At the start of the year, we were fortunate to receive support from the James Tudor Foundation towards Devon in Sight’s Emotional Wellbeing Services. Their support has enabled our staff to reach even more people who are blind or partially sighted across Devon!
Our Health and Wellbeing Service helps clients get the emotional support they need at the right time and the difference this makes can be life changing.
Many of our clients are dealing with a range of issues such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, life changes and trauma, with most having lost their confidence.
Our staff help clients navigate the emotional impact of their sight loss through Individual Telephone Support Calls, running weekly group telephone Chit-Chat Calls for peer support, or where appropriate referring into formal counselling. Clients have reported that being able to access different levels of emotional support has enabled them to choose the best method for them to address the impact of sight loss on their emotional wellbeing.
Thanks to the support of funders such as the James Tudor Foundation we have been able to support even more clients through our Emotional Wellbeing Service than this time last year. Client feedback has shown 74% of clients felt more positive about their lives going forward after accessing the service, 61% felt less isolated or lonely, and 53% felt more connected to other people.
Judy Pride, Head of Development and Operations who delivers the service describes:
“Being able to work with our clients, either on a 1-2-1 basis or in a group makes working at Devon in Sight so completely worthwhile. To hear that someone has taken a step forward from being fearful about their future to being able to envisage a life that is worth living again, is priceless. I learn from our clients every day. Our clients teach me something new and this helps me improve the way I am able to support others. Emotional wellbeing spills into every other aspect of living with sight loss, to be a part of that client’s journey is a privilege. To know that this client undertook their first train journey since losing their sight was a brave step. This led to our client travelling to meet their family after so many years and is even considering a holiday. I find my work is inspirational and I wouldn’t choose any other job!”
Devon in Sight provides a wide range of services to help people who are blind or partially sighted and their families to navigate their sight loss journey.
