Sight Concern Worcestershire celebrates its volunteers and hails the restart of the Malvern Talking News - The Malvern Observer

Sight Concern Worcestershire celebrates its volunteers and hails the restart of the Malvern Talking News

Malvern Editorial 1st Jun, 2021 Updated: 3rd Jun, 2021   0

VOLUNTEERS Week starts today and Sight Concern Worcestershire is celebrating those who give up their time to help people who are blind or visually impaired across the county.

The charity has more than 200 volunteers all-year-round and, the charity said, they had worked especially hard in the past 12 months, being central to the organisation’s response to the pandemic, despite facing their own challenges.

A total of 50 new telephone befrienders have joined the existing volunteers and trustees to reduce the isolation and loneliness experienced by many people with a visual impairment during the Covid lockdown and restrictions.

Many are eagerly anticipating visiting people in person, supporting them to get out and about again and to rebuild any confidence they may have lost during the pandemic.




Volunteers have also helped redecorate the charity’s offices and maintain its garden in Worcester and played a pivotal part in relaunching the Malvern Talking News earlier this year.

A new team, composed entirely of and led by volunteers, has started recording local news in their homes which is then put together by the technical editor.


Anyone who wants to hear the fortnightly recordings can use the web-player at www.sightconcern.co.uk.

The Talking Newspaper app from the Apple app store or Google play, asking Alexa to ‘enable Malvern Talking newspaper’ or by calling 01684 252552.

This vital link for people with a visual impairment to their community would not have been possible without our volunteers.

Sight Concern Worcestershire’s CEO, Jenny Gage, recognises the major contribution made by volunteers and said: “Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do at Sight Concern Worcestershire.

“Their willingness to give up their time to support our work with people with a visual impairment across the county is humbling and we offer them special thanks during Volunteers’ Week”.

The charity is always looking for more volunteers so anyone wanting to join the Sight Concern Worcestershire team or learn more about its services, should email Jackie Murrall, volunteer co-ordinator, at [email protected] or call her on 07507 830546.

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