warmspaces and community for blind and families

our evolution has seen us grow from a small group offering visually impaired people 'just something to do' to one of the largest goalball clubs in the country. This growth has seen us develop our scope vastly and we now offer Goalball and showdown - both sports that are designed specifically for the visually impaired - upskilling and training, volunteer roles within sporting and administrative roles, emotional and mental support from our in-house councillor, well-being advice and services. These services provide an almost complete wrap around service and are provided by visually impaired people for visually impaired people and their families and friends which is a powerful tool for developing real empathy and understanding as well as deep kinships and community.

Our experience has helped us to become keenly aware that all the people within our club are individuals and have their own stories to tell and individual needs that need attention. In conversation, we have realised that one of the most pressing issues at the moment within the group is the cost of living crisis, in particular, rising fuel costs. some of our member are facing the choice of warmth or food. Whilst we already offer a warm space with a welcoming atmosphere where visually impaired people and their families can come and socialise, use our services and lean on the support of the group with your help we will be able to offer our service to more blind people, this will mean they wont need to sit in cold isolation and hungry and  will not need to make those choices between eating or heating  to ease the burden on their mental health and wellbeing.