Volunteer Story: Stuart
Sight Life are spotlighting one of our newest volunteers, Stuart!
Stuart has been partially sighted since birth, but his sight gradually declined as he grew older. His eyesight worsened following a cancer diagnosis and he eventually lost his left eye completely. In spite of his sight loss, Stuart continues to lead a very active life and has become an eager volunteer for Sight Life, especially with the Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) team.
Journey to Sight Life
Stuart first moved to Wales for university and began volunteering with Sight Life, which was then Cardiff Insitute for the Blind (CIB). He wanted to do something useful during his summer holidays and felt like he was making a difference to the local community.
Stuart began to fundraise for CIB and even had the opportunity to take part in a Cessna flight. He flew out from Cardiff Airport in a round trip to the Millenium Stadium to fundraise for the RNIB. He even had a go at flying with the pilot!
Fundraising
Stuart has extensive experience fundraising for several different charities, including Berkshire County Blind Society, RNIB Cymru, Childhood Eye Cancer Trust and Guide Dogs. He has abseiled, cycled from London to Paris, and even jumped out of a plane!
Stuart came back to Sight Life after several years fundraising and working for other organisations. He needs to “feel like he’s making a difference for people on a bigger scale and help as many people as he can”.
Currently, Stuart is working on our contact line to help our members stay in touch with us. He would like to get involved with our guide runner programme and bring his enthusiasm for sports and exercise to Sight Life.
Why Volunteer for Sight Life?
If you are feeling inspired by Stuart and want to volunteer, get in touch! We would love to hear from more likeminded volunteers – as Stuart says himself, “You can feel the energy in the office, and everyone is on the same team – it’s a good vibe!”
Sight Life is always searching for more volunteers to help us with our activities and daily office tasks. We would also be interested in any fundraising ideas you might have – but don’t worry, you don’t have to jump out of a plane like Stuart!
If you would like to get involved, get in touch with us at [email protected] or call 029 2039 8900.
About Sight Life
Sight Life (formerly Cardiff Institute for the Blind) supports people who are blind or partially sighted in south Wales. In 2020/21 we helped more than 3,000 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. In spring 2022 we returned to being an independent charity after being part of the UK wide RNIB Group since 2009.
We have approximately a dozen staff and annual income in the region of £440,000 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.
Please support our work and make a donation to Sight Life by clicking donate here.
To fundraise for us please click fundraising.
To volunteer with us please click volunteering.
Thank you!