Emotional Support Service

Everything that we do at Suffolk Sight is focused on making a positive change to people’s wellbeing and mental health. This is important because research has shown that loss of independence, social isolation and poor mental health are possible consequences of sight loss which can seriously and negatively affect a person’s wellbeing. 

Suffolk Sight provides several services under its ‘emotional support’ umbrella, all designed to help people cope with the emotional aspects of sight loss. These include:

Befriending 

Our befriending service offers regular contact with a volunteer who’s there to listen, chat and provide a steady social connection. You can choose how often you’d like to speak and whether that’s by phone, online, or face to face. You will often be matched with a befriender with similar interests, hobbies or backgrounds, ensuring you have something in common.  

Clubs 

Suffolk Sight has peer-to-peer support clubs that hold regular meetings in towns and villages across Suffolk. They offer a place to meet and share experiences in an informal, friendly space. You can connect with others and make new friends within the Suffolk Sight community. Click here for more information. 

Telephone counselling 

Our telephone counselling is designed to provide critical emotional support to those people who are most struggling to cope with their loss of sight and its effect on their lives. 

Referrals are made