Vision Support - A Charity Focused on Independence and Equality

Vision Support is aiming to form a choir in north Wales to sing the music of composer Garry Chilton.

Ideally, Garry would like eight singers between the ages of 18 and 55, but if younger or older people are interested, he's happy to consider them and to teach however people prefer. Choir practices are likely to be held in Llandudno, depending on what's most convenient for the singers.

To find out more, contact Lynn Bennett at Vision Support on 01745 338914 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This news was featured on the BBC North West Wales website.

Congratulations to the winners for the Christmas Cash Prize Draw for the website.

• 1st place - Mrs M. Jones, Abergele - £300
• 2nd place - Mrs Williams, Hawarden - £150
• 3rd place - Mrs Morgan, Chester - £50
• 4th place - D Taylor, Chester - £50

Thank you to everyone who kindly took part in supporting the charity by buying the tickets and we hope you all had a very merry Christmas.

Vision Support's Annual General Meeting will be held on 28th November 2009. For more information click here.

Sian Cassy has joined the many members of the public generously donating funds for Vision Support. On 8th November 2009 Sian will be running the Conwy Half Marathon, and is looking for sponsors to support her.

Vision Support's patron, Catriona Cameron, has pledged her support for Vision Support as part of her campaign to become Miss Earth UK. Votes cast for Catriona will result in a donation to Vision Support.

Now you can show your support for Vision Support by becoming a fan on Facebook

To help us spread information about the valuable work Vision Support is doing, we have embraced the social networking phenomenon, and now have a Facebook page. By becoming a fan, you can not only show your support, but be kept up-to-date with Vision Support events.

Vision Support working in partnership with the National Blind Children’s Society is pleased to announce the launch of its new Family Group. Our first meeting will be taking place on Saturday 18th July at HM Stanley Hospital in St.Asaph, Denbighshire, between 11.00am and 12.30 pm. and we would be delighted to see you there.

Rhyl Community Heroes - Honour for Volunteer who helped others

A volunteer with Vision Support who has helped his community throughout his life has been honoured.

Selfless Dennis Williams, 85, was presented with the "Best Neighbour award" during the Mayor of Rhyl's Gala Charity Evening and Community Awards night.

Vision Support held a Volunteer Celebration Day on June 2nd at the Holiday Inn, Northop to celebrate National Volunteer's Week, and to say thank you to all their volunteers. The day began with an update from Vision Support Chief Executive, Miriam Wright, and from Vision Support Funding Officer, Jane Arends, followed by an exercise to identify just what volunteering means to people.

On Friday 29th May at 9:00am, Insight Radio will be broadcasting a feature on Vision Support. This will include an interview with Miriam Wright, Chief Executive, and our Patron, Catriona Cameron, Miss Cheshire 2009. You will be able to listen to the feature online at www.insightradio.co.uk, through Sky channel number 0188 or on Freesat channel 777.

Having been crowned Miss Cheshire 2009 and having been diagnosed with dyslexia and more recently Irlens syndrome which affects visual perception, Catriona Cameron understands the valuable work Vision Support does to help and support those with a vision impairment, how important it is to “raise awareness of all visual conditions and this charity, so that more people will get diagnosed and receive the help they need”. Catriona will be working closely with Vision Support's Funding Officer Jane Arends, to help raise funds for the charity, and will be joining us at our annual event day, Together with Vision Support, on Saturday 13th June 09 at the Llangollen's Royal Pavilion, which promises to be a fantastic day.

Vision Support is currently involved in a new project in partnership with National Blind Children's Society. We are setting up a group for families of children with a visual impairment in North Wales. Its aim is to provide an informal place where parents can meet and talk about shared issues. We will support parents by providing up to date information and regular discussions on areas requested by the group. Through the involvement of the group we hope parents will be able to influence local services developed for their children.

Due to unforeseen circumstances it has be necessary to change the planned venue of the 2009 Together with Vision Support Day.

The event will now take place at The Royal International Pavilion, Llangollen.

The date and times remain the same: 13th June 2009, 10am – 4pm.

If you would like any further information please contact Nicky Stevens at our Head Office.

As of 17 April 2009, our Cheshire mobile information unit will be making regular visits to Chester and the surrounding area. The services offered by the resource centre facilities at our Chester office will instead be supplied by the mobile information unit.

Staff on the Mobile Unit will be able to demonstrate a wide variety of specialist equipment to help with daily living. They will also be able to offer general help and advice.

Over the coming months the schedule for Vision Support’s Mobile Information Unit will be updated to the new timetable.

The Ropeworks will still continue to be used for social clubs and IT Training.

Details of the Mobile Information Unit’s schedule can be found on our website. Alternatively, please call us to ask when we will next be visiting your area.

Vision Support is St David's Park Hotel's Charity of the Year 2009.

This popular group has just moved days and will now meet in Wrexham Resource centre on Tuesday from 10.30-12.30 instead of Friday.

The group is very sociable but also enjoys a bit of Arts and Crafts along the way.

Anyone interested in joining should contact the Wrexham Resource Centre.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has so kindly sent in their generous donations at this difficult and expensive time of the year. Every pound we receive enables the Charity to continue to provide the vital services we offer to our service users in supporting the independence of individuals living with vision impairment.

A special big thank you is to go to Employment Judge Michael Homfray-Davies and his colleagues for their most generous donation to mark his retirement and we would like to wish him all the very best for the future.

Once again we are extremely appreciative of your generous donations and continuous support given to the charity.

The Salvation Army teamed up with Vision Support to hold a Community Carol Service to celebrate the season on Thursday the 27th November.

The service was well attended and enjoyed by all. Music and refreshments were provided by the Salvation Army Centre in Windsor Street in Rhyl. Captain Angela facilitated the early evening service which was traditional and delivered with both warmth and friendliness, we are very grateful to her and her team for making this, our first carol service such a success.

On the 2nd December 2008 St David’s Park Hotel hosted the announcement of Vision Support Week which take place from Monday 2nd November to Sunday 8th November 2009. Vision Support Week has been designed to raise the profile of the charity and enable us to celebrate the charity by means of fundraising throughout North Wales and Cheshire for the entire week.

Vision Support, a local charity supporting people with sight loss, is teaming up with The Salvation Army to hold its first ever Community Carol Service on Thursday 27th November at 5pm in The Salvation Army Centre in Windsor Street, Rhyl. The venue is accessible, the event is free and everyone is welcome! It will be a great community event with refreshments and mince pies served after the service. If anyone would like to come and join in please contact Vision Support by 24th November to reserve your place. Tel 01745 338914