ESVS - East Sussex Vision Support

04/09/2026

This is an interesting interview. Richard Osman like myself has Nystagmus,

Sight Loss will affect us all in different ways but there are also common experiences that we can identify with

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0p7lg4s?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUHwOlwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNydZ7jdGiNyIHbz72DAX9c_3XTNmWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzE3Mzg0NzY0MjY3MDM3MAABHk9QcWhbY3xSZIBJpapdMb4oa6KWNqUpSzj5Dqs8eGjLeBAinVlIRDFgejLJ_aem_FOBVbyhl_pCOEg83XdHBLQ

Richard Osman on being visually impaired, writing and the benefit of thinking differently

04/09/2026

Raising funds for ESVS through Easyfundraising

If you make purchasing online you can use this to raise funds for ESVS.

Details can be found at

easyfundraising is the UK’s biggest charity shopping site

04/09/2026

Rail accessibility events at Eastbourne and Brighton railway stations

Message from Sight Loss Council. If you need copies of the station guides or any other info please contact Lauren

We’re excited to announce the following events, to celebrate the launch of our new accessibility guides. Word versions with full details are attached. Please share the below information with any blind and partially sighted people who may be interested 😊

Sussex Sight Loss Council and GTR invite blind and partially sighted people to join us for Coffee, Chat, and Navigation events at Eastbourne & Brighton railway stations.

Whether you're a regular rail user or looking to build confidence travelling independently, these sessions are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about accessible rail travel and help shape future improvements.

During the event, you will have the opportunity to:

Meet the project team: Chat with representatives from Sight Loss Councils and GTR to learn more about the work being carried out at the station.

Explore accessibility resources: Discover the station audio guide, onboard train guides, and the Aira app – all designed to support confident and independent rail travel.

Take part in a guided station walk: Explore key areas of the station and experience parts of the station guide in action.

Share your feedback: Tell us what works well and what could be improved to help make rail travel more accessible for blind and partially sighted passengers.

Connect with others: Enjoy refreshments and meet other blind and partially sighted people from your local community.

Book your place at our Eastbourne event
Date: Wednesday 7 October
Location: 5 Terminus Rd, Eastbourne, BN21 3QJ
Meeting point: Passenger Lounge
Booking closes: Friday 2 October

You can attend either of the following sessions:
Morning session: 10:30am – 12:30pm
(Arrive from 10:15am)
Afternoon session: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
(Arrive from 1:15pm)

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please book an additional place for any guide or companion you bring with you.

Book Eastbourne Station morning session
Book Eastbourne Station afternoon session

For any queries, please email [email protected] or call 07964193980.

Before you attend
To help inform your feedback, please take a few minutes to listen to or read the station guide before attending the event.

Eastbourne station audio guide
Eastbourne station written guide (PDF)

Book your place at our Brighton event
Date: Wednesday 14 October
Location: Brighton Station, Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3ZE
Meeting point: Passenger Lounge
Booking closes: Friday 9 October

You can attend either of the following sessions:
Morning session: 10:30am – 12:30pm
(Arrive from 10:15am)
Afternoon session: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
(Arrive from 1:15pm)

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please book an additional place for any guide or companion you bring with you.

Book Brighton Station morning session
Book Brighton Station afternoon session

For any queries, please email [email protected]

Before you attend
To help inform your feedback, please take a few minutes to listen to or read the station guide before attending the event.

Brighton station audio guide
Brighton station written guide (PDF)

Many thanks 😊

Lauren
Lauren Eade
SLC Coordinator (South East)
Thomas Pocklington Trust
[email protected]
07964 193980

Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity which supports blind and partially sighted people with a focus on Education, Employment and Engagement.

27/08/2026

Please see below invite from Karis, her details are below

“I'm collaborating with the South Downs National Park Authority on a project exploring how the South Downs National Park can be more accessible and engaging for sight impaired visitors. I'm planning a couple of introductory events, before running a series of research events next year.

Would you or anyone you know who is VI like to come to an event on Monday 7th September? This is the plan.

9am minibus pick up from Brighton Rail Station. Exact location is provided when your attendance is confirmed.

9.45am arrive for refreshments, introductions and toilet stop in the Turkey Barn, Cuckmere Haven. Information for those driving (not taking the minibus) below. I will collate dietary requirements when your attendance is confirmed.

10.30am Nature Connection session OR walk with a Ranger (seeing what I can get booked in time).

12.30-1pm Sharing about Nature Connection session or walk with Ranger to camera for those willing. The rest of us can take our own time to reflect.

1pm Lunch at the Turkey Barn

1.45pm Discussion on why nature is important to you, taking place in the Cuckmere Haven landscape. We will share some reflections on nature, our experiences (or lack of), learn more about the landscape we’re in and what ways we want to spend time in nature. We may actually do some of the things we want, whilst we’re there! The film crew will be available for us to do some filming on this topic, for those who fancy it. We can go for a walk with the time we have free.

