturday 29th March, 2 pm to 5 pm – with refreshments.

At Somerstown Living Centre, Kings Cross, London.

Meet and Greet: 1:30 pm, St Pancras Station, by the Midland Road Exit, at the Thameslink barriers.

This supports our regular Zoom sessions but is a stand-alone opportunity for Eye Matter members to meet in person with Joanna Williams. All of us have expectations about life and the world around us. Some are societal, some we learn from friends and family, and 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 re-working your expectations and letting go of fear.

Eye Can Salisbury

2nd April from 10 am

At The Guildhall, Salisbury

Meet Suzie here to learn more about Eye Matter. These large events are invaluable platforms for individuals living with sight loss, their families, and professionals to explore resources, services, and technologies that support.

Sight Village Wales

Tuesday 8th April from 10 am.

At the All Nations Centre, Cardiff CF14 3N.

Suzie will be appearing at this Sight Village, which is part of a national programme delivering the UK’s leading exhibitions, providing an integral part of the blind and low vision landscape. It attracts thousands of visitors eager to explore the latest technology, products, and support services.

Hair and Care Visit

Wednesday 9th April 2025

At Hackney Depot, East London

Learn the tricks of the trade. More information to be confirmed.

Hair & Care was set up by international hairstylist Anna Cofone back in 2019, with the mission of supporting blind and low vision women and girls with their hair care and styling. Having grown up with a blind parent, Anna had seen firsthand the barriers blind people face, and also the impact that self-care can have on a person’s mental well-being, particularly someone living with sight loss. Join us for an inspiring talk on the 4th April on Zoom and come and join us in person for a workshop with the Hair & Care volunteer team for a masterclass on hair in London, on the 9th April. Timings to be confirmed.

Website: www.hairandcareproject.com

Hair & Care Instagram: @hairandcareproject

Our sister project ‘Making Fashion Accessible’ Instagram: @makingfashionaccessible

Flow Sense Ladies-only Research

Wednesday 26^th March 11:45am meet and greet Kings Cross

Thursday 10th April, 11:45 am meet and greet Kings Cross

Hangloose ZipWire and Treetop Adventure

Saturday 26th April. Meet and greet at 10 am at St Pancras Station by the Thameslink barrier.

Tickets are £35 per person, including both events, or £25 per person for either Zip Lining or Treetop Adventure. If you are travelling with us, travel will cost £7 if you have a Freedom Pass. If you are a sighted guide, you will need a Travelcard to zone 6.

Celebrating Suzie’s birthday with cake and fun! Get set to enjoy thrilling, adrenaline-fueled adventures with the UK’s most exciting Outdoor Adventure company, offering England’s longest zipline, and a brilliant high ropes course—over 720 metres long, over 100 metres tall, reaching up to 50 mph! Soar through the skies on England’s longest zipline.

Children over 8 are welcome; they must be a minimum of 35 kg, and there is a weight maximum of 120 kg.

N/B: Disclaimer: If you bring children to this event, they are your responsibility and not the responsibility of our volunteer sighted guides.

“Neurobics” with Steve Wax

In partnership with Hounslow Council, RNIB, and The Middlesex Association for the Blind.

Thursday 8th May, time TBC

Address TBC, Meet and Greet place and time TBC

This is in conjunction with our monthly Zoom sessions. Neurobics is a preventative and rehabilitative treatment programme that supports people to “Challenge the Body, Stimulate the Brain & Lift the Heart.”

Brain and body fitness has become a vital element for lifelong well-being. As a response, Neurobics can help you to manage, postpone, or eliminate cognitive decline. Every day, your brain forms new neural connections, provided you give it what it needs. Your brain’s ability to change and grow is called neuroplasticity. It has been proved that the brain is like “plastic” – it can physically remodel itself. Simple brain-fitness exercises and being more mindful of various lifestyle habits are an essential way to slow down cognitive decline, improve brain fitness, and harness the power of the brain’s ability to change! This can help with improving memory, speed of reaction, concentration, focus, sleeping patterns, outside-the-box thinking, stress management, and enabling an overall sharper brain.

Sight Village Glasgow

Wednesday 21st May from 10 am.

At The Science Centre, Glasgow, Scotland.

Join Eye Natter at the Sight Village, which is one of the UK’s leading exhibitions and an integral part of the blind and low vision landscape. Each year, they attract thousands of visitors eager to explore the latest technology, products, and support services.

Eye Matter Spring Concert with the Eye Matter Singers

On Saturday 31st May, 4 pm to 6 pm

Meet and Greet at St Pancras International Station Midland Road Exit by the Thameslink barrier at 3:30 pm.

St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF

For twelve weeks, our magnificent members have been learning a variety of upbeat songs, including: “Walking On Sunshine”, “Dancing In the Street”, “Oh What A Night”, and many more. Spend your afternoon toe-tapping along with Eye Matter.

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens – A private audio described tour

On Thursday 5th June

Meet and greet at Stratford Station at 12:50 pm

Tickets cost £30 – this covers the train from Stratford to Ware, only paying from zone 6, the minibus from Ware to the Gardens, entrance to the gardens, and the return travel to Stratford. Sighted guides will need to have a ticket to cover them from Stratford to Enfield Lock (zone 6).

Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, SG10 6EE

The tour will include some context about the site, house, visiting a couple of studios, and of course interacting with the outdoor sculptures! Experience Henry Moore’s iconic work in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside with a visit to the artist’s former home, studios, and sculpture gardens.

Eye Matter Sicily Holiday with Seable Holidays

16th to 21st June 2025.

5 nights/6 days to stay at the four-star hotel Malavoglia resort in Sicily.

The bed and breakfast price, which includes all activities, van hire, 3 guides (including 1 Seable member of staff and 2 guides from Eye Matter), is £1843.34 per person sharing a twin or double room.

The single room supplement is £250.

Return flights from Gatwick will be approximately £150-200 plus luggage. Each traveller is responsible for arranging their own travel insurance.

Seable Holidays requires a £200 non-refundable deposit for each person.

Activities include a tactile museum and city tour including local markets. Excursions to Mount Etna feature a cable car trip up to 2300 m, a 4×4 Jeep ride to 2800 m, and an Etna products food tasting session. Guests will also be treated to an Etna Vineyard visit with a 4-course lunch and accompanying wine pairing. A half-day at the beach with sunbeds and umbrellas, plus Sicilian dessert tasting, before a sunset boat trip with aperitivo on board. Organic farm visit, including local donkeys, horses, goats, and chickens.

An audio described tour to Frameless

On Thursday 26th June, 2 pm

Meet and Greet at Marble Arch Station Oxford Street exit at 1:30 pm

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.

Training Opportunity

Join our “Train the Trainer” session to share your voice over knowledge with our members on Tuesday 29th April at 2pm.

Eye Matter were delighted with the success of their recent series of voice over training sessions for members. Each volunteer receives training before being matched to a visually impaired member from Eye Matter’s Volunteer VoiceOver Training Manager, Charu Bansal, in conjunction with RNIB’s Trainer Jackie Brown, So far 15 volunteers have expressed their interest to join Cheru’s team of 7 voice over trainers, who completed this course last year. Since October 2024 nearly 40 members have reached out to this on-line training opportunity, of whom over 10 have successfully completed the six-week programme and a further number are still undergoing support.

The main criteria required for a volunteer voice over trainer is a good understanding of voice over and the ability to share this knowledge at different levels. The trainer commits to a six-week programme for one hour a week which allows the learner to practise before each session. Every person’s needs and requirements are different and may include how to use Siri in order to enable and disable VoiceOver; Understanding the different types of hand gestures and swipe movements; how to work their way around the screen; how to edit text; along with a number of basic operational skills. Ashrafia said “a massive great big thank you. Lacy has been an amazing teacher, and I now feel I have the basic skills to use VoiceOver.”

Charu, whose sight loss was diagnosed in 2012, explained the importance of learning voice over skills, “Using my smart phone enabled me to be independent again. Technology is the only lifeline that is going to give me the confidence and resilience required to move ahead in life, and I was keen to help others gain these important skills.”

Eye Matter’s next “Train the trainer” session is on 29th April 2025 at 2pm via Zoom for both new and existing volunteers. Within these workshops volunteers learn how to effectively teach iPhone VoiceOver And can ask any questions or share problems they might have gone through while carrying out the training.

If you would like to take part in our next series, or require support on your smart phone, please email us.

Special Features

Report the scammers

How many of us have received a dodgy phone call or text message? They can be posing as a computer technician, a bank, postal service, or a retailer. In our recent social media training (collaborated with RNIB), we discussed fraud and how tricksters are seeking to steal our personal information.

If you have received such a call or message, just text 7726 with the offending number.

For more information, please click here:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/scam-calls-and-messages/7726-reporting-scam-texts-and-calls

Time for a poem with Eye Matter

There was good attendance for this month’s Zoom “Poetry Appreciation” session based on “Time” (Friday 21st February) with Diana Bramson. A huge thanks to everyone who contributed poems to this session. February’s poems included: “Oh Children” by Margaret Atwood, “Eight Tentacles” by Julia Donaldson, “Waiting (poem for Hermes)” by Joshua Seigal, and “In Time’s Swing” by Lucy Larcom.

After each session, Eye Matter distributes both the selected poems and those written by participating members. Diana carefully chooses a topic of interest, from which she reads poems from across a wide genre and years. Here is one poem influenced by the previous month’s topic about the roles and contributions of the Poet Laureate.

Poet Laureate by Sarah Brooks

February 2025.

Wordsworth had his golden daffodil,

Elliott Pussycat cat and owl We’re married I’m a hill.

Keats wrote an odd to a Nightingale,

Victoria wanted to be smacked on the bottom with a woman’s weekly, Not the daily mail.

John Cooper Clark SA performance poet.

Shakespeare performed his, But used the word sonnet.

Sir John betchaman a poet loriot to boot,

Pam is rights poems funny, And cute.

Some Poems alpha reading, Sum alpha singing,

But I think you’ll agree the best ones of all are those that are written With words that are rhyming.

Please click here for last month’s review:

:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Kb62uxUbFF8ErEzHsCcxtzVcNdhpyTGAQwvzLLJLj22VLN3XLte9SeqZXYkKCURql&id=100032751800652

Our next session will be on the Friday 18^th April at 12pm. Please join us at 11am for a fun and friendly social.

Engaging VIPs with Audio Description in Museums

Over the past few years, Eye Matter has visited many museums, art galleries, and theatres where members, unable to use their sight, have interacted with exhibits through touch, taste, sound, and smell. The importance of access to museums and similar institutions for blind and partially sighted people is currently accommodated in a variety of ways, including headsets with live audio description (AD), pre-recorded AD, QR readers, Braille, and large print. On some private tours, Eye Matter has been fortunate to have knowledgeable guides, and in Sicily, members had the opportunity to taste local produce. Following Eye Matter’s visit to the brilliantly thought-provoking audio-described tour of Mire Lee’s Open Wound at Tate Modern, Charmaine contacted Suzie about a new project she was involved with. She said, “This project is so fundamentally important, inspiring, and empowering for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all humanity, but especially for blind and partially sighted people, because we are fundamental participants.”

In January 2025, Charmaine took part in the first phase of a new project called W-ICAD with two museum partners, one in the UK and one in the US. The second phase included 15 museums in both countries. Its core principle is to provide museums with a tool (the workshop model) through which they can create audio descriptions based on co-created discussions between blind, partially sighted, and sighted co-creators. One of the key outcomes from this project is the realisation that having content created by a wider demographic of visitors produces a more interactive experience for everyone.

Dr Lindsay Bywood, Research Fellow on the W-ICAD project and Visiting Lecturer in Translation Studies at the University of Westminster, explains: “The Workshop for Inclusive Co-created Audio Description (W-ICAD) is both a concept and a tool for museums. It is founded on research that shows that most audiences benefit from audio description; there is no such thing as an objective experience, and vision is neither necessary nor sufficient to access a museum experience. W-ICAD audio description is co-created by groups of blind, partially sighted, and sighted co-creators as they explore museum collections together. It is subjective and embraces people’s personal memories and ideas. Blind and partially sighted people can be involved in the co-creation of the audio description, but the idea is that the resulting AD is available to everyone and enriches the museum visit for all visitors.”

Although Charmaine’s initial role was to test the accessibility of W-ICAD as a visually impaired user, she soon became so enamoured with the course content. It is an 8-hour online course covering a range of topics related to museums. Each participant receives a digital badge upon completion. The badge contains information about the skills and competencies acquired during the course.

Eye Matter has invited Professor Hannah Thompson, Professor of Disability Studies and French at Royal Holloway University, and Dr Alison Eardley, Reader in Museum Access at the University of Westminster, to participate in a future “Inspiring Speakers” Zoom session to tell us more about this exciting opportunity.

For more information about this project, please click here:

www.w-icad.org

Or email Alison Eardley at

a.eardley@westminster.ac.uk

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 21. 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 Zoom events

Accessing grief support in different ways

Eye Matter Outings

Grieving the life you expected
A day at Bletchley Park
You are invited to “hang out” with our Suzie on her birthday!
A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens
Ciao! Visit Sicily with Eye Matter.

Special features

Blind swimmer on target as she glides past 7 miles and raises nearly £200 for Eye Matter.
Keep on board with Bounce.
Understanding the complexities of art with Eye Matter at the Tate Modern.
Love is all around us with Eye Matter

External activities

We Swim across London

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

Accessing grief support in different ways

There are now 11 blog posts on our website from the amazing Joanna Williams, writer and therapist accompanying our twice monthly Zoom programme “Turning Surviving into Thriving”

Mental Health Wellbeing Blog

In issue 10, we consider humour as: The Best Medicine?

Here are a few extracts:

“There are a few things that happen physiologically when we laugh. First, you increase your intake of oxygen – good for the heart and brain. Laughter causes your muscles to relax, which in turn eases tension. We also release dopamine and serotonin, the brain’s “happy hormones”. Having a laugh with other people can increase these positive effects even further, as you gain that all-important sense of connection and community which is so great for wellbeing.”

“If you are looking for ways to bring more humour into your life, try one of these:

Revisit an old comedy show you enjoyed
Chat with a friend who makes you laugh
Smile more! (Remember, fake it to make it)
Make time for fun activities, especially ones that require trying something new
Try out “laughter yoga”
Spend time with young children or pets

And of course, you can come along to our next “Turning Surviving into Thriving” session on Monday, 24th February at 1:30pm-3pm. Although we discuss serious subjects relating to grief, we do a lot of smiling and laughing too. The next session will focus

on the subject of Beliefs

How have your spiritual and philosophical beliefs been affected by your sight loss? In the workshop we will discuss how grief can shake your faith in the world, your trust in others, and your beliefs about yourself. We learn how beliefs are formed and how to forge new, healthy beliefs that will help you moving forward.

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

“Grieving the life you expected”

Saturday 29th March

At Somerstown Community Centre Kings Cross, London.

A voluntary contribution of £5 is greatly appreciated.

In this special in-person workshop, there will be the chance to share experiences with your peers and, crucially, learn ways of re-working your expectations and letting go of fear.

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 might occur as one event, but the repercussions are ongoing and may interrupt or derail what we thought our lives 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.

A day at Bletchley Park

on Saturday, 5th April

Meet and greet: 09:50am at Euston Station

Tickets are £35 which includes: return train tickets from Euston to Bletchley (£16.40), entry into Bletchley with a private tour (£16.50+£2.10 admin fee).

A self-guided tour will be available upon arrival. Due to the limited availability of headsets, we have been given permission to use speakers in conjunction with them. Please bring a picnic, although there is a cashless café if you prefer.

Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, is now a museum and vibrant heritage attraction open daily, managed by the Bletchley Park Trust.

To book your ticket please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Bletchley”

Click to our Facebook page for more information: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Zx8d71rzTHtbryr7hT3qcdc5u6xk53zjgnxhQm8arvVCZVPeoEw6xZoxuq2cNRtEl&id=100032751800652

You are invited to hang out with our Suzie on her birthday!

In a change to the original plan at Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium all members and friends are invited to a thrill seeker’s dream day at “Hangloose Adventure” with Eye Matter. Get set to enjoy fun, thrilling, adrenaline fuelled adventures with the UK’s most exciting Outdoor Adventure company, offering England’s longest zipline, and a brilliant high ropes course – It’s a great trip away from the big city life!

Bluewater, Kent

On Saturday, 26th April

Tickets are discounted to £35 per person. If you are traveling with us, travel will cost £7 if you have a freedom pass. If you are a sighted guide, you will need a travelcard to zone 6.

Zip Lining at Bluewater – wheelchair accessible

Over 720 Metres Long, Over 100 Metres Tall, Reach up to 50 mph. Soar through the skies on England’s longest zipline – an impressive 720 metres of airtime! This will be followed by a picnic, please bring a packed lunch

Hangloose Adventure on the thrilling treetop adventure

Challenge yourself to conquer our daring high ropes course. With tons of heart-pumping obstacles, it’s sure to be an unforgettable sky-high adventure.

A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens

Ware, Hertfordshire

On Thursday, 5th June

Meet and greet at Stratford Station at 12:50pm

Tickets are £30 which includes: return train tickets between Stratford and Ware, (edge of Zone 6), return minibuses between Ware station and the Gardens and your entry fee.

We will visit the gardens where Moore created his world-famous sculptures. Share in the artist’s experience of viewing his work in the landscape ‘in changing light and weather’ and ‘so that near to, and far away it reads as three-dimensional form.’ Please note, we will be visiting different sculptures from last year.

Click here to read about last year’s fantastic visit: https://fb.watch/xxZBBE3P4q/

Click here to find out about 2025’s exciting schedule: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0GmhochLW5rrqm1xceoXUxq7FkKg33KBMzQwgDPGCxFgsTmvpPfK4q8uyBVrRkGugl&id=100064088379673

Ciao visit Sicily with Eye Matter.

Based on the success of last year’s Eye Matter and Seable holiday trip to Sicily, we are delighted to offer it to you again, 16th-21stJune 2025.

Activities will include: A tactile museum and city tour featuring local markets.

Excursion to Mount Etna featuring a cable car trip up to 2300m, a 4×4 Jeep ride to 2800m and an Etna products food tasting session. Guests will also be treated to an Etna Vineyard visit with a 4-course lunch and accompanying wine pairing. Half day at the beach with sunbeds and umbrellas with Sicilian dessert tasting, before a sunset boat trip with aperitivo on board

Organic farm including local donkeys, horses, goats and chickens

5 nights/ 6 Days staying at the four-star “Hotel Malavoglia” resort in Sicily.

The bed and breakfast price, which includes all activities, van hire, 3 guides, including 1 Seable member of staff and 2 guides from Eye Matter, is £1843.34 per person sharing a twin or a double room.

The single room supplement is £250.

Return flights from Gatwick will be approximately £150-200 plus luggage. Each traveller is responsible for arranging their own travel insurance.

Seeable Holidays requires a £200 non-refundable deposit for each person.

Click here for feedback from last year’s holiday: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02FJXBJLJXt3YqxffUzXA2UtX72WtkL2DTjKMnWoCtPg6qDT4Jd7rHAjc5YSS17CEYl&id=100064088379673

To book any Eye Matter outings please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk stating clearly which event and how many tickets you require.

Special features

Blind swimmer on target as she glides past 7 miles and raises nearly £200 for Eye Matter.

A huge thanks to the fabulous Nicky Newport as she glides across the waters at Forest Hill swimming pool simulating the 22 miles between Dover and Calais.

Nicky explains, “Doing this as a fundraiser for Eye Matter is really motivating and I think both my stroke and stamina are improving every day.” From her time spent in the pool, Nicky has joined in other activities such as Aqua aerobics.

Please continue to support blind, swimmer Nicky’s remarkable achievement by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nickynewportswimsforeyematter

Click here to follow Nicky on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0MWbUGkSMRRHnWEqZLbQd52k4TeGWHjcTHmpq6V9At88uXoLTS7DRwGP4R8HfXRYZl&id=100064088379673&_rdr

Keep on board with Bounce

On Wednesday 19th February, we held our latest Bounce session live on Zoom hosted by Suzie and Rachel.

Our previous Bounce sessions on Wednesday, 18 December 2024 and 6th January 2025 covered an array of subjects and concerns. The latest Bounce notes will be available soon but in the interim, please see all previous notes here https://www.eyematter.org.uk/bounce-notes/

Understanding the complexities of art with Eye Matter and the Tate Modern

On Wednesday, 12th February 13 Eye Matter members attended a private audio described tour of this year’s Hyundai commission at

the Tate Modern Gallery. A huge thanks to Rikki, Charles, Abdul and Danielle for their contributions to this article. Artist Mire Lee has created a biomechanical environment of dripping revolving turbines, wet skins and dried organic forms reflecting the Turbine Hall’s previous industrial use but creating an organic process within it.

Rikki, who has been a member of Eye Matter, since October 2023 explained his experience, “The Tate Modern people assigned to our visit, Linda and Frederico, made an excellent job of describing Open Wound to us, not at all an easy task as it’s a very large installation with many contrasting elements such as skin-like material and industrial components. We were given objects to handle, which had been taken from the installation, to give us an idea of how some of it must appear.”

Charles wrote, “Thank you very much for organising this special tour. As a museum fan I regularly visit museums such as, the British Museum and V &A, but this was my first time at the Tate Modern. There was excellent background information and Q&A during the tour to help me understand what is going on, but it was only at the end of the tour when I finally understood the idea that the artist wanted to relate to mental crisis. Too much time was given on describing what we cannot see. At one point, I was under the impression that we were talking about how Tate modern was built whereas it would have been more beneficial to discuss why this is art? Why people appreciate this particular installation? It’s perceptions/interpretations as a piece of artwork. To include examples of symbolic meanings such as dripping water etc. Afterall, art is communication between artists and audiences. It is the stories behind those symbols and details that will appeal to people, whether blind or sighted. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to coming back to Tate Modern, especially for those special exhibitions.”

Open Wound invites us to revel in contradictory emotions: from awe and disgust to compassion, fear and love. Abdul agreed with Rikki, “It was great, and I enjoyed it. I would love to go to more art galleries.”

Rikki suggested: Open Wound is such a large and complex thing that only really a model of it would have given an impression of its overall shape and construction. But full marks to Linda and Frederico for describing it to us and to Eye Matter for setting the visit up.”

Eye Matter is so appreciative of the generosity shown by their volunteers embellished by Rikki, “I really got on well with my lovely guide, Sylvana, and we immediately found a common interest in the French language.”

Danielle, who was initially inspired by her friend’s idea of giving time to others, has now been a sighted guide for Eye Matter for a few months, “found the team at Tate very understanding, clear, helpful and sympathetic to everyone attending. Charles needed to ensure the Tate guides stood near to him as he could not use the headphones. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the art and felt the clear and precise spoken description helped bring the art alive.” This was a completely different environment from Danielle’s first experience of volunteering at the Tina West end show last year, “Having the classroom / space both before and after the tour was excellent. Overall, I felt the day was well organised and well thought out by both Eye Matter and the team at Tate”

Click here to read the full article on Facebook:

https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02zCE2buHUVBpXdnjjp8tnKuiLYQaTwWnTQeYcgL4ESjrnYqXsQrHk5R8fquJjq46kl&id=100064088379673

Love is all around us with Eye Matter

Our first cathartic writing session (on Friday 14th February) was inspired by the meaning of love in all its many dimensions. In response, Jo chose three short extracts from the below writings: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernière Dolly Alderton, Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir, Calling Things What They Are By Ada Limón. For some these extracts awakened memories around love such as loss, joy and frustration allowing different interpretations of the same piece of writing.

It is your choice, whether you attended the session or not, to contribute homework based around these pieces should be sent to Joanna Barnard (before the next session) for her to read it out in class if you wish.

joannabarnard76@gmail.com

Writing Prompts – Theme: Love

Write a love letter, a love story, or write about a memory of love.
‘Before, the only thing I was interested in was love’ (Ada Limon). How has your understanding of love changed over time?
‘It had been there all along’ (Dolly Alderton). Where is love found for you?
Write about an interest that has developed later in life that you’re now passionate about.
Thinking about a particular kind of love, complete the following and choose one or more to write more about:

If love were a place, it would be:
If love were music, it would be:
If love were a person, it would be:
If love were weather, it would be:
If love were a smell, it would be:
If love were a taste, it would be:
If love were a sound, it would be:
If love were a texture, it would be:
If love were an animal, it would be:

Our next creative cathartic writing session is Friday 14thMarch at 11am-12.30pm.

External activities

We Swim across London

We Swim CIOC is a registered charity, not for profit organisation designed to ensure

that every adult with a disability has a local opportunity to be active in, and around, water. It was launched by Natasha Fleming, three weeks before the national lock-down in 2019 which only increased its demand once local pools were reopen when the isolation and loss of confidence was particularly evident in disabled people. According to Government estimations 24% of the UK ‘s population are registered as having a disability and within London (2021) 13.2% of its citizens are registered disabled. Statistics often indicate that disabled people are more likely to feel isolated and lack confidence to access regular exercise which is amplified within the visually impaired community.

Consequently, over 40 disabled people now have access to weekly swimming opportunities supported by a dedicated team of volunteers. These weekly swims are building local communities, in swimming pools across London: Old Street, Barbican,

Vauxhall, Tottenham Green and Crouch End. In 2025 a further two venues will be available to cope with their increased demand. “WeSwim is about more than just time in the water—we’re building a community” explains Natasha. Swimmers stay connected beyond the sessions through WhatsApp groups, offering each other support, checking in when someone is unwell, and sharing community events.

Each session is carefully coordinated by volunteers who are both in the pool and beside the regular lifeguard. Everybody is assessed on their “water confidence” and although one to one support is available volunteers are usually supervising small groups. There is a range of equipment available to support disabled swimmers including a hoist for wheelchair users and floats for those not so confident. One woman confided that this was the only time she was able to socialise and feel a sense of freedom she had once enjoyed as a county swimmer in her youth.

Natasha drew from her experience volunteering with the Pimlico Puffins, “I started WeSwim because I believe swimming should be accessible to everyone, especially disabled people who often face significant barriers to taking part. I’ve seen firsthand how swimming can improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing, but I also know how difficult it can be to find welcoming, accessible spaces to swim.”

In 2024 We Swim had 222 registered members of whom 24 are visually impaired swimmers. Natasha said, “What started as a small community initiative has now grown into a charity, helping disabled Londoners improve their wellbeing through swimming while building friendships and connections along the way.” In addition to working with existing groups such as the Pimlico Puffins they strive to create interest in new venues across London. Sadly, pool allocation in some leisure centres is difficult to negotiate as it is also dependent on availability of volunteers, of whom many are working during the day. At the moment We Swim are focused on demand within London but, they acknowledge, disabled access to regular swimming opportunities is a national problem. Currently over 100 people are on their waiting list.

Please fill in an application form and We Swim will be in touch.

List of venues:

Crouch End – Monday 5.45pm

Tottenham Green – Monday 7pm

Old Street – Tuesday 7pm

Barbican – Wednesday – 6.15pm

Vauxhall Thursday 11.15am

https://weswim.club

email at info@weswim.club

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 20. 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 Zoom events

Are you struggling with Facebook or concerned about your safety using social media?
cathartic creative writing on Zoom supported by the Ronson Foundation – starting on 14^th of February at 11am.
Accessing grief support in different ways

Eye Matter Outings

Grieving the life you expected
You are invited to hang out with our Suzie on her birthday!
A day at Bletchley Park
A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens
Ciao visit Sicily with Eye Matter.

Special features

Three miles swam and nineteen to go!
Welcome to new members joining our Confidence building workshop.
“I should be so lucky, lucky lucky” with Katriona Taylor.

External activities

Important transport consultation for blind and partially sighted travellers.
Do you live in London and use TfL? Do you have any accessibility needs?

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

Are you struggling with Facebook or concerned about your safety using social media?

If you answer yes or are curious about accessing Facebook as a blind or partially sighted user, then this two-day (One hour) course is for you!

Tuesday 11th and 18th February at 2pm on our usual Zoom link.

Written in conjunction with RNIB’s Digital Skills Engagement Team, Eye Matter’s Director of Communications, Fiona Musgrove will take you through the process and discuss some of the concerns in using Facebook. Each session will be accompanied by a Resource Sheet so just sit back and immerse yourself in the merits of joining a global community on Facebook.

To find out more please click our Facebook page: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid035hDPrNPwPHpFArmbNzyhHdNjrkGij5B4hihQHs69pHaq8n1hrQEzid9X5FvTr9VYl&id=100032751800652

cathartic creative writing on Zoom supported by the Ronson Foundation – starting on 14^th of February at 11am.

Release your inner writer in these cathartic creative writing sessions. We will meet on Zoom and discuss a different theme each time. Facilitator Joanna will share pieces of writing on the theme, from selected works of fiction, memoir, or creative nonfiction, and we’ll discuss how we feel about the pieces. Then, you’ll be invited to use the class as inspiration to create your own piece of writing in the intervening weeks, to be shared at the next class if you so choose. You can send the writing to Joanna in advance or read it yourself. There is no obligation to write or to share; if you prefer to just listen, that’s fine, too.

This is a drop-in session for Eye Matter members (you do not need to let us know The first session’s theme on Valentine’s day will obviously be love.

Please read more and future dates on our Facebook page:

https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0W11VypRpjV3RNmvyhtAAVBUWRkTcxcgFnhBMqAid6AzbpcVGAiuxKyudVpMbfbrGl&id=100032751800652

Accessing grief support in different ways

there are now 10 blog posts on our website from the amazing Joanna Williams, writer and therapist accompanying our “Thriving to Surviving” Zoom (twice monthly) programme:

Mental Health Wellbeing Blog

In our latest blog we consider humour as: The Best Medicine?

Here are a few extracts:

“There are a few things that happen physiologically when we laugh. First, you increase your intake of oxygen – good for the heart and brain. Laughter causes your muscles to relax, which in turn eases tension. We also release dopamine and serotonin, the brain’s happy hormones. Having a laugh with other people can increase these positive effects even further, as you gain that all-important sense of connection and community which is so great for wellbeing.”

“If you are looking for ways to bring more humour into your life, try one of these:

Revisit an old comedy show you enjoyed
Chat with a friend who makes you laugh
Smile more! (Remember, fake it to make it)
Make time for fun activities, especially ones that require trying something new
Try out ‘laughter yoga’
Hang out with young children or pets

And of course, you could come along to one of our zoom calls! Although we discuss serious subjects relating to grief, we do a lot of smiling and laughing, too.”

24th February: Beliefs

How have your spiritual and philosophical beliefs been affected by your sight loss? In today’s workshop we discuss how grief can shake your faith in the world, your trust in others, and your beliefs about yourself. We learn how beliefs are formed and how to forge new, healthy beliefs that will help you moving forward.

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

Due to popular demand, Suzie bought additional tickets for Stranger Things. 6 tickets are remaining.

Sunday 9^th March, Phoenix Theatre

Experience Hawkins in a whole new way at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End with Stranger Things, live on stage.

Witness the story of young Jim Hopper, Bob Newby and Joyce Maldonado, as they navigate the regular worries of a small town in 1959. But when newcomer Henry Creel and his family try to start anew, they find that the shadows of the past are not so easily left behind.

Grieving the life you expected

Saturday 29th March

At Somerstown Community Centre Kings Cross, London.

A voluntary contribution of £5 is appreciated.

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’ll be the chance to share experiences with your peers and, crucially, learn ways of re-working your expectations and letting go of fear.

A day at Bletchley Park

on Saturday 5^th of April

Meet and greet 09:50am Euston Station

Tickets are £35, including you return train tickets from Euston to Bletchley £16.40, entry to Bletchley plus a private tour £16.50, admin fee £2.10

A self-guided tour will be available on arrival. They have limited headsets, and we have been given permission to bring speakers to attach to the devices so we can share.

