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WHAT WE DO

Sight Matters is devoted to supporting people with sight loss so that they are able to lead the lives they want.

We provide the vast majority of our services free at the point of delivery and we do not differentiate on the grounds of circumstance or financial position.

We are a caring specialist support organisation. Some of our services operate from our headquarters in Onchan; others, including assessments, can be undertaken in people's homes by staff or volunteers.

OUR SERVICES

 

The Younger Members Group

Our younger members group offers regular opportunities for blind and visually impaired children to connect, learn, and have fun together. From social meet-ups and accessible sports to creative workshops and skills sessions, we aim to build confidence, friendships, and independence in a supportive environment.

The Over-18s Group

Our Over 18s Group offers a friendly, relaxed space for visually impaired adults to socialise, share experiences, and take part in a wide variety of activities—from trips out and accessible sports to guest talks and workshops.

Lunch Club

Our Lunch Club is a warm and welcoming get-together where members can enjoy a hearty meal, good company, and plenty of conversation. It’s a great way to catch up with friends, meet new people, and feel part of the Sight Matters community—all over a delicious, home-cooked lunch.

Audio Library

We are committed to providing services to reduce isolation; our free audio library, which contains over £100,000 worth of audio books, helps people to re-engage with reading and the enjoyment that only a good book can offer.

Recorded News

Our recorded news service helps people stay connected with their community. Every week, we send out local news stories read by volunteers and recorded in our studio to a large part of our membership, giving them access to important information that may not be otherwise available.

OTHER SERVICES

Manx Care Low Vision Clinics

We work with Manx Care to run monthly Low Vision Clinics. This involves services associated with functional vision clinics, lighting and magnification assessment, support, and aspects of re-training to help people do many of things they did before encountering the challenges of sight loss.

Local Services and Benefits Information Hub

Our staff are able to offer advice and support for people needing to fill out a form or apply for a benefit. We regularly help members with bus passes, parking badges, and other administrative tasks.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

We offer free visual impairment awareness training to businesses and organisations. This training allows third parties to engage with the blind and visually impaired community in the most appropriate way. Training is tailored to each organisation's needs and time requirements. Training covers areas such as general visual impairment education, communication techniques and sighted guiding training. 

Corporate Social Responsibility 

We also offer a wide range of corporate social responsibility opportunities. These include recording audio news for the local visually impaired community, helping with on-site renovations and gardening, helping to run events and fundraisers and more. 

Consultancy and Advice

We are also able to offer free consultancy services for organisations looking to improve accessibility, ensure good practice and adhere to existing disability legislation. This includes accessible design, workspace optimisation, communications , accessible documents and assistive equipment.