The future of a local charity supporting people with visual impairment has been stabilised after an intense fundraising effort and a major grant award. Staffordshire Sight Loss Association, based in Stoke-on-Trent and set up in 2018, announced it has secured sufficient funds to keep running for at least the next three years.
Community effort plus National Postcode Lottery grant
Earlier this year the charity warned it would have to close unless it raised a minimum of £100,000 to sustain its services. In the weeks that followed, around £60,000 was collected through donations, and the group has now received a further £50,000 from the National Postcode Lottery.
"I think relief, really. We were at risk of closure in April and we were all absolutely devastated," said founder Suzanne Roberts on BBC Radio Stoke.
The organisation provides advice on independent living, runs social support groups and organises activities such as day trips for people living with sight loss across north Staffordshire. Trustees have described the funds as vital to maintaining outreach and support visits to service users.
Local impact and what the funds mean
Trustee Ian Wiltshaw, who is registered blind, thanked donors and volunteers, saying without that support the charity’s work would likely have ended. The association estimates about 17,000 people in the north Staffordshire area are currently living with sight loss, with that number expected to rise in the coming years.
- The charity was founded in 2018 and previously relied heavily on National Lottery funding.
- Services include information, independent living advice and social groups.
- Fundraising activities will continue, including a sponsored zip wire event planned later this year.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Community donations | £60,000 |
| National Postcode Lottery grant | £50,000 |
| Initial target to avoid closure | £100,000 |
While the recent income places the charity beyond its immediate crisis point, trustees say they will continue applying for grants and running fundraising events to build longer-term sustainability. Planned activities include community events intended both to raise funds and to increase awareness of services for those affected by sight loss.
The announcement offers relief to staff, volunteers and the people who rely on the association’s services across north Staffordshire. Local residents who want to support the charity can keep an eye on its upcoming events and fundraising pages for details of how to donate or volunteer.
