Tom Visits Sutton Association for the Blind

11.05.17am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Apr 2007

On Thursday 22nd March 2007 Sutton Association for the Blind (SAB) were delighted to welcome the Hon. Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington at their weekly morning session of SOCIAL EYES, a group for visually impaired people living in Sutton aged over 60 years of age. Tom spent time chatting to clients and their carers, who were all thrilled to meet him.

Tom can be seen here chatting with an SAB client

Commenting on the visit Tom Brake said, "It was a very rewarding experience. I realised how easy it is for employers, and institutions to neglect the visually impaired in the design of products. I also realised how easy it is for those same employers and institutions to make everyday items and places available and accessible for the visually impaired. The services offered by SAB are tremendous. I'm proud to know that these services are available in my constituency."

SAB have approximately 700 clients all of whom are visually impaired and resident in the London Borough of Sutton. Many of the clients are aged over 55 years and many have had sight loss in later life, particularly from Macular Degeneration.

SOCIAL EYES was originally set up to try and meet the needs of some clients who are particularly isolated and find it hard to get out and about with their sight loss. Over a cup of tea or coffee with cake and biscuits, clients are able to chat about anything ranging from the weather to world affairs! SAB also have a very active Carers network as often Carers attend and make friends with other Carers.

SAB have a number of other services available including smaller interest groups such as reminiscence, exercise, poetry, music and a cinema group. They also have a very busy Outreach service too including home visiting, reading and writing service, telephone contact and outings service providing sighted guides. If you are interested in learning about SAB and their services you can contact Barbara Duncan, Chief Officer on 020 8409 7166 or email her on barbaraduncan@sab.gb.com.