Please bring a picnic, although there is a cashless café if you choose.

Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, is now a museum and vibrant heritage attraction open daily, managed by the Bletchley Park Trust.

To book your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Bletchley’

Click to our Facebook page for more information: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Zx8d71rzTHtbryr7hT3qcdc5u6xk53zjgnxhQm8arvVCZVPeoEw6xZoxuq2cNRtEl&id=100032751800652

You are invited to hang out with our Suzie on her birthday!

In a change to the original plan at Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium you are invited to a thrill seeker’s dream day at Hangloose Adventure with Eye Matter. Get set to enjoy fun, thrilling, adrenaline fuelled adventures with the UK’s most exciting Outdoor Adventure company, offering England’s longest zipline, and a brilliant high ropes course – It’s a great trip away from the big city life!

Bluewater, Kent

On Saturday 26^th April

Tickets are £35, this is with a massive discount. Price does not include travel.

Zip Lining at Bluewater – wheelchair accessible

Over 720 Metres Long, Over 100 Metres Tall, Reach up to 50 mph!

Soar through the skies on England’s longest zipline – an impressive 720 metres of airtime! This will be followed by a picnic, please bring a packed lunch

Hangloose Adventure on the thrilling treetop adventure

Challenge yourself to conquer our daring high ropes course. With tons of heart-pumping obstacles, it’s sure to be an unforgettable sky-high adventure.

A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens

Hertfordshire

On Thursday 5^th June

Meet and greet at Stratford Station at 12:50pm

Tickets cost £30 – this covers the train from Stratford to Ware, only paying from zone 6, the minibus from Ware to the Gardens, entrance to the gardens and the return travel to Stratford.

Eye Matter will visit the gardens where Moore created his world-famous sculptures. Share in the artist’s experience of viewing his work in the landscape ‘in changing light and weather’ and ‘so that near to, and far away it reads as three-dimensional form.’ Please note, we will be visiting different sculptures from last year.

Click here to read about last year’s fantastic visit: https://fb.watch/xxZBBE3P4q/

Click here to find out about 2025’s exciting schedule: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0GmhochLW5rrqm1xceoXUxq7FkKg33KBMzQwgDPGCxFgsTmvpPfK4q8uyBVrRkGugl&id=100064088379673

Ciao visit Sicily with Eye Matter.

Based on the success of last year’s Eye Matter and Seable holiday to Sicily, we are offering it to you again, 16^th to 21^st June 2025.

Activities include: A tactile museum and city tour including local markets.

Excursions to Mount Etna feature a cable car trip up to 2300m, a 4×4 Jeep ride to 2800m and an Etna products food tasting session. Guests will also be treated to an Etna Vineyard visit with a 4-course lunch and accompanying wine pairing. Half day at the beach with sunbeds and umbrellas with Sicilian dessert tasting, before a sunset boat trip with aperitivo on board

Organic farm including local donkeys, horses, goats and chickens

5 nights/ 6 Days to stay at the four-star hotel Malavoglia resort in Sicily.

The single room supplement is £250.

Return flights from Gatwick will be approximately £150-200 plus luggage. Each traveller is responsible for arranging their own travel insurance.

Seeable Holidays requires a £200 non-refundable deposit for each person.

Click here for feedback from last year’s holiday: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02FJXBJLJXt3YqxffUzXA2UtX72WtkL2DTjKMnWoCtPg6qDT4Jd7rHAjc5YSS17CEYl&id=100064088379673

To book any Eye Matter outings please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk stating clearly which event and how many tickets you require.

Special features

Three miles swam and nineteen to go!

In our last edition of EMM, we were introduced to Eye Matter’s member Nicky Newport from Dulwich (who lost her sight when she was sixth months old) quest to swim the English Channel (Dover to Calais) 22 miles (1408 lengths) in her local swimming pool. Incredibly she has already completed 3 miles and would appreciate your support as she powers towards her end goal:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nickynewportswimsforeyematter

Over the past year Eye Matter has been so appreciative of the various fundraising activities achieved by its members. Nicky (aged 52) explained “I only moved to London in April and have been made to feel so welcome by eye matter. I guess I just want to give something back. I’m not really a sporty person, but swimming is something I can do and like.”

Nicky (when aged six months) was diagnosed with Retina Blastoma. Which means tumours on the retina. Subsequently, years of life-saving treatment resulted in her sight loss at an early age. For many years swimming provided an escape for Nicky and she was delighted to be able to join London Sports for the Blind who provide a swimming session when she moved into the city. Like so many blind and partially sighted people, particularly outside the main cities, Nicky has struggled accessing regular exercise, “Sadly what I am hearing from a lot of visually impaired people is that they would really like to take part in fitness but can’t as there is no support in mainstream centres.”

As well as participating in Eye Matters activities she now swims 2-3 times a week in her local pool at Forest Hill. Nicky appreciates the physical and mental effects of being able to swim regularly, “it allows me to unwind and jump off the planet for a while. I think we all need a bit of escapism from time to time!”

If you would like to know how to access a supportive swimming session, please see our Facebook page or read our next edition of Eye Matter Matters.

Welcome to new members joining our Confidence building workshop.

On Saturday, 1^st February, 15 Eye Matter members attended this specially designed workshop based in Kings Cross. It was led by Steven Reed, who demonstrated his wide experience of sight loss within the arts and education sector, as participants joined in a range of fun confidence boosting games and activities.

Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s Founder and co-ordinator) said, “Along with our existing fabulous members we were delighted to welcome Five new Eye Matter members. The confidence building was delivered using drama improv games run by Steve Reed, actor and facilitator extraordinaire! The group took part in some brilliant team games, working together, using our listening skills to present fun scenes to each other. This was a great afternoon.”

Cheyenne (one of our new members) enjoyed the session, “It was my first time attending an Eye Matter event and I really enjoyed it.”

A huge thanks to all our volunteers who supported this event, especially Hayley for the photos.

Click here to read the article and view the photos on Facebook: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ZGPDWqv5Ar6xhmhgCfYWWQeFQA5Y3ezmGcHfU74M3FzbQsdiErLmYTBBGUmkP1d9l&id=100064088379673

“I should be so lucky, lucky lucky” with Katriona Taylor.

Nearly 20 members joined Jazz composer/singer Katriona Taylor for an exclusive live performance on Zoom (Tuesday 4th February) accompanied by fellow Eye Matter member, Duncan Clarke on the piano and vocals. “I was delighted to meet Duncan a few years ago. We were moving in similar music circles, and I was surprised to find that not only was he an accomplished pianist, but he could also sing. And on top of that, he also had Stargardts.”

Her set included songs from “An Officer and A Gentleman” along with an ecliptic choice of music. This show was two days before she performed live at the George IV (Chiswick) with her fabulous quintet in a jazz 1980’s style set featuring Madonna, Stevie Wonder, George Michael and even Kylie!

Click here to read more: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0P3A8Caw4jXC3kFBQj99na35FBrivz35WBmxxmWfQpTv4RuAZiUiQPLBSSenWzdADl&id=100000981844667

Sight loss, for Katriona , began at 7 years old when she was diagnosed with Stargardts which would both influence and haunt her education opportunities, “I did have one bad experience when I was learning from a certain educational establishment, they did not make learning music accessible and made no provision for me. It was not a great experience, and I had to challenge them on it, but I was successful in doing so and I think they learnt something which I really hope helps the people who followed me.”

Despite these initial difficulties Katriona graduated as a lawyer and worked in London practising intellectual property law for many years before living her dreams in music. Like most people with sight loss Katriona has struggled with accessibility: “It wasn’t particularly easy for me to learn music, how to write songs and communicate with highly skilled musicians at the top of their game. I had to teach myself a lot and in the way that I could take on the information because there was no accessible music way of learning. I taught myself basic piano skills, guitar and also learn the drums. I applied myself with the discipline of a lawyer to learning how to be a band leader and my stage miles have stood me in good stead. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to stand still for too long, so I’m always learning new material and setting myself new challenges.”

For over 15 years Katriona has carved her way as a professional singer/songwriter working with an eclectic range of singers and musicians, “I’ve always loved all kinds of music, my influencers came from everywhere, from musicals on television to my parents record collection. My childhood was spent in Portugal, where my parents worked, and I was influenced by the great Brazilian singers.”

Last October, 25 Eye Matter members and volunteers, attended Katriona ’s show at Piano Smithfield. This year, she is playing different venues across London and is in talks with a European agent, along with recording three music videos. Katriona also writes the music scores for her band, transforming pop sounds into a jazz vibe, in addition to writing some original pieces. Her shows are definitely toe tapping and I had to keep myself in my seat at some places as I wanted to dance!

For the full article on Facebook click here: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02eS4NYNkFepDxbbz9mC5PAKdQqXxivAVzZ8m1CQf4GWvB1NExXPyZ7mY4JA1rvYQUl&id=100064088379673

You can find out more about Katriona ’s performances here:

Katriona Taylor – Jazz & Latin Singer

Please check out her social media:

www.youtube.com/c/katrionataylor

www.instagram.com/katrionataylor

External activities

Important transport consultation for blind and partially sighted travellers.

Access to good travel services is essential to protect our independence and safety all over the UK. Whether you are a regular traveller, occasional user or travel accompanied, its vital that your ideas are given to this national strategy. We are grateful to Eye Matter member, Ashley Pearce for bringing this to our attention and urge you to take a look:

https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/integrated-national-transport-strategy-a-call-for-ideas/integrated-national-transport-strategy-a-call-for-ideas#:~:text=The%20Department%20for%20Transport%20is,their%20needs%20at%20its%20heart

As you may be aware there is a change to railway operators being phased in with the introduction of “Great British Railways” and we need to ensure that services for visually impaired people continue to be provided.

Ashley, founder of the “London Buddy Scheme” explains that “Together with personal experience of being a visually impaired individual and a disability representative for over 30 years I know first-hand about the transport concerns, which can have major impacts on all types of disability.

Eye Matter members will be able to interact with Ashley further next month, as he has kindly agreed to be March’s “Inspiring Speaker.

Click here to read the full article on Facebook: https://m.Facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02UZ2kMZpBTbE1RtqpuHfF3fjShDB3U88V7i1Jpc7P19wU6UVVZWMhobVirT2P9J7Xl&id=100032751800652

Do you live in London and use TfL? Do you have any accessibility needs?

TFL is looking for Londoners to join the All Aboard Panel and share their experiences on Transport for London (TfL) services. You will be paid as a thank-you for your involvement.

https://revealingreality.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/alm9ol

As a reminder, panellists will receive a £15 Love2shop or Amazon voucher for completing the Snapshot Survey when it launches in mid-February.

If you do become involved, please let us know🤗

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 19. 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 Zoom events

Are you struggling with Facebook or concerned about your safety using social media?
cathartic creative writing on Zoom supported by the Ronson Foundation – starting on 14th February at 11am
Would you like to join us in an exciting new volunteering opportunity to engage in a member outreach programme?

Eye Matter Outings

A private audio described tour of Mire Lee: Open Wound in collaboration with Tate Modern
Grieving the life you expected
A day at Bletchley Park

Special features

Nicky swims the English Channel for Eye Matter
Eye Matter Receives £2000 Grant from the Ronson Foundation to Support 2025 Activities
Eye Matter announces the appointment of a sixth trustee.
Blind Dad has his sight fixed on completing the World Series in marathon running.
Eye Matter discovers the rich tapestry of our Poet Laureates
On tour with Eye Matter 2025.

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

Are you struggling with Facebook or concerned about your safety using social media?

If you answer yes or are curious about accessing Facebook as a blind or partially sighted user, then this course is for you!

Each session is an hour and will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, 11th and 18th February on our usual Zoom link.

Written in conjunction with RNIB’s Digital Skills Engagement Team, Eye Matter’s Director of Communications, Fiona Musgrove will take you through the process and discuss some of the concerns when using Facebook. Each session will be accompanied by a Resource Sheet so just sit back and immerse yourself in the merits of joining a global community on Facebook.

To find out more please click our Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid035hDPrNPwPHpFArmbNzyhHdNjrkGij5B4hihQHs69pHaq8n1hrQEzid9X5FvTr9VYl&id=100032751800652

cathartic creative writing on Zoom supported by the Ronson Foundation – starting on 14th February at 11am.

Release your inner writer in these cathartic creative writing sessions.

We will meet on Zoom and discuss a different theme each time. Facilitator Joanna Williams will share pieces of writing on the theme, from selected works of fiction, memoir, or creative nonfiction, and we’ll discuss how we feel about the pieces. Then, you’ll be invited to use the class as inspiration to create your own piece of writing. In the intervening weeks The first session’s theme on Valentine’s day will unsurprisingly be love!

At the next class, you can share your work if you so choose. You can send the writing to Joanna in advance or read it yourself. There is no obligation to write or to share; if you prefer to just listen, that’s fine, too.

This is a drop-in session for all members, everyone is welcome there is no need to book

Please read more and find future dates on our Facebook page:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0W11VypRpjV3RNmvyhtAAVBUWRkTcxcgFnhBMqAid6AzbpcVGAiuxKyudVpMbfbrGl&id=100032751800652

Would you like to join us in an exciting new volunteering opportunity to engage in a member outreach programme?

Another chance to join this volunteer opportunity is taking place on Tuesday, 18th March. at 11am on the usual Zoom link.

Eye Matter is initiating two member outreach programs with volunteer opportunities, which will be coordinated by our new volunteer member liaison, Irena Valchera. The first training opportunity was held on 21st January. We are seeking volunteers to assist Irena in reaching out to our members to ensure they are doing well, to confirm their continued interest in membership, and be assured that they are able to join our Zoom sessions.

If you would like to support Eye Matter and other members, even committing to making one call per week would be hugely appreciated. If you are able to contribute more time, that would be wonderful.

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.”

Click here to see this post on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0NtrHGx4P4rntmJcqLRfVPLtFJpiyD4UtMPE8DJ3psTYHQU5LPm3f41FDF75FrvP6l&id=100032751800652

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

10th February Simon & Garfunkel £15.25, London Palladium, Wednesday

12th February Tate Modern, £5 voluntary contribution,

Thursday 6th March Sno Zone Sledging, Price TBC, meet and greet at Euston Station.

A private audio described tour of Mire Lee: Open Wound in collaboration with Tate Modern

Wednesday 12th February

Meet and Greet at 10:50am at Southwark Station just past the barriers on the left

Please bring a picnic.

Tickets to this private AD tour are free, we ask that you make a £5 voluntary contribution

Drawing inspiration from Tate Modern’s history as a power station, Mire Lee transforms the Turbine Hall with striking hanging sculptures and epic mechanical installations, reimagining the space as a living factory. A fascinating mix of materials such as silicone and chains bring her creations to life and challenge our ideas of what is beautiful, perverse, provocative and desirable.

Click here to read more on our Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0uxAMFkf5bMZCQs15MX7BfPouMfzi9J39iCqzAsd85jXeLcGm4yoHuTXBHc91UYaJl&id=100032751800652

Grieving the life you expected

Saturday, 29th March

At Somers Town Community Centre Kings Cross, London.

A voluntary contribution of £5 is appreciated.

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’ll be the chance to share experiences with your peers and, crucially, learn ways of re-working your expectations and letting go of fear.

A day at Bletchley Park

on Saturday, 5th April

Meet and greet 9:50am Euston Station

Tickets are £35, including you return train tickets from Euston to Bletchley £16.40, entry to Bletchley plus a private tour £16.50, admin fee £2.10

A self-guided tour will be available on arrival. They have limited headsets, and we have been given permission to bring speakers to attach to the devices so we can share.

Please bring a picnic, although there is a cashless café if you choose.

Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, is now a museum and vibrant heritage attraction open daily, managed by the Bletchley Park Trust.

To book your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Bletchley’

Click to our Facebook page for more information:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Zx8d71rzTHtbryr7hT3qcdc5u6xk53zjgnxhQm8arvVCZVPeoEw6xZoxuq2cNRtEl&id=100032751800652

Please email us with your chosen outing title.

Voluntary contributions can be made prior the activity using the usual bank account and providing a reference to the activity. These donations are greatly appreciated to ensure future activities.

Special features

Nicky swims the English Channel for Eye Matter

Over the past year we have had some amazing fundraising events from members and Nicky Newport, from London, is next to grab this baton. She will swim the length of the English Channel from Dover to Calais, 22miles, which equates to 1408 lengths at her local pool in Forest Hill. This amazing challenge begins from the first week of February for 12 weeks.

Please give generously to advocate Eye Matters future activities which we all so much enjoy: A £5 donation would make a difference to ensuring volunteers can support our members.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nickynewportswimsforeyematter

Eye Matter Receives £2000 Grant from the Ronson Foundation to Support 2025 Activities

Eye Matter is thrilled to announce the receipt of a generous £2000 grant from the Ronson Foundation, which will be instrumental in supporting the organisation’s expanding activities throughout 2025.

Suzie Simons, Eye Matter’s Founder and Co-ordinator, expressed her gratitude for the grant: “So many members have told me how accessing activities with Eye Matter and our dedicated team of volunteers has boosted their confidence and made them feel truly part of a community once again. Without the support of grants and donations, Eye Matter would not be able to continue its important work, and we are incredibly thankful to the Ronson Foundation for making this opportunity possible.”

For the full article on Facebook please click here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02hqqAQQhPf6yPyCF82YE3zAqAEAWj1KDsHwaCuBSgaJMvt94tDfff5J1yy8tKSNXZl&id=100064088379673

Eye Matter announces appointment of a sixth trustee.

Belinda Sosinowicz, Who is an Advanced Social Worker (Systemic therapy (Wandsworth Children’s Services) will be joining Eye Matter’s Board of Trustees from February 2025, as a volunteer fundraiser. Her role has been designed to target funding opportunities for their growing membership which recently numbered 360 blind and partially sighted people across the UK. In addition to her good administration skills Belinda will bring a wide variety of experience in running peer support organisations.

Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s founder) expressed her delight at the Trustees decision to appoint Belinda in this role, Particularly in this last year with our increased membership and range of activities we needed to have one person to solely concentrate on writing bids, sourcing income streams and ensuring Eye Matter can keep costs minimal for members.”

Like the majority of Eye Matters trustees, Belinda is registered severely sight impaired and has taken part in many of our activities, “Joining Eye Matter has helped me in coming to terms with my sight loss as I have met others with similar conditions and shared our stories. This has made me feel less alone and more supported in my journey and I enjoyed the fun events and trips. I have so benefited from the charity, that I would like to support it with my expertise so that it may continue providing the positive benefits to its members.”

Click to our Facebook page to read the full article: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0LDzQTZqxe2p3tHZzYC2dHzqZiUd6MV1QxxPBDtiYku1ABboFRvhCnLv5ucET9btnl&id=100032751800652

Blind Dad has his sight fixed on completing the World Series in marathon running.

Eye Matter member Dave Williams (aged 42 in 2018) weighing 100kg made a conscious decision to set a good example to his then 9-year-old son, by running a marathon. 200 park runs and a dozen marathons later, he’s now on a mission to complete the Abbott World Major series of big city marathons.

Dave (RNIB’s Inclusive Design Ambassador for Consumer and Business Services and Chair of the Braillists Foundation) first marathon was New York City in November 2019, followed by Boston in April 2022, Berlin in September 2022 and Chicago in October 2023. He completed his first London Marathon (October 2021) in around 4 hours 20 minutes, however due to the Pandemic it would be a further two years before he was able to compete again in reality. His second attempt (April 2023) was completed in 3:47 and who knows what his time will be in London 2025!

His regular training to increase stamina and endurance on different routes, is dependent on the availability of having sighted guide runners 2-3 times a week, for approximately 3 hours. He explains, “But some things you can’t prepare for. In Chicago they had these metal grids on some of the bridges, and there’s one part of the Boston course that I think crosses a tram line. And it’s also very difficult to replicate the extremely busy sections of the London Marathon where runners are elbow to elbow.”

On 2 March 2025 Dave will be in Japan with his running pal Mat to take on the Tokyo Marathon. This will represent the final piece of the jigsaw to complete the original six Abbott World Marathon Major series. But six is not the end. Abbott has recently added Sidney as the seventh Major, and Cape Town and Shanghai are expected to become eight and nine. “I’m just taking it one at a time. Obviously, I’d love to run all of them, but the costs are mounting up and I do have a family to feed.”

He concludes, “Collecting that six-star medal will be a very emotional moment for someone who hated PE at school and avoided any physical activity for most of my life. I never dared believe that someone like me would get to do something like this. I want to dedicate that medal to every single person who has supported me along the way. Too many folks to mention, but they know who they are!”

If you would like to read more about Dave’s amazing achievements, please click on our Facebook page:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0CKXVSmU5LoGn4Eji5L99Un2XrmMqaAd7sJMmkQqgMiifvuWgWFTv6Rmg8h69Mc6Fl&id=100032751800652

Eye Matter discovers the rich tapestry of our Poet Laureates

There have been 28 Poet Laureates since it was introduced to promote the enjoyment of poetry by King Charles’s II (1668). Originally this was a lifetime position which has since changed to become a 10-year appointment. In this month’s “Poetry Appreciation” session Friday 10th January) with Diana Bramson. Eye Matter members were encouraged to consider five selected poems from different periods in time, how they reflected the poet’s thoughts and understanding of their responsibility to both the Monarch and their people. Examples from a variety of Poet Laureates and their dates including: To Sleep by William Wordsworth (1843-1850), The Lift Man by John Betjeman (1972-1984) and Name by Carol Ann Duffy (2009-2019)

In addition to listening to these examples members are encouraged to share their own poems inspired by the previous session: Mister E Motion by Malcolm Day “My head is full of Mister Men, That come to see me now and then. My deepest emotions, a story they tell, You’ll know who they are, their names ring a bell.”

If you would like to join our next session, please email:

On tour with Eye Matter 2025.

Following Eye Matter’s Suzie Simons’ globetrotting success last year around the UK she is embarking on some new locations for 2025. In 2024 Eye Matter delivered over 200 Zoom events including; poetry, quizzes, live concerts, therapy, Chair Yoga, dance, drama workshops, technology support, book club and so much more. Consequently, wherever our members live they can access a multitude of activities each week.

Come and say “hello” at the following venues:

Eye Can Exhibition.

Wednesday 2nd April at the Guild Hall, Salisbury

Click here to register and find out more:

Events and Exhibitions

Sight Village, Wales.

Tues 8th April: 9.30am – 3.30pm

All Nations Conference Centre, Cardiff.

Click here to register and find out more:

https://www.qac.ac.uk/exhibitions/sight-village-wales-2025/1449.htm

Sight Village Scotland.

Wednesday 21st May: 9.30am – 3.30pm

Science Centre Glasgow

Click here to register and find out more:

https://www.qac.ac.uk/exhibitions/sight-village-glasgow-2025–new-location/1459.htm

Click here to our Facebook page for the full list: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02WwPs9XPRdYEjXfhAPD9UGgqXyoEyQ9GNjo546z3xWu1xzqwRNRBRauvHkyMWybLYl&id=100032751800652

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to our new year edition of Eye Matter Matters issue 18. 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@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Zoom events

An exciting new volunteering opportunity to support our members.
Become a voice-over trainer.
Facebook’s positives and pitfalls

Eye Matter Outings

Confidence building workshop with Eye Matter on Saturday 1^st of February.
Saturday 29th March Grief Workshop (in-person):
Grieving the life you expected
A list of other events.

Special features

Understanding the philosophy of our unconscious mind in relation to our everyday anxieties.
Robin Hood as never experienced before (or ever again) at the Palladium with Eye Matter.

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

An exciting new volunteering opportunity to support our members.

Eye Matter is initiating two-member outreach programs with volunteer opportunities, which will be coordinated by our new volunteer member liaison, Irena Valchera. The first training opportunity will be on Tuesday 21^st of January at 11am on the usual Zoom link.

We are seeking volunteers to assist Irena in reaching out to our members to ensure they are doing well, confirm their continued interest in membership, and be assured that they are able to join our Zoom sessions.

The second chance to join this volunteer opportunity will be on Tuesday 18^th March.

If you would like to support Eye Matter, even committing to make one call per week would be beneficial. 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 line “Outreach Volunteer.”

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our community!

Become a voice-over trainer.

We are seeking confident iPhone and Android users within our membership who are interested in sharing their skills with other visually impaired individuals. To support this initiative, we are excited to introduce our Volunteer VoiceOver Training Manager, Charu Bansal, alongside volunteer IT Trainer Jackie Brown, who will facilitate a short training program designed to enhance your teaching abilities.

Our next training session is scheduled for 28th of January at 2pm. This is for existing trainers and new ones. We will be running this training every 3 months and we’d really love all our trainers to attend where possible.

Facebook’s positives and pitfalls 11th and 18th February at 2pm.

Facebook is an exciting way to communicate with family, friends, and a great source of information for blind and partially sighted people who are often isolated. It provides links to a host of organisations and private groups dedicated to supporting our needs, yet we are aware that myths and high-profile incidents raise concerns for many members.

Eye Matter is working collaboratively with RNIB’s Digital Skills and Engagement team to design a specific session based on accessing Facebook. This pilot course is aimed at those who are concerned about using Facebook or are interested in learning more about the benefits of this social media platform.

This two-day course will be delivered by Eye Matter’s social media manager Fiona and will include an interactive question and answer section which may be compiled into a promotional video with RNIB’s Digital Skills Engagement Team.

An exclusive toolkit will be sent to all those who attend containing helpful tips and contact details for further support.

If you are interested in attending this event, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject title “Facebook training.”

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

Confidence building workshop with Eye Matter on Saturday 1^st of February.

Led by Steven George- this workshop will demonstrate his wide experience of sight loss within the arts and education sector.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to again join together to have fun, develop a new understanding of our sight loss and become more confident. Steve will guide us through various drama games and activities, so be prepared to have a giggle with Eye Matter.

Saturday 1^st of February 2025

The Living Centre, Kings Cross, London.

Meet and Greet: 1:30pm at St Pancras Station, by Midland Road Exit at the Thameslink barriers.

£5Voluntary contribution.

For more information or to sign up email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘confidence’

The Living Centre Kings Cross St Pancras, Monday

10^th of February Simon & Garfunkel £15.25, London Palladium, Wednesday

12^th of February Tate Modern, £5 voluntary contribution,

Thursday 6^th of March Sno Zone Sledging, Price £17.50 including your travel from Euston to Milton Keynes and 45 minutes sledging. This does not include your lunch at Nando’s. meet and greet at Euston Station at 10:30am

Saturday 29^th of March Group Grief Workshop with Joanna Williams, £5 voluntary contribution, Somers Town Hall Kings Cross St Pancras.

Please email us with your chosen outing title.

Voluntary contributions can be made prior the activity using the usual bank account and providing a reference to the activity. These donations are greatly appreciated to ensure future activities.

Saturday 29th March Grief Workshop (in-person):

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 ‘nonfinite 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’ll be the chance to share experiences with your peers and, crucially, learn ways of re-working your expectations and letting go of fear.

At Somerstown Community Centre Kings Cross, London.

A voluntary contribution of £5 is appreciated.

If you would like more information about this session or wish to join us, please email.

Special features

Understanding the philosophy of our unconscious mind in relation to our everyday anxieties.

Suzie Simons (Eye Matters Founder) said, “We just had the amazing Sydney do a talk for Eye Matter.”

On Friday 20th December, as part of our ‘Inspiring Speakers’ series we were delighted to introduce Sydney May (coach, speaker, comedian and musician) who gave a presentation on understanding our unconscious mind and its relationship to anxiety. A few years ago, she came across the revelations of a man called Sydney Banks. He spoke of what he called his moment of enlightenment. “He had a life-changing realisation about where our experience comes from — that it comes from inside of us, not outside of us. If every experience we have is being shaped by our thoughts, then doesn’t this give us the power to shape our experience into whatever we would most like it to be?”

Sydney replied, “Thank you so much for having me! I honestly absolutely love doing these talks, as it’s a subject I’m so passionate about! I really hope everyone found it helpful. What a lovely group you have.”

Here are Sydney’s top tips and favourite quotes

Focus on what you want not what you don’t want. Remember the unconscious mind doesn’t understand a negative, but it wants to give you what it thinks you want, so make sure you’re telling it what you want, not what you don’t want.
Focus on the present. Anxiety and worry are always based on the future which might happen or the past which might happen again. If you’re truly present, there shouldn’t be anything to be anxious about.
You can’t actually tell the future, so when you’re worrying about the future, you’re making up a story. You don’t actually know how it’s going to go and it’s probably a lot worse in your head than it will actually be.
Check in with yourself. Make sure you’re not holding tension or anxiety that you’re not even aware of, and if you find some when you do check in, allow yourself to let go of it. You don’t need it.
Always remember that while you can’t control everything happening around you, you can choose your response, so choose one which suits you.
If you’re worrying about something, ask yourself what’s the worst that can happen and what’s the best that could happen? The worst is generally not that bad after all.
Quote: “Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you’re right.” It’s really hard to do something while you’re telling yourself you can. Tell yourself you can, and you will, and your mind and body will work with you to make it happen.
There is no failure, only feedback. This is an NLP quote. Take everything that goes wrong as feedback. Look at how you can learn from it so it will go better next time, instead of just focusing on the fact that it went wrong.
Notice your language. Are you catastrophizing? Question yourself. Is that thing really as bad as I’m telling myself or someone else it is? Remember one word can change everything.
Gratitude. Even if you haven’t had the best day, every night before you go to sleep, think of 5 things to be grateful for no matter how small. It might seem like a struggle to think of 5 at first, but you will be able to, and every day you do this it will come more naturally, until you’re in a really good habit of finding those good things automatically.

If you are feeling anxious you can also participate in our regular “Thriving to Surviving” programme we run twice a month or check out our new blog here: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/eye-matter-blog-by-joanna-williams-psychotherapeutic-counsellor-specialising-in-grief-and-loss/

If you would like to take part in our next ‘Inspiring Speakers” session, please email us.

Robin Hood as never experienced before (or ever again) at the Palladium with Eye Matter.

Within the usual flair of colour and innuendo Robin Hood at the Palladium on Thursday 9th January didn’t disappoint. Along with the cast which included the fabulous Julian Clary, the amazing cruising Jane MacDonald (who did Dusty Springfield justice and the hobbling Tinky Winky Nigel Havers the stage was set for fun. This was only topped by Sam the puppet and a surprise appearance of David Mitchell (from the Peep Show and Mitchell and Webb) as King Richard. The villain The Sherriff of Nottingham (played by Marissa Wallace) introduced an American element into a quintessential British tradition was another huge success for the production. Despite being an International singer/songwriter along with being nominated for an Olivia award for her role in ‘Guys and Dolls’ she took on board the booing audience.

A huge thanks to everyone who posted photos on our Facebook page: click here to access-

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0VESgXfLs1Pa1sfZRXVHiJBBi6zKsd2Nsu2A7iYwEjpYcwHXkerHk4ZnxJXmDDaczl&id=1555698935

The audio description provided by VocalEyes was delivered through headsets which enabled us to understand the action on stage especially when Julian sniffed his fingers after touching poor Maid Marian who was determined to make him her man!

Before the performance we were introduced to the backstage crew including wardrobe designers and stagehands. One told us how they often source the props from mundane places whilst the more elaborate costume and props are specifically designed for the performance. I laughed as one of our volunteers Parm skipped into the mushroom tutu which Julian later wore on stage.

Eye Matter would like to say a huge thanks to everyone involved in allowing blind and partially sighted people access to this wonderful production and we look forward to next year’s Panto.