4.15pm minibus leaves to return to Brighton Rail Station (can be earlier if we are all ready)

Filming
Our incredible filmmaker (Tomasz) and photography team will be joining us again. Tomasz made our last film and is currently finishing the one for Nature Unseen (which Karis will share when it is ready). They will be gathering footage for when we do this bigger project next year, so if you want to come it will be a requirement to have completed two forms: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/brand/consent-form and the one attached (which can be completed digitally and sent via email rather than printed). We will share the photographs after the day. If you want help doing it, we can do it whilst there.

Please let me know if you or anyone is interested! We have lots of great guides.

Many thanks,

Karis

Dr Karis Jade Petty
Assistant Professor in Anthropology
Office 363, Arts B, Global Studies, University of Sussex

[email protected]

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24/08/2026

🚗 Volunteer Drivers Needed – Lewes Area 🎭

Do you enjoy live theatre and meeting new people? We’re looking for volunteer drivers in the Lewes area to help members of our ESVS Theatre Club enjoy the magic of live performances.

As a Theatre Club driver, you’ll collect a member from their home, drive them to the theatre, enjoy the performance with them, and then take them safely home afterwards. You’ll usually be part of a small group travelling together.

🌟 What’s in it for you?

🎟️ Free theatre ticket – enjoy the performance with the Theatre Club member

⛽ £5 fuel contribution towards your journey

❤️ The satisfaction of helping someone living with sight loss enjoy an experience they might otherwise struggle to access

🤝 Meet new people and become part of the ESVS volunteer team

Theatre Club performances take place four times a year, so this is an occasional volunteering opportunity rather than a regular weekly commitment.

If you’re a safe, reliable driver with a friendly and caring nature and would like to help make theatre accessible to people living with sight loss, we’d love to hear from you.

If you are interested, please contact ESVS to find out more or register your interest.

📞 01323 83 22 52
📧 [email protected]

🚗 Know someone who might be interested in volunteering as a driver? Please share this post and help us spread the word!

🎭 Help us make sure the show can go on!

18/08/2026

Let's all

18/08/2026

🎭 Rediscover the Magic of Live Theatre! ✨

Do you remember the excitement of sitting in a theatre, the lights going down and the curtain rising? There’s something truly special about experiencing a live performance — and our ESVS Theatre Club can help you enjoy that magic again! ❤️

🎟️ How does the Theatre Club work?

Four times a year, Theatre Club members receive details of an upcoming theatre performance. If you’d like to attend, simply return your ticket request form with your payment in the pre-paid envelope.

On the day, an ESVS volunteer driver can collect you from home, take you to the theatre and along with usually 25 other Theatre Club members, enjoy the performance with you. Afterwards, they’ll make sure you get safely home.

💷 Costs

• There’s no membership fee to join the Theatre Club.
• You pay the theatre’s ticket price — there’s no ESVS mark-up.
• Volunteer transport is just £4, helping towards the driver’s fuel costs.
• Make your own way to the theatre? There’s no transport cost.

👥 Need help with mobility?

If you need assistance getting around, you’ll need to attend with a companion who can support you. Your companion receives a complimentary ticket. If you both use the ESVS transport service, the cost is £4 each.

🎧 Audio Description Available

The performances we attend are supported by the theatre’s Audio Description Team. Personal headsets provide descriptions of the cast, set and important visual details during the performance, while you can still enjoy all the sounds and dialogue on stage.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy live theatre, meet fellow ESVS members and experience the sights and sounds of a great performance once again. 🌟

Interested in joining?

📞 01323 83 22 52
📧 [email protected]

Ask to join the Theatre Club and we will pass your details to the Theatre Coordinator, who will give you a call to explain what performances are coming up.

🎭 The curtain is waiting… why not join us?

11/08/2026

👀 We’d love to hear from you!

What’s one small thing that makes everyday life easier for someone living with vision impairment?

It could be an app, piece of equipment, helpful service, a person who has supported you, or simply something you’ve discovered yourself.

Share your tip in the comments - you might help someone else too! 💙

10/08/2026

📣 A big thank you to the Bexhill Ladies Lunch Club for inviting us to speak at their recent meeting.

We were welcomed by Ann, who organised the event, and had the opportunity to talk to around 60 ladies about ESVS, vision impairment, and common eye conditions. The audience was extremely engaged throughout the presentation.

Everyone enjoyed trying on our Sim Specs, which help demonstrate the effects of different eye conditions, and there was plenty of interest in our range of Glare Shields. In particular, Tint 57 proved very popular, with several ladies commenting on the difference it made.

We're always pleased to hear that our talks are both interesting and informative and were especially delighted to receive messages of thanks afterwards, including one from a lady who intends to purchase a pair of yellow Glare Shields.

🎤 Would you like us to come and speak to your group?

We’d be happy to deliver an engaging talk about vision impairment, the support available and the work of East Sussex Vision Support. Get in touch to find out more.

📞 01323 83 22 52
📧 [email protected]

10/08/2026

If you are interested in the attached post, the application date has been extended. Don't forget to share this post with your contacts.