Sheffield Charity’s 160 years supporting people with sight loss

One of Sheffield’s oldest independent charities, the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB) marked its 160^th Anniversary on 17^th September 2020.

The charity has been providing vital services for visually impaired people in the city since 1860 and over the last 160 years they have helped people to come to terms with their sight condition, offered a wide range of activities and advice, and worked with many other organisations both locally and nationally, to improve the lives and independence of people with sight loss. In recent years they took the step of extending their services to Rotherham and opened Rotherham Sight & Sound (RSS).

They have had to adapt to many changes since 1860, and who could have predicted that 2020 would be the extremely challenging year that everyone has faced? However, the charity has adapted and continued to offer support for their clients within the constantly changing guidelines over the last few months.

SRSB had planned a celebration dinner at Weston Park Museum where their long and interesting history in Sheffield began with Eliza Harrison, who was the daughter of Thomas Harrison (who built Weston House). Unfortunately the dinner has been cancelled due to Covid-19, but they have rescheduled the event for 2021. However, they held an online event as part of the Heritage Open Days national event which included a virtual tour of key points in the charity’s 160 year history with Sheffield and a Q&A for attendees.

SRSB and RSS provide opportunity, support, friendship and services to people with sight and/or hearing loss in Sheffield City Region, helping them to achieve whatever they wish to do and whatever they aspire to be.

SRSB and RSS work with many corporate and individual supporters in Sheffield and Rotherham and if anyone is interested in getting involved, please contact them. Their Fundraising and Marketing Team are available to discuss opportunities.

Visit SRSB/RSS’s website for more information on the charity’s work: www.srsb.org.uk You can call them on 0114 272 2757 or email [email protected]