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to a festive Eye Matter Matters issue 17. 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@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:
Festive greetings from Suzie

Eye Matter Zoom events

You’re never alone on Christmas day with Eye Matter

Training Opportunities

Opportunity to Teach Android Skills
Facebook’s positives and pitfalls

Eye Matter Outings

An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto

Special features

Stepping Into Christmas with the Eye Matter Singers
Eye Matter sparkled in the park.
Eye Matter members jived, twisted, bopped, and dined the afternoon together at their second Winter Extravaganza

Festive greetings from Suzie

Dearest lovely members, friends, and volunteers,

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made 2024 such an amazing year for Eye Matter. In January we began with a visit to the London palladium to Peter Pan and the magic has never stopped. Over 45 in person visits were attended by hundreds of members. These included art galleries, outside theatre productions, London Zoo, Henry Moore Studios in Hertfordshire and walks around various modern art Installations with Festive.org. We also attended Dance City in Stratford and the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

In addition, Eye Matter delivered over 210 Zoom events, producing a weekly schedule including concerts from Andrea Begley, therapy sessions, women’s health innovations project, bookworms, Inspiring Speakers, Bounce, dance sessions with Lesta Woo (a VI dance teacher), cookery, drama, AD chair yoga, quizzes, technology support and so much more. Thanks to our trustee Warren, whose support as head-doorman has been invaluable.

I have represented Eye Matter across the UK at various Sight Villages which culminated in over 1000 people visiting their London venue. Thanks to Fiona, our social media trustee, our profile has been raised on social media. She is also producing this wonderful regular magazine through email and on our website, brilliantly edited by our trustee, Maggie. Earlier this year I was honoured to be awarded the RNIB Volunteer of the year award and attended their lavish ceremony with another brilliant trustee, Rachel Bowden-Waterson, whose support has really helped to lighted the load.

Through education and empowerment, I believe we can overcome the challenges and deep frustrations of our sight loss. This year we ran two tailor-made holidays. The first in June, with Seable Holidays in Sicily had us tasting donkey milk and exploring a volcano. The second adventure was to a PGL experience where members abseiled, threw axes, fired arrows, built rafts and much more in sunny Sussex.

Eye Matter also believes in promoting health and well-being to support our mental health and has delivered different dance classes, Zumba, a sports day which included tennis, cricket, football and Showdown and various walks around London.

2025 is looking equally exciting as once again our first visit is to the London Palladium to meet Robin and his merry men. If you would like to join us for any of these magical activities, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

In May we commemorated the sudden passing of our dear friend Davinder with our Eye Matter Singers and are immensely grateful to her family and friends, for their generous donation in her memory. As a result, Eye Matter reinvented “Surviving to Thriving” which is a (twice a month) Zoom programme, facilitated by a therapist specialising in grief associated with visual impairment. Also recently, accompanied by a regular blog to support members with their sight loss journeys. And in February 2025, we will be starting a brand-new monthly cathartic writing course.

This year we delivered our first fundraising event at the O2 arena in Greenwich, with over 20 members tackling the 50-foot-high walkover its dome.

We are so appreciative of the efforts of all our fundraisers and donors, who continue to support Eye Matter. For Richard and Fiona’s epic journey through Italy to the private donations from other members who enable us to continue our range of activities, we are so grateful.

If you would like to donate to Eye Matter, please click here: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/donate/

If you have ever been to an Eye Matter event, you will know that these just would not be able to happen without the dedicated work of our sighted guides. We are so grateful for their time, enthusiasm, patience, energy, and generosity.

Finally, a very special thank you to Eye Matter’s incredible team of trustees who have worked so hard this year. Thank you for sharing this year’s triumphs and challenges. I’m so proud of my team, and myself, and I’m so grateful for all of you who have helped double Eye Matter’s membership and volunteer size this year. And none of us should forget Noemi the Great. I’m looking forward to sharing my year with all of you.

Lots of love,

Suzie xxx

Ps: A link to social media will be shared at the bottom of this magazine.

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

You’re never alone on Christmas day with Eye Matter

Eye Matter appreciates that many of us will be spending Christmas Day alone, but hurrah, we are open for a chat from 10.30am on Wednesday 25th December.

If you would like to drop in to your friends at Eye Matter, please use the usual Zoom link. If you don’t have a link, please email.

Opportunity to Teach Android Skills

We are seeking confident Android users within our membership who are interested in sharing their skills with other visually impaired individuals. For further information please contact Suzie with subject ‘Android’.

Eye Matter is delighted to announce another training opportunity

Facebook’s positives and pitfalls

Facebook is an exciting way to communicate with family, friends and a great source of information for blind and partially sighted people who are often isolated. It provides links to a host of organisations and private groups dedicated to supporting our needs, yet we are aware that myths and high-profile incidents raise concerns for many members.

This course will be delivered by Eye Matter’s social media manager Fiona and will include an interactive section for Members to ask questions which, if necessary, will be passed onto RNIB’s Digital Skills Engagement Team.

An exclusive toolkit will be sent to all those who attend containing helpful tips and contact details for further support.

If you are interested in attending this event, please email with the subject title “Facebook training”.

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto

At the London Palladium

8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF

On Thursday 9^th January 2025 at 7:30pm

Touch tour time tbc

Meet and greet at Oxford Circus Station time tbc

Tickets are £25.50 each

To buy your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Panto’

Special features

Stepping Into Christmas with the Eye Matter Singers

Nearly 50 members and friends attended our Christmas Eye Mattr Singers concert held at Somers Town Living Centre, Kings Cross on Saturday 30th November. Since September, singers from across the UK have joined weekly Zoom rehearsals in preparation for the concert.

Rachel Bowden Waterson, the Choir’s singing teacher said: “everyone is welcome to join and sing at our weekly sessions for fun and well-being but for those who can make it in person, the concert is the icing on the cake. It’s so special to be able to share our hard work with our families and friends. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for members to perform solos and duets in addition to the Choir programme”.

The concert featured some of the best loved Christmas anthems, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Shakin’ Stevens, Bobby Helms, Slade, and Wizard.

Suzie Simons, Eye Matter’s founder and keen singer said “it’s amazing to hear the songs develop week by week and the singers grow in confidence. The concert is the perfect way to start the charity’s festive celebrations. I’m so proud of everything we have achieved as a visually impaired Choir that is run by Rachel, our blind singing teacher and we were accompanied by fabulous Blind, musician, Kevin Satizabal.” Suzie added, “the sensations of being able to perform and work collectively really gelled our friendship and sense of achievement.”

Eye Matter was also delighted that deaf blind composer and pianist, Mark Pampel performed a special solo. The afternoon culminated with a drinks reception and raffle which raised £74 towards future activities.

A special thanks to our fabulous volunteers, Hayley, Olga, Charles, and Richard, for guiding us along with the fantastic photography/video editing.

Please click here to view our video: https://fb.watch/wuUC6iaqze/

There are two opportunities to participate in our Eye Matter Singers in 2025 planned for May and December. Rehearsals begin again in March.

No experience is necessary and all abilities welcome.

For more information or to book your place please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject title “Eye matter Singers.”

Eye Matter sparkled in the park.

We were invited to an audio described tour of “Sparkle in The Park” produced by Festival.org which took place at Charlton House (Woolwich, London) on Sunday 1st December. Over four days (27th November- 1st December) 25,000 visitors walked along its lighted paths, enjoyed the four unique installations and sampled food at its Christmas market. Kat Gill (Access Producer For Festival.org), who lead our group, explained that this event is staged in different parks around the borough and encourages local communities to become involved with its presentation. She said, “

It was such a pleasure to have Eye Matter at Sparkle, I’m so happy the group enjoyed it.”

Twenty-seven Eye Matter members and volunteers, participated in this festive light trail (run annually by the Royal Borough of Greenwich (which is in its fifth year) around the parkland towards the beautifully lit Victorian stately home (now used as a public library and cafe). Audio describer, Tony McBride related the various exhibitions from local communities including colourful oil drums from St Lucia and brightly lit doors representing the LGBTQ community. We were able to touch and walk around some of the larger installations and experience the vibrations from a pulsating drum beat emanating from rows of perfectly set white balls.

Vicky Blencowe (Eye Matter member) said “Great evening visit to ‘Sparkle in the park’ at Charlton house and gardens, Greenwich with Eye Matter. It was audio described by the fabulous Tony McBride with help from the excellent Kat. We followed the light trail in a group of 27, with stars, light installations, a snow machine, and snowflakes wafting across Charlton house which was lit up in blue.”

For more information about this event please click here:

https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/events/sparkle-park-2024

Please click here to view our photos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid022Dv91friydWKTWTEvRuzgFgpoZXEiAHSmr9iCuCY4in7Di3PQEKdD9UqvUs913LPl&id=100064088379673&_rdr

Eye Matter members jived, twisted, bopped, and dined the afternoon together at their second Winter Extravaganza

Belinda said, “My second time at Winter Extravaganza, lovely to see familiar faces and meet the new members, remembering last year when I was new and how everyone was so welcoming. Hotel staff were really lovely the food was really delicious and I’m looking for to the next one. Thank you to Eye Matter for organising all these wonderful events, truly appreciate all that you do. x.”

Danielle agreed, “The winter extravaganza was great fun.

It was so wonderful to meet new people, meet people from zoom properly, and spend time with old friends. The food was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. I felt the catering team did a wonderful job serving us all as well. They were so attentive and helpful. Just a shame they wouldn’t give us the soup recipe because it was so yummy!

Thank you so much Suzie and all the Eye Matter team and sighted volunteers who made the day happen. Your hard work is so appreciated and I for one am so grateful to you. Looking forward to seeing you all again in the new year and hoping that you all have a wonderful holiday season whether you celebrate Christmas or not.

Seventy-two people attended our Winter Extravaganza at the Crown Hotel, Cricklewood, London on Thursday 12th December. Along with a festive quiz from Steve Reed, a raffle and a four course lunch guests bobbed the afternoon away on the dance floor to the music from the fantastic 1960’s group “The Beats”.

Suzie (Eye Matter’s Founder) said, “It was so lovely to celebrate with our members, friends, volunteers, and partners. It was a truly amazing afternoon, and the dance floor was always full! It has been such an exciting year for Eye Matter”

We would like to say a huge thanks to all those who contributed to the raffle (where we raised over £250) and to our fantastic sighted guides for their care and attention throughout the event.

Please click here to see our video and photos.

https://fb.watch/wv4STljhu5

If you have any photos or memories, you would like to share please email us.

If you would like to view some alt tagged photos on Facebook, please click here to our pages:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0D8nqGb5x9dsYrv1JkumazGuA3cFgSJyeje4S19QJvBwUGkSho74djLiSmNzQDMkYl&id=100032751800652

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02M7jQwi9Xv6gHv5DW4ETSY5Lgh6cFpUo6KuZTwgrSWK4tTHryFudeYTV7QAirtwQ5l&id=100064088379673

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 16. 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 email: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Zoom events

Eye Matter Outings

• An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto

Special features

Canterbury to Rome – the walk is now completed
From Pavarotti to Peppa Pig “It’s who you know not what you know!”
Life depicted in three stages at the Tate
Thanks to everyone who came over to say hello
Unmasking sight loss with Hannah Gibson
FlowSense Research Project sponsored by Innovate UK- The first session
Reflections from MetroBlindSports AGM.
Braille – 200years on
Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Thank you to Sarah for hosting Bookworms on 30th October, where we discussed “River of Destiny” by Barbara Erskine. This book got a 6 out of 10.

November’s bookworms was moved to Wednesday, 4th December. the book that would be discussed is “The Family Upstairs” by Lisa Jewell. More about this in the next edition. It can still be downloaded or ordered from the RNIB library. To recommend any book from the RNIB library for a future Bookworms, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Bookworms”.

Eye Matter Outings

Please find details of all our events here

Highlights include:

An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto

At the London Palladium

8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF

On Thursday 9th January 2025 at 7:30pm

Touch tour and Meet and Greet at Oxford Circus Station timings TBC

Tickets are £25.50.

To buy your ticket(s) for this brilliant theatre experience, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject “Panto”.

Special features

Canterbury to Rome – the walk is now completed.

Over 2000 miles walked across four countries finally Richard and Fiona entered Rome on Tuesday 19th November.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of sight loss in countries where disability isn’t so prominent and meet so many kind people along our way”, said Fiona. “A huge thanks to the marvellous Richard who held my hand and for those who have supported our adventure.”

Eye Matter is so proud and delighted that Richard and Fiona have completed their 2000 mile walk from Canterbury to Rome. thank you to everyone who has supported them so far and donations are still being gratefully received at the following link:

https://www.ju,stgiving.com/page/eyematter

From Pavarotti to Peppa Pig “It’s who you know not what you know!”.

Back by popular demand on Friday first November, Martin Goldsmith shared some of the greatest stories of things he has seen and people he has worked with in a career spanning 50 years.

Eye Matter members were mesmerised by the colourful stories about recognisable stars and bands, along with his access to some exclusive events. Of course, you had to be there to hear these unbelievable tales!

Life depicted in three stages at the Tate.

On Monday 4th November, Eye Matter members were invited to enjoy a private tour at the Tate Gallery. Thanks to member Vicky Blencowe for the amazing photos and comments.

“Excellent audio described tour at Tate Britain Galleries with Marcus Dickey Horley.”

The members explored three installations by a young modern artist called Alvaro Barrington covering three main areas of his life, starting as a child with his grandmother in Venezuela with a veranda style installation of benches cupboard in plastic with art behind and between. The second installation was Set as a teenager in New York with a cell size shop like building with a red roof and two moving shutters on each end going up and down. This was all encased in a large metal wire cage.

Vicky explained, “Taking centre stage was an amazing statue of his friend Samantha. She was captured sitting on top of a large round installation structure of stainless steel corrugated sheeting surrounded by a dozen sculpted metal basins or drums. There was also a selection of artwork on stretched Hessian fabric depicting his time in Notting Hill based around the carnival and West Africa figures and portraits seen there.”

If you would like to read more and access Vicky’s other photos and videos please join our members only group on Facebook

Thanks to everyone who came over to say hello.

On Tuesday 5th November as part of the Sight Village Tour 2024 Eye Matter took part in Sight Village South East at High Street Kensington Town Hall. Over 50 different exhibitors including MetroBlindSport, VocalEyes, VisionAid, and RNIB joined Eye Matter to provide a range of information for blind and partially sighted people.

Around 1000 people attended the event including parents of visually impaired children , rehabilitation workers,different representatives from other groups such as Illumenate Freedom and of course many of our lovely members who came over to say hello. It was great to meet Lesta Woo who runs our Lindy Hop sessions and Odette who ran our tennis sessions during the summer sports day.

Suzie (Eye Matter’s founder)who has attended previous Sight Villages in Birmingham and Leeds was overwhelmed with the amount of visitors to our stall,

If you would like to read more and access Vicky’s other photos and videos please join our members only group on FaceBook

Thanks to everyone who came over to say hello.

On Tuesday 5th November as part of the Sight Village Tour 2024 Eye Matter took part in Sight Village Southe East at High Street Kensington Town Hall. Over 50 different exhibitors including MetroBlindSport, VocalEyes, VisionAid, and RNIB joined Eye Matter to provide a range of information for blind and partially sighted people.

Suzie (Eye Matter’s founder)who has attended previous Sight Villages in Birmingham and Leeds was overwhelmed with the amount of visitors to our stall,

“Eye Matter on tour has gone from strength to strength this year and we believe this helps to highlight how important it is to support the visually impaired community”.

Eye Matters brightly coloured stall was buzzing with excitement, as we signed up over 25 new members along with making new connections with potential members and organisations interested in our work.

If you would like to read more click here:

Unmasking sight loss with Hannah Gibson.

On Friday 8th November our “inspiring Speaker” was Hannah Gibson, a dynamic leader with a deep commitment to helping people and businesses thrive through disability inclusion. From an early age she recognised the need to surround herself with a strong, supportive network after witnessing her father’s struggles in coming to terms with his sight loss conditionRP (retinitis pigmentosa) which she too had inherited.

Hannah referred to this realisation as “unmasking” sight loss, recounting situations when night blindness or her inability to recognise faces caused intense anxiety. She perceived “unmasking” sight loss would expose her vulnerability to her peers, which often led to self deprecating thoughts. However,in spite of this, just like other young women, Hannah was determined to enjoy life through travel, socialising and festivals. Fondly she remembered during one festival whilst struggling to locate her tent in the dark and trying to avoid the hundreds of tent pegs connected to guide ropes, being hauled over a helpful Fireman’s shoulder!

Her new project entitled, “Diverse Integration”, is a model to encourage employers to accept integration of disabled people within their workforce through an holistic approach. Hannah’s years of experience demonstrates that having good inclusion and accessability improves the morale of the workplace and therefore increases productivity.

To read Hannah’s full story click here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0sCMZ9Ns9akr32FjRbDgzzbj7HUW5hFK3pYSs7gswUZ8pwVqTQqnBZuc9mEb5dgUKl&id=100064088379673

Click here to find out more about Hannah’s new project: https://diverseintegration.co.uk/

Hannah Gibson

hannah@diverseintegration.co.uk

07825 226 855

Pip Doleman

pip@diverseintegration.co.uk

07809 609 221

Click here to find out about our other “Inspiring Speakers”: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/inspiring-speakers/

FlowSense Research Project sponsored by Innovate UK- The first session.

Eye Matter is delighted to be collaborating with Muna Daud, the Founder of “FlowSense”. FlowSense is the world’s first accessible period blood detection device for visually impaired women. The device aims to help women manage and track their menstrual cycles as well as providing information about their general health.

FlowSense is a recently formed company established by a multidisciplinary designer, Muna Daud. The designer developed an experimental prototype device that detects period blood once placed directly on a sanitary pad or underwear. Thus, empowering visually impaired women to independently differentiate between period blood and discharge, and track their cycle. The project aim is to prioritise an intuitive and user-friendly design that indicates the status of the menstrual flow using discrete and accessible methods. While the engineered aspects of this concept are understood, the immediate challenge for Flowsense is to understand the product design and interface challenges associated with the needs of visually impaired women.

This application considers the profound challenge of navigating menstrual health in darkness, where every period is not merely a routine inconvenience but a formidable battle for dignity and independence. Furthermore, these visually impaired women face health risks from pad overuse, such as infections and toxic shock syndrome, and struggle to differentiate between period blood and discharge, exacerbating the constant fear of stains and the stigma surrounding menstruation.

FlowSense shatters these barriers by offering a design concept as the world’s first patentable technology that empowers visually impaired women to manage their menstrual hygiene with an assurance that was previously unattainable. This is more than innovation; it’s a declaration that inclusivity is paramount, affirming that every woman deserves to navigate her menstrual cycle with

The first session on Tuesday 14th November was a hybrid session based in Kings Cross. Here members were able to learn more about this revolutionary product for blind and partially sighted women and how they were at the forefront of its design.

Tasha said, “I had a great time, it was very interesting to be able to participate. I enjoyed learning about FlowSense, as well as listening to everyone’s great questions and comments.”

Rachel Bowdan -Waterson (Eye Matters Secretary Trustee)expressed her delight at being able to handle a range of prototypes .”Muna was so generous in providing different sizes, material types and ways they could be administered. From all of these we were able to discuss the different merits and provide ideas for the next stage of development.”

Although this product is aimed at blind and partially sighted women it has commercial appeal to detect the changes of blood flow to help women understand their own bodies.

“Despite women being 51% of the UK population, discussing their monthly cycles is still a taboo area, yet, within this group, we were able to share anxieties we had held for many years.” Rachel confided.

you can still get involved! We are looking for amazing women of all ages who have regular periods to join us at our next exciting market research opportunity being held at St Pancras Living Centre on Tuesday, 10th December at 11am-1pm.

As a thank you for taking part you will receive a £25 Amazon gift voucher and a complimentary lunch.

For more information and to book your place please contact Suzie:

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “FlowSense”.

Reflections from MetroBlindSports AGM.

On Monday 25th November 2024, I joined around 70 of their members for Metroblindsport’s aGM held at the Union Jack Club(Waterloo). Rory Field, MetroBlindSports CEO, spoke about the success of their 46th summer games (which incorporated athletics for visually impaired adults of all ages, a new programme designed to encourage a more gentle introduction into sport and outlined their current range of activities. He then introduced his team including some potential Trustees who hoped to be elected later in the evening.

Along with a range of pilot schemes and special programmes,MetroBlind Sport provides a core range of activities including ; tennis, football, cricket, Goalball, bowls and their yearly skiing trip to Norway. Mike Brace fondly remembered the excitement receiving an invitation for a group of blind people to try skiing for the first time, in Norway, way back in 1974! For many members this continues to be thee highlight on their calendar.

As a thank you for taking part you will receive a £25 Amazon gift voucher and a complimentary lunch.

For more information and to book your place please contact Suzie:

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “FlowSense”.

Reflections from MetroBlindSports AGM.

A designated leader, from some of these sports, awarded presentations to an individual who had made an impact or achievement within the group. Jarvid received the trophy for raising awareness of cricket both here and in India alongwith overcoming his own anxieties around sight loss. Linda, a long time volunteer within tennis (particularly on the Wednesday evenings B1 and beginners session) was awarded recognition from Odette. These awards reflected personal achievement rather than just sporting attainment.

Created in 1973 by a group of passionate blind and partially sighted sports enthusiasts MetroBlindSport has celebrated its 50th year and in November 2023 was awarded the Kings Award for voluntary Services, (equivalent to an MBE). Like many other charities MetroBlindSport is conscious of the need to retain funding to run its range of sports programmes and was delighted to receive over £400 from that nights raffle.

If you would like more information about MetroBlind Sport please click here:

If you would like to take part in Eye Matter’s 2025 sports day please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Sportsday”.

Braille – 200years on .

created in the 19th century Louis Braille’s concept of a six digit tactile code continues to unlock opportunities for blind and partially sighted people

On Tuesday 26th November, several members of Eye Matter attended a unique celebration of Braille(kindly hosted by the RNIB) at theBritish Library. The evening provided participants the opportunity to touch different pieces of equipment which included, an early Braille typewriter (1880) and a digital Braille pad. Around 200 people were able to share their personal experiences and attend a presentation in the theatre.

time volunteer within tennis (particularly on the Wednesday evenings B1 and beginners session) was awarded recognition from Odette. These awards reflected personal achievement rather than just sporting attainment.

If you would like more information about MetroBlind Sport please click here:

If you would like to take part in Eye Matter’s 2025 sports day please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Sportsday”.

Braille – 200years on .

created in the 19th century Louis Braille’s concept of a six digit tactile code continues to unlock opportunities for blind and partially sighted people

A hybrid presentation was hosted by Dave Williams (RNIB’s Ambassador for Design and Inovation, host on VI Talk- RNIB Connect Radio and founder of the Braillist Foundation) to discuss the myths and nerits of Braille used in 2024. Panellists included Betsy Griffin(an 11 year old author, Emma Tracey a BBC journalist and presenter,,UNESCO ambassador Jane Constance and Lord David Blankett. Jane and Lord Blunkett demonstrated to the audience, the relevance of Braille 200 years after it had been invented. Emma, like David, related its importance in being able to read aloud to her children. David recountered how he kept Braille notes of people’s names in his pocket whilst Jane explained how she had transcribed her 8,0000 word thesis into Braille.

This was the official launch of a years programme which will be touring around the Uk to encourage more people to engage with Braille. The audience agreed with Lord Blunkett’s idea that it should be offered alongside British Sign Language (BSL) currently taught in many schools.

For more information about this event click here:

https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/education-and-learning/braille-tactile-codes/braille-through-the-years-past-present-and-future

For information about the Braillist Foundation click here:

Welcome to the Braillists

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 15. 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@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:
Eye Matter Zoom events

“Living Well With Sight Loss” (12th series).
Labelling sight loss
Training for those who wish to teach iPhone VoiceOver or Android TalkBack skills

Eye Matter Outings

Eye Matter Christmas Concert
Eye Matter’s “Winter Extravaganza”!
An AD performance of Robin Hood Panto at the London Palladium
Ben Elton: Authentic Stupidity- Stand Up Comedy Tour
Eye Matter and Seable holiday to Sicily 2025

Special Features

The ‘blind leading the blind’ – our Italian adventure
New volunteer opportunities with Eye Matter
Simply the Best with Eye Matter
Bounce with Eye Matter.
Stay safe with Eye Matter and the London Fire Brigade.

External activities

Commemorating the 200^th anniversary of Braille

Eye Matter Zoom Events on week starting 11^th November

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

“Living Well With Sight Loss” (12th series).

On Thursday 31^st October (at 11am) Eye Matter members (in partnership with RNIB) participated in our 12th series of “Living Well With Sight Loss” course. The facilitators explained how this course had initially been delivered in-person but, now through Zoom more people were able to register. The group discussed an array of subjects from, RNIB services, travel, Taxi cards and the discrepancies of services provided by local authorities. Steve also explained the importance of having a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) which denotes that your sight loss has been registered. In their next session they will discuss rehabilitation and access to low vision clinics alongside other information needed as we journey through sight loss.

This course is delivered twice a year, the next one starts in May 2025.

Labelling sight loss

Joanna Williams, Eye Matter’s grief workshop facilitator writes a blog for our website twice a month. This episode is entitled “The Power of Labels.” When experiencing loss, one of the processes to go through is working out, ‘Who am I?’ in this new world. Just as a newly bereaved person who has lost a partner finds themselves suddenly called ‘a widow’ and has to figure out what that means to them, you may have been given labels relating to your loss, not all of which will have been welcome. Perhaps you acquired the label ‘blind’ or ‘visually impaired’ or ‘severely sight impaired’ suddenly, or over time, or perhaps there has been a label you have carried since birth…

To read the full blog, and previous blogs, please use the link below.

Mental Health Wellbeing Blog

To take part in our twice monthly Zoom sessions please email Suzie with the subject “Thriving”: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Training for those who wish to teach iPhone VoiceOver or Android TalkBack skills

We seek members who are confident iPhone and Android users interested in sharing their skills with other VI individuals. To support this initiative, we have a new Volunteer VoiceOver Training Manager, Charu Bansal, and the RNIB will facilitate a short training programme designed to enhance your teaching abilities.

While our first training session was on October 29, there is still time to register your interest in subsequent VoiceOver and TalkBack ‘teacher training’. In addition, we are planning to offer basic iPhone and Android lessons in November. If you are interested in attending these lessons in the future, please email us, and we will keep you informed as arrangements are made.

To sign up for the teaching training, please email us with the subject line ‘Teach.’ If you are interested in the basic iPhone or Android lessons, please use the subject line ‘Lesson.’

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

Eye Matter Christmas Concert

Date: Saturday 30^th November

Location: Somers Town Living Centre, Kings Cross NW1

Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Meet and Greet: 4pm at St Pancras International Station Midland Road Exit by the Thameslink barrier

Please come and join Eye Matter for this fun afternoon.

Superb VI musician Kevin Satizabal will once again accompany the choir.

£5 voluntary contribution

For tickets, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Eye Matter’s “Winter Extravaganza”!

Date: Thursday, 12th December 2024

Location: The Crown London Hotel, 152 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 3ED

Time: 11:30am-6:00pm

Meet & Greet: 10:15am at St. Pancras International

Join Eye Matter for a fun-filled afternoon and indulge in a sumptuous four-course lunch.

Tickets are subsidised at £40 per person.

Eye Matter never wants financial constraints to be a barrier, so please contact us if this amount may prove prohibitive. Equally, please donate towards the Extravaganza if you are able to, as this will allow more people to attend.

All donations and prizes for the extravaganza raffle gratefully received on the day.

Please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk for more information.

An AD performance of ‘Robin Hood Panto’ at the London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street W1F 7TF

Thursday January 6, 2025 at 7:30pm
Touch tour time tbc

Meet and greet at Oxford Circus Station time tbc

Tickets are £25.50 each

To buy your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Panto’

Ben Elton: Authentic Stupidity – Stand Up Comedy Tour at the Duke of York Theatre

St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG

Saturday January 18, 2025 at 7:30pm

Meet and greet at 6:45pm at Leicester Square Station

Tickets are £20.13

To buy your ticket, email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Stupidity’

Eye Matter and Seable holiday to Sicily 2025

June 16-21, 2025.

We have been quoted a price of £1843.34 (excluding flights) for a five night/six-day trip to Sicily. The cost includes bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel Malavoglia resort; all activities; van hire; three guides (one Seable staff member and two Eye Matter guides) based on a shared twin or double.

To Find out more or register your interest, please email us at suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject ‘Holiday’.

You can also keep up to date with events on our Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02wFmBPyPqoVHQgMMwjUPp4BKtp9gcjK8BGKgViyXHavTZkUY4KZ8jDxXSHJEXwdJfl&id=100064088379673

Where you can join the Eye Matters members’ group.

Special Features

The “Blind Leading the Blind” – follow our Italian adventure

Richard Simpson and Fiona Musgrove who are both severely sight impaired, have roller caned 2000 miles, across England, France, Switzerland and in Italy – raising funds for Eye Matter. Having recently completed another 150 miles, they will finish their fundraising with the last leg of their trek between November 14-21, when they will walk into Rome.

Fiona (Eye Matter’s Communication Trustee) explained how at times their pathways were quite an adventure jumping over streams, crossing planks over a river and along narrow roads. “Richard is brilliant using Google Maps but, even this app struggles within the dense warrens of the Medieval towns.” She added, “It is quite sad that we haven’t encountered many blind and partially sighted people, living in Italy and hope our appearance will encourage awareness of sight loss.”

Follow their adventures on Facebook and Instagram, and if you would like to support their walk with a donation to Eye Matter please click here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/eyematter

New volunteer opportunities with Eye Matter

We are pleased to announce an exciting new volunteer opportunity for our members. Eye Matter is launching a member outreach programme, which will be coordinated by our new volunteer member liaison, Irena Valchera. We seek volunteers to assist Irena in contacting members to see how they are doing; confirm their continued interest in membership to Eye Matter; and ensure that they are able to access our opportunities.

If you would like to support Irena, even one call a week would be helpful – while more would be greatly appreciated. Volunteers will receive basic training for this role.

For further information, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject line ‘Outreach.’

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our community.

“Simply the Best” with Eye Matter

Twenty-three Eye Matter members recently attended the touch tour and AD evening performance of “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” on October 16 at the Aldwych Theatre.

Karis Anderson, who has played Tina for only 3 months was ‘rarely off the stage” explained Suzie (Eye Matter’s Founder) “It was absolutely fabulous”.

Rachel Bowden-Waterson (Eye Matter’s Secretary and Trustee) called it a ‘phenomenal production’ and noted that despite the early start and two hour and 45-minute running time were necessary to tell the story of the singer’s long and colourful life. ‘The quality of the acting and vocal performances made the time fly,’ said Rachel.

Click here to read the full article and photos: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02mCcRzDfSoTXcvkbVtucEzoemnnS4vkrjobUW7mH3sMT2GK28Urus1UA9QD6yWKM3l&id=100064088379673

Bounce with Eye Matter

On October 9, members joined Rachel for our monthly Bounce discussion via Zoom.

Highlights include discussion of topics such as:

What have members heard about the ‘Eye Care Support Pathway’?
Would members advise booking assistance in advance of getting a mainline train to somewhere like Rugby?
The Uber Eats ‘Fresh Mondays’ offer of a 50% discount on fresh fruit and vegetables from select retailers
Click here for the full review: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/bounce-notes/

Please note that Eye Matter does not endorse any goods or services discussed in Bounce sessions. All topics / comments are contributed by meeting attendees and are suggestions only. Individuals are responsible for acting on recommendations and any consequences thereof are not the responsibility of Eye Matter or its partners.
If you would like to join our next session in November, please email Suzie:

Stay safe with Eye Matter and the London Fire Brigade.

