News

Here you can find all of the latest news about the work we do, the events we run, and the resources we find to support blind and partially sighted people across South Wales. You can also sign up to our local newsletters by contacting your local office

Other news

Ceri Dupree Costume Exhibition celebrates 40 years in showbusiness and supports one of Wales’ oldest Charities

22 July 2024

Wales’ top female impersonator Ceri Dupree will be holding an exhibition of his amazing stage costumes in Cardiff this summer.

Ceri Dupree has been delighting audiences worldwide for almost 40 years. His unique talents have led him through musical theatre, pantomime, summer seasons, television and cabaret. There isn’t an audience (age or type!!!) that he hasn’t played to.

The exhibition will take place at Unit 20cw in the St Davids shopping Centre between 31st July to 25th August 2024.

On display will be some of the most fabulous costumes worn by Ceri over the last 40 years.

This will include the Danny LaRue costume that recently featured in the BBC’s “Repair Shop”.

Ceri is the Patron of sight loss charity Sight Life. All entry fees will be donated to help Sight Life outreach to the growing number of people with sight loss in South Wales.

Formerly known as Cardiff Institute for the Blind, Sight Life is one of Wales’ oldest charities having been established in 1865.

Ceri said:

“I have been wanting to do this exhibition for years and now thanks to the support of the team at St David’s Centre, our sponsors and Sight Life it’s actually happening this summer.

Staff and volunteers from Sight Life will be present during the exhibition to provide the back stories to the costumes, plans for the future and to tell you more about Sight Life and their brilliant work.

Sight Life is a fantastic charity and I have seen firsthand the miraculous work and extremely positive impact they have on the lives of people with sight loss. They help blind and partially sighted people to live active and independent lives. I am delighted to be their Patron and to help them to generate much-needed support to further their amazing work.”

Richard Harvey CEO of Sight Life said

“Sight Life offers practical support and advice to anyone with limited sight in South Wales. We outreach to approximately 4,000 people a year and estimate that we also cater for an additional 2 to 3 people per person as a family friend or carer.

One in five of us will experience sight loss at some point in our lives. Research shows that we fear losing our sight more than any other disability. Sight Life works to remove that fear and help people regain confidence, independence and be active in the community.

We are extremely proud to have Ceri as our Patron and look forward to the exhibition which will help increase awareness of our services and the wider issues in relation to sight loss.”

 

Entry to the exhibition commences on 31st July 2024, with a suggested donation of £3 per person to support the charity.

25 costumes will be on display and there will be a chance to win a prize as part of the entry.

Staff and volunteers from Sight Life will be on hand to talk about their work, support for people with sight loss, volunteering opportunities and exciting fundraising events and opportunities.

 

Sight Life is grateful to Ceri Dupree, the management of St David’s Centre and our event sponsors for helping make this exhibition take place.

 

Notes:

The Event:

Opening Event:

Invited guests / Press and Media – Tuesday 30th July 6 – 8PM.

Press and Media contacts are welcome. Please contact [email protected] to register your attendance.

Ceri Dupree can be contact on : 07771 953034

Public Access: Event opens to public Wednesday 31st July

Entry to the exhibition commences on 31st July 2024, with a suggested donation of £3 per person to support the charity.

Ends Sunday 25th August 2024.

 

Event Sponsors:

 

Ceri Dupree: https://www.ceridupree.org/

  • Ceri has performed at various major venues throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and his birthplace Wales including numerous appearances at top class hotels like The Savoy, The Dorchester, The Churchill, The Landmark and Claridges.

 

  • International work has included appearances in Greece, France, Holland, Spain, Germany South Africa and the Seychelles.

 

  • Ceri has appeared in many West End nightclubs including The Café de Paris, Talk of London, The Stork Club, Le Beat Route, Ronnie Scott’s and Pizza on the Park, He appeared twice nightly, six nights a week (and never missed a show!) for two years at the world-famous Madame Jo Jo’s in London’s West End, followed by three years at Minsky’s music hall in Cardiff. His extensive repertoire of theatre shows include Hello Dolly, Rock Hard (60’s Tribute show), Hot Stuff, a 70’s tribute show (5 seasons and 2 national tours), The Ultimate Hen Party (season and national tour),The Wizard of Oz (as the most glamorous wicked witch!) and The Rocky Horror Show (as Frank-n-Furter of course!!!).

 

About Sight Life

https://sightlife.wales/

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. In 2023 we helped more than 3,750 people in Cardiff, Swansea, RCT (Rhondda Cynon Taf), Neath and Port Talbot.
  • 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 have approximately a dozen staff and 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.

ENDS:

We’re hiring

19 July 2024

Centre Co-ordinator

 

Salary:  Circa £22.000 – £24.000 per annum

 

Location: Jones Court, Womanby Street, Cardiff CF10 1BR

 

Hours: 36 per week

 

Duration: Commencing August 2024 – 31 March 2025.

Post could be extended subject to funding.

 

Reports to: Operations Manager

 

Purpose of Job

To assist with the day-to-day delivery of the operations of Sight Life’s Resource Centre and activity programme, providing advice and support to customers and volunteers, dealing with product enquiries/sales and providing administrative support.

 

Please apply with your CV and covering letter addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification and email [email protected]

by the 09 August 2024.

 

Please submit your application as soon as possible as sometimes we do close our adverts early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

 

Closing date for receipt of applications:

5pm, Friday 09 August 2024

 

We operate an Equal Opportunities Policy, and the successful applicants will require a DBS check.

Play the Crackerjackpot lottery and help support Sight Life – A chance to win, a chance to care.

9 July 2024
Sight Life has signed up to the Crackerjackpot lottery and has a dedicated website to allow easy access for players. www.sightlifelottery.co.uk Join the Crackerjackpot lottery and for just £1 a play, you will be in with a chance of winning our weekly top prize of £2,000. We also have a rollover prize which can reach…

Telephone ballot paper reading service – General Election : Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan

28 June 2024
  The General Election place on Thursday 4th July 2024. The information below is about a telephone ballot paper reading service for people in Cardiff and people in the Vale of Glamorgan. The systems are slightly different in each area. We have listed the process for Cardiff and the Vale separately below.   RNIB Cymru…