Breaking News – Little Sue wins a top volunteer award!

Susan Evans won the Outstanding Community Volunteer Award at Cardiff Third Sector Council’s Volunteer Awards.

Well done “Little Sue”! We are all so proud of you.

Sue said ‘I am absolutely delighted to have won this award, if a little shocked and I am very grateful to Sight Life for nominating me which must have been a difficult decision as there are so many worthy volunteers at Sight Life.’

Susan, ‘Little Sue’ as she is affectionately known to many of us, has been a volunteer for nearly thirty years. Sue said ‘Volunteering for Sight Life has given me a purpose in life, I love it. Being partially sighted myself, I have benefitted from many services over the years including IT (Information Technology) support and attending many of the groups and activities on offer, I particularly like the gardening group and chair yoga.

It’s great knowing that I am giving something back and I really enjoy ringing people on the Contact Line. I would recommend volunteering to anyone, particularly if you have sight loss.

#GoSightLife

About Sight Life

Tel 02920 398900

Email [email protected]

Sight Life (formerly Cardiff Institute for the Blind) supports people who are blind or partially sighted in south Wales. We outreach to approximately 4000 people in Cardiff, Swansea, RCT (Rhondda Cynon Taf), Neath and Port Talbot. Many of these people receive ongoing support, advice and direct assistance on a regular basis.

We provide statutory services to people with sight loss on behalf of the local Councils in Cardiff and Swansea.

In cooperation with the NHS, we provide a support service (ECLO: Eye Clinic Liaison Officer) for patients newly diagnosed with sight loss in University Hospital of Wales (UHW “The Heath”) in Cardiff.

Our aims are to ensure that people with sight loss can take part in all aspects of society, including work and leisure.

We offer a range of training, clubs and activities including audio-described theatre trips, confidence building, cooking, drama, employment support, fitness, gardening, IT, music, photography, rambling and yoga to people with sight loss.

Established in 1865, we are one of Wales’ oldest charities. We are 160 years old in 2025. Find out how you could help us here: https://sightlife.wales/get-involved/project-160/

We have approximately a staff 15 and have an annual income in the region of £500,000 from statutory contracts, grants, trusts, The National Lottery, donations and legacies.

Sight Life changed its name from Cardiff Institute for the Blind in 2019 to reflect the fact that we work beyond Cardiff, including Swansea and RCT (Rhondda Cynon Taf). The name change also recognises the fact that we support people with any degree of sight loss, not only those who are blind.

Sight Life holds the Investors in Volunteering standard, our work is supported by over 100 volunteers, many of whom have sight loss themselves.

Find out more about Volunteering here: https://sightlife.wales/get-involved/volunteering/

Support Us: How Your Funding Could Help

Donate Here :  https://donate.justgiving.com/charity/cifb/donation-amount

£20 could enable a volunteer to call an isolated member through our contact line to check in on their wellbeing and invite them to join an online or in person group

£50 could allow people with sight loss to safely enjoy a wellbeing walk with their peers

£100 could help maintain an activity group to run over the cold winter months to prevent isolation and loneliness in the sight loss community in South Wales

£200 could facilitate a volunteer training day to equip new volunteers with the vital skills to guide blind and partially sighted people, provide bespoke support and run groups in the community

£500 could allow us to start a group for those who are newly diagnosed with sight loss to improve their mental wellbeing and return to independence.

Thank you!

#GoSightLife