On Friday 11th October, members joined us for a Fire Safety Talk with Darren Balshaw, who is a Fire Chief at Barking and Dagenham Fire Station. He discussed the importance of having smoke alarms fitted and perhaps, how your local fire station could assist with this.

To arrange a Home Fire Safety Visit, call

0800 028 4428

The online tool is available via:

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/home-fire-safety

External activities

Commemorate Braille’s 200th anniversary

To mark the 200^th anniversary of Braille, we celebrate the importance and longevity of this tactile reading and writing system by calling your attention to the comprehensive resources of The Braillists’ Foundation. Please see the link below if you are interested in learning about Braille or learning to read Braille.

Braille for Beginners

Eye Matter Zoom Events on week starting 11^th November:

Monday:

1:30pm-3pm “Turning Surviving into Thriving” facilitated by Joanna Williams, writer, workshop leader and therapist.

In these regular workshops, we will explore the nature of grief in the context of any major life change, not just bereavement, and specifically the challenges of living with visual impairment. As well as gaining an understanding of common human responses to loss, we’ll consider aspects of self-care and practical tools to help us navigate life’s more difficult days.

Joanna Williams is a writer, workshop leader and therapist, specialising in grief and loss. These sessions will not be group therapy but will provide information and ideas, and a space for the sharing of experiences with your peers.

In this week’s session we will be exploring the concept of instrumental vs intuitive grief. Instrumental grievers typically focus on practicalities and problem-solving rather than feeling and expressing emotion. Others around them may perceive that they aren’t grieving at all, or even that they are somewhat cold or don’t need help. In the context of the grief of sight loss, we’ll discuss how best to help yourself wherever you may be on that instrumental-intuitive scale.

Tuesday

6pm fun and friendly social followed by a quiz with Steve Reed

Wednesday

11am Bounce – Come and discuss and bounce ideas off each other

Discuss and swap survival hacks for living with a visual impairment

6pm-7:15pm The Eye Matter Singers – Everyone welcome 🎶 Please email Suzie for more information.

Thursday

No meetings

Friday

11am Fun and friendly social followed by Neurobics with Steve Wax, aerobics for your brain

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 14. 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@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:
Eye Matter Zoom events

Sweet Dreams with Eye Matter – Steve Wax provides a talk about sleep and 50 ways of how to improve it.
Are you a confident iPhone and Android user willing to share your knowledge?

Eye Matter Outings

An audio described tour of Sparkle in the Park 2024, in partnership with Festival.org
An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto
Ben Elton: Authentic Stupidity- Stand Up Comedy Tour.

Special features

The blind leading the blind – follow our Italian adventure
Hey “What’s Going On?” with Eye Matter and Lesta Woo.
The latest brilliant improv comedy session with Eye Matter
“Being funny makes me not feel invisible” (Ruby Wax, September 2024)
Eye Matter’s first in-person Grief Counselling workshop, hosted by Joanne (“Jo”) Williams on September 28, 2024, in King’s Cross, London.
Part 3: The delivery of audio description and training into UK theatres featuring VocalEyes.

Eye Matter Zoom events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights include:

Sweet Dreams with Eye Matter – Steve Wax provides a talk about sleep and 50 ways of how to improve it.

On Tuesday 8^th of October. On our Zoom account- 6pm to 8pm (social hour beforehand). During this workshop, we will discuss why we sometimes find it challenging to have a good night sleep. We will also discuss how lack of sleep might affect the function of our brain. Lastly, we will explore 50 approved methods of improving our sleep patterns.

If you would like to join us, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Are you a confident iPhone and Android user willing to share your knowledge?

We are seeking confident iPhone and Android users within our membership who are interested in sharing their skills with other visually impaired individuals. To support this initiative, we are excited to introduce our new Volunteer VoiceOver Training Manager, Charu Bansal, alongside volunteer IT Trainer Mark Evans, who will facilitate a short training program designed to enhance your teaching abilities.

Our first training session is scheduled for October 29th at 2 PM. If you would like to learn how to effectively teach iPhone VoiceOver or Android TalkBack skills.

Click here to our Facebook page to read more:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0wiRpYrB1Dr71TY2ozaebiDeQLFiFVWj5Cgtr3pmG2GwMGDQ6jYfxqsQru2YSpUFsl&id=100064088379673

To sign up for the teaching training, please email us with the subject line “Teach.”

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

An audio described tour of Sparkle in the Park 2024, in partnership with Festival.org

Sunday 1^st December

Meeting at 4pm at Woolwich Station, Elizabeth Line and travelling to site together by bus. Returning to Woolwich Station at approximately 7pm.

Sparkle in the Park 2024 is a free audio-described holiday event at Charlton House with a large-scale light trail and soundscape experience.

There will also be a choir, markets (food, crafts, gifts etc.), and a fun fair.

For more information and to sign up, email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘sparkle’

An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto

At the London Palladium

8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF

On Thursday 9^th January 2025 at 7:30pm

Touch tour time tbc

Meet and greet at Oxford Circus Station time tbc

Tickets are £25.50 each

To buy your ticket email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Panto’

Ben Elton: Authentic Stupidity- Stand Up Comedy Tour.

At the Duke of York theatre

St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG

On Saturday 18^th January 2025

Performance starts at 7:30pm

Meet and greet at 6:45pm at Leicester Square Station

Tickets are £20.13

To buy your ticket, email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Stupidity’

You can also keep up to date with events on our Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02wFmBPyPqoVHQgMMwjUPp4BKtp9gcjK8BGKgViyXHavTZkUY4KZ8jDxXSHJEXwdJfl&id=100064088379673

Where you can join the Eye Matters members’ group.

Special Features

The blind leading the blind – follow our Italian adventure

With around 2000miles stomped across England, France, Switzerland and now down into Italy Richard and Fiona are on the last leg of their mammoth trek. It has been an amazing adventure tasting new food, meeting some great people, and showing to the world blindness is no barrier to enjoying life. Richard’s determination and sense of fun has led them up and down mountains, across fields., over planks of wood spanning a river and down into a snowy valley where they began their Italian adventure.

On Tuesday 8th October they land once again back to where they left off, in Pisa. After a quick look around this leaning towered city they will be making their way on foot (approximately 200 Miles) towards Rome.

Fiona will be raising money to support the many projects Eye Matter delivers to nearly 300 members across the UK. These include access to a mental health and wellbeing blog, regular group counselling, trips to theatres, museums and so many exciting Zoom events.

You can follow their adventures through Facebook and Instagram.

If you would like to donate to Eye Matter, please click here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/eyematter

Hey “What’s Going On?” with Eye Matter and Lesta Woo.

Lesta Woo (a visually impaired Dance teacher) (in collaboration with Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being) hosted an energetic Lindy Hop session via Zoom for Eye Matter members on September 17, 2024. Participants learned the techniques of the perfect Twist and listened to various tracks from James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Nina Simone. “Dancing has always been part of my life,” said Lesta. From a young age, and for many years, she studied modern dance, ballet and tap before being able to demonstrate her skills at various venues whilst at university.

Although Lesta confesses she doesn’t have a favourite dance style, she expresses the sensation of freedom she feels while dancing to the rhythms and compelling momentum of the chords of Jazz and Swing music. “Being able to connect fully to music, to the person you are dancing with and with the earth brings me a lot of joy,” she admits, “especially since connection is something I felt I was losing through sight loss.”

In Eye Matter’s first session with Lesta (August 2024), participants were taught the principles of the Charleston, which is regularly featured on the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing”. (Coincidentally, “Strictly” is choreographed by some of Lesta’s own dance teachers, Ryan François, and Jenny Thomas.). Having been featured on such a high-profile broadcast, this dance style has attracted new fans and become popular among both able-bodied and disabled viewers. “I think it’s amazing that a VI person – Chris McCausland – is on the show this year,” she said.

Jazz and Swing have roots in African American culture. In the 1930/1940’s, Lindy Hop emerged from this musical fusion of expressions, out of the ball rooms in Harlem, New York. It was an example of social inclusion in a country still divided by the colour of their skins, let alone having an impairment… Lindy Hop was effectively the street dance of that era. It was all about expression of freedom through movement which provided an escape for some of those who experienced oppression (including disabled people).

Lesta is teaching us a solo version of this dance but, Lindy Hop is traditionally a partner dance created to encourage social inclusion. Even today there are limited opportunities for disabled people to compete reflecting a problem first incurred by one of its founders Jimmy Valentine. Despite only having one leg he competed and beat, non-disabled dancers, at the Harvest Moon Ball (1940) in New York. Although this launched Jimmy’s career, particularly dancing the Lindy Hop, it wasn’t his disability that stopped him advancing.

In contrast, today, As a VI dance teacher, Lesta has developed her own techniques especially when teaching via Zoom. About her work with Illuminate Freedom, she highlights Jazz as a community-driven dance form and that compliments the organisation’s ethos of providing community projects for VI people.

If you would like more information about this opportunity or would like to participate in our next session, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Follow Lesta here:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566630082055

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/dis_swing_thing?igsh=MnV0aXR1dWtwczVt&utm_source=qr

The latest brilliant improv comedy session with Eye Matter

On Saturday September 21, 2024, 10 Eye Matter members participated in various games and scenarios at the Confidence Building Workshop hosted by Vic Hogg and Steve Reed.

One member described how the workshop enabled her to feel uninhibited when expressing herself through comedy. The facilitators explained that everyone may experience feeling unable to convey opinions, and sometimes using different techniques such as comedy can alter another person’s attitude. Participants shared examples of how sight loss has left them feeling less confident.

Other points of discussion included the concept of “status,” and how easy it can be to judge others. Participants noted how VI people make assumptions about others based on their voices, tones, and interactions rather than facial expressions.

For more information and to sign up for a future confidence-building workshop, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject title “Confidence Workshop”.

“Being funny makes me not feel invisible” (Ruby Wax, September 2024)

In a change to the lighter-hearted performances members usually attend, 32 Eye Matter members and volunteers attended Ruby Wax’s “I’m Not as Well as I Thought I Was” at London’s Ambassadors Theatre.

From the outset, Wax’s reputation as a brash diva was dramatically upended, as she appeared on stage wearing a cozy, pair of pink pyjamas. In her monologue, Ruby tackled the taboos against discussing mental health, and the array of emotions this triggered in herself and others.

Ruby was born in the US in 1958 to Austrian Jews who had fled Vienna just ahead of WWII. She came to the UK in the 1970s and enrolled in the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her first notable appearance was as loud-mouthed American Shelly DuPont in the ITV sitcom “Girls On Top” (1985-1986). This role placed her among Britain’s top female comedians – alongside Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Tracey Ullman, and Joan Greenwood – with whom she worked for many years.

“I’m Not as Well as I Thought I Was” was the first show without live AD that some Eye Matter members have attended. However, Ruby described the sights and sounds of her surroundings in such vivid detail that it seemed as if this was for the benefit of Eye Matter members.

Ruby also hosted a question-and-answer session for the audience of 400 during which she revealed that working with the Royal Shakespeare Company was the highlight of her career.

Click here to read the full article along with photos on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0roVjKt6SBqMVSZgu1bSr8aQM1DnsxTHmSvDhigBTZeaBrJSyzmwzvNpVeWwowrSGl&id=100064088379673

Eye Matter’s first in-person Grief Counselling workshop, hosted by Joanne (“Jo”) Williams on September 28, 2024, in King’s Cross, London.

Members discussed the subject of giving and receiving help: why it can be so hard to accept that we need help in the first place, and even harder to ask for it. The session touched on what may be going through our minds when we need help, how it feels to be helpless, and how helping others can be therapeutic.

“It was beautiful to share space, thoughts and feelings with friends,” said Eye Matter member Charmain. “I’d wholeheartedly recommend these sessions, both via Zoom and in person…Such a brilliantly supportive space – thank you, everyone.”

Another member said, “Thank you so much for today’s session on Grief. It was really informative, and I felt empowered from all the different feedback given by other members. Also, I appreciated Suzie’s advice and together with Jo, they both empowered us all with suggestions on how to express our concerns to others.”

For more advice and strategies about coping with grief, please see Jo’s new blog on the Eye Matter website: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/eye-matter-blog-by-joanna-williams-psychotherapeutic-counsellor-specialising-in-grief-and-loss/

Eye Matter would like to thank therapist Joanne Williams for supporting participants during the emotional session. Likewise, Eye Matter thanks volunteers Hayley and James for escorting members to/from the station.

If you would like to take part in an upcoming Grief Counselling session, please email us.

Part 3: The delivery of audio description and training into UK theatres, featuring VocalEyes.

This is part of our series exploring the development and delivery of formal audio description (AD) into UK theatres, focusing on VocalEyes –

VocalEyes was formed in 1998 by Andrew Holland, an audio describer originally based at London’s National Theatre. It provides training, advice, and other resources to professional audio describers, who in turn offer live and recorded AD in theatres, museums, and arts heritage organisations. Its website and ‘What’s On’ newsletter list events and links to relevant audio notes.

Following an initial grant from the National Lottery, VocalEyes received additional funding that was used to launch the “See of Voice” project: this enabled 26 regional theatres and two touring companies to provide AD by 2010.
In 2008, 168 blind and visually-impaired (VI) people attended an audio-described performance of “Les Misérables”, putting VocalEyes into the “Guinness Book of World Records”:

https://guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-audience-for-audio-described-theatre

VocalEyes works with a range of venues and producers to deliver audio described performances. Based on a preliminary discussion about the production – which may involve awareness training, VocalEyes will work with the production team to implement the full AD scenario. This includes a pre-recorded audio introduction (also available in print); a touch tour shortly before the performance, giving participants access to the set, props, and costumes; and the live AD during the performance, broadcast to blind and VI audience members through headphones.

In 2023 VocalEyes arranged a survey of the websites of 465 venues to determine, among other things, how many publicised an audio-described performance. The research revealed 414 for that year – a significant decrease from the 897-odd AD performances identified in 2019, the last time a similar survey was conducted.

Between 2023-2024 to date, VocalEyes has delivered 236 live audio-described performances. These have included several performances at The Curve Theatre in Leicester, The Royal Court Theatre in London’s Sloane Square, and West End hits such as “The Lion King” and “Back to the Future.”

Claire Saddleton, VocalEyes CEO explains, “VocalEyes has come a long way since its early days, overcoming challenges like the pandemic and its impact on arts and culture. It’s heartening to see audiences returning to theatres and visitors heading back to museums and galleries. While financial challenges continue to affect venues, service providers, and audiences alike, these are exciting times for audio description (AD). New technology is driving better access and inclusion, and more companies than ever are offering AD services. We’re proud to promote so many shows through our regular What’s On guides. Personally, I’d love to see more venues and heritage sites invest in additional training to ensure that the visitor experience is as smooth and welcoming as possible.”

VocalEyes has a core team of five staff (including VI representatives) and a board of nine Trustees, of whom four are also VI. They have a pool of around 50 describers; trainers; consultants, and technicians. In October 2024, they hope to name some additional Trustees.

Eye Matter has worked closely with VocalEyes on some of these projects ensuring the importance of service user engagement. In our next episode we will be focusing on the use of podcasts used by Tim Calvert (from Calvert Creative Concepts) and his continued work with the Audio Description Association.

Dear members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 13. 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@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Zoom events.

Eye Matter Outings

Highlights include:

Eye Matter’s New In-Person Grief Counselling and Mental Health Wellbeing Blogg
Eye Matter Group Grief Workshop
Katriona Taylor at Piano Smithfield

Special features:

Eye Matter Matters’ team grows
Eye Matter Trustees join Visionary Zoom with RNIB Chairperson
Grief Counselling Workshop Focuses on Dealing with Anxiety
Eye Matter’s Choir “Zooms” Into Action
Revolutionary Personal Hygiene Device for VI Women
Eye Matter at Dancing City 2024 with Festival.org and VocalEyes.
Part 2: The delivery of audio description and training into UK theatres.

Eye Matter Zoom events.

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Eye Matter Outings

Find all our events here

Highlights include:

Eye Matter’s New In-Person Grief Counselling and Mental Health Wellbeing Blog

The inaugural face-to-face grief counselling session will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Somerstown Living Centre, King’s Cross, London. Members are invited to venture out from behind their screens, to meet and continue the discussion. This session will be facilitated by our regular therapist Jo Williams, in a safe, secure environment.

Volunteers will be available to escort attendees from King’s Cross Station, and refreshments will be provided.

These sessions have been kindly underwritten by the Marway family and Natasha Cazin, to allow blind and partially sighted people the opportunity to explore a range of topics related to sight-loss.

To book your place or receive more information about this event, please email with the subject” King’s Cross therapy”.

Please click here for our new blog supporting this project and our regular Zoom sessions.: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/eye-matter-blog-by-joanna-williams-psychotherapeutic-counsellor-specialising-in-grief-and-loss/

Eye Matter group grief workshop

Saturday 28^th of September 2pm

Please pay a £5 voluntary contribution

Meet and Greet at 1:30pm at St Pancras Station

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Grief’

At this very special in-person meeting, we’ll be considering the subject of giving and receiving help.

Why can it sometimes be so hard to accept that we need help, and even harder to ask for it? What is going on for us inside when we need help? What buttons does feeling ‘helpless’ press?

How can helping others be therapeutic, and how do we recognise when it’s too much?

Katriona Taylor at Piano Smithfield

Thursday 17^th October 8pm

Piano Smithfield, 14 Long Lane, London EC1A 9PN

These tickets were generously reduced to £12.75 for Eye Matter until the 1st of October.

Meet-and-greet at Barbican Underground Station at 7pm

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Jazz’

Our member, outstanding jazz vocalist Katriona Taylor premieres her uncharted melodies at Piano Smithfield.

UK vocalist Katriona Taylor premieres her new unreleased original songs and some of her hits from her highly acclaimed albums “Daring Dreams” and “Blind Passion”.

Katriona is famous for her sultry, smooth vocals, and funky vibes, and these original songs expertly blend a fusion of jazz grooves.

Katriona and her musicians will light up the stage and you’ll hear a remarkable hit of instrumentation and musicianship.

Katriona is at home on the intimate stages of the UK’s top jazz clubs like Ronnie Scotts and 606 or at large International festivals. She has opened for the legendary George Benson and the James Taylor Quartet amongst others. Her 6 albums have received multiple plaudits & airplay and rave reviews, as well as being featured on BBC National radio and JazzFM.

The bar sells pizza if you wish.

If you’d like to come, email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘JAZZ’ or call Suzie on 07968722664

Please keep up to date with our activities on our Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02wFmBPyPqoVHQgMMwjUPp4BKtp9gcjK8BGKgViyXHavTZkUY4KZ8jDxXSHJEXwdJfl&id=100064088379673

and join our members of Eye Matter group.

Special Features

Eye Matter Matters’ team grows

We are delighted that Maggie Rosen will help with editing. She will be ensuring the t’s are crossed and I’s are dotted!

Eye Matter Trustees join Visionary Zoom with RNIB Chairperson

On September 4, 2024, two Eye Matter Trustees participated in a Trustee Forum Zoom session organised by Visionary, a charity that in turn, supports small, local sight loss charities. The session’s guest speaker was RNIB Chairperson Anna Tylor. She described the challenges of operating in a difficult economic environment; her role in supporting the RNIB’s CEO Mat Stringer; and ensuring that Trustees have the right information at the right time to enable them to make decisions.

She confirmed the RNIB’s commitment to increasing employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired people within the organisation with a range of new projects. Currently only 16% of its workforce are VI.

Eye Matter are disappointed about the RNIB’s decision to close their Technology For Life project, despite a petition that received over 1000 signatures protesting the closure – and especially in light of the RNIB’s stated aim of increasing its VI staff. The charity has yet to explain how it proposed to support the VI community’s technology-related needs.

Grief Counselling Workshop Focuses on Dealing with Anxiety

On Monday 9th September, 14 members engaged via Zoom in a grief counselling workshop to discuss the concept of physical reactions to anxiety and coping techniques. The conversation covered how anxiety can cause subconscious reactions; the importance of relaxation; the stress of restless sleep; and coping techniques.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet were highlighted as important habits for facilitating a good night’s sleep as they can reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Eye Matter’s Choir “Zooms” Into Action

Twenty members from across the UK joined Zoom for the first of 12 weekly rehearsals for our Christmas concert, scheduled for November 30, 2024. Eye Matter member and choir director Rachel Bowden led singers through a range of vocal warm-ups and two of the eight songs selected for the programme.

Eye Matter’s choir takes place every Monday from 6pm. It is a fun, social practice for everyone to enjoy.

Please email Suzie with the subject title “Choir”.

Revolutionary Personal Hygiene Device for VI Women

On September 10, 2024, Eye Matter hosted a presentation by Muna Daud, multi-disciplinary designer and inventor of FlowSense which is a new device that may change the lives of blind and VI women of menstruating age.

This project will engage with blind and partially sighted women to develop a new piece of equipment to assist with monitoring menstrual flows. Over a number of months, the women will examine new ideas and technics which will eventually lead to the development of a working prototype. Eye Matter is actively recruiting more members to participate in both in-person and remote sessions exploring the concept and functionality of FlowSense.

Muna explained that she developed FlowSense in response to the profound challenges that many blind and VI women face when it comes to addressing their menstrual health. In the absence of adequate eyesight, “every period is not merely a routine inconvenience but a formidable battle for dignity and independence.”

If you would like to take part in this project or would like more information, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Eye Matter at Dancing City 2024 with Festival.org and VocalEyes.

On Saturday September 7, 10 Eye Matter members attended a live, audio description-assisted route through Dancing City 2024 Stratford, organised by GDFI2024 as part of Festival.org. This annual event celebrates outdoor dance, showcasing exceptional home-grown and international talent in outdoor spaces across Stratford, in the new East Bank and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 426,400 people attended Dancing City across the 10 different shows which were performed 2 or 3 times in the day. Eye Matter was a very small group when compared to the numbers of visitors around us including Land Empathy 333: Patois 1000: Frock 260: Synergy 400. The various acts were situated around Stratford Park on the iconic area of London 2012 Olympics. This spirit was very much in evidence from the energy of every performance. It was truly amazing how much was packed into just 15 minutes.

The “Land Empathy” piece was an apocalyptic image of the result of human neglect of the environment. As part of the touch tour, we were encouraged to play with pots of slimy clay the dancers used in the performance. Although we had the fabulous audio description coming through our headsets, it was still nice for those of us with a little sight to be able to see the blurred images of the dancers moving so close to us.

In contrast to the grey sparseness of “Land Empathy”, we then moved to the bright colours of the “Patois”, the touch tour of which took place on stage before the show. The performance, “reawakens the unwritten language of Patois, telling a story of culture, lost languages, longing and belonging”, from a movement of a large group of people in the 1950’s. We were delighted to be introduced to the show’s British Caribbean choreographer Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE, who, alongside Kate (from VocalEyes), described the many differently- shaped and multi-coloured trunks and suitcases used by the performers. Jeanefer explained how the costume and set designer had gone to great lengths to ensure authenticity of the colours and textures of materials used on stage, to reflect the bright colours of their homeland: For example, the backdrop was made from gently rippling chiffon scarves of blue, white, yellow and black, symbolising the flag of St Lucia. Laughing she recounted how the brightly coloured luggage had tempted a toddler, who tried to wander off with one of the smaller pieces. Likewise, the female lead dancers wore brightly coloured skirts, shorter at the front, to allow them to move around the stage and then changed into clothes in muted colours, to reflect their opinion of their new home. With the beat of the music in our chests our feet soon started tapping along with its energy. Eye Matter members are renowned for their love of music and dance and were delighted to be invited to join the performers on stage at the end of the show.

We very much appreciated that the cast of “Frock” met us before their performance. In turn, they introduced their characters and described in great detail their costumes. They had swapped the stereotypical clothing used to distinguish male from female, possibly reflecting the challenge of not letting disability be a barrier to dance. Indeed, their movements and synchronisation were so well incorporated that the ability – rather than disability – of the performers was in the spotlight. I loved the way Kate described the agility of one dancer, who was spun around by a performer in a wheelchair, who used his chair as part of the routine. Each dancer also had their own distinct teacup and saucer as a prop to perhaps portray conformity vs uniqueness.

The final piece, “Synergy”, was a futuristic, almost balletic show about embracing the wonders of our universe. Dancers used their bodies to engage with this theme – with one dancer swirling her crutches around her, before leaving them behind, (This reminded me of my earlier dancing with my white cane on stage.). As their set ended, the dancers changed into some rather desirable bomber jackets reminiscent of astronaut gear.

Eye Matter would like to thank Access Producer Kat Gill and her team for all the care and consideration shown to our members throughout the day. Likewise, we would like to show our gratitude to Kate from VocalEyes, without whom we would not have been able to understand what was happening during the performances.

Please click here to our Facebook page to view the photos kindly supplied by Emmanuel Cole: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0WxXbLZ734Zjq3dLBxzrPa1qXKs7FUXxEVCsyi7bfs81bhvq4mHnNtVn1jRxM2kPzl&id=10006408837967

If you would like to find out more about Eye Matter or join one of our events please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Part 2: The delivery of audio description and training into UK theatres.

The first part of this episode will concentrate on the contributions made by Extant. How it continues to ensure access to the Arts is maintained and its engagement with its service users as part of this process.

Extant was founded in 1997 by visually impaired Maria Oshodi. Currently it employs seven people (of whom two are visually impaired) and engages with a host of freelance audio describers / facilitators. They strive to ensure visually impaired people are at the heart of their management, training and opportunities. Aswell as providing artistic development for blind and partially sighted people in the theatrical sector, they run several different training programmes including, a ‘Pre-Enhance’ session for a theatre company to work with a visually impaired facilitator (for up to 5 days) on various stages of the production and incorporating the embedding of audio description (AD) into the whole creative process. ‘Lunch and Learn’, is a more informal programme (with limited capacity) where the group discuss related concerns and are provided with an introduction to the Social Model of Disability and Equality Act (2010).

Led by Caroline Jeyaratnam-Joyner, Enhance Training Manager (at Extant) they are currently delivering their ‘Post Enhanced’ Training to a Paul Hamlyn Foundation funded series of projects across 6 UK venues (2024-2026). These training sessions will involve the whole company (including front of house, stage workers, production and actors). All these programmes incorporate participation in their Visual Impairment Awareness Training (VIAT) and will receive a recognised “Enhanced Mark” which can be used in the theatres promotional content.

At a recent Extant Connect meeting (a monthly Zoom session for artists, creators and writers) members discussed the need to increase audio descriptions into live productions such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Extant highlighted, “A response to the sobering fact that only 17 shows are listed with the Fringe Society as having audio description in 2024. Although this figure increased to 27 AD shows (0.7%) out of 3,984 shows available Extant felt it severely discriminated against the needs of blind and partially sighted people. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has been operating for 75 years and boasts its commitment to inclusive access. Last year 2.5 million tickets were issued yet only 0.6% of shows offered any form of AD.

Louisa Sanfey (Artist Development Manager at Extant)

explained, “It’s frankly outrageous that in 2024, VI people are almost totally excluded from this major celebration of arts and culture. So Extant decided to do something about it! Along with our Scottish friends at VICS (Visually Impaired Creatives Scotland), we approached the Fringe Society to request a crisis meeting, the Fringe Society being the organisation that underpins the Fringe, selling tickets, supporting performers and assisting audiences. We also got in touch with ZOO Venues, one of the leading venues at the fringe, to set up an Open House for artists, venue staff and interested parties to discuss the situation.”

If you would like to find more about Extants work, please click here: https://extant.org.uk/edinburgh-fringe-event

Next time we will explore the work of VocalEyes and how this record-breaking organisation continues to develop access into the arts.

Dear Members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number twelve. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Zoom events.

Grief counselling workshop – Monday 9th September at 1.30pm
Eye Matter Singers return at 6pm on Monday, 9th September via the wonders of Zoom.
Introducing FlowSense (through Zoom) on Tuesday 10th September 2024.

Eye Matter Outings

Special features:

Feeling the sun setting above ‘Fiddler on The Roof’ with Eye Matter.
Bullseye with Eye matter.
Eye Matter had plenty to say!
Poetry appreciation workshop with Diana Bramson.
Exercising “the little grey cells” with Steve Wax.

Eye Matter Zoom events.

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Some highlights:

Grief counselling workshop – Monday 9th September at 1.30pm

Our next grief counselling workshop takes place Monday 9th September at 1.30pm on Zoom. These twice a month sessions have been kindly funded by the Marway family and Natasha Cazin to allow blind and partially sighted people a chance to explore a range of different topics related to sight-loss. Facilitated by therapist Joanna Williams.

If you would like to find out more about these grief counselling workshops on Zoom, or, join us, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “thriving”.

Eye Matter Singers return at 6pm on Monday, 9th September via the wonders of Zoom.

Come and start your Christmas early with 12 musical weeks working towards our fun and festive concert on Saturday, 30th November at Somers Town Living Centre, London, NW1.

Everyone is welcome to join, there are no auditions, and we sing for well-being, relaxation and most importantly, fun!

Rachel Bowden Waterson leads the weekly warm-ups and singer sessions and superb VI musician Kevin Satizabal will once again accompany the choir.

For more information contact Suzie

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘choir’

Introducing FlowSense (through Zoom) on Tuesday 10th September 2024.

By Fiona Musgrove.

As blind women, managing our periods can be challenging, especially as we get older and our cycles become more unpredictable. Or perhaps you’re just starting out on your menstrual journey and feeling a bit awkward discussing your fears!

If these sound familiar, please join us for this introductory session about Flow Sense.

Eye Matter is thrilled to collaborate on this groundbreaking project with FlowSense.

We are looking for six women of all ages who are still having regular periods.

Our first session will be on Tuesday 10th September at 7pm,on Zoom.

To book your place or to find out more about this unique experience please email Suzie: with the subject title “FlowSense”.

Eye Matter Outings

All our events are accessed here

These are the outings we still have space for, we hope you can join us.

21st September Confidence Building Workshop with Vic Hogg and Steve Reed £5

Join us for a fun-packed session that consists of various drama games and creative exercises to boost confidence and improve interactive skills– and are guaranteed to make you giggle!

28th September visually impaired group grief workshop session with Joanna Williams in Kings cross Sommers Town Hall 2pm to 5pm with refreshments £5

Please join her for our first in person session

17th October Katriona Taylor Jazz at Piano Smithfield £12.50

30th November Eye Matter Christmas Concert, Kings Cross Somers Town Hall, £5

12th December Eye Matter Winter Extravaganza, Crown Hotel London, meet and greet Kings Cross 10:30am, £40

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Please keep up to date with our activities on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eyematterofficial/

and join our members of Eye Matter group.

Special Features

Feeling the sun setting above ‘Fiddler on The Roof’ with Eye Matter.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Saturday 31st August, 28Eye Matter members attended the open-air performance of ‘The Fiddler of The Roof’ in Regents Park. Suzie Simons (Eye Matter’s Founder) said, “The access was very well done. Many of the actors came out to talk to us and we got to feel the props including the challah bread and the severed head from the dream sequence.

Eye Matter would like to thank all the access team involved in supporting their visit. Suzie added, “Phoebe was so helpful and Jaime who Eye Matter have seen playing with his band TUNGZ were excellent”. A huge thanks to all our fabulous volunteers and members who enjoyed a lovely picnic, before the production, in the park.

A special thanks to Jo, one of our fantastic volunteers for supplying these images.

If you would like to take part in a future theatre trip, please email us.

Bullseye with Eye matter.

By Fiona Musgrove.

After every event I try to use feedback to express how the visit has gone. However, this has been a totally overwhelming experience after Eye Matter’s first PGL activity holiday which took place in East Sussex last week (Monday 26th to Thursday 30th August). To accommodate the different activities Eye Matter participants were divided into three groups: GROUP 1, 9 people: Tiana, Sarah, Rachel, Vicky, Danielle, Erin, Steve, Chanel, Paula, GROUP 2, 10 people: Noemi, Rose, Bushra, Nada, Kasia, Althea, Stuart, Daniel, Lauren, Priti. GROUP 3, 11 people: Hayley, James, Anne, Jane, Andrew, Lucy, Darren, Amrit, Amar, Norin, Karen. Suzie floated between the groups. Subsequently everyone had the chance to try disc golf, archery, rifle shooting, abseiling, giant swinging, axe throwing, climbing, buggy building, swimming, canoeing. Along with a pool party campfire and lots of laughs. Here’s some of their responses.

Steve, “When Suzie was putting Eye Matter together, she had lots of big ideas and dreams, and I would tell her to make sure she could walk before she could run. I think even this trip has been bigger than her dreams. What Eye Matter has achieved, and I don’t just mean Suzie, I mean all of the members has been immense and the last few days epitomises that achievement. Suzie and I have a saying that we use to help with mental health and wellbeing and that is to give yourself praise for the small victories. We say small victories because when you praise those the victories start to get bigger and bigger. Every single person who came to PGL should be praising themselves and giving themselves many pats on the back. Everyone pushed themselves out of their comfort zones and challenged themselves to do things they hadn’t done before. I hope you all have sore backs with all the pats you’ve been giving yourselves. But I also hope Suzie is taking a leaf out of her own book and giving herself a massive pat on the back, not only for arranging this holiday, but also for everything she has achieved with Eye Matter in such a short space of time. That award was more than well deserved.”

Vicky, “I am so proud of us all for achieving so much and pushing our boundaries! For me, my favourites were the archery especially getting the bull’s-eye on my second shot, and also the giant swing which I was a little unsure about but absolutely loved apart from the harness! Hope they come up with some sort of nappy next year 🤣 You are all absolutely amazing as Vip especially but not specifically Pretty, Althea and Bushra and Danielle and Erin. just love those videos from the meta Rayban specs, I expect a lot of us will have those by next year, I am certainly planning to get some myself 😎 who would’ve thought we would all produce such excellent videos and photos as ViP. We are al awesome and amazing people and should be very proud of all of us. The team spirit was amazing, and the support from the PGL staff and all the wonderful volunteers from I Matter was superb . I guess we all exceeded any expectations that the PGL staff about dealing with a load of adult VIPs as opposed to a bunch of truculent children! 🤣 so looking forward to next year and doing even better”

Amar (Amrits daughter, “I just want to say a big BIG thank you to Suzie for organizing an amazing trip at PGL. I am honestly so proud of everyone and how much u guys really pushed out of your comfort zones when taking on the challenging activities. I am also so impressed with how well the PGL team adapted activities to make them accessible and how they taught and explained everything so well! I honestly had a rollercoaster of a time on the holiday. From saying I’d never do some activities because I was too scared to pushing past my limits and overcoming my fear of heights on uneven surfaces😆. Special thank you to my team for cheering me on and all the people who encouraged me to go try the activities!! I honestly cant decide what activities where my favourite but if I had to choose I liked Rifle Shooting, Rock Climbing and the giant swing (sky is the limit Anne😝) I hope we have another successful trip like this and Suzie keep up the amazing work and effort you do to organizing these trips!❤️”

Priti, “I’m not a fit or active person so for me this break was a real challenge and I was determined to conquer my fears. With the support and encouragement of the amazing PGL staff, guides and team mates in team 2, I did all the activities apart from Buggy building as my sciatica was painful. Thank you wonderful team mates for insisting on giving me a ride on the buggy so I felt a part of it. It was so much fun. I really struggled with climbing the wall but I was told I managed to get a third of the way up that too. One of my biggest fears was abseiling with a fear of heights, but with constant encouragement I even managed that. I was so happy and felt such a sense of achievement and elation when I got to the bottom. The PGL staff were outstanding, so friendly, encouraging , motivating and happy to help in any way including guiding and helping us with getting our dinner. The rooms were comfortable and the food ok, we were never hungry. The friendship, spirit and chatter with and amongst everyone always had a buzz of joy, excitement, anticipation and pride too, it was so nice. This break really took me out of my comfort zone and I now feel great apart from my arms and legs aching. It built my confidence and self esteem. Thank you, I really couldn’t have done some of this without the support and encouragement of everyone, days later I still can’t believe I actually absellied, I saw so many nervous people scared of trying things like I was, it made it even more special seeing everyone’s euphoric faces when they’d just done something they thought they never could, that made me really happy, thank you, thank you, thank you . Let’s all remember, we can achieve so much if we put our minds to it, suzie, you’re a superstar!”

Althea, “Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the wonderful activities that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. The experiences were thrilling, emotional, and incredibly challenging. Well done, everyone—we really are awesome and absolutely fabulous. The words of a beautiful, encouraging song come to mind: “Lean on me!” We are one of many—a team, a network of beautiful souls who have supported each other emotionally, mentally, and physically. I made new friends, reconnected with old ones, and was surrounded by an amazing network of supportive people. A special thanks to Suzy and her incredible team of helpers and volunteers, as well as the PGL team of friendly instructors who pushed and encouraged us beyond what we thought was possible.”

Norin, “I had the best few days meeting you all and doing lots of activities, enjoying and having fun every moment. I will mention a few names below, apologies if I forgotten someone’s name, hope you forgive me. 🙏🏻Thank you superstar Suzie for organising such an amazing trip James, Hayley, Tiana, Rachel, Naomi, Andrew, Amar greatly appreciated your support every step during the trip. I had a lovely conversation with pretty woman pretty, Amrit ji dancing/language buddy Bushra, 😊 got a very good friend in Darren. Short and small catch up time with Sarah, Steve, Chanel, Nada, Kasia, Karen, Althea, Stuart, Daniel, Lovelyto meet some New amazing people from this trip, Anne, Lucy, Jayne, I wish there could be more time to know more Danielle, Erin, Rose, Vicki, Lauren, Paula. Thank you everyone again for motivating me on activities you all are amazing. I enjoyed taking part in all activities, but my favourite one is abseiling, X throwing, pool party, and disco night. Special thanks to PGL Staff, they were amazing and really really helpful. Also, my special thanks to James as well, he is a very helpful and very supportive person.”

Bushra, “Suzie did an incredible and awesome job and really made the holiday special for us. Amazing trip. I really really enjoyed it. Thank you so much to all the volunteers and guides and everyone behind the scene organising it all for us. The PGL staff were amazing and helpful. I really challenged myself and so proud of myself and everyone, well done.”

Chanel, “A big thank you to everyone. It was amazing. Loved it. It was incredible. Thank you all. I’d say the abseiling was my favourite but, overall, I had a wonderful time. It was absolutely fantastic!!!! Loved it. Was absolutely brilliant. “

Suzie “I cannot pick a favourite activity, although I love the pool party and I also loved sitting in the dining room listening to the wonderful lively chatter between the participants and the giggling I also loved the incredible team spirit the support everybody gave each other and the Dancing on the last night.”

Hayley, “as a sighted volunteer, it was great to take part, and I had an amazing experience! The ethos of the group is enjoyable as everyone had a positive attitude, friendly and appreciative. It’s lovely to meet new people too.”

Paula, “Thank you to Eye Matter and Susie Simons for all their hard work for putting this together. So, there is the bonfire night, Rachel and Paula on the big swing, that’s all I’m saying about that. Paula bullseye at axe throwing, Paula and Cassie relaxing, Cassie eating even more grass doing a very good impression of a cow, Rachel and Paula abseiling we got better the more we did it. It was a lovely way to spend a few days in the Company of some very nice people. The staff were fab, friendly, supportive and fun.

”

Tiana, “As a sighted guide/ volunteer, it has been truly wonderful to see the VI’s step outside of their comfort zones, push their boundaries and the relief and pride on their faces when they accomplished the achievement! Moreover, the incredible team spirit and camaraderie which I think everyone experienced even if they didn’t participate in that particular activity.”

Nadia Thank you to all the volunteers, especially to James and Hayley who waited with me for my Taxi thank you so much. Susie, a big thank you for arranging such a beautiful holiday! I would like to say a very big thank you to you and all of the helpers for such a fantastic holiday.”

Rachel, “We all accomplished so much, above and beyond my wildest expectations of what we could all achieve. Obviously, I saw the list of activities written down but never imagined how much fun it would all be! I still can’t believe that I abseiled and loved it, was thrilled by the giant swing, learned to canoe as a team with Vicki, somehow managed to be a useful part of a buggy building team, found archery so natural🏹, shot my first ever rifle and met so many marvellous people.🤸🏻‍♀️ There are so many highlights but the pool party was an absolute dream, just paradise to be in a gorgeous heated pool in the open air alongside many new friends🥂 I also loved sharing a room with Suzie, we never stop laughing😂. Thank you for everything super Suzie and you incredible sighted guides and PGL people who made it all possible😘😘”.

Darren, “I have felt it has gone from a good swing from start to the end making it a long swing! I have made some fantastic friends. I was able to conquer one of my biggest challenges which was doing the abseiling when I got to the top. I realise the only way out of this was to go down and continue. I was very hesitant at first and but didn’t want to be the only one out that didn’t rise to the challenge and was so pleased with myself that I did so I really enjoyed this holiday and really want to return next year. I have made loads of friends. The pool party was lovely and the sense of friendship, I gained from this Eye Matter outing was incredible. I also liked playing disc golf, which was using a frisbee into a basket. This was the first time I had played. Thank you all.”

Daniel, “A big thanks to Susie for organising such a fun and wonderful event. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and it was great to catch up with many of you again and meet new people as well. My favourite had to be the pool party. It’s just a shame I didn’t go in earlier, as I only learnt about the ball games in the pool when I got back :-). Axe throwing was good and the problem-solving really made me laugh as Lauren and Althea were just so funny LOL. A big thank you to Rose, James, Stuart and Althea for helping me throughout the trip. Also, thanks to you Hayley and Naomi for also helping me and anyone else that did. Well done, Bushra, Priti and Althea you guys were amazing in the activities you did. I had fun with you all and couldn’t stop laughing when I was around you Steve, Lucy, Susie and many of you who put a smile on my face throughout this trip.”.

Lucy and Andrew, “We had a lovely activity holiday, thanks to Eye Matter.”

Apologies to those who submitted voice notes and other testimonials along with a gallery of images. I hope to collate some. Of these into a movie within a week and will share on our Facebook page.

If you are interested in booking a place on next year’s PGL activity week or would like more information about this year’s holiday, please email, suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Eye Matter had plenty to say!

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Friday 23rd August, at 11am 10 Eye Matter members joined Professor Finlayson, (Alan) on Zoom. Fiona (me) presented an argument to encourage people to take ownership of their own environment by stating some facts and examples of hazards faced by blind and partially sighted people. Another member read her speech about providing free childcare. She drew from her personal experience in Poland and the benefits this provision would provide for young parents. Sarah provided a whimsical speech.

Alan discussed the use of speeches containing opening questions or giving an introduction to themselves. We also discussed how much content should be given and knowing when to adapt a speech for a specific audience. One member gave an unwritten speech on his concerns about changes in Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Another member said she had really enjoyed the chance to write in a professional way and had been determined to submit her speech.

Eye Matter would like to thank Alan for his work in providing such an interesting and informative workshop. We would also like to thank all those who contributed to these sessions.

Poetry appreciation workshop with Diana Bramson.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Friday 16th August 12 -members took part in our monthly poetry appreciation workshop. This month’s poems were based on a child’s perspective and examples from the Victorian times to modern day poets from the UK and beyond were discussed.

“I chose never to grow up and found these poems very powerful today”, Suzie Simons.

Diana began with a poem entitled, My Party by Queenie Scott-Hopper which incorporated traditional nursery characters such as Littel Red Riding Hood, Little Miss Muffet and Sukie and Poly taking us straight back to our childhood. However, this painted image was somewhat shattered Within, My Space by J H Rice. A member commented that it made her feel sad that some childhood recollections a not full of fun and happiness. “My space fits my shape, Helps me find my own escape, Lets me take a little break “. In contrast an American contemporary poem, Hide and seek by Zaro Weil explored the need to find inner peace. Members enjoyed the vivid imagery and use of words used to describe sounds. Foster Child by Louise Greig, a Scottish poet described the insecurities of a “labelled child” and the perceptions attributed to their own position in society.

The Good Little Girl by A. A. Milne engaged members to recollect their childhood connections to this poet in his many writings about his son Christopher Robin. However, this poem was centred on the perception of what a good girl is.

A whimsical poem, Dear Mum by Brian Patten had us giggling as we could imagine an angelic little boy penning this to his exasperated mother “How the self-raising flour managed to self-raise”. What I love about school by Roger McGough, provided a narrative of constant questions, synonymous with many young children to reflect the poets tangle of thoughts about school life. She Crochets the Stars by Vicky Arthurs taken from Poems for Grandparents was another whimsical and fun poem – which even inspired me to try crocheting again!

“Crochet me a cobweb decked with dew”.

If you would like to learn more about the enjoyment of poetry in our exclusive workshop, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk including the subject “poetry”.

Exercising “the little grey cells” with Steve Wax.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Friday 9th August, 17 Eye Matter members attended our monthly session of Neurobics, (aerobics for the memory) which is a fun brain workout facilitated by Steve Wax. These sessions have been kindly funded by The National Lottery.

Neurobics Brain & Body Fitness – is a preventative and rehabilitative treatment programme which supports people to “Challenge the Body, Stimulate the Brain & Lift the Heart.” These sessions aim to recognise that, “Brain & Body Fitness has become a vital element for lifelong well-being, and Neurobics can help you to manage, postpone or eliminate cognitive decline as well as support those recovering from brain injury.”. This is achieved by providing a range of stimulating, interactive memory games to encourage maximum participation.

Members engaged in a range of games designed to stimulate our brains including writing words and numbers simultaneously, memory word games in different subjects, and number games.

Try these:

What is the highest amount you can calculate using the 24-hour clock i.e. 02.23 or 12.12 etc?

Singing twinkle twinkle little star and ABC together what letter would be reached on the first “star”?

If you would like to take part in our next session, please email us with the subject title: “Steve Wax”.

Dear Members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number eleven. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Zoom events.

Eye Matter Outings

Special features:

I Don’t Like the Olympics By Malcolm Day
Returning to the empty well of anger.
Exploring audio description with Eye Matter.
Part 1: Introduction and the history of audio description.
Exploring the meaning of a hole with Henry Moore.
Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund.
How was your Election 2024 experience?

I Don’t Like the Olympics

By Malcolm Day

I don’t like watching the running

I’m told the sprinting is stunning

They speed twice round the track

Or run there and back

Once the starter pistol is gunning

I don’t like watching the skating

The dancing on ice I am hating

I give naught as my score

I can’t stand no more

For the end of it all I am waiting

I don’t like watching the jumping

Doesn’t send my blood a-pumping

Whether it’s long or it’s high

It just makes me sigh

Grumpy old man keeps on grumping

I don’t like watching the swimming

It makes me go channel skimming

Breast stroke, butterfly, crawl

I just hate them all

You can’t tell who’s losing or ‘wimming’!

Eye Matter Zoom events.

Keep up to date with our activities here.

No matter where you are located in the UK, come and join our growing on-line group of friends on Zoom.

Second Monday of the month 1:30pm to 3pm

New Surviving to Thriving facilitated by Joanna Williams, writer, workshop leader and therapist

Tuesdays

20^th: Fun and friendly social followed by Neurobics with Steve Wax aerobics for your brain

27^th: No meetings

Last Wednesday of every month 11am

Bookworms, our monthly book club, discussing The Mystery of the Parsee Lawyer by Shrabani Basu

Fridays 11am

23^rd: Fun and friendly social followed by speech writing workshop

30^th: Fun and friendly social followed by drama improv with Steve Reed

Eye Matter Outings

All our events are accessed here

These are the outings we still have space for, we hope you can join us.

Outdoor Performance – Five parkour performers take an unforgettable journey through Greenwich Peninsula’s stunning architectural landscapes. Featuring a jaw-dropping integration of movement and climbing skills, this breathtaking performance receives its UK premiere at GDIF. Live Audio Description available 1^st September £5 voluntary contribution

Dancing City – London’s much-loved, annual, celebration of free outdoor dance showcases a host of exceptional homegrown and international talent in amazing outdoor spaces across Stratford – in the new East Bank and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Live Audio Description Assisted Route with Eye Matter – 7^th September £5 voluntary contribution

Confidence Building Workshop with Vic Hogg and Steve Reed 21^st September £5

Ruby Wax at The Ambassadors Theatre 26^th September £20

Visually impaired group grief workshop session to be held in Kings Cross Sommers Town Hall 2pm to 5pm with refreshments 28^th September £5

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Returning to the empty well of anger.

By Fiona Musgrove.

A grief counselling workshop was delivered (through Zoom) to 12 Eye Matter members on the 12^th August, at 1:30pm. These twice a month session have been kindly funded by the Marway family and Natasha Cazin to allow blind and partially sighted people a chance to explore a range of different topics related to sight-loss. Facilitated by therapist Joanna Williams, we were guided through the various manifestations and emotions around ‘anger’.

Astonishingly it was only in 1969, ‘that anger’ was first recognised within “The five stages of grief. Although anger is a natural emotion to any kind of loss it still remains an emotional many people find hard to accept or understand. We discussed the importance of recognising the source of the anger: Does it mask other concerns or emotions? to consider why that person is lashing out and in doing so identify the trigger points. It is agreed that it is important to face these emotions rather than allowing them to be suppressed.

Jo asked for examples of anger: One participant said they felt angry at the r children’s lack of understanding in keeping the home tidy, another example was the frustration of technology and, one person’s feeling of inadequacy within the home. The group expanded the importance of accepting anger as a natural reaction of an active emotion, often felt in times of high stress or, frustration.

“I got angry when I bumped into a lamp post”. this person realised that this reaction was a frustration caused by diminishing sight loss and not a physical aggression against the inanimate object on the street.

Jo explained that there are two main forms of anger:

Aggressive anger: A person may throw something or lash out.

Passive aggression: This is typically seen as sarcastic comments making the person feel frustrated indirectly.

Then she identified a third form:

Assertive anger: This is a realised emotion and can be controlled and used in a positive way. The aim of this “assertive anger” is to be able to “rephrase these thoughts of anger”.

we discussed the ownership of this anger and how having this control of our own emotions can determine its impact. Here are some of the coping methods discussed:

Grounding: Having a physical object to hold (when this emotion occurs) eg: A chair or table edge.

Deep breathing: Taking slow, regular breaths lowers the feeling of anger and despair.

Regular exercise: One member explained, how important it was for them to take a 45 minute walk each morning.

Walking away: “The ability not to return to the empty well” This relates to recognising a “flashpoint” and simply walking away for a period before returning.

Distraction: not returning to the same problem but using a distraction to comprehend the same problem. One member explained how using a cross-trainer, whilst listening to an audio book, distracted their frustrations.

Jo elaborates, “Every individual’s experience of grief is unique – as unique as their relationship with the person who has died or the thing that was lost. Therefore, the things that help also vary widely. However, from many years of working in bereavement care, I have noticed 3 simple things that seem to make the biggest difference:

Exercise/fresh air – if you are able to, get out and move your body and be in nature, regularly, even if only for a very short time. The change of environment, and connections with your physical self and the elements, causes shifts in emotions and can be calming.

Peer support – having someone to talk to or be with who “gets it” is one of the most powerful coping tools there is. The closer their experience to your specific loss, the better, which is why so many support groups exist. Grief is a lonely journey to take alone.

Self-compassion – ditch the ‘should’! There is no right or wrong way to ‘do’ grief and the truth is that coming to terms with a significant loss is actually a life’s work. Be kind to yourself. There will be good days and there will be days when the wave of grief and yes, despair, feels overwhelming. These days and these waves won’t come in any logical order. When a voice says you ‘should’ be feeling one way or another, ask yourself, who says? Do nice things for yourself. Get into the habit of talking to yourself and treating yourself the way you would treat a treasured friend.”

It is a two-tier process of relief and acceptance. The techniques are not the ‘magic cream’ but, a coping technique to give yourself this acceptance of loss. . In previous sessions members were encouraged to write their own stories to understand themselves and how this loss has impacted their lives along with people around them.. They discussed the importance of “being kind to themselves”. Often the frustrations have us criticising ourselves when in fact it may not be our fault at all.

One person explained how disappointed they had been that an outing had been cancelled which had left them feeling angry. They were able to accept this was not their fault, as it was out of their control.

Another participant admitted, to feeling angry after refusing an invitation to a family gathering. They explained “I was more angry that. My decision hadn’t been questioned and it was just accepted that I wouldn’t attend.” The fear of feeling awkward due to their sight loss and not being able to see the people in the room were causing a host of anxieties leading to the sense of anger. Jo discussed how family expectations and reactions to loss are often in contrast to the response from friends.

Eye Matter is arranging an in-person grief counselling session on Saturday 28th September, to be held at, Somerstown Living Centre, Kings Cross, London. For the first time Eye Matter is encouraging members to venture out from behind their screens, to meet as a group, to continue this discussion. This session will be again facilitated by our regular therapist Joanna Williams in a safe secure environment. Volunteers will be available to assist from Kings Cross Station and refreshments will be provided. If you would like to book your place or receive more information about this event, please email us with the subject “Kings Cross therapy”.

Our next Zoom Grief Counselling Workshop with Joanna, is on Monday 9th September, at 1:30pm. If you would like to find out more about these grief counselling workshops on Zoom, or, join us, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “thriving”.

Exploring audio description with Eye Matter.

Part 1: Introduction and the history of audio description.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Over the next few weeks, we will be publishing a series of articles based on the delivery and experience of audio description in theatres on television and in cinemas. Contributions from VocalEyes, Extant, audio describers (Ruth and Ellie) from the Barbican Theatre and Netflix, amongst others, will provide some unique insights into our enjoyment of this relatively new concept. According to Wikipedia (2024), “Audio description (also referred to as visual description) is the narration of information given to the surrounding key elements of media work for blind and partially sighted people”. By providing us with this information we can understand the non-verbal communications such as facial expressions, the landscapes relevance and movement of actors. As part of this series, we would like to hear your experiences of audio description, so if you would like to send us a contribution (good or bad) please email us. This week I want to take you back in time to when we didn’t have access to audio description on televisions, in cinemas, at the theatre or museums. Back to a when it all began with a publication of a report in the USA.

“The Social Life of Blind People” (a leisure activity study) was published in 1961 confirming what many already knew, that blind people were watching as much television as their sighted neighbours. The report conducted by Martin Burker concluded that despite some common frustrations blind people were equally enjoying television. During the 1960’s there were various attempts to address this problem, which included, issuing a cassette tape to accompany early episodes of “Star Trek”. A radio show host in Philadelphia 1970”s) came up with a novel idea to transcribe audio description for movies being broadcast on television at set times.

It was 30 years after this initial report when the idea of audio description was first devised for television and movies by WGBHT in 1991. This Boston (USA) based company created “Digital Video Service” (DVS). For the first time A clear narrative element was designed without interfering with the dialogue to improve the understanding of non-verbal activity. It was also, during this period, that the influence of one woman in Washington DC would change access in theatre and museums forever.

Despite being diagnosed with the degenerative eye condition, Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Magaret R. Franzine used her experience to form the Metropolitan Washington Ear in 1974 Additionally, in the late 1970s, she also became one of the founding members of the International association of Audio Services (IAAS), who were a radio transcription service. With all this experience and her rapidly deteriorating sight in the early 80s she was invited to work with Wayne Wright from Arena Stage to improve access for blind and partially sighted visitors to a Washington Theatre. With the support of her husband Cody, the key principles of audio description and training describers to identify pictorial references was developed, which is still used today all over the world. Consequently, In 1981, the first ever audio described performance of “Major Barbara’”, was delivered at the Arena Stage (Washington DC) lighting a beacon for the thousands of such productions all around the world to follow.

In our next edition we will examine how audio description continues to improve our access to live theatre performances in the UK. We will hear how VocalEyes was created and about its commitment to improving our access not only to theatres but museums galleries and much more. How Extant embeds creative audio description in their own productions, delivers a range of related training and access consultancy through their Enhance programme and reflections on their event at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival with VICS and ZOO Venues.
In a future edition we will explore more into audio description from different people and organisations: We will hear how the Barbicans audio describers prepare for each performance and their delivery of live commentary.

If you would like to find out more about Eye Matter please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Exploring the meaning of a hole with Henry Moore.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On a rather grey, cloudy day 19 members and volunteers set off to the depths of Hertfordshire to explore the work of the renowned sculpture Henry Moore (1898-1986) at the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens. Suzie (Eye Matter’s Founder) explained, “the Henry Moore Foundation did a super job. We were split into Two groups lead by guides Nicky and Sophie.”

Within these groups Eye Matter were lead around the extensive grounds (70 acres) just outside Ware, Hertfordshire. Members were encouraged to feel the large, stone monoliths whilst listening to the eclectic stories about their origins and designs. Eye Matter member Vicky said, “Fabulous audio described tour arranged by Eye Matter. We were divided into two groups, ours was led by the amazing Nikki who provided so much information about the wonderful sculptures in these beautiful gardens on a dull cloudy day. We were fortunate that the rain kept away!”

“They both provided great, beautiful descriptions about the exhibits.”, added Suzie referring to the two guides from the Henry Moore Foundation. Vicky agreed “It really brings everything to life for us”

Eye Matter would like to thank the staff at the Henry Moore Foundation for making us feel so welcome, “Everybody had a fabulous day”. One member appreciated that there was a space reserved inside, as an alternative to the outside picnic area, in case the weather changed.

Suzie has been working with the Henry Moore Foundation to improve Accessibility for blind and partially sighted visitors and was pleased with their accommodation of Eye Matter. “They all did a really good job.” Both guides were very passionate in showcasing and explaining, in great detail, the various pieces created by Henry Moore. “They had taken on board everything I had told them about accessibility for blind and partially sighted people to enjoy their visit. Consequently, I felt that it was an educational, informative and entertaining fun day for Eye Matter”.

A huge thanks to Vicky for providing the photography.

Please click here to our Facebook page: https://fb.watch/tXC0B0SweU/

If you would like to take part in a future event with Eye Matter, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund.

Suzie Simons, Eye Matter Founder and Coordinator (RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 – Winner, “Volunteer of the Year”) said, “I wanted to give a massive thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for this incredible grant which will enable us to continue helping so many visually impaired people. We’re so proud to have received this grant for the second time and look forward to our ongoing work together in the future.”

Eye Matter has over 200 blind and partially sighted members who will benefit from this award. In 2023 Eye Matter delivered 36 in-person outings including theatre trips, visits to art galleries and even a comedy club night! In addition, the team also delivered over 200 Zoom events such as; concerts, comedy nights, drama sessions, cookery, book clubs, counselling and technology advice sessions. In 2023 Eye Matter ran their first sports day for over 60 blind and partially sighted people (in Islington) and celebrated their Winter Extravaganza along with 50 members.

National Lottery funding will enable access to various health and wellbeing projects including our, “Living Well with Sight-Loss” course (in partnership with the RNIB) which is now in its eleventh series. Additionally, this massive boost, from the National Lottery Community Fund, will enable Eye Matter to continue to deliver another sports day in 2025, a number of confidence boosting workshops, drama improvisation sessions, our Christmas concert and subsidy for our Winter Extravaganza in December.

We would like to thank Rachel Bowden-Waterson and Kinnari Patel for all their hard work and support, in assisting with this application.

If you would like to know more about our opportunities, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

How was your Election 2024 experience?

By Fiona Musgrove.

In a previous Eye Matter Matters edition, we provided information on registering a postal vote along with, the legal requirements of voting stations, for blind and partially sighted people. It was therefore, encouraging to discover at a Greenwich polling station that there were large print examples of ballot slips, a number of magnifiers and assistance if required.

The RNIB was keen to promote the use of a McGonagle Reader which not only provided tactile guidance but, also, audio description of the text upon the ballot sheet using a headset. Here is an extract taken from an RNIB article (5th July 2024, Facebook). “Khadija was able to vote independently and in secret today using a McGonagle Reader…it was the first time I’ve ever voted by just listening to the ballot myself and marking the box for myself. I think the box cutouts are a lot more defined than with a traditional tactile voting device so that gave me a lot more confidence as well. So, the whole thing just felt really smooth, at least for me, and much better than I’ve ever voted before.”

However, this does not reflect everyone’s experience and reveals that not all polling stations have access to this type of equipment. One lady, on social media, was frustrated that she had gone to the wrong polling station whereas, another said he was concerned when using an external piece of equipment, “I wasn’t sure it had been lined up properly”. As all votes are anonymous if the X mark is outside the box this would be calculated as “spoilt”. Another example (taken from RNIB 5th July, Facebook) demonstrated one polling stations inability to provide adequate support, “I had a humiliating experience in my hometown. I am severely sight impaired and went along with my partner, so he could assist me.” To read the RNIB’s full article please click here: https://www.facebook.com/rnibuk/videos/346017585046302/

The RNIB is still interested in collecting your experiences of voting on 4 July (good or bad). These experiences will form the basis of their Turned Out reports, which will be shared with the government and the Electoral Commission. If you’re blind or partially sighted, take part now: rnib.in/TOGE24

We're still collecting your experiences of voting on 4 July – good or bad. Your experiences form the basis of our Turned Out reports, which we share with the government and the Electoral Commission. If you’re blind or partially sighted, take part now: https://t.co/cBNk3SoXBo pic.twitter.com/8QLZHPT9OW
— RNIB Campaigns (@RNIB_campaigns) July 24, 2024

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Dear Members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number ten. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:
Hurrah! Eye Matter conquered the O2 Arena.
Let’s go to the hop with Lesta and our social chat.
Sharing experiences about loss with Eye Matter.
“Too darn hot” with Kiss Me Kate.
Eye Matter makes a persuasive argument for change.
Jackie encourages us to be “human beings not human doings” with chair yoga.

Eye matter spotlight special

Eye Matter balances the world of See Saw.

Future events

We still have tickets available for.

Future on-line events

Hurrah! Eye Matter conquered the O2 Arena.

By Fiona Musgrove.

So they did it! Twenty-seven members conquered the O2 Arenas 52 metre high (reflecting the number of weeks in a year) and 365metre wide (representing the number of days in a year), roof-top walk. A huge thanks to the incredible team of volunteers and staff who assisted this fantastic achievement. One member said, “It’s been ages since I’ve done something like this, and it has really helped in lifting my spirits and makes me realise there’s so much more that I can do, but just don’t know it. We enjoyed it so much that we are going to take the kids and climb it again.”

Suzie (Eye Matter’s Founder) was delighted at the response from those who attended, “Two of our gorgeous members had prosecco up there at 10:30 in the morning, very grand. It was a brilliant day. 27 people joined us for the climb and 20 joined us for lunch afterwards. It was a wonderful community event, as we sat in the beer garden of Wetherspoons.”

Not only was this event designed to boost confidence and provide a sense of achievement but, also, to give members a chance to help raise funds for the charity. Each climber could be sponsored, or a donation given to reward their personal accomplishment. Bakul explained, “I really enjoyed climbing the O2 Arena with Eye Matter, who I met at the North Greenwich tube station. My allocated sighted guide was brilliant. He alerted me on obstacles as we made our way up the O2 Arena and describe the views from the top. It is quite steep as you start the climb and then as you get to the top, it gets flatter. We wore security harnesses for safety. Thankfully, the weather was excellent 😎 This was a great experience, and I am glad that I did it.”

Suzie added, “Eye Matter is so proud and grateful that our members, friends and families have raised a whopping £2,264 in sponsorship for the brilliant members and sighted guides who climbed the o2 on the 11th of July.”

There is still time to make a contribution to show your appreciation of our brave blind and partially sighted members who valiantly conquered the O2 Arena. This JustGiving page will close on the 14th of August.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eyematterclimbstheo2

Click to our Facebook Page for a video compilation of their magical day in the skies above Greenwich.

https://fb.watch/twGzmfCQCs

Let’s go to the hop with Lesta and our social chat.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Tuesday 23rd July 2024 (at 6pm) 14 members joined Lesta Woo, from Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being, to take part in a Lindy Hop dance taster session. Lesta (who is also visually impaired) is a professional jazz dancer. She has taught, performed and competed both nationally and internationally. With 15 years’ experience of dancing Lindy-Hop she certainly delivered a well-structured and fun session. Accompanied by an ecliptic range of music from the 1940’s featuring Ray Charles to Olly Murs, we were guided through a succession of dance routines.

Lesta provided clear descriptions over the rhythmic beat of each track and explained the importance of recognising the “pulse” (the heartbeat) of every piece of music. It is this basic concept that denotes this type of jazz known as “Skat” which differs to “Swing” Jazz which lands on the 8th beat.

The tempo increased as new steps and routines were introduced culminating in us kicking in a style synonymous to the Charleston. After the energetic session finished Lesta joined us in a relaxed social chat. Conversations ranged from the new Blind Barbie doll to reviewing the audio description of the Euros. One member said that the audio description was sometimes too detailed and because it was out of time with the television commentary it was hard to follow within a group of sighted friends. She said “I heard the goal scored before my friends and had to keep a straight face as not to spoil it for them!”

Warren on the topic of Barbie with a white cane quipped “The reason Barbie doesn’t have a Guide Dog is that it takes two years to be made” (referring to the excessive time it takes from an application to be granted a Guide Dog.

If you would like to find out more about these sessions or, join us, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Lindy Hop”.

Sharing experiences about loss with Eye Matter.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Monday 21st July 2024, at 1.30pm, ten Eye Matter members attended

Our “Surviving to Thriving” course, facilitated by Joanna Williams, writer, workshop leader and therapist. On the second and fourth Monday of every month at 1:30pm, they explore various topics or concepts around the subject of grief and loss.

This week they discussed Robert Neimeyer’s constructivism, or ‘meaning making’ model. His work suggests that one way of working through and making sense of a loss is to actively engage with what it means for your life and to actively construct a new narrative for yourself. Members were encouraged to share their experiences in a safe space.

These twice a month session have been kindly funded by the Marway family and Natasha Cazin to allow blind and partially sighted people a chance to explore a range of different topics related to sight-loss.

If you would like to find out more about these sessions or, join us, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “thriving”.

“Too darn hot” with Kiss Me Kate.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On a warm Wednesday evening (17th July 2024), twenty-four members and volunteers, gathered at the Barbican tube station before a short walk to the magnificent Barbican complex. On the stage of Kiss Me, Kate we met the Stage Manager and Deputy Stage Manager Stevie, who introduced us to the Barbican and the staff assisting with the touch tour. We were shown various props, including fake food, the heavy tankard Kate throws across stage and an array of costumes. Suzie tried on the donkey’s head, much to the laughter of everyone, before pretending to speak with an American drawl into an old-fashioned telephone. The group were shown around the circular stage which represents three scenes of the show.

A unique feature of this Barbican Theatre is that its orchestra pit (which has an 18-piece ensemble) is sunk within the actual stage rather than down in front of it. Actors perform their parts around the music pit moving carefully to the front apron towards the audience. The stage manager admitted that he sometimes holds his breath as the dancers occasionally dance precariously close to the pit! The Barbican Theatre can hold up to 1200 people and is tiered to provide maximum viewing opportunities. This production has a 15-week run and was completely full when we visited.

Vicky said, “Kiss me Kate with Adrian Dunbar, that guy can sing! Excellent performance with great audio description. Good to see friends from Eye Matter. It has an amazing large set with revolve and orchestra Pit within the stage!”

Adrian Dunbar takes the lead role but many of us would recognise him from the gritty BBC detective drama “Line of Duty”. For me, I liked the gangster duo who broke into “Brush up your Shakespeare”. Using their canes, during the dance routine, they seemed to pay homage to us when our audio describer said “as if using them to sense their positions” (I imagined them to be curving on the floor in front of them).

Audio description was accessed through specialised headsets and performed by Ellie and Ruth, who are “in house” describers. Ellie explained she had been part of the Royal Shakespeare Company for over 15 years which was now housed at the Barbican. Their enthusiastic, yet detailed commentary, was worthy of an on-stage curtain call of appreciation.

Charlie wrote to the Barbican and Eye Matter, to thank you for the great night at the audio described performance of Kiss Me, Kate last night (Weds 17 Jul):

Barbican team, I was one of the Eye Matter charity group of blind and visually impaired people who attended. Being totally blind, audio description is essential to me being able to follow theatre productions properly. Without attending the touch tour beforehand and listening to the audio commentary during the show, it would have been impossible for me to know what was happening, particularly during Act 1 which was especially fast paced. I hope you’ll continue offering audio described performances when possible.

Suzie, thanks again for organising another great event, and to the volunteers for their help.”

One of our members hasn’t visited the theatre for nineteen years but was encouraged at our sports day to attend. “I was in awe and admiration at the actors’ zest, enthusiasm, powerful, energetic, professional performances. They seemed to make the whole stage vibrate! wow…amazing, could quite easily become a Theatre addict: Going backstage, feeling the props gave a visualisation of the drama production. The audio descriptors were spot on, so accurate for each scene/ act.”

Thanks to our lovely photographers Joanne and Vicky for these memories of our visit to Kiss Me Kate.

Please click to our Facebook Page to view the video:

https://fb.watch/twFD37yhzx

If you would like to participate in a future show with us, please email Eye Matter: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Eye Matter members make a persuasive argument for change.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Friday, 19th July, ten members joined a unique Speech writing workshop led by Alan Finlayson, renowned professor of political and social theory from the University of East Anglia.

During the session members learnt how to make a powerful and persuasive speech. professor Finlayson, (Alan), outlined what a political speech was and helped attendees decide what to make their speeches about. He remarked how it was always interesting to hear everyone’s ideas.

Karen, a member (from Bournemouth), spoke about the difficulties with shared spaces. She felt that as a visually impaired pedestrian having to share space with a multitude of cyclists and E-scooters often caused her to feel anxious. On a recent visit to London she noticed how the pavements were largely the domain of pedestrians as the cycle paths were on the road.

Another member, Natalie, felt passionately about providing young children access to mindfulness and a safe emotional space, to discuss their anxieties. She drew from her personal experiences suggesting that her life may have taken a different path if she’d had such opportunities available.

Suzie wanted to highlight the many benefits of volunteering. She explained how receiving the RNIB Volunteer of the year award after 15 years of volunteering was a torch she wanted other people to take into their lives and communities.

Mo discussed his concerns regarding the wastefulness of supermarket packaging. He spoke about how the UK compared to other countries and the effort some supermarkets were making.

Gheorghe was conscious of the high cost of childcare during school holidays. This was particularly problematic in the South East but equally for those on low incomes across the country.

Warren wanted to speak about having subsidised meat for dogs, which might encourage manufacturers and providers to improve the percentage in their products.

Irena would like to encourage a focus on free childcare provision for parents to enable them to return to work. She compared the UK’s lack of support to Polish amenities for families.

After trekking hundreds of miles from Southwark, London to Luca, Italy, I wanted to raise the idea of citizens taking care of their environment. This would entail addressing the blight of fly-tipping, littering and keeping our overhanging gardens and trees in order.

From these basic ideas, participants discussed a five-point outline that they would use to write a unique speech. Alan said that to create an effective speech it was important to know the end result that was being aimed for. He invited us to think about how we’d like our audience to feel, remember or learn from our speeches? The next session with Alan has been planned for 16th August and he has kindly circulated an information booklet to accompany this workshop.

If you would like to find out more about this workshop or would be interested in future opportunities in Creative Writing please email Suzie: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Creative Writing”.

Jackie encourages us to be “human beings not human doings” with chair yoga.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Jackie Turner, from My Chair Yoga, lead ten Eye Matter members through a rigorous, yet empathetic journey into Chair Yoga this evening (Tuesday 16th July,2024 at 6pm) live on Zoom. This was the first of a seven-week programme which has been kindly funded by The Boost Charitable Trust to promote healthy living and wellbeing for blind and partially sighted people who may feel isolated or unable to access local sessions.

Members sitting on their chairs were encouraged to stretch and move their bodies into different yoga positions, under clear directions given by Jackie. With our legs outstretched and raised in the air, we were asked to write the word “breathe” with first our right-side large toe and then the left. For Jess being left-handed this was a doddle! At the end the sound of the gentle lapping waves guided our breathing as the session came to a close.

Suzie (Eye Matter’s Founder) said,” We are delighted to announce that the Boost Charitable trust is going to fund Audio Described chair yoga with Jackie Turner from My Chair Yoga from June 2024 to June 2025. Boost provides funding and support to inspiring programmes which help improve the lives of the disadvantaged and disabled through the power of sport.”

There was a good mixture of genders in the group and Jackie gave positive feedback to those who had their cameras switched on. One member commented that she felt “invigorated”, whilst another admitted that despite just being diagnosed positive with Covid and self-isolating, she felt better after the session.

If you would like to take part in our next session, please email Eye Matter with the subject title “Chair Yoga”.

Future events

Eye matter spotlight special

Eye Matter balances the world of “See Saw”.

By Fiona Musgrove.

The See Saw Podcast is a weekly half hour podcast focussed on all areas of disability and sight loss including news, sport and entertainment. See Saw Podcast aims to keep things light, balanced and bring a smile to those dealing with a visual impairment. The podcast is available on all major streaming platforms (see below for more details), or simply search ‘See Saw Podcast’. Last week I caught up with Eric (AKA Cleaves), from See Saw and asked him why this show was created?

“Tony and myself (whose podcast names are T and Cleaves) felt that other podcasts that focussed on sight loss, usually focussed on educating people or telling the stories of those with a condition. While there is a place for these, we felt they could often be too long, too niche and sometimes quite dull.”

Eric admitted they were more influenced by the lack of engaging podcasts which drove them to create See Saw Podcast. “We listen to a number of sports, music and gaming podcasts such as FF1S, Chris Demakes a Podcast and Remember the Game, but they all have a lighter edge to them and we wanted to offer something similar, but within the sphere of disability and sight loss.”

Consequently, Tony and Eric, created See Saw Podcast four years ago, as a fun alternative. They aimed to provide a platform to cover “all aspects of sight loss and disability: news, sport, leisure, social issues etc. that could provide both light entertainment, yet take an uncompromising look at the big issues, all wrapped up in a weekly 30-minute episode.”, explained Eric.

The See Saw podcast has showcased a number of sports and activities specific to sight loss, “we’ve promoted blind cricket, football and baseball among others, but we also promote business that are either run by visually impaired people or offer a service that may interest them such as Two Blind Brothers, All Things Dotty and Wel-co.me as well as spotlighting disabled people in creative industries such as author Macy Lewis, musician Chris Hendricks and photographer Robyn Lindeman. We’re always looking for guests that want to promote themselves, so we urge them to get in touch!”

In the early days of See Saw there were just the two guys. I wanted to know how bringing on a third person into the dynamics changed the show.

“Selina P joined after an episode aired about a documentary, she featured in called ‘Blind Young Things’ (available on All 4) about her life at the time of attending R.N.C. We reached out and she came on a different episode to discuss the documentary and we got on so well that she became a regular guest and eventually permanent co-host. Selina P is what she describes as ‘proper blind’ whereas myself and T are partially sighted so she has that perspective and is also heavily involved in sport, being a former Commonwealth athlete and current member of England’s women’s blind football team, so it was great to have her knowledge on those subjects. By her own admission she also ‘ticks a lot of diversity boxes’ which gives us a much more rounded approach to things we talk about and she can also give as good as she gets where the banter’s concerned so having her permanently on the show seemed like a natural fit.”

He described some of the recording process and time spent producing each show: “We record our episodes live on Twitch which usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the comments and questions asked by the listeners during the record. I’ll then create an unedited episode with the See Saw credits tacked on the end for YouTube and the website, and then I’ll edit the audio file down to create the main podcast that goes out to all streaming platforms. All in all, it usually takes around three times as long as the episode length to edit and upload the final productions.”

I then asked Eric if he has a favourite show or moment during his time with See Saw, which he would like to share with Eye Matter? “I don’t have a specific favourite, but any episode where a guest comes on and speaks passionately about what it is they do because their enthusiasm always transfers to us as hosts. I also love some of our mini-series such as ‘Price is Blind’ where we each describe a product and have to guess the cost. Episodes like these where the three of us just have a relaxed chat about something always turn out hilarious.”

The latest See Saw Podcast featured their visit to the Sight Village in Birmingham. Apart from meeting our founder Suzie he wasn’t enamoured with the event: “I think Sight Village is great for a person that hasn’t been before, and I’d definitely recommend it. For me personally, I’d like to see more stands outside of the product and tech space that have active demos that visually impaired people can take part in. I’d also love to see more from an entertainment standpoint, such as a live radio stand during the day that could get eventgoers involved while giving out information about Sight Village itself and lastly, I’d like to see a few more stands offering help and advice for those trying to find work.”

Eye Matter would like to thank Eric for his honest contributions to this article. Outside of See Saw he works is a Wholesale Manager for a large food company but admits, “I spend my evenings and weekends out with friends, playing guitar and going to gigs as I’m still a punk at heart. I also travel as much as I can with a trip to Vietnam and Hong Kong planned for later this year.”

If you would like to listen to their latest podcast, please click here:

Connect with See Saw Podcast through social media:

If you would like to know more about Eye Matter, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

We still have tickets available for:

31st August Fiddler on the Roof Saturday £15

1st September Outdoor Performance – Five parkour performers take an unforgettable journey through Greenwich Peninsula’s stunning architectural landscapes. Featuring a jaw-dropping integration of movement and climbing skills, this breathtaking performance receives its UK premiere at GDIF. Live Audio Description available. – £5 voluntary contribution

4th September £5 Sailing Wednesday

7th September Dancing City – London’s much-loved, annual, celebration of free outdoor dance showcases a host of exceptional homegrown and international talent in amazing outdoor spaces across Stratford – in the new East Bank and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Live Audio Description Assisted Route with EyeMatter. – £5 voluntary contribution

21^st September £5 Confidence Building Workshop with Vic Hogg and Steve Reed

28^th September Visually impaired group grief workshop session to be held in Kings cross Sommers Town Hall 2pm to 5pm with refreshments £5

16th October TINA The Tina Turner Musical £39.50

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

No matter where you are located in the UK, come and join our growing on-line group of friends.

Tuesday 30th July, 6pm:

Fun and friendly social followed by a concert by Jorgen Hansson, Live on stage from Sweden by the magic of Zoom

Wednesday 31st July, 11am:

Bookworms, our monthly book club, discussing An Angel Called My Name: Incredible True Stories from the Other Side by Theresa Cheung, hosted by Sarah

Friday 2nd August 11am:

Fun and friendly social followed by a general knowledge quiz with Steve Reed

If you want more information about any of the above events, please email us: suzie@eyematter.org.uk.

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Dear Members and friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number nine. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

How blind people play sport.
Eye Matter is joining the renowned Greenwich Festival. In August.
“I could have danced all night” with Eye Matter.
Locking that spikey anxiety ball away!
Eye Matter: the UK Tour!
Bounce with Eye Matter.

Future events

We still have tickets available for.

Future on-line events

How blind people play sport.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Eye Matter was delighted to welcome over 40 members and volunteers, to our second Sports Day, held at Islington Sports and Tennis Centre on Saturday, 22nd June. Participants were given the chance to try four accessible adapted sports including visually impaired (VI) football with Arsenal FC, cricket and tennis with Metro Blind Sport and “Showdown”, which was delivered by Croydon Showdown Club. Louise Dickson, from Illuminate Freedom, kicked off the day by putting everyone through a rigorous audio described warm up. Members were divided into groups according to sight classifications as defined by British Blind Sport and rotated between the various sports throughout the day.

For many members, myself included, this was our first time trying out a new VI sport. Originally developed in Canada and enjoyed in Australia as “Swish”, Showdown combines air hockey and table tennis, with a jingly ball skidding across a long table, divided by a Perspex screen, to the opposing goal. Robin Faulkner , whose background is in table tennis and Tom Britain ,formerly a Goalball player, supervised the games.

Odette from Metro Blind Sport, was soon donning a blindfold and like myself and Vicky, thrashed her opponent. Parm, one of our sighted volunteers, was challenged by a member to a match. After he emerged defeated 3-6 Palm laughed and said ”although I am used to wearing blind folds when delivering visual impairment training this is the first time I have used them to play sport.”

VI Cricket delivered by Robert McKenzie, Prem and Jarvid from Metro Blind Sport,provided members with the chance to bat and bowl using a small football whilst over on the tennis courts, Odette and Fiona encouraged members to try out the smaller, sponge Soundballs. Arsenal FC coaches Luke Howard and Abdul, used the larger rattling balls to be dribbled and shot into the goal.

One member said, “I really enjoyed the football and wonder if next year VI rugby could be included?”

Everyone enjoyed the delicious lunch provided by, “Tripoli express” whilst taking time to relax on a large picnic mat. Eye Matter would like to thank our amazing team of volunteers and coaches ( including Steve Reed) who made the day such a success.

Suzie said “I was delighted with the help we were given from everybody at Islington Tennis centre and Gym and we really admired the enthusiasm people showed towards all the sports. I was so delighted with all the positive feedback and I’m so pleased to say that we will be doing a sports day in 2025. I’m so grateful for all our wonderful sighted guides without whom we could not run such brilliant sessions. “

If you would like to share your thoughts regarding this year’s event or have any suggestions ahead of the Eye Matter Sports Day 2025, please email Eye Matter uk with the subject “Sports Day.”

Please click here to view our Facebook page and video of Eye Matter Sports Day 2024. our thanks to Richard Simpson. For kindly formatting this.

Eye Matter is joining the renowned Greenwich Festival. In August.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Kat Gill who recently appeared on our “Inspiring Speakers”event, , has worked as Access Producer, for Festival.org since March 2023, and is looking forward to her second Greenwich and Docklands International Festival this summer. She manages the creative development and implementation of the organisation’s sector-leading access provision across FESTIVAL.ORG’s projects, with a particular focus on Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) which takes place from 25th August 2024 and this year will welcome Eye Matter..

The Greenwich and Docklands International Festival developed out of the former Greenwich Festival into a cross-river festival. Founded by Artistic Director Bradley Hemmings in 1995 and next year they will celebrate their 30^th anniversary. In 2023 they welcomed 62,650+ audience members to GDIF2023, 17% of the audience identified as Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. GDIF 2023, also featured 145 performances of 37 productions from local, national and international artists.

GDIF 2024 will feature 79 performances of 25 productions from local, national and international artists. It is estimated that over 60,000 people will once again attend these events.. Festivals.org is seeking to make this years events more accessible for blind and partially sighted people in a range of ways including; providing live audio description(AD) through headsets with highly skilled and experienced performance audio describers. Organising touch tours for performances where the scenic elements like set and costumes are an important part of the overall experience. Organising station meeting points to support travel to get to sites. Having a dedicated access phone line and email address for individual questions. Using Navi lens QR codes for digital audio descriptions and having trained volunteers and staff on hand to support with accessing digital audio description. They are also creating dedicated pages on their website to host digital audio description to minimise the need for scrolling.

Apart from requiring tickets for Bodies of Water All other performances are free, and you can just show up. In order to guarantee they have enough headsets for you to enjoy the live A.D., please contact Kat by calling: +07899 893 935 or by emailing: Access@festival.org“.

Eye Matter will be organising group trips to Life Lines and Dancing City. We willalso be promoteing their other audio described events. Here is a list of the opportunities available for members to attend:

Life Lines presented By Lézard Bleus

31 August – 1 September, 4pm, NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0SQ

Five parkour performers take an unforgettable journey through Greenwich Peninsula’s stunning architectural landscapes.

Featuring a jaw-dropping integration of movement and climbing skills, this breathtaking performance receives its UK premiere at GDIF.

Duration: 1 Hour

FREE

Live Audio Description available.

Audio Flyer:

Dancing City 2024

Saturday 7 September | 1pm-6pm | Stratford

London’s much-loved, annual, celebration of free outdoor dance showcases a host of exceptional homegrown and international talent in amazing outdoor spaces across Stratford – in the new East Bank and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

FREE

Live Audio Description Assisted Route for blind and visually impaired audiences with EyeMatter.

12pm Meet at Stratford Station in the ticket hall of the Westfield Stratford City exit/entrance.

1.15pm Land Empathy Touch Tour

1.35pm Land Empathy Performance

2pm Break / Move to next site

2.30pm Patois Touch Tour

2.45pm Patois Performance

3.15pm Break/ Move to next site

3.45pm Frock Touch Tour

4pm Frock Performance

4.45pm Synergy Performance

5pm Walk back to Stratford Station

Audio Flyer:

Other Live Audio Described Events:

ParkWorks

Sunday 25 August 1pm-6pm

Stratford Park, West Ham Lane, Newham, E154PT

Free

Family-friendly street theatre, circus, dance and installations transform Stratford Park into a theatrical and creative playground for children and their families for two magical days.

FREE – just show up.

Live Audio Description Assisted Route for blind and visually impaired audiences – to book email access@festival.org

12 Meet at Stratford Station – the entrance on Station Street, opposite the bus station and Stratford Shopping Centre. Or meet at 12.40 at the access info point near Whalebone Lane and the Sensory Garden entrance to Stratford Park.

12.45 Touch Tour The Awakening

1 The Awakening Performance

1.15 Lunch break

2.15 Touch Tour Pram People

2.35 Pram People Performance

3.15 Break

3.45 Touch Tour Beautiful Butterfly Performance

4.35 Manjis join in weaving

Audio Flyer:

Bodies of Water by Actors Touring Company

31 August 7pm

Ahoy Centre, Borthwick Street, SE8 RJY

Duration: 40 Minutes

Ticketed: Email access@festival.org to book Audio Description

“No one leaves home… Unless home is the mouth of a shark”

Sharing the stories of those who have travelled across land and water to seek refuge. Staged on the banks of the Thames, this theatrical experience mixes the soul-stirring poetry with live performance live music and live audio description.

Audio Flyer:

World Kiosk by Variable Matter

29 August – 1 September | 12pm – 6pm | Queen’s Square, Green Street, Newham , E13 9JJ

Duration: Stay for as little or as long as you like (Durational)

A magical kiosk pops up in Green Street offering a haven of calm and connection.

Take a seat, put on your headphones and be transported to a place where stories come alive. Sip tea while making new connections. In person individualised audio description available at all times.

Free- Just Show Up.

Audio Flyer:

A Ballad of Thamesmead by A Dante or Die production

6 September 2024 8.30pm Touch tour at 8pm

Thamesmead Clocktower, 26 Meadowford Cl, London SE28 8GG

Duration: 45 minutes

A Ballad of Thamesmead gently peeks into how the world around us impacts how we feel about our home. Live folk songs by Abbey Wood native Marie Bashiru alongside Thamesmead Community Choir interweave with a soaring sound design that includes local peoples’ voices, culminating in the clocktower illuminated like never before.

Free.

To book audio description email access@festival.org

Audio flyer: https://soundcloud.com/gdif/thamesmead-1#t=0:00

If you would like to take part in either Life Lines or Dancing City, please email Eye Matter with the subject. Title “Life Lines” or “Dancing City:. We would appreciate a £2 per person donation to cover our volunteer expenses and to ensure future opportunities.

“I could have danced all night” with Eye Matter.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Tuesday nights are social nights for Eye Matter members.

On a rainy Tuesday evening (9th July) Eleven members, joined Sarah and Steve for an informal social discussion and musical quiz on Zoom. The hour long quiz featured songs from the “Lion King”, “Evita”,“Cabaret” and “Wicked” amongst others. From the short piece of music members had to guess the shows name, song title and the year they were first performed in London.

Sarah stunned everyone when she answered 1958 for “My Fair Lady” and Angela Lansbury receiving a Tony award for her role in “The Gypsy”(1969). Chanel correctly identified the name of the drag queen, Zsa Zsa from the show “Le Cage aux Falls” )which Eye matter had seen in 2023). Malcolm was able to answer a question on Billy Elliot and Alexandra knew Billys father was a coal miner.

If you would like to take part in our next on-line session please email Eye Matter with the title “Tuesday socials”.

Locking that spikey anxiety ball away!

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Monday 24th June at 1.30pm sixteen members attended the fourth session of our new “Turning Surviving into Thriving” programme live on Zoom. Facilitated by Joanna Williams, writer, workshop leader and therapist the group discussed the complexities around anxiety.

According to Mind.org.uk each week in the UK, 8 in 100 people are suffering from some sort of depression or anxiety, 6 in 100 people suffer from GAD (General Anxiety Disorder and 4 in 100 people suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

This week’s session explored anxiety in relation to grief and sight loss. Members openly discussed their own relation to anxiety and its debilitating effect upon their everyday life. Joanne discussed the concept of “Visualisation” in owning the anxiety but, also, its importance to keep us safe.

These twice a month sessions have been kindly funded by the Marway family and Natasha Cazin to allow blind and partially sighted people a chance to explore a range of different topics related to sight-loss.

If you would like to find out more about these sessions or, join us, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “thriving”.

Eye Matter: the UK Tour!

Eye Matter is delighted to announce that our award-winning founder, Suzie Simons, will be visiting Sight Villages across the UK to promote the charity’s fantastic work. Eye Matter currently reaches more than 200 visually impaired people and hopes to attract many more to its free membership and exciting program of in-person and Zoom events. Together with an expert team of facilitators, volunteers and partner organisations, Eye Matter offers something for everyone.

From Monday 8th-9th July Suzie attended the Birmingham Sight Village where she met representatives from other sight loss organisations. It was also a chance for her to meet some of Eye Matters members such as Alexandra and tell potential members about the fantastic opportunities Eye Matter provides.

Suzie said “It was lovely to meet so many other organisations supporting people with sight loss, such as; Seable Holidays, Thomas Pocklington, RNIB and VocalEyes. Our stall had lots of visitors and I was able to talk about the many activities we are delivering to people all across the UK.”

Please come and say hello to Suzie and the team at the following sight villages later this year:

Sight Village North

Leeds

Royal Armouries

Tuesday, 24th September

https://www.qac.ac.uk/exhibitions/sight-village-north–leeds/1216.htm

Sight- Village South East, London

Kensington Town Hall

Tuesday, 5th November 2024

https://www.qac.ac.uk/exhibitions/sight-village-southeast/3.htm

If you would like to find out more about these sessions or, join us, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Bounce with Eye Matter.

Sixteen Eye Matter members attended our monthly Bounce session on Wednesday 12th June at 11am. This provides a chance for members to share their concerns or recommendations, on products and services available for blind and partially sighted people.

Thanks to all of our members for their contributions and to Rachel for collating these wonderful notes

Here are some highlights for a full list of their discussions please contact Suzie: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Apple VIs is well worth signing up to and subscribing to their online newsletter:

https://www.applevis.com

RNIB Helpline: 0303 123 9999

Question 1: How to easily save events from Gmail into an iPhone calendar?

To read the full article please click here

If you would like to join in our monthly meetings, please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

We still have tickets available for:

Fiddler on the Roof Saturday 31st August £15

Sailing Wednesday 4th September £5

Confidence Building Workshop with Vic Hogg and Steve Reed 21^st September £5

Visually impaired group grief workshop session to be held in Kings cross Sommers Town Hall 2pm to 5pm with refreshments 28^th September £5

Come from Away 9th October £18.20

TINA The Tina Turner Musical 16th October £39.50

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

No matter where you are located in the UK, come and join our growing on-line group of friends on Zoom.

Tuesday 16th July 6pm:

Fun and Friendly social followed by audio described chair yoga

Wednesday 17th July, 11am:

VI Cookery, easy and delicious recipes

Friday 19th July, 11am:

Fun and friendly social, session to be confirmed

Monday 22nd July, 1.30 to 3.00pm:

New Surviving to Thriving facilitated by Joanna Williams, writer, workshop leader and therapist. These sessions explore the complexities and concerns around living with sight-loss.

Tuesday 23rd July, 6pm:

Fun and friendly social followed by Lindy Hop trial session. This is an audio described dance session with Lesta. This is a taster session to see if we like it. As always, your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Friday 26th July, 11am:

Fun and friendly social, session to be confirmed

Tuesday 30th July, 6pm:

Fun and friendly social followed by a concert, artist to be confirmed.

Wednesday 31st July, 11am:

Bookworms, our monthly book club, discussing An Angel Called My Name: Incredible True Stories from the Other Side by Theresa Cheung

If you want more information about any of the above events, please email us: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

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Dear Friends,

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Spotlight.

A song for Eye Matter’s friend Davinder Marway.
In the groove with MJ The Musical
Eye Matter leads the way across the o2 Arena!!!!

Social media update.

Future events

We still have tickets available for.

Future on-line events

A song for Eye Matter’s friend Davinder Marway

By Fiona Musgrove.

Eye Matter was devasted at the sudden death of their friend Davinder Marway earlier this year. Suzie, along with other members, met Davinder’s family at her funeral who acknowledged how happy she had been since joining Eye matter. It was, therefore, with humble appreciation that Eye Matter received so many kind and generous donations, from her family and friends. In tribute over 40 people attended a celebration of Davinder’s life with the Eye Matter choir, on Saturday 25th May at Somers Town Community Centre, Kings Cross.

In an emotional speech from Suzie (Eye Matter founder) she explained how some of this money would be allocated to support members through a grief workshop and establishing a hardship fund. Davinder was a bubbly, friendly member of Eye Matter, explained Suzie and like the other members of the choir decided, as a mark of respect, to wear bright colourful clothing to celebrate her life.

Rachel Bowden (Eye Matters Trustee) who had led the choir, on Zoom and arranged the orchestration content confessed she had been initially daunted at the challenge. Like the other choir performers Rachel is registered blind yet, despite this she, along with her friends, provided an eclectic range of music including songs from the Eurhythmics, the Monkeys and the Beatles.

Sarah Brooks, part of the choir, admitted how the time delays on Zoom were often frustrating especially when rehearsing as a group which made them sound unsynchronised. However, she smiled happily adding that she was pleased with their final live performance. This was echoed by the applause from the audience which consisted of friends and family of Davinder. Eye Matter was also grateful to Mark Pampel (who regularly plays on the grand piano at the Victoria and Albert Museum) for his piano contribution. As well as group singing several members of the choir, including Amrit Dhaliwal performed solo pieces accompanied our fantastic pianist, Thuy Mallalieu.

Eye Matter is equally appreciative of our amazing volunteers who were on hand to guide members to and from the station along with serving refreshments during the concert.

Click here to view the video (kindly formatted by Richard Simpson) from our Facebook page:

https://fb.watch/sPXGmERMp9

If you would like to be involved in future choir opportunities, please email Suzie with the subject “Choir”: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

In the groove with MJ The Musical

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Tuesday 18th May, 25 Eye Matter members joined 31 more people for a touch tour, on the stage of Prince Edward Theatre, ahead of watching NJ The Musical. One member added, “it was incredible all being on stage together.” The group was able to feel the keyboards, mirrors, light bulbs, walls, wigs, masks, leather jacket and the iconic Fedora hat.

Jessica (also from VocalEyes) said, “A fab evening at MJ the musical! A busy touch tour, lots of people and lots of amazing costumes to explore. Then a great audio described show.”

The audio description was delivered by Tony and Lonny, from VocalEyes, in such a synchronised way as not to disturb the singing but to just describe the dancing or who was speaking. They also continued to relate anything happening on stage which Eye Matter members would be unable to see in the performance. This included facial expressions, describing the Classic Michael Jackson pose “he’s put his hand on his crotch” and when he tips his hat to the audience. The audio describers also explained the dance moves including when Michael performs his iconic “Moonwalk”.

Eye Matter was all sat together (in rows C, D and E) and Suzie had ensured everyone’s headsets were operating properly before the performance began. They all enjoyed the different singers depicting Michael within his three stages of life (child, adolescent and adult) within his musical career.

Centred around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, MJ The Musical goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star to offer a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Jackson to legendary status. The show includes a wide variety of hits, including “Beat it”, “I’ll Be there”, “ABC” and much more.

Suzie said, “it was chest banging brilliant”, explaining she could feel the music in her body and enjoyed being able to dance along to the songs. Connie agreed, “It was rather good”.

If you were also there and would like to send your review, please email us or if you would like to join us on a future theatre trip please contact: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

If you would like to read more please click here to our Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0ZVoNE2ZdAXrw2pjgBj6UXk2HrLG1zFDqPEDst8MaekUtC6QWUhfciMTmqsVeDknEl&id=100064088379673

Eye Matter leads the way across the o2 Arena!!!!

Twenty-eight Eye Matter members and sighted guides will be climbing London’s iconic O2 Arena (Millennium Dome) on Thursday 11th July to raise funds for our charity.

As of 2022 it is the ninth largest building in the world by volume capacity. It has a diameter of 365meters over which our adventurers will be clambering!

The O2 Arena boasts spectacular views over 15 miles away. However, whilst many of our members will never be able to witness this, they will be able to experience its height (50 metres) and feel the exhilarating climb far above our city.

Imagine climbing the O2 Arena without sight- for many of us it is a reality and now a determination to look beyond our sight-loss to help others.

Please support Eye Matter’s quest to continue to provide more activities for blind and partially sighted people.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eyematterclimbstheo2

Social media update.

Eye Matters Facebook page provides information on future events, reviews and articles about our activities.

Please follow and support us.

Members and friends of Eye Matter

The Eye Matter Trustees, supported by Sarah our social media administrator has created a new private Facebook group for friends and members of Eye Matter to share reviews and articles. This is a space for you to interact with other members rather than on the public Facebook page.

If you would like to join this group, please contact either Sarah or Fiona.

X (formerly Twitter)

Our X page provides information from other similar organisations and people with sight-loss.

Please look up Eye Matter VI @Eyematter1

All our social media platforms are monitored. Eye Matter will not tolerate any bad behaviour or disrespect to other users. Please refer to our Social Media Policy if concerned or contact Suzie directly: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

We still have tickets available for:

A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens, Hertfordshire on Thursday 25th July- Meet and greet at 9:50 am at Liverpool Street Station, platform 10. Tickets are £27 which includes return train tickets from Liverpool Street (edge of zone 6) to Ware station transport between Ware station and the Gardens and entrance fee.
“Fiddler on the Roof” on Saturday 31st August at 2:15 pm at The Open-Air Theatre, Regents Park, London. £15 per ticket.
*Sailing Wednesday 4th September £5
“TINA The Tina Turner Musical”, 7:30 pm, Wednesday 16th October at Aldwych Theatre, London. Tickets are£39.50 each.

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

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Dear friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number seven. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Spotlight.

The Blind Knitter.

The problem of longitude and our discovery of Sonification.

Congratulations Suzie – winner of RNIB’s Volunteer of the year for Eye Matter

Future events

Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22nd June
We still have tickets available for.

Future on-line events

Eye Matter Spotlight.

The Blind Knitter.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Ruth Hollingshead, from the Isle of White (AKA ‘The Blind Knitter’), is a totally blind knitter. Initially her Nan taught her the skill of knitting, over 40 years ago and she then progressed to crochet learnt from her mother-in law 30 years ago. The ‘Blind Knitter’ Facebook page provides a platform to discuss ideas, knitting styles and demonstrate how to produce garments without sight. Ruth also volunteers for her local sight-loss charity, where she often reassures people on the verge of losing their sight, how they can still continue to enjoy needle craft. She explained that once learnt knitting and crochet continues as a muscle memory action by people as they had for many years not used their eyes to perform these tasks whilst watching television or reading a book.

Her preference is to use either Double Knitting yarn, or Aran weight yarn. For the Double Knitting yarn, she normally uses a 4 mm needle or crochet hook. Whereas, for the Aran weight yarn Ruth utilises a pair of 5 mm needles. There are so many different varieties of needle sizes which relate to the weight of the wool, or the size of the piece being created. Needles can also vary in length and shape (circular needles are used for socks and leg warmers). Knitting needles are now produced in a selection of materials, including, wood, aluminium, bamboo, steel, carbon fibre, plastic and even glass. It is easy to pick up needles from charity shops or on Amazon. Last year, whilst working with some exceptionally chunky yarn Ruth had to use 15mm needles and recalled “it was rather like knitting with rolling pins!”

Ruth’s favourite crochet stitch is called a ‘Bubble’ or ‘Popcorn’ stitch. It is achieved by working three or four times in the same stitch, and then moving on. She explains that this creates a sort of bubble in a straight line which is very effective. In contrast, her preferred knitting stitch is the “old fashioned” ‘Moss’ stitch. She enthused about it creating a really nice flat piece of work that Hass an even stretch in all directions.

An equally old-fashioned children’s wooden abacus is used to count the rows by sliding the balls backwards and forwards.

She has experimented with a range of yarns including, acrylic, cotton, silk, Yak, Marino, camel, and eucalyptus! However, Ruth’s favourite is alpaca, she has an alpaca farm nearby on the Isle of Wight who provide a lovely range of soft baby alpaca yarn. Inspiration for her unique garments comes from either the type of yarn purchased or matching a colour to an outfit. Sometimes the initial ideas simply come from her family describing either a pattern, or style they have seen on television. She says that many knitting and crochet YouTube videos are too visual or confusing without clear audio description for her to follow. There are, also, not many audible knitting patterns available so she has learnt to invent her own unique designs. Ruth has also developed a way to size her own clothes by wrapping them around herself and making the adjustments.

To celebrate her 50th birthday (last year) she bought some rather

expensive llama and alpaca yarn to create a calf length coat in granny squares of different shades of pink and purple. Ruth laughs as she admits that it is rather heavy to wear and is topped with a large, distinct collar which was subsequently dubbed, “hideous” by her son. Despite his remarks Ruth enjoys wearing it out on family outings!

If you would like to find out more about ‘The Blind Knitter ‘:

Instagram: blind.knitter

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Blind.Knitter

The problem of longitude and our discovery of Sonification.

By Fiona Musgrove.

On Saturday 18th May 36 members and volunteers attended a special visit to the Greenwich Royal Observatory. This included a talk about the history of the location, its importance in maritime development and a multi-sensory exploration into space.

Today we take for granted the ability to be aware of our location (at anytime) with our Smart phones but, many years ago this was achieved by studying the sun, moon and stars. Over the years astronomers and various countries battled with the need to have a more efficient way to measure time and be able to calculate longitude as maritime travel increased.

We were entranced by the knowledge of our guide Paul as he explained how this was eventually solved by a humble carpenter (from the North of England) and consequently, we still use his invention of the bio-metric strip today in many of our electrical items. John Harrison (1693-1776) in a career spanning over 40 years, revolutionised maritime travel and saved countless numbers of lives in his discovery of measuring longitude. He developed four variants from 1735 resulting in a smaller pocket watch product which measured time to an almost perfect accuracy. His designs were subsequently released as a pamphlet allowing copies to be manufactured. The principle idea was to align local time (anywhere in the world) with Greenwich time to calculate longitude. A universal agreement was eventually agreed in USA (1884) denoting Greenwich Mean time as the centre of time.

Twelve prominent astronomers have lived with their families and worked at the Royal Observatory since 1675. We were able to wander around the various telescopes and using Seeing AI read some of the display information. One of the highlights was a multi-sensory show within the Planetarium. Developed with a partially sighted Astro-physics Fellow, Dr Nic Bonne (based at Portsmouth University) who will be doing an inspiring talk for Eye Matter on the 6^th of September, the film provided access to space using ‘Sonification’. This process allowed visual images to become aligned with specific sounds. The glittering stars above us suddenly appeared as a multitude of distinct pitched sounds determining their unique sizes. Our spinning Earth was presented with different sounds for land mas compared to water and then it was placed within the Solar system which was defined by using different instruments such as a flute, piccolo and clarinet.

“Truly incredible” said one member. Another added, “the experience allowed me to understand through sound how many stars there must be in the sky”.

Congratulations Suzie – winner of RNIB’s Volunteer of the year for Eye Matter

Despite the drizzle outside our Suzie sparkled as she received the prestigious Volunteer of the Year trophy (for her outstanding delivery of activities for Eye Matter members), at the RNIB See Differently Awards on Tuesday 21st May.

In front of over 200 specially invited guests in the ballroom of eight Northumberland Avenue, London and announced live on social media, Suzie was selected from hundreds of nominations to recognise her dedication to enhancing the lives of people with sight-loss.

For more information about Suzie and the other winners please click here:

https://www.rnib.org.uk/our-campaigns/rnib-see-differently-awards/winners-of-the-rnib-see-differently-awards-2024

The photo below shows Richard Simpson (Eye Matter member) dressed in a dark suit between award winning Suzie Simons dressed in a long pale pink dress and Eye Matter Trustee Rachel Bowden in a dark dress. They are all swathed in pink lights at the RNIB event.

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22nd June £10

Islington Sports and Tennis Centre.

Volunteers are available to escort from Caledonian Road tube station.

This event offers a range of sports and activities including vi tennis, football and cricket. Eye Matter is proud to also introduce the new game of ‘Showdown’ which is a cross between air hockey and table tennis.

A scrumptious lunch is provided in the park.

Please don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to have some fun with friends.

We still have tickets available for:

Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22nd June £10

Sailing Wednesday 17th July £5

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens Thursday 25th July £27

The Constituent Wednesday 31st July £22

London Zoo Wednesday 21st August £3

UK Hailsham Activity holiday 26^th August to 29^th August £309.60

Fiddler on the Roof Saturday 31st August £15

Sailing Wednesday 4th September £5

Come from Away Wednesday 9th October £18.20

TINA The Tina Turner Musical 16^th October £39.50

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Save the dates

1st September GDIF Stratford Park

4th September Sailing

7th September Dance City North Greenwich GDIF

9th September choir practice restarts

10th September

Calling all visually impaired women who are still menstruating! We invite you to be part of an exciting study for FlowSense, an innovative device designed by Muna Daud for accessible menstrual health management. Join us to learn about the incredible journey and design inspiration behind FlowSense. Your participation will help create a product that aims to improve menstrual care for visually impaired women everywhere!

21st September visually impaired group grief workshop session to be held in Kings cross Sommerstown Hall 2pm to 5pm with refreshments £5

26th September Confidence Building Workshop with Vic Hogg and Steve Reed £5

Join us for a fun-packed session that consists of various drama games and creative exercises to boost confidence and improve interactive skills– and are guaranteed to make you giggle!

9th October Come from Away at the New Wimbledon Theatre £18.20

16th October TINA at the Aldwych Theatre £39.50

5th November Sight Village at Kensington Town Hall

30th November Eye Matter Singers’ Concert in Kings Cross

The Eye Matter singers are starting rehearsals on the 9th of September for this wonderful Christmas show. If you are a musician or a singer and would like to do a performance, please contact Suzie.

12th December Eye Matter Winter Extravaganza £40

9th January 2025 Robin Hood Panto at the London Palladium £17.50

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

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Dear friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number six. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Spotlight.

The camera never lies.

Doing an Italian Job for Eye Matter.

Don’t strip PIP cash payments from sick and disabled people petition.

Future events

Eye Matter Singers proudly present our spring concert in loving memory of Davinder Marway.
A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens
We still have tickets available for.

Future on-line events

External Activities

Eye Matter Spotlight.

The camera never lies.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Vicky Blencowe works part-time as an Assistive Technology Coordinator for Sutton Vision and is passionate about photography. On her 18^th birthday Vicky was given her first 35mm SLR camera with 2 zoom lenses. In 1985, she attended a short photography course, where Vicky learnt to compose pictures and use chemicals to develop the images. As her sight began to fail (1999) it was fortunate that her hobby could continue with the introduction of the digital camera which contains a small back screen. More recently Vicky has been reviewing her many photographs taken both with a 35mm camera and digital camera. She revealed shyly that it appeared “I always seemed to have an eye for a good picture”.

In 2014, she was given her first iPhone, which began her interest in learning about its various applications and features around photography. During the Pandemic Vicky discovered an on-line photography course which re-ignited. her passion for photography. Vicky still has enough peripheral sight left to assess the composition of a landscape but uses the zoom function to validate the final image. Over the proceeding years she has needed larger screens and eventually, upgraded two years ago to a 13 Pro Max iPhone. Vicky’s top three subjects are flowers, landscapes including along the River Thames and architecture.

There are many apps which are accessible such as Snapseed, by Google and Immovie. Vicky created the NFB UKs 75th anniversary video from audio recordings, photos and videos using voice over in iMovie. Through a work collaboration with Visionary, Vicky was invited to create her own video presentation in March 2022 about her photography experiences called “My world of Visually impaired photography on iPhone”, demonstrating the functions with and without Voice Over.

Vicky admits it is difficult to choose a specific place where she would like to photograph. For her it is all about the shapes and colours she observes around her on a daily basis.

She emphasises the importance of providing clear audio description on images displayed in social media. RNIB have produced some useful information:

Don't forget to add alt text when posting pictures on social media. Here's how to do it: https://t.co/lLrRNXgyGc
— RNIB (@RNIB) April 5, 2024

Sutton Vision uses Vicky’s photography on their quarterly magazine, and she has twice won a photography competition, for an annual Stargardt’s Connected charity calendar in both 2023 and 2024, capturing nature in two different images.

Home

Follow Vicky on Instagram.

@VI_VickyPhoto

https://www.instagram.com/vi_vickyphoto?igsh=MWVlMWk4azF1aGM0bA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Threads

@VI_VickyPhoto

https://www.threads.net/@vi_vickyphoto

Also on Twitter @VickyBlencowe for work and volunteering in the site loss sector.

Doing an Italian Job for Eye Matter.

Eye Matter would like to continue providing blind and partially sighted people a range of opportunities in the arts, culture and sport. In a quest to raise funds for Eye Matter, Fiona and Richard, are trekking 500 miles across Italy towards Rome. Averaging 30,000 steps per day, they have trudged through fields of sweetcorn (higher than themselves), walked alongside busy traffic and clambered over countless fences. Their arrival into these quaint colourful villages continues to attract interest. In one village they were bought coffees whilst other helpful Italians wave their arms in excitement as they struggle to communicate problems locating various accommodation facilities or the nearest cafe.

Walking provides an opportunity to experience Italy through many senses. The aroma of lavender, rosemary and freshly cut grass accompanied their recent riverside walk. Whereas the scrumptious flavours of Pistachio croissants tickled their taste buds in a local cafe. Please continue to support their fundraising. All money raised goes directly to Eye Matter activities. If you want to follow Richard and Fiona’s Italian adventure, please check them out on social media.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/eyematter?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Feyematter&utm_source=slack&utm_campaign=pfp-slack

Don’t strip PIP cash payments from sick and disabled people petition.

We would encourage you to sign this important petition

Don’t strip PIP cash payments from sick and disabled people! https://organise.network/s/9808079a4ad3

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

Eye Matter Singers proudly present our spring concert in loving memory of Davinder Marway.

When: Saturday 25th May, 3:30pm to 6pm.

Meet and Greet at St Pancras International Station Midland Road Exit by the Thameslink barrier at 2:50pm

Where: St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF

please come and join us for this fun afternoon featuring popular and contemporary songs.

Free tickets

A private audio described tour to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens

When: Thursday 25th July

Meet and greet at Platform 10, which is next to the ticket office at Liverpool Street Station at 9:50am

For train at 10:12am. Please be on time.

We will be going to Ware in Hertfordshire and catching a minibus to Henry Moore Gardens.

Where: Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, SG10 6EE

Cost: Tickets £27 – this covers the train from Liverpool Street to Ware, only paying from zone 6, the minibus from Ware to the Gardens, entrance to the gardens and the return travel to Liverpool Street Station.

Sighted guides will need to have a ticket to cover them from Liverpool Street to Enfield Lock (zone 6)

The tour will include some context about the site, house, visit a couple of studios & of course interact with the outdoor sculptures!

We still have tickets available for:

Eye Matter singers Concert Saturday 25^th May

Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22^nd June £10

Sailing Wednesday 26^th June £5

Sailing Wednesday 17^th July £5

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens Thursday 25^th July £27

The Constituent Wednesday 31^st July £22

London Zoo Wednesday 21^st August £3

Fiddler on the Rood Saturday 31^st August £15

Sailing Wednesday 4^th September £5

Sailing Wednesday 2^nd October £5

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

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Dear friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number five. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Spotlight.

The Running Man.

Frameless with Eye Matter.

Future events

Eye Matter’s Second Annual Sports Taster Day and Social
An audio described performance of Fiddler on the Roof
A 2-hour audio described tour of London Zoo
We still have tickets available for.

Future on-line events

External Activities

Last chance to enjoy a tour with Guide Dogs around Canary Wharf.
Boat trip with the Barnet Borough Sight Impaired group.
Sight Loss Council for North London.
Sound Without Sight.

Eye Matter Spotlight.

The Running Man.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Dave Williams (aged 47), RNIB’s Inclusive Design Ambassador for Consumer and Business Services along with being Chair of the Braillist Foundation, agreed to an interview about his sight-loss journey. He has Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis LCA, which is a rare inherited genetic eye condition.

“As a kid, I mistakenly believed that my blindness meant I wouldn’t have much of a life. I refused to use my cane and braille because I felt like those things labelled me in a very negative way. In my teenage years, I spent a lot of time in bed not really caring about my future.” Through volunteering, he met other blind people who lifted him up and ultimately provided a route into employment. His career has also taken him to several US blindness consumer conventions including the American Council of the Blind and National Federation of the Blind. “I actually worked for ACB between 2003 and 2006 coordinating their internet radio service.” Both the ACB and NFB, in the US, represent tens of thousands of blind and partially sighted consumers and advocate on a wide range of social issues.

Whilst attending the California State University of Northridge Assistive Technology Conference (March 2024), Dave was honoured to meet one of his hero’s, Stevie Wonder. “He’s quite tall you know. Stevie was really fun. He was interested in my Zoom audio recording device. He tried impersonating a British accent! At one point we had to move because of the crowds. He took my arm in his and started sighted guiding. That really was a pinch yourself moment.”

Dave was there to deliver a number of presentations, meet with other world blindness organisations and to record content for RNIB Connect Radio. He spoke to the legendary singer/songwriter about the importance of accessibility, how Stevie uses braille to write store and edit his songs and how he’d like to collaborate with Ed Sheeran. He told Dave that he would not have the career he enjoys without braille. Dave commented, ”Stevie’s words convey a massively important message about leaning into our blindness skills. As chair of the Braillists Foundation, I am acutely aware of the power of braille to transform lives. But, the same is true for using a cane, a screen reader, and all the other things we need to learn as blind people.”

Click here to hear the full interview RNIB Tech Talk episode 505

As host on Tech Talk on RNIB Connect radio, one of the funniest incidents occurred whilst attending RNIB’s Inclusive Design for Sustainability conference. “We got an interview with the Japanese consumer tech giant Sony. I was excited to be recording with them. I asked the company representative to introduce himself. It only turned out that his name was also David Williams!”

Recently, Dave was involved with RNIB’s the ‘Unseen World sponsored by Cannon. This three day exhibition showcased the work of 15 photographers pioneering a new technique to allow touch to be used within images. It also incorporated the use of codes (to provide information) by Navilens, amongst other more traditional options.

In his spare time, Dave plays the piano in a Blues Band and has recently taken up running. “From weighing 16 stone (2018) and not being able to run a bath, within a year I had completed the New York City Marathon. I then found out about the Abbott World Marathon Majors. This is six of the world’s biggest city marathons. I was hooked. As well as New York, I’ve completed London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and hopefully next year I’ll complete the set in Tokyo.” In the meantime, this month, ‘The Running Man’, will be attempting two Marathons (London and Manchester) within one week!

Tune in for Tech Talk on RNIB Connect Radio:

www.rnib.org.uk/connect-radio/rnib-connect-radio-shows/tech-talk/

If you have a tech query please email: techtalk@rnib.org.u

If you are interested in running and would like to enquire about a sighted guide please contact British Blind Sport.

Share my Marathon running efforts for a stronger RNIB:

www.justgiving.com/pages/davewilliams366

Frameless with Eye Matter.

On Tuesday 2nd April, 32 blind and partially sighted members, alongside volunteers, attended the ‘Frameless Exhibition’, the largest permanent multi- sensory exhibition near London’s Marble Arch. It has 42 Masterpieces and spans four galleries. It provides a unique immersive experience where visitors engage with art like never before!

Many members expressed their appreciation at being able to access all the galleries and the support of the staff.

One member said, “Wonderful visit today, organised by the fabulous Suzie from Eye Matter Four different galleries wow!”

In the first gallery they explored ‘Beyond Reality’ where the group were encouraged to “TRAVEL BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF REALITY AND DISCOVER ICONIC ARTWORKS THAT EXPLORE OTHER WORLDS, DREAMS, AND THE SURREAL. ”The most famous group of artists to produce such works were the Surrealists. Inspired by Sigmund Freud’s writings on the unconscious mind, artists such as Max Ernst and Salvador Dalí, created surprising, and often challenging imagery with deep symbolic meaning.”

This attention to detail continued throughout. The other galleries where they examined brushstrokes and textures used by different artists to convey their messages.

Another participants told us that In one gallery, being able to kick projected leaves on the floor onto the walls was a magical touch.

This was a hugely successful event with everybody leaving on a high as they stepped out into the sunshine.

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

Eye Matter Singers proudly present our spring concert in loving memory of Davinder Marway.

When: Saturday 25th May, 3:30pm to 6pm.

Meet and Greet at St Pancras International Station Midland Road Exit by the Thameslink barrier at 2:50pm

Where: St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF

please come and join us for this fun afternoon featuring popular and contemporary songs.

Free tickets

Eye Matter’s Second Annual Sports Taster Day and Social

In collaboration with Metro Blind Sport and Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being

Over 18s only

When: Saturday 22^nd June 2024, 10am to 3:30pm

Meet and greet at 9:30am at Caledonian Road Underground Station

Where: Islington Tennis Centre and Gym, Market Rd, London N7 9PL

For a taster of VI tennis, VI football, VI cricket, an introduction to Showdown and an audio described warm-up and cool-down with Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being.

Tickets will be £10, including a halal lunch

An audio described performance of Fiddler on the Roof

When: Saturday 31st of August at 2:15pm

Touch tour approx. 12:30pm tbc

Meet and greet at 11:30am at Baker Street Underground Station

Please bring a picnic

Where: The Open-Air Theatre – The Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, London NW1 4NU

Cost: Tickets are £15 per person

A 2-hour audio described tour of London Zoo

When: Wednesday 21st of August

Meet-and-greet at Baker Street Station at 10:00am

Where: London Zoo

Knowledgeable presenters will guide a group of up to 20 VIs plus sighted guides around the Zoo, on a route that includes some tactile models of the animals and, when available, an animal experience.

Cost: Tickets are reduced to £3.

After the tour, we will have a picnic, please bring your lunch.

We still have tickets available for:

Confidence Building Workshop 8th May 2024

1 VI and 1 guide ticket left for Spirited Away Thursday 23rd May 2024 £45

Sailing Wednesday 26th June 2024 £5

Sailing Wednesday 17th July 2024 £5

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens Thursday 25th July £27

The Constituent Wednesday 31st July 2024 £22

Sailing Wednesday 4th September 2024 £5

Sailing Wednesday 2nd October 2024 £5

For more information on any of these events or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

External Activities

Last chance to enjoy a tour with Guide Dogs around Canary Wharf.

There are only a few dates left until this novel exhibition (Paws on the Wharf) highlighting 25 Guide Dog sculptures custom designed by a range of artists from primary schoolchildren to international artists finishes on May 17th. Volunteers from Guide Dogs are there to provide assistance and share explanations about each piece related to the artist through a range of sensory accessories.

Boat trip with the Barnet Borough Sight Impaired group.

The BBSI Outings Committee is in the process of organising a boat trip on the River Lea including a Fish and Chip lunch on Tuesday 25th June. The boat trip lasts 3 ½ hours.

They will arrange a coach to take you to and from the boat from St Mary’s Church Hall, Hendon Lane N3 1TR at around 10am. The cost will be £36 per head. To organise this event, they need to know how many people are interested in coming.

If you are interested, please contact Nigel:

nigel.v@sky.com

Sight Loss Council for North London.

Sight Loss Councils would like to enrol more visually impaired and blind people from ALL boroughs in the north of London.

For more information please contact: Liam O’Carroll on:

07970231583

or email:

liam.ocarroll@pocklington.org.uk

Sound Without Sight.

‘Sound Without Sight’ is a hub for blind and partially sighted musicians, VoiceOver artists, audio engineers, and other creatives to come together to share and contribute their knowledge, and learn from one another; (people can get involved via our discussion forums and our knowledge hub).

If you know of anyone who may be interested, please encourage them to register for this month’s meet-up. Please note that registering only signs you up for this month‘s session, future sessions will require registering again. To keep up with our sessions and the other great things that we’re doing, sign up to our mailing list

We would, of course, also like to invite members to learn from and contribute to our knowledge hub and discussion forums , where they can interact with other blind and partially sighted creatives.

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Dear friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number four. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Spotlight.

New Surviving to Thriving sessions

Eye Matter’s Living Well with Sight Loss Workshop

Suzie has been nominated for an award.

My personal experience of ‘Just For One Day’.

Future events

A Confidence Building Afternoon with Eye Matter and friends.
Eye Matter Singers proudly present our spring concert in loving memory of Davinder Marway.
An audio described performance of The Constituent
We still have tickets available for

Future on-line events

Inspiring Speakers
Eye Matter’s Living Well with Sight Loss Workshop.

Eye Matter Spotlight

New Surviving to Thriving sessions

Starting Monday 15th April, 1:30pm to 3pm

Joanna Williams (Facilitator) is a writer, workshop leader and therapist, specialising in grief and loss. These sessions will not be group therapy but will provide information and ideas, and a space for the sharing of experiences with your peers.

This is a drop-in session. Everyone welcome.

Eye Matter’s Living Well with Sight Loss Workshop hosted by Steve and Danielle

From Thursday 2nd May for 6 weeks 11am to 1pm. Places are limited, please book your place by emailing suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject ‘Living Well’

This programme includes guest speakers along with providing opportunities to meet and share experiences with other people in similar situations. Boost your confidence and get practical advice, information, and resources.

We ask that try your best to make all six sessions.

Suzie has been nominated for an award.

RNIB PRESS RELEASE. March 2024

Charity founder from London shortlisted for RNIB See Differently Award

A woman has been shortlisted for an RNIB See Differently Award in recognition of an organisation she founded to provide multi activity, peer support and social inclusion for blind and partially sighted people.

Suzie Simons, who has sight loss and lives in London, has been shortlisted in the Volunteer of the Year category. This award recognises people who have dedicated their time, skills and energy within their community or organisation to have a positive impact on the lives, health, and wellbeing of blind and partially sighted people. To read the full article please check out our Facebook Page or here on Eye Matter’s website.

My personal experience of ‘Just For One Day’.

By Jo Rickless, Eye Matter Volunteer.

Prior to volunteering with Eye Matter, I never had any experience of interacting with blind or visually impaired people. Before I began Suzie gave me some sighted guide training and I have now volunteered at numerous events and I’m on a continuous learning curve.

I was partnered with Fiona for the ‘Just For One Day’ musical at the Old Vic Theatre (near Waterloo), on Monday 18th March. Thirty members and volunteers from Eye Matter participated in a touch tour where they heard details about the show from the main stars before the performance. They were able to touch clothing being worn by the cast and described by the wardrobe department as well as props on the stage.

This highlighted to me how important it is for the visually impaired to have the opportunity to touch, feel and be able to wear audio headphones to bring the show to life.

The cast and music were fab. It was a shame we couldn’t get up and dance!

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

A Confidence Building Afternoon with Eye Matter and friends.

This event is in partnership with Hounslow Council, RNIB, and The Middlesex Association for the Blind.

When: Wednesday 8th May 2pm to 5pm

Meet and Greet at 1:40pm at Feltham Station

Where: Feltham Assembly Hall, Feltham Park, Hounslow Rd, Feltham TW14 9DN

Join us for an afternoon with facilitators Steven George and Victoria Hogg. This event will include a fun-packed session that consists of various drama games and creative exercises to boost confidence and improve interactive skills– and are guaranteed to make you giggle!

For more information email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘confidence’

Eye Matter Singers proudly present our spring concert in loving memory of Davinder Marway.

When: Saturday 25th May, 3:30pm to 6pm.

Meet and Greet at St Pancras International Station Midland Road Exit by the Thameslink barrier at 2:50pm

Where: St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF

please come and join us for this fun afternoon featuring popular and contemporary songs.

To book your free tickets or for more information email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Singers”

An audio described performance of The Constituent

When: Wednesday 31^st July

Performance starts at 7:30pm, Touch Tour 5:30pm

Meet and Greet at Waterloo Station under the clock at 4:50pm

Cost: £22

Where: The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB

‘I am not your punch bag! I am a Member of Parliament!’

An MP with an instinct for compassion.

An ex-serviceman with a life in free fall.

And a parliamentary protection officer who’s having none of it.

This volatile new play stars BAFTA Award winner Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Line of Duty) as a hard-working opposition backbencher whose ideals of public office are tested by the demands of a man in crisis, played by Tony, BAFTA and Emmy Award winner James Corden (One Man, Two Guvnors, The History Boys).

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Constituent’

We still have tickets available for:

Sailing Wednesday 17th April £5

Tate Britain Tuesday 23^rd April £5

Confidence Building Workshop 8th May £5

Just 6 more tickets left for Spirited Away 23^rd May £45

Eye Matter Singers Concert Saturday 25th May FREE

Eye Matter Sports Day Saturday 22nd June £10

Sailing Wednesday 26th June £5

Sailing Wednesday 17th July £5

The Constituent Wednesday 31st July £22

Sailing Wednesday 4th September £5

Sailing Wednesday 2nd October £5

ABBA Voyage Thursday 7th November £27.50

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities here.
Highlights include:

Inspiring Speakers

12th: Fun and friendly social followed by Inspiring Life Talk by Jamie Beddard

Jamie Beddard is Joint Artistic Director of Diverse City and Lead Artist in Extraordinary Bodies. He is a Clore Fellow and a qualified RD1st coach. Recent artistic projects include two Extraordinary Bodies theatre productions; Delicate, (writer and co-director),Waldo’s Circus of Magic and Terror (co-writer with Hattie Naylor), and assistant director on the New Wolsey Theatre production of The Red Lion. Jamie has cerebral palsy CP and this results in some mobility and communication differences.

Every Monday 7pm. Eye Matter Singers

Monday 15^th April 1:30pm to 3pm: New Surviving to Thriving facilitated by Joanna Williams.

9th: April: Fun and Friendly social followed by a concert with the amazing Jorgen Hansson.

16th: Fun and Friendly social followed by a music quiz

23rd: Fun and Friendly social followed by audio described chair yoga

30th: Fun and friendly social followed by Neurobics with Steve Wax, aerobics for your brain

Second Wednesday of every month 11am: Bounce – Come and discuss and bounce ideas off each other.

Third Wednesday of every month 11am: VI Cookery, easy and delicious recipes

Last Wednesday of every month 11am: Bookworms, our monthly book club, discussing King Rat by James Clavell

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Dear friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number three. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

RIP Our Friend, Davinder Kaur Marway.

The coloured arches of Elysian art and 50 floors up!

Too Good To Go.

Update on Social Media.

Future events

Celebrate with Suzie – noodles and comedy
Spirited Away- An audio described performance.
We still have tickets available for.

Future on-line events

External Activities

Sailing Vision Week 2024
dance performance ‘Attuning’.

RIP Our Friend, Davinder Kaur Marway.

By Rachel Bowden Waterson, Eye Matter Trustee.

The Eye Matter community was devastated to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of our much-Loved friend and member Davinder Kaur Marway in early March.

Along with several members and trustees Suzie was honoured to attend Davinder’s funeral to say a final farewell to a brilliant and courageous young woman. The funeral was held on 21st march at Davinder’s Gurdwara, near East Ham. A huge congregation gathered to pay their respects. Due to the Gurdwara and crematorium being over capacity, the service was also broadcast through loudspeakers to mourners outside. Despite the palpable grief of Davinder’s family and friends Eye Matter was humbled by the care and welcome we were shown across the day.

Eye Matter sends its heartfelt thanks and deepest condolences to The Marway family. We are so grateful of their decision to encourage mourners to donate to Eye Matter in Davinder’s memory, thank you to everyone for their overwhelming generosity.

JustGiving Page: In Memory of Davinder Kaur Marway

Eye Matter Spotlight

Great news, Eye Matter will be hosting our second annual Sports Day on Saturday 22nd June in Islington in partnership with Metro Blind Sport and Illuminate Freedom Health and Well-Being. Activities will include cricket, tennis and football plus a fantastic food truck for our picnic lunch. Tickets will be £10.

For information about this event please email Eye Matter with the subject ‘Sports Day’.

The coloured arches of Elysian art and 50 floors up!

This was written by an Eye Matter member.

On Thursday, 7th March 2024, a group of twelve Eye Matter members and volunteers, met Suzie at Bank Station before walking to the Leadenhall building (Bishopsgate). Here we were introduced to Kat Gill, Access Producer, Safeguarding Lead at festival.org, who invited us to the event and helped to assist us.

We then proceeded to the Leadenhall building, where we also, met Tony, who was our audio describer. He provided us with headsets so, we could hear Tony’s commentary.

The group then walked through large rainbow-coloured arches into the Elysian Arcs Installation. Whilst listening to the peaceful music broadcast from within the large bubbles we were encouraged to feel the wrinkled plastic texture of the installation. We were immersed into a colour changing experience which was created by natural light bouncing off all the various shapes contrasting to the subtle LED lights arranged within the structure.

After completing the tour, we went to “The Corner Cafe” for refreshments. Here we discussed whether being able to touch art is as important as having it audio described.

Whilst in the cafe, Suzie arranged, as an additional treat, for us to go up to the 50th floor of No.8 Bishopsgate. From here, one can see a panoramic view of London dwarfing many of its neighbouring skyscrapers. This view was described to us by our guide.

It was a fantastic day.

Too Good To Go.

By Fiona Musgrove.

In this worrying time of balancing the increasing costs of food against the disparity of living costs, why not try this money saving idea of food distribution; Too Good To Go is an app where shops and cafes near you offer end of shelf life products, at discount prices. This could include a ‘surprise bag’ or a range of cakes and sandwiches.

For helpful advice about the app click here.

If you try this, after reading this article, please let us know about your experience. Alternatively, if you have any more tips on saving the pennies please email us.

Update on Social Media.

Social media is becoming increasingly more accessible so, please keep in touch with us through the following platforms:

X (formerly Twitter): @Eyematter1.

Thank you to Sarah for running our amazing Facebook page, please use this link to join us:

https://www.facebook.com/eyematterofficial

Coming soon……Instagram.

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

Celebrate with Suzie – noodles and comedy

Saturday 4th May £10 entry to Up The Creek comedy club.

Following the success of the first trip to Greenwich (see issue number one of Eye Matter Matters for a review) Suzie wishes to invite you to celebrate her birthday with noodles and a night of laughter.

Contact suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Spirited Away- An audio described performance

Where: London Coliseum St Martin’s Lane WC2N 4ES

When: Thursday 23rd May 2024

Performance starts at 7:30pm. Touch Tour TBC. Meet and Greet at Charing Cross Station exit 12 inside the station at approximately 5pm, to be confirmed.

Cost: All tickets, VI and guides will be £45, reduced from £210

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Spirited Away’

Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away, created by legendary animator and director Hayao Miyazaki is re-imagined for the stage by Olivier and Tony award-winning director of Les Misérables, John Caird.

The original Japanese cast perform this extraordinary production with wildly imaginative puppets, dazzling set and costume designs and a live orchestra playing the magnificent original film score by Joe Hisaishi.

A masterpiece of storytelling and stunning visuals Spirited Away tells the enchanting tale of Chihiro who while traveling to a new home with her family, stumbles into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba.

When her parents are turned into pigs and she is put to work in a magical bathhouse, Chihiro must use her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents, and return to the normal world.

Audiences in the UK now have the chance to be spirited away and delight in the mystery of this genre-defining animation classic.

MJ The Musical – An audio described performance

Where: Prince Edward Theatre, London W1D 4HS

When: Tuesday 18th June 2024

Performance starts at 7:30pm. Touch Tour TBC. Meet and Greet at Tottenham Court Road at approximately 5pm, to be confirmed.

Cost: All tickets, VI and guides will be £22.75

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘MJ’

He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to the West End stage direct from Broadway in the multiple Tony Award-winning new musical MJ.

Centred around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star to offer a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Jackson to legendary status.

Created by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, MJ delivers a theatrical experience like no other, electrifying audiences with dozens of the most iconic songs in music history, including Billie Jean, Beat It, Man in the Mirror, Thriller and Smooth Criminal.

The Constituent – An audio described performance

Where: The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB

When: Wednesday 31^st July

Performance starts at 7:30pm. Touch Tour at 5:30pm. Meet and Greet at Waterloo Station under the clock at 4:50pm

Cost: All tickets, VI and guides will be £22

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Constituent’

‘I am not your punch bag! I am a Member of Parliament!’

An MP with an instinct for compassion.

An ex-serviceman with a life in free fall.

And a parliamentary protection officer who’s having none of it.

Directed by Olivier and Tony Award winner Matthew Warchus (A Christmas Carol, Matilda The Musical) and written by Olivier Award winner Joe Penhall (Blue/Orange, Mood Music), The Constituent deconstructs politics, panic alarms and the conflict between public service and personal safety.

We still have tickets available for:

Saturday 4th May – Suzie’s Birthday Bash Noodles and Comedy £10

Saturday 18th May – Planetarium Show – Audio Universe £5

Thursday 23rd May – Spirited Away £45

Saturday 25^th May – Eye Matter Singers Concert £5

Tuesday 18th June – MJ the Musical £22.75

Saturday 22^nd June – Eye Matter Sports Day £10

Wednesday 26th June – Sailing £5

Wednesday 17th July – Sailing £5

Wednesday 31st July – The Constituent £22

Wednesday 4th September – Sailing £5

Wednesday 2nd October – Sailing £5

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities here.

External Activities

Sailing Vision Week 2024

29 June – 06 July 2024 – Lymington

“Applications have been coming in steadily from VI sailors and we are delighted to report that we have had a particularly good response from those who have never sailed or participated in Sailing Vision Week before, as well as applications from many of our regulars.”

With the deadline for VI applications being 31 March there are now only a few weeks left to apply for a VI crew place on Sailing Vision Week. If you have yet to apply, or if you are aware of any other VI crew ‘teetering on the brink’ of applying, then now would be a really good time to get your application submitted as it will help us greatly with planning.

For more information please contact:

Rosie Shorman

administrator at Sailing Vision Week

mail@sailingvision.org

Sailing Vision Trust (Charity No 1197634/ www.sailingvision.org)

dance performance Attuning’.

Date: Friday 22nd March 2024

Time: 3.30pm

Venue: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London, E1 6LA

If you’d like to attend, please email meerapateldance@gmail.com

Dance performance Access:

The performance space has step-free access. Venue accessibility information can be found on Rich Mix website here.

There will be integrated audio description. There will be a BSL interpreter.

This unique production offers new experiences of Indian classical dance by shifting the focus from the visual to a rich multisensory exploration of an alternative world called Tanmaatra. This performance serves as an invitation to attune to the non-visual senses and embrace the depth of Indian classical dance and music in a whole new light.

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Dear friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number two. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: fiona@eyematter.org.uk , our amazing new trustee.

This edition includes:

Eye Matter Spotlight.

Stephen, Seagull, and his life with an invisible dog.

Ahoy there, Sailors.

New look social media.

Bounce with Eye Matter.

Future events

Celebrate with Suzie – noodles and comedy.
Be a ‘Dancing Queen’ with Abba Voyage.
Eye Matter Choir is coming back.
More dates for your diary (including Sailing).

Future on-line events

Neurobics with Steve Wax, aerobics for your brain.
Audio Described Zumba with Louise from Illuminate Freedom.
VI Cookery.
Monthly book club – Bookworm.

External activities

Dance classes for people living with sight loss.

Eye Matter Spotlight

This is a new idea to allow our members and friends, to shine and introduce themselves. If you would be willing to be interviewed, please email: fiona@eyematter.org.uk

Spotlight on Stephen Portlock

Stephen, Seagull and his life with an invisible dog.

By Fiona Musgrove.

If he were an animal, what would he be and why? Initially Stephen proposed being a sexy black panther but felt it would be too conspicuous in town-life, whereas being a common dog or cat would make him dependent on” those things with long legs.”

“In fact,,” he finally admitted,” I really would like to have the freedom of a bird. Not an exotic eagle, as they are highly prized by hunters, but a squawking seagull. When I hear them, it always reminds me of the seaside and makes me smile.”

Stephen Portlock, in his early 50’s is a widower and now lives alone. His first degree was in languages and then he gained a further qualification in Journalism. In 2017 he began his stand-up career. Most of his content is over 15 rated but he gives a warning when it becomes more explicit. “I discuss my sight-loss alongside my OCD and how they impact on my everyday life,” Stephen explains. He always opens his sets holding a lead, as if blissfully unaware that his dog has scarpered. The dog in question, Hamlet, is a “Great Dane” he chuckles referencing the name of his show ‘Stephen and Hamlet, Blind and Mad.’

Stephen has been involved in a number of projects including a farce called Arsenic and Old Lace, along with an adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, written by Kate Lovell.

As well as a scattering of on-screen extra roles, he also starred in an Indie video Leave It by Bombay Bicycle Club.

“The video was actually a surprisingly nerve wracking experience, definitely more so than acting on stage. As I recall it featured a long tracking shot with different quite distinctively dressed men and women and I’m right at the end of the shot, which is to say at the end of the video. I was given the lines to learn which as I recall (and I still remember them over a decade later) were:

Don’t you go evade me now

Come see what you’ve done

I keep thinking lately how

All these feelings won.”

Stephen continues, “As the camera tracked along the sound of the guitars started getting louder and louder around me and at the appropriate prompt the (I think) man to my right tapped my foot with his. At that point I yowled out those lines as loudly as possible. Thankfully, people have said over the years that I have a pleasant singing voice so hopefully the experience wasn’t too painful for the other folks present. Even so it took a few takes getting it right as it’s hard to concentrate when the sound of crashing guitars are playing behind you. Obviously, it’s not my voice in the actual video. My support worker at work to whom I showed the video told me that my lips don’t quite sync with the overlaid lyrics but that’s not my problem – that’s the job of the editor!”

To give his career more context, Stephen was previously involved with The Venturers Drama Group of the Visually Impaired for many years and now Extant.

More recently, he has embarked on another acting role, in a ten-minute film by a group of students from the University of the Arts, based in Elephant and Castle. Filming was done over four days he explains. Stephen plays a blind, middle-aged father, also facing hearing -loss, who strengthens his relationship with his grown-up daughter through their love of painting. He appreciated the students allowing him to offer his input into the narrative of the project with its cast of three people and is looking forward to viewing the final result. Although this is not the first time Stephen has appeared on screen, he relishes each opportunity to use his skills developed at these specialised drama groups, as well as at the regular improv workshops run by Extant.

Many actors collect embarrassing stories and Stephen shared how he accidentally declared his love to another actor using her real name rather than that of her character during an intense scene. “I am also surely the only blind comedian to have ever caused a 100% audience walk out”, he muses, “I won’t say too much as I talk about it in my solo show but suffice to say that provided the audience are forewarned beforehand, which I always do now, then the offending joke in question has on many occasions brought the house down”.

Stephen has been a member of Eye Matter since 2020 when the majority of activities were online, due to the Pandemic. Over the past year he has enjoyed their in-person events such as the flamboyant Rocky Horror Show and, a few months ago, their Noodles and Comedy evening in Greenwich. He admits he has wanted to participate in more of the Zoom sessions, but they often clash with other activities.

Stephen is appearing in the following venues with his solo show Stephen and Hamlet: Blind and Mad:

Performing as part of Fest-Able

Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road, Wanstead E11 2RQ on the 8th of July at 6:15pm.

Performing as part of Camden Fringe Festival

The Etcetera Theatre Club at the Oxford Arms, 265 Camden High Street London NW1 7BU on the 2nd and 11^th August at 9pm.

Ahoy there, Sailors.

By Fiona Musgrove.

Eye Matter, in conjunction with Tideway Sailability, are offering members a chance to discover their sailing legs. These will take place from April in the Docklands with a group of Sailability volunteers. To understand how sailing feels for a blind person I recently spoke to Nathalie Wright, who was registered blind since birth due to her mother contracting an unknown virus during pregnancy. Since 2016 Nathalie has sailed all over the country and even into the Mediterranean Sea, as part of a sighted and non -sighted crew. I was curious to understand how a girl from London could become so enamoured in sailing and what makes this such an inclusive activity?

Nathalie’s initial intention of sailing had been to go on a chartered cruise but, on realising the exorbitant costs, began looking for an alternative adventure. This she found within the pages of Metro Blind Sports magazine for a week’s sailing along the South Coast. A fleet of around seven craft, which includes yachts of varying sizes, support several sighted and non-sighted crew. With no prior experience of sailing, Nathalie’s first task was to be able to board a boat successfully.

She admitted, “At one stage with the sea spraying my face, jeans feeling like stiff cardboard and rolling over the waves I could not think of anywhere else I would rather be”!

I explained that many members of Eye Matter may feel dubious attempting sailing for the first time. Unlike Nathalie’s high-sea antics, Eye Matter will be piloting around a lock in the River Thames, with volunteers. Whether a person is with one volunteer or, working as part of a crew, the sense of empowerment, raised confidence and enjoyment, is exhilarating explains Nathalie.

Her exploits have seen her tethered to a yacht during a weather Gail 9 alert in the Mediterranean Sea, learning to perform ‘Man overboard’ operations and meeting so many people.

If you would like to take your first steps into sailing with us, email Eye Matter giving the subject ‘Sailing.”

For Nathalie, being a full-time carer for her mother, these opportunities are very much appreciated. She will be working in a few months to train volunteers to support more VI sailors and would like, one day, to obtain some professional sailing qualifications.

Once you have tried sailing with us check out these other opportunities:

RYA Sailability

Sailing Vision Trust

VISA_GB

Bounce with Eye Matter

Bounce is a space for you to share experiences of living with sight loss and learn from. Others. Bounce covers a wide range of interests from technology to gaining knowledge about the different white canes now available. It aims to provide recommendations to the wide variety of questions posed by members. Each session is facilitated by Suzie and comprehensive notes are taken by Rachel.

Please click here to access these notes:

New look social media.

Over the following weeks, Eye Matter will be updating their social media platforms. We would love you to post your photos and comments, from events you attend with Eye Matter. Please remember to ask permission if showing identifiable faces and include alt descriptions for those of us who can’t see the images.

Check us out on X(formerly known as Twitter), as Eye Matter1 and Facebook, as the Official Eye Matter page.

Future events

All our events are accessed here

Here are a few highlights:

Celebrate with Suzie – noodles and comedy

Saturday 4th May £10 entry to Up The Creek comedy club.

Following the success of the first trip to Greenwich) see issue number one of Eye Matter Matters for a review) Susie wishes to invite you to celebrate her birthday with noodles and a night of laughter.

Contact suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Be a ‘Dancing Queen’ with Abba Voyage

Thursday 7th November 2024 and Thursday 28th November 2024

7.45pm

Blending innovative technology, spectacular lighting, and some of the most beloved songs ever written, ABBA take to the stage in a whole new way. In a stunning, purpose-built arena, one of the most popular groups in history appear as digital avatars in a ground-breaking concert that really needs to be seen to be believed.

Meet and greet at 6:30pm at Stratford Station

All tickets, VI and guides will be £27.50 each

These tickets are all half price, and we can’t wait to dance the night away. Tickets are limited, they will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Please do not forget to put which date you would prefer.

If you are visually impaired and want these tickets, please attach one of the following:

PIP (Personal Independence Payment)
DLA
Letter from a medical professional (e.g. a doctor’s note or a letter from an occupational therapist)
Carers Allowance
A Nimbus Access Card with the +1 symbol
Social Services letter – Confirmation in writing from Social Services that the individual is included on their Deaf Register, or a letter or report from an aural specialist confirming that hearing loss has been recorded at 70 – 95 dBHL or worse
War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
Blind or partially sighted registration certificate (BD8 or CVI certificate)
A personal letter from the GP, community nurse or social worker
Benefit award letters
Copy of a blue badge (we would need to see both sides)

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Abba’

Eye Matter Choir is coming back

Eye Matter is delighted to announce- The Eye Matter singers is coming back.

Choir will be commencing on Wednesday 20th March

Further choir sessions will be on:

Monday 25th March 1st April 8th April15th April 22nd April 29th April 6th May 13th May, Wednesday 15th May, Monday 20th May and Wednesday 22nd May.

Performance: TBC

Venue: St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre

If you have any song recommendations, please send them to suzie@eyematter.org.uk

With subject ‘song’

More dates for your diary:

Sailing Wednesday 17th April £5
Tate Britain Tuesday 23rd April Free
Planetarium Show – Audio Universe Saturday 18th May £5
Sailing Wednesday 22nd May £5
Sailing Wednesday 26th June £5
Climb the o2 (2 spaces left) Thursday 11th July at 9am. £25
Sailing Wednesday 17th July £5
Sailing Wednesday 4th September £5
Sailing Wednesday 2nd October £5

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject [Name of event].

Future on-line events for March and beyond:

Keep up to date with our activities here.

Highlights for March and beyond include:

12th: Fun and Friendly social followed by confidence building with Steve Reed.
19th: Fun and friendly social followed by Neurobics with Steve Wax, aerobics for your brain.
26th: Audio Described Zumba with Louise from Illuminate Freedom.
VI Cookery, easy and delicious recipes: First and third Wednesday of every month 11am.
Bounce: Second Wednesday of every month 11am. Come and discuss and bounce ideas off each other including, survival hacks for living with a visual impairment.
Bookworms, our monthly book club: Held on the last Wednesday of each month at 11am.

If you would like to participate in any of these events, please email Eye Matter.

External activities

Dance classes for people living with sight loss.

Learn contemporary dance through improvisation and self-expression at Rambert, in partnership with EYES 4 POSITIVITY. This term finishes Saturday 23rd March, 2024.

Where: Rambert 99 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PP.

When: Saturdays, 12.30pm – 2.30pm

You can book on our website, over the phone or in person.

rambert.org.uk/eyes-4-positivity or call: 0208 630 0600

Cost: £7 per class.

For any questions or more information:

Email us on dance@rambert.org.uk

To find more about EYES 4 POSITIVITY please call 07730410788, email info@eyes4positivity.org or visit http://eyes4positivity.org

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Dear friends,

Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue number one. This is a fortnightly publication for you to share experiences, engage with our extensive range of activities and learn more about Eye Matter’s objectives for its members. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please contact: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

This edition includes:

Noodles of fun with Eye Matter.

Eye Matter event, Tate Modern, 21 Feb

Testimonial re: Tate Modern Audio-Described Tour on February 21st

Keep in contact with us through Facebook

Future events

Eye Matter Choir is coming back
private audio described tour at the Peter Harrison Planetarium.
Tate Britain
Climb the o2

Future on-line events

fun and friendly social hour followed by music quiz with Steve Reed 27^th February
book club – Bookworms – moving to the 6^th March
audio described chair Yoga 5^th March 6pm, followed by a social

Supporting Eye Matter

External activities

DANCE CLASSES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH SIGHT LOSS

Your contribution is valued

Noodles of fun with Eye Matter.

My personal experience by Fiona Musgrove.

On Saturday 10th February, around thirty Eye Matter members and volunteers initially met at the Cutty Sark DLR Station. Having preselected our meal from a very extensive menu supplied from Tai Won Mein Noodle House, we enjoyed catching up with old and new friends.

After the delicious supper, we walked across the road to the comedy club, Up The Creek. We were instantly greeted by its staff, at the door and shown to our reserved seats facing the stage. Eye Matter volunteers were on hand to ensure members were able to purchase drinks at the large bar area and escort people to the toilets.

At first the compère seemed very taken aback with the large number of ‘blind’ people in the audience but, he soon engaged us in the comedy. Three comedians performed and ad-libbed to the audience’s responses. These included a Sikh man, who initially came out with a strong Irish accent, a flamboyant American and an overweight woman (her own words). The laughter of our members resounded around the room and the applause was deafening.

One member said, “it was my first time in a comedy club, and I enjoyed it so much.” Another member commented, “I hope Eye Matter does this again.”

Eye Matter event, Tate Modern, 21 Feb

A few thoughts on the fabulous Tate event by Sarah Matthews

Spending the morning with Eye Matter at Tate Modern was a delight and really gave me a boost. It can be hard to engage with art as a totally blind person, especially when it was once a major part of your life, but I knew I was in good hands with Suzie and the team as they’re always so encouraging, supportive and understanding.

We met at Southwark station and were introduced to each other as people arrived which felt so welcoming. we then made our way to Tate Modern and were joined by the excellent Access Team. We started with introductions and as there were about 20 of us, all with different levels of sight, Tate gave us a room away from the main galleries which was great as there was a fair bit of distracting background noise. Anyone who needed a guide was paired up with a volunteer and we were all given audio headsets so once we went out into the busy building we could clearly hear what was being said. This was particularly important for at least one person who had significant hearing loss but so helpful for us all to be able to focus, not straining to hear if we were at the back of the group at any point in the tour.

We then went to the Turbine Hall to hear about Behind the Red Moon by El Anatsui, a complex installation made of 1000s of metal bottle tops. This piece fills the vast space and is in 3 sections so it was a bit like being shown 3 pieces of art. The describers had their work cut out, explaining the scale and form of it and did a great job. They told us about how the work was constructed alongside the concept and historical context which was fascinating. I particularly appreciated the time and effort put in to producing tactile boards which had small example sections of the artwork for us to feel. It allowed me to visualise the piece so much better and made me feel more connected to it. That was fantastic.

After that we went to see Babel by Cildo Meireles, which is a piece I’ve heard about but never experienced. We listened to the swirling sounds of the circular tower of radios and were told that the lighting in the room is kept very low so visitors focus on sound and can see the various coloured LED lights shining. It was so fascinating to consider how the tower was constructed (old tech at the bottom, changing to new tech as it rises) and what the artist was interested in conveying. We could hear a mix of constantly changing music and voices from all the different stations which creates a unique experience for every viewing of the piece. We then headed back to the room downstairs and a vintage radio was passed around for us to feel while we quizzed the knowledgeable staff about this exhibit.

We stayed in this room for a bite to eat afterwards before heading home. What a wonderful event which not only got us thinking about art, history and culture, but got us chatting to new people and left us feeling enthusiastic for the next outing.

Testimonial re: Tate Modern Audio-Described Tour on February 21st

“I was so energised and inspired by attending Eye Matter’s collaboration with Tate Modern in providing an audio-described tour of artworks by Ghanaian artist, El Anatsui, and Brazilian artist, Cildo Meireles . It was brilliant to meet other Eye Matter members at the barriers at Southwark Tube, and to walkthe short distance to Tate Modern,where we were given a very warm welcome……..there was much expertise in assisting all of us to get the best experience in being able to take in the depth of these brilliant artworks, through a variety of sensory approaches, and elevate our voices in rendering our own interpretations aloud. Having a group collaborative experience about what it all meant was fabulous”.

To read the full testimonial and learn more about the work Eye Natter has achieved please click here: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/testimonials/

Keep in contact with us through Facebook

Thank you to Sarah for running our amazing Facebook page, please use this link to join us.

https://www.facebook.com/eyematterofficial

Future events

All our events will be listed here: https://www.eyematter.org.uk/events/ but, here are a few highlights:

Eye Matter Choir is coming back

Eye Matter is delighted to announce

The Eye Matter singers is coming back.

Choir will be commencing on Wednesday 20th March

Further choir sessions will be on:

Monday 25th March, 1st April, 8th April ,15th April, 22nd April, 29th April, 6th May, 13th May, Wednesday 15th May, Monday 20th May and Wednesday 22nd May.

Performance: 25^th May 2024

Venue: St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre

If you have any song recommendations please send them to suzie@eyematter.org.uk

With subject ‘song’

private audio described tour at the Peter Harrison Planetarium.

Where: The Peter Harrison Planetarium, Astronomy Centre, Blackheath Avenue, London SE10 8XJ

When: Saturday 18th May

Meet and greet at 10:15am at Cutty Sark DLR Station

This is a 15-minute uphill walk to the planetarium

Cost: Tickets are £5 per person

At 10:40am the Planetarium Show – Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System will start:

Experience the Solar System like never before – by travelling on a spacecraft that can turn the objects in space into sound!
Prepare to be transported inside a special spacecraft to the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) to view the stars in the night sky, before
lifting off into space to visit the Earth, Moon, Sun and all the planets of the Solar System.
Unlike traditional planetarium shows the soundtrack takes the lead role. Each of the objects in space are represented
with sounds as well as being presented with the incredible visuals.
This will go on until 11:30am after which we can take a self-guided tour with an audio guide of the Historic Site, Royal Observatory Greenwich

Please bring a picnic lunch

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Space’

Tate Britain Tuesday 23rd April Free

Climb the o2 Thursday 11th July £25

For more information or to book your place contact Suzie

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject ‘Tate visit’ or O2 climb’.

Future on-line events

Keep up to date with our activities :

https://www.eyematter.org.uk/events

Highlights include:

Tuesday 27th February from 6pm

fun and friendly social hour followed by music quiz with Steve Reed

Wednesday 28th February from 11am – moving to 6^th March

Our monthly book club – Bookworms takes place

Tuesday 5th March from 6pm

audio described chair Yoga followed by a social

Supporting Eye Matter

Obtaining funding is always difficult for small charities but Eye Matter is constantly striving to ensure its services can continue to be delivered.

Two Eye Matter members have already raised over £500 towards supporting these projects. Please continue to donate as all the proceeds will go towards your future activities.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/eyematter

Any amount is welcome.

External activities

DANCE CLASSES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH SIGHT LOSS

Learn contemporary dance through improvisation and self expression at Rambert, in partnership with EYES 4 POSITIVITY.

Where: Rambert 99 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PP.

When: Saturdays, 12.30pm – 2.30pm

You can book on our website, over the phone or in person.

www.rambert.org.uk/eyes-4-positivity or call: 0208 630 0600

Cost: £7 per class.

For any questions or more information:

Email us on dance@rambert.org.uk

To find more about EYES 4 POSITIVITY please call 07730410788, email suzie@eyes4positivity.org or visit http://eyes4positivity.org

Your contribution is valued

As a member of our Eye Matter family, we are keen to hear from you. Have you recently participated in one of our events? Do you have any photographs to share with us? (please include a description). Have you attended a good audio descried event, or received excellent service, as a VIP? What content would you like included within this newsletter? Please send your articles to: suzie@eyematter.org.uk

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Dear Eye Matter members and friends,

Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of Eye Matter’s busy and brilliant 2023.

Eye Matter was delighted to welcome many new members and volunteers as the charity continued to grow and reach more visually impaired people.

In November we launched our new website www.eyematter.org.uk which offers PayPal and has a brand-new donate button. We are also now registered for Gift Aid.

Eye Matter was also delighted to add Visionary www.visionary.org.uk to our list of partners.

Members Matter,

In the past 12 months, Eye Matter members have been invited to join over 200 free Zoom events and 36 in person outings.

Our packed Zoom timetable has featured favourites including audio described yoga with Jackie, Zumba with Louise from Illuminate Freedom, Neurobics with Steve Wax, drama and confidence building with Victoria Hogg, VI cookery, and our ever-popular Bookworms book club.

Across 2023, Eye Matter welcomed insightful and inspiring talks and concerts, from friends including our very own “Musical” Mark Pampel, and VI snowboarder Haren Thillainathan. Eye Matter member Katriona Taylor wowed us online and in person at her album launch at Piano Smithfield in September which members were thrilled to attend.

Peer Support Matters

Eye Matter’s twice weekly “fun and friendly social hours” continued to bring members together to laugh and chat in an informal and relaxed Zoom room whilst monthly “Bounce” meetings have been another space for members to share problems and find solutions or workarounds for a visually impaired life.

Volunteers have generously offered fellow members remote iPhone Voice Over training which has been of great benefit to many.

Living Well Matters

In partnership with RNIB, Eye Matter delivered two “Living Well with Sight Loss” courses.

These popular and practical courses provided attendees the opportunity to learn about available support, including technology, mobility and transport with much more besides. Our next course will be held in May.

Outings Matter

Across the year, Members enjoyed some fantastic outings to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Ronnie Scotts, and London Zoo.

Tideway Sailability facilitated members’ sailing days at Surrey Docks Watersports Centre! Members have also loved being welcomed by accessible museum tours, including at the Wellcome Collection, at Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the Postal Museum.

Members also loved joining in the first ever Eye Matter sports day in June, taking part in VI tennis, VI football, VI cricket, and having a wonderful community day including a community picnic.

In October, members were delighted to be guests of RNIB and Netflix at the premiere of “All the Light We Cannot See” at the Everyman, Broadgate.

We’ve also been treated to critically acclaimed theatre and accompanying touch tours of audio-described performances including “Guys and Dolls”(Bridge theatre), “Standing at the Sky’s Edge (National Theatre), “Groundhog Day” (The Old Vic) and La Cage au Folles (Regents Park Open Air theatre). More than 30 Eye Matter members and friends have just been thrilled to attend “Peter Pan” at London’s Palladium, this brilliant and hilarious production has given everyone the best start to 2024’s theatre going!

And finally, Eye Matter enjoyed a fabulous festive season with a concert from the Eye Matter Singers in early December which was rapturously received and featured some glorious solos. Our thanks to Kevin Satizabal, our pianist and Linn Davies, our singing teacher for all of their hard work.

Our “Winter Extravaganza” held at The Crown Hotel, Cricklewood, was a brilliant day filled with dining and dancing, laughter, and fun.

Thank you for being a part of our Eye Matter year and we can’t wait to see you either online or in person very soon.

Lots of love, Suzie and the Eye Matter team

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