Local sight loss charity brings new roadshow to Kirklees

Outlookers has launched a new roadshow

Submitted by Mollie Earnshaw

A local sight loss charity has launched a new roadshow for local communities to find out more about the organisation and discuss any concerns they have about their sight.

Outlookers (formerly known as the Kirklees Visual Impairment Network) has created the mobile sight loss centre using a van donated by Elland based specialist provider Terberg DTS UK.

The van will take to the streets of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, to ensure people who are isolated either by transport, disability, or living alone, have an opportunity to talk in confidence about their concerns around sight loss.

User of the service will also be able to look at equipment that might help them continue to do the things they love.

The projects follows on from the Community Champions project Outlookers embarked upon. This joint project with Kirklees Council used Outlookers staff and volunteers to help people with a disability access the Covid-19 vaccine.

Outlookers recognise the importance of talking to people in familiar surroundings, so have announced a series of key dates and locations that the Sight Loss Centre will be visiting this summer.  The road trip locations include:

• Wednesday, August 18: Asda, Mill St W, Dewsbury WF12 9AE
• Tuesday, August 24: Morrisons, Penistone Rd, Waterloo, Huddersfield HD5 8QW
• Tuesday, August 24: Morrisons, Station St, Meltham, Holmfirth HD9 5QR
• Tuesday, August 31: Greenwood Centre, Huddersfield Rd, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury WF13 3JR
• Wednesday, September 1: Co-op, Market St, Holmfirth, Huddersfield HD9 7AX
• Tuesday, September 7: Mullaco, Mullaco Retail Park, Slaithwaite Road, Dewsbury WF12 0AA
• Wednesday. September 8: CMCLC, Moorfield Shopping Centre, 15 Park Rd W, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield HD4 5RX

Outlookers is run by people who themselves are blind or partially sighted. They offer peer and technology support to people who are impacted by sight loss.

The organisation specialises in ensuring everyone with a visual impairment has access to technology that can help them retain their independence.

Volunteers run one to one tuition that is tailored to work at an individual's own pace.  This may be helping someone access free talking books or showing them how to adapt their smartphone to allow them to use apps.

Christine Stephen, CEO of Outlookers said: “The charity has a wealth of knowledge about technology which people can easily learn to use to benefit themselves, so we want to ensure that residents throughout Kirklees have the access to any support they need throughout their sight loss journey.

"In December 2020, we approached the team at Terberg, who very kindly donated a beautiful vehicle that will allow us to do just that. We are so thrilled to be able to meet as many people as possible throughout the summer."