We understand that when you lose your sight you can lose more than just your ability to see. People often feel isolated and trapped. Many suffer hallucinations and their sleep can be affected. It can feel like your world is falling apart. That's why we offer emotional as well as practical support to help people at the point of diagnosis and beyond, so that they have the opportunity to ask questions and get the support they need.
Support services to help with sight loss
Our Helpline offers a direct line to practical and emotional support along with the information, advice and products people with sight loss need to remain independent. On average the team handles an incredible 300,000 calls and over 89,000 items of correspondence per year.
Our eye conditions guides cover information on a wide range of sight conditions and our specialist eye health pages provide useful information to help anyone suffering sight loss understand their condition and help allay the fears that losing your sight can bring.
We provide the opportunity for people who may be fearful and isolated to join our Tele Befriending groups, where they can talk with others, make friends, share information and support each other. Last year we ran 195 groups, involving over 1,500 blind and partially sighted people.
Lilly - a telephone group participant: told us -
"It's like a lifeline to me. I felt my world was closing in before joining my telephone group. I've met so many good friends."
We also provide an Emotional Support Service where our telephone counsellors can give confidential support, information and counselling to anyone experiencing emotional difficulties because of sight loss.
For more information on all of the above services contact our Helpline. Telephone: 0303 123 9999 or email: helpline@rnib.org.uk.
Leave a Legacy in your Will
All these services, vital to helping people cope with the fears and trauma that sight loss can bring, rely on the generosity of our supporters. Last year, thanks to the amazing support from people like you, we stopped over 300,000 people from feeling isolated and losing their independence. But even now we are only able to reach one in three people who need our help most.
Legacies left to us in Wills make up over 30 per cent of the income we rely on. Without Legacies we wouldn't be able to reach blind and partially sighted people to offer the vital support and reassurance they need to take control of their lives again.
Please think about including us in your Will. It will cost you nothing now but could help people suffering sight loss have hope for the future for many years to come.
To request information about making a Legacy gift please call us on 0845 600 0313 or contact your Local Legacy advisor.