Sight Concern Bedfordshire has moved to new premises in Luton.
Lauren Archell spoke to the charity about its grand opening and the gadgets that are available to blind and partially-sighted people - including talking microwaves and tea-making devices.
A simple task such as making a cup of tea becomes a difficult process without being able to see what you are doing.
However advances in technology mean that a piece of equipment has been created which sits in a mug and beeps and as the liquid being poured into it nears the brim.
This is just one example of a living aid that could make life easier for blind or partially-sighted people. But not everyone knows what services and high tech gadgets are available to them - and that is where Sight Concern Bedfordshire aims to help.
With a brand new office in Union Street and grand opening later this month, the charity is hoping to make residents in the town aware of the work it does and the facilities it can provide.
While the charity want to make the public aware about the support and advice they can offer, they also want everyone to know about the leisure activities and group exercise classes they facilitate, including pilates.
Services and outreach manager Sue Fever said: “Sight Concern Bedfordshire is the local society for vision impaired people and supports people across Luton and Bedfordshire.
“Our ethos is to enhance the independence of blind and partially- sighted people, reach out to the whole community to raise awareness about visual impairment and to ensure that everyone who requires information, and or, assistance receives it.
“We have recently moved and now that we are settled into our Union Street premises we want to give local vision impaired people the opportunity to come along to see where we are and what we do.
“We are therefore inviting vision impaired people, their families, friends and carers to join us at Luton Resource Centre Open Day on Tuesday, June 26.
“The event will be opened by the Mayor of Luton at 10am and will close at 2pm.” As part of the opening, the mobile Sight Loss Information Service vehicle will be parked up next to the office.
Run by national charity Action for Blind People, the service will on hand to show partially-sighted and blind people what gadgets and gizmos are on the market to make their lives easier.
The spokeswoman for the Sight Loss Information Service, Rachel Gibson, said: “Our job is to make sure every blind or partiallysighted person knows what services and products are available to them.
“There are so many products that have been created to make everyday tasks easier, including talking microwaves.
“There are devices to help make a cup of tea, read labels and let you know when your cooking has started to boil.
“Our team know which products are out there and will do their best to recommend the ones that will help to improve daily life.
“There was one recent case of a woman who had been blind for 15 years and had the support of social services. However, when she came to visit us last year she mentioned that she missed reading, and found out that a large number of talking books were available to her.
“People want to remain independent and there are things that we can do to help people do that.
“Everybody is welcome to come along to visit us on the mobile.
“Whether you are visually impaired or know somebody who may be having problems with their sight, please pay us a visit and pick up information or ask us questions.”
Not only will the bus be in Union Street between 10am and noon, it will then move to the Stockwood Discovery Centre in London Road, where it will be open between 2pm and 4pm.
Also at the grand opening with be a small number of stalls and suppliers, a tour of the facilities and a second-hand aids and equipment sale.
Sight Concern is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested, call Sue Fever on 01582 655554.
