About Us
What's on this page
Mission and Objectives
Provision of information, support, equipment, training facilities and social interaction for visually impaired people in West Essex to enable them to maintain an independent lifestyle.
- To give support, advice, and information to all people with a visual impairment, and sighted people with a vested interest in such subjects.
- To keep up to date information on new technological developments and assess the viability of such developments for the visually impaired.
- To offer advice and assistance with the implementation of new technologies
- To educate and train the visually impaired in computer technology, Braille, Moon, and communication with deaf/blind people.
- To maintain a permanent resource centre allowing the visually impaired to try out equipment in their own time in West Essex.
History
Support 4 Sight (formally known as Saffron Sight) , was established in 1994 by Joy Smith (who retired from her position as trustee during 2005) as an information desk in Saffron Walden Community Hospital eye clinic. A telephone information/help line and home visiting services was later set up, operating initially from domestic premises until a dedicated resource centre could be opened in 1998 with the aid of a lottery grant. Following further local funding in July 2001 the charity moved to larger, more central premises at 3 Central Arcade to facilitate a wider range of training courses. In 2005 an equipment loan scheme, a home visiting scheme and a community safety scheme were introduced and the formation of a social activities section was inaugurated. In 2007 Saffron Sight was renamed Support 4 Sight to reflect its regional support beyond the confines of Saffron Walden and Uttlesford. Later in the same year Support 4 Sight moved to new and bigger premises in George Street.
Trustees
Iris Evans (Chair)
Iris Evans became a trustee with Support 4 Sight in October 2005 and Chairperson in July 2006. She is Director of her own Training and Development Company, which specializes in developing and maintaining quality improvement systems and procedures for providers and employers. She works part-time as an inspector for the learning and skills sector and keeps up-to-date with government initiatives in the voluntary and private sector. In addition, Iris works as a quality improvement adviser to support a range of organisations. She has many years experience teaching and training, including people with learning difficulties and disabilities. Iris has a BA (Hons), CMS and obtained the Quality Champion qualification.
Graham Routledge (Vice Chair)
Graham Routledge joined Support 4 Sight as a trustee in June 2005, having moved to the local area in January 2005. As a visually impaired person with a guide dog, he is particularly interested in advising Support 4 Sight on the needs and services for visually impaired and blind people and is an active participant of our Bowls Team. Formerly he worked as a volunteer with special needs children and by profession he spent 25 years in the bakery trade.
Sue Schneider (Clerk)
Cllr. Sue Schneider joined as a trustee of Support 4 Sight in June 2005. Secretary to the Chairman of a local builders merchant, she is married to a retired Police Officer and has two daughters. She has lived in Radwinter, Essex for 23 years. She has led Brownies, Guides and Venture Scouts, and is still involved in Guiding. Sue served as a Parent Governor at Radwinter School, where she also served as secretary, then chairman of the school PTA. Currently she is the LEA Governor representative at Great Sampford School, as well as being Secretary to Radwinter Village Hall Management Committee. Sue is an active WI and Church member.
Martin Ormondroyd (Treasurer)
Martin Ormondroyd (BAFCCA) joined Support 4 Sight as a Trustee and Treasurer in December 2005. A qualified accountant with over 10 years experience, Martin is an audit manager, working with a local firm of Chartered Accountants. He has considerable experience advising and assisting charities and voluntary organisations with the preparation of their accounts. As well as his role as Treasurer for Support 4 Sight, Martin is a keen cricketer and is also the Treasurer of a local cricket team.
Andrew Streeter
Pat Arnold
Pat Arnold joined Support 4 Sight as a trustee and volunteer in July 2006. She has been involved with the Saffron Walden Visually Handicapped Club for 16 years, initially as driver of the minibus and then group organiser for many years. She is also chairperson or a member of various other local committees. She helped run the Village Youth Club for 9 years and more recently supported her husband in his bid for funding to provide a new village hall in Wendens Ambo.
Sabira Ladha
Sabira Ladha joined Support 4 Sight as a trustee in July 2006. She has been involved with Support 4 Sight for over 9 years, working as an Administrator in the past and now more involved through her work as a Social Worker in Older People’s Team with Essex County Council. She has a BA (Hons) and in the process of completing her Masters. Besides being a Social Worker, Sabira is training for a Practice Teaching Course which will enable her to train Social Worker Students from Universities who are in their last stages to qualify for Social Work course. In addition, Sabira is also a chairperson of her local community in Chelmsford (Ali Ridha Centre) and heavily involved with ethnic minorities in London - Hujjat Saturday Workshop.
Employees
Madeleine Cassidy
e-mail: info@support4sight.org.uk
A former food-industry marketing manager, Madeleine Cassidy was appointed Director of Support 4 Sight, from 1st January 2005. She has a background in marketing management, having worked for the food-manufacturing group, Tulip International. Madeleine has an honours degree in Social Science from University College Dublin and the Chartered Institute of Marketing's Diploma in Marketing.
Paul Atkins
e-mail: info@saffronsight.org.uk
Paul Atkins became Administrator of Support 4 Sight in August 2003. Before joining the staff he was a trustee of the Charity and had been an administrator for the Saffron Walden office of the Uphill Ski Club, a charity that organises activity holidays for disabled people. Paul is registered visually impaired, has completed the City and Guilds Tutoring course and has brought a deep understanding of visual impairment to his role. In 2004 he was appointed Centre Manager and as such is responsible for day-to-day interface with the Charity's users and volunteers.
Belinda Hudson
Belinda Hudson was appointed Support & Development Officer of Support 4 Sight in October 2004. She assists the Charity with administrative activities and in the vital role of Access to Work support for the Centre Manager.
