Support 4 Sight Services
What's on this page
- Resource Centre
- Care Line
- Loan Scheme
- Saffron Walden Community Hospital Information Help Desk
- Home Visiting
- Home Reading
- Home Security
- Training
- Help and Advice
- Braille Transcription
Support 4 Sight is a non-profit charitable organisation, providing information and support to visually impaired and blind people in West Essex. Use of all our services and equipment is free.
Resource Centre
Our Resource Centre is located in George Street, off Saffron Walden High Street. We display many items of equipment, from magnifying and writing aids, talking watches and clocks, tactile games, thermometers, DIY tools, to walking sticks and medical aids. We also have household items, such as talking scales, liquid level indicators and a talking microwave oven.
Care Line
"Care Line" is a dedicated telephone service for Support 4 Sight's members and those with visual impairment in Uttlesford. The telephone line, which is manned by trained staff and volunteers, is for the use of visually impaired clients who cannot attend the Resource Centre. People experiencing sight loss, particularly those recently diagnosed with a visual impairment, can call Support 4 Sight for support and advise on any related issue. The telephone no is 01799 523700 and will be manned weekdays from 10am - 1pm.
Loan Scheme
As equipment can be expensive, we encourage visually impaired people to try out pieces of equipment before taking the decision purchase. Our members are able to borrow many pieces of our equipment from our Resource Centre, for a two-week loan or a trial period, for use in their own home. Should members subsequently decide to purchase the equipment, we can arrange for the purchase at cost price.
Saffron Walden Community Hospital Information Help Desk
If you cannot travel to the Resource Centre, we provide an Information Desk in the Saffron Walden Community Hospital, in Radwinter Road. It is open every Monday morning, during the Eye Clinic, from 10am - 1pm.
Home Visiting
We organise a home visiting facility for many visually impaired people, who live in remote areas, where travelling to the Resource Centre is difficult. For each home visit, two of our volunteers attend the homes of visually impaired people with appropriate aids and equipment and give advice or demonstrations. If you would like a visit, please contact us at the Resource Centre.
Home Reading
Many of our users require assistance with reading their correspondence or literature. Our volunteer readers can help, by visiting VIPs' homes and reading these articles aloud to them. Full confidentially is respected at all times.
Home Security
Our home visitors are trained by the Police, Fire Service and Social Services and can provide advice on matter relating to home security. We have produced a leaflet containing useful advice regarding making one's home as secure as possible. Our members also have access to an approved locksmith, who can offer a specially negotiated discount for enhanced household security.
Training
An essential part of the service is the demonstration and training in the use of visual aids. We provide training on equipment that displays documents in varying and adjustable degrees of magnification.
We train in the use of specialist equipment, such as scanners, that can read out documents to visually impaired people. Earphones are available for complete privacy. Training on software, such as JAWS or SUPERNOVA, that enables visually impaired people to use personal computers, is also available.
Help and Advice
As our Centre is managed with the assistance of visually impaired and blind people, we have a good understanding of the issues facing those with sight loss. You can contact the Resource Centre in person or by phone, about any matter concerning visual impairment, in complete confidence.
Braille Transcription
We offer a Braille Transcription service to our members, who need to have documents transcribed into Braille. This is a useful service for local organisations and businesses. As some visually impaired people rely on Braille documentation, many organisations must provide their literature in the Braille format to ensure their services can be accessed.