North East Sight Matters (NESM) at Northern Lights in Newcastle(Image: Chronicle Live)

Lives of children with sight loss changed with equipment provided by Chronicle Sunshine Fund

The charity aims to enhance the lives of babies, children and young adults living with disabilities and terminal illnesses

by · ChronicleLive

Across the UK, 11% of children are disabled.

Of those with disabilities, five per cent have visual impairments.

Now children with sight loss have benefited after the Chronicle Sunshine Fund recently provided a bundle of equipment to North East Sight Matters (NESM), based in Blagdon, Northumberland.

The Chronicle Sunshine Fund supports children with disabilities across the region. The small, local charity aims to enhance the lives of babies, children and young adults living with disabilities and terminal illnesses.

They provide specialist and adapted equipment to a range of organisations who provide care, support and education to disabled children. These include schools, nurseries and community groups.

NESM was set up during the 2020 lockdown by Penny Dane, a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) with more than 26 years of experience working with adults and children with sight loss.

She works alongside two other directors, Caroline Boulby, another VRS with over 30 years' experience, and Charlotte Stephenson, a teacher with the SEND Sensory Service (Children’s Vision Team) in Newcastle.

The support, provided by NESM, initially started as virtual lessons. They have since grown and now deliver a range of accessible, engaging and educational activities an events across the region.

The equipment provided to North East Sight Matters (NESM) by The Chronicle Sunshine Fund(Image: Chronicle Live)

The Chronicle Sunshine Fund has handed over equipment, totalling £1,000, to be used by families at NESM events. The equipment provided, which is available to families when they attend, includes:

  • One Apple iPad
  • Four Apple Air Tags
  • Four Daylight YoYo magnifier
  • Four 6x pocket magnifier
  • One Symbol cane
  • One Jab cane
  • One pack of fidget spinners
  • Four anti-glare glasses
  • Four Base Ball Caps
  • 30 ear buds
  • Four ear defenders
  • Four rucksacks
  • One polaroid camera
  • Four super bright torch LED.

Penny said the array of equipment, which The Sunshine Fund has provided, gives each individual child and young person the opportunity to engage more appropriately for their particular circumstance.

The Chronicle Sunshine Fund's Family Co-ordinator Bev joined the group at the Northern Lights trail in Leazes Park, Newcastle, to speak to families and find out how the equipment has made a difference.

She said: "It’s always lovely to meet some of the families who have benefited from the equipment we’ve funded, and to learn more about each of them. Here at The Sunshine Fund, we’re passionate about building relationships with the families and organisations we support, and we love to see the impact our work has on them firsthand.

"We believe that all children deserve the same opportunities and experiences, and it’s been a pleasure to enhance these types of visits and help make them more accessible for local children with visual impairments. When we support organisations, it’s wonderful to know that each piece of equipment is going to help provide support and enrichment to multiple people, over a long period of time. We hope to see the equipment being used in more events in the future!"

The Chronicle Sunshine Fund relies on the generosity of Chronicle readers to continue their hard work. They have four equipment rounds per year, each costing upwards of £30,000 on average, and receive zero statutory funding from the Government or local authorities.

Demand for equipment is growing and costs are rising. In the last 12 months, the charity has seen number of applications for equipment rise by 43%. This demonstrates the increasing need across the region.

How can you donate?

  • You can make a donation online at https://www.thesunshinefund.org/donate.
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