Our project will continue to transport & engage with people with a sensory loss to take part in activities & avoid loneliness and isolation.
Our charity was started by a veteran 30 years ago and soon realised the lack of services for sensory impaired people in the Forest of Dean. We have only 2 staff Natalie & Jo who have a wide range of qualifications and experience in a range of fields. Natalie is an ECLO and has a contract with the RNIB to provide eye care services. We have 8 volunteers who drive, cook and generally help out. We also have 5 trustees and an advisor.
Our vision is to help people to increase independence, self-reliance and resilience through information and advice, advocacy, and direct support. We want people with a sensory impairment to have choice of opportunities that meet their hopes and passions and we want disabled people across Gloucestershire to be included and involved in their communities and the places they live.
Things we provide:
All the things that we provide for our clients are free or charged at a subsidised rate. This enables us to reach more people but also have a regular income. Drivers are very important as our clients cannot get to a bus stop or afford taxis. Our drivers build up trust and allow the client to feel safe which is a must for the visually impaired.
To have help to fund the above and thus secure the financial viability of our charity would enable us to develop the services we provide for the increased benefit of our clients. It also allows us to concentrate on the clients needs rather than keeping the doors open.
We are very person centred as every person has different needs, abilities and disabilities. We are guided by our clients and the barriers they face everyday.
One of our long term clients is a man who lost his sight in a farming accident 8 years ago when he was in his 40’s. As well as dealing with the grief and depression that accompanies sight loss, he has had to learn new life skills to be able to live alone. He had to learn long cane training to get to a shop and had to devise ways of coping with a digital life without being too dependent on others. By taking classes at our centre, arranging audio equipment, and giving him the support he needed, he is now 80% independent, cooks and has a full life with his new wife whom he married last year. A real success story which we have a few of.
This project closed unsuccessfully on 2nd June 2026