4Sight Vision Support helps people across West Sussex who are blind and sight-impaired - this is what impressed me most when I visited
4Sight Vision Support helps people across West Sussex who are blind and sight-impaired to live Life Without Limits. The High Sheriff of the county Gary Shipton – who is also Editor At Large of this newspaper – visited their main office in Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis.
4Sight Vision Support is a remarkable organisation which this year celebrates its 105th birthday.
That milestone would simply not have been possible to reach without generations of volunteers, leaders, and service users, valuing the charity and understanding just how vital its enduring work is.
It has been their passion, determination, ambition, drive, and commitment that has shaped 4Sight into the truly unique and life-enhancing organisation that it is today.
Its mission is to make a positive difference at every stage to the lives of those who are blind or sight-impaired - through hospital-based support, vision assessments and equipment, advising on the welfare benefits and concessions available, improving eye health, helping people to make the most of technology and to access practical health and wellbeing activities.
Many of those who work at its offices are vision-impaired themselves. They understand. They have the lived experience. And their enthusiasm and resolve to make a difference shines through when you meet them.
It is clear even in the smallest details – key rings beautifully woven with each recipient’s initial by a volunteer who has committed 17 years to their work.
In my role as High Sheriff, it was a privilege to meet chief executive officer Kirstie Thomas, chair of trustees Dr Norman Boyland, and some of the superb team at the charity's HQ in Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis.
As with so many organisations fund-raising remains a key concern. The independent charity relies on support from volunteers, fundraising events, donations and grants to fund its life-changing services and is a past recipient of the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
According to the charity there are perhaps 34,000 residents in West Sussex with sight-impairment to some degree. Reaching and helping as many of them as possible remains their driving passion.
I congratulate them on it.