Sight loss charity Galloway’s is determined to ensure blind and partially sighted people are not forgotten during the Coronavirus pandemic, thanks to the help of new grant funding.
The National Lottery has awarded the Lancashire and Sefton-based charity £59,674 through its Community Fund.
This money will help pay for newly adapted activities aimed at supporting visually impaired people during lockdown.
This includes the Talking Together project, a group teleconferencing system where people dial in to chat with their friends or listen to guest speakers.
Galloway’s also hosts Get Active and technology Zoom chats, which are attracting well known YouTube guest speakers in the world of sight loss.
The funding also goes towards regular welfare calls, offering practical and emotional support to those who are feeling particularly isolated.
Nicola Hanna, Head of Income Generation at Galloway's, said: “We are really grateful for this generous grant, and wish to thank the players of the National Lottery who have helped to make this happen.
“As we continue through the pandemic, and face to face services are unable to resume just yet, it is vital we are able to continue our support in more innovative ways.
“We have also been able to reach new people who may not have even heard about our services through our online resources, which is great news.”
Gillian Halliwell, Head of Funding for the North West at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Money raised by National Lottery players has been vital in helping people and communities across the North West support each other through the pandemic. Galloway’s has played an important role in supporting people with visual impairments during lockdown and this recent funding will enable them to continue to do this.”
Galloway’s has also received funding from other sources to develop its response to the pandemic and lockdown.
W.G Edwards Charitable Foundation and Persimmon Homes Community Champions Funding have each awarded Galloway’s £1,000 to help reduce isolation amongst older people who have sight loss.
Galloway’s has also secured grants of £2,500 from 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and £1,000 from Hoines Charitable Trust to improve health and wellbeing amongst visually impaired people, which includes its online Get Active programme.
Nicola Hanna added: “We really appreciate the support of all our funders, as it really does make a difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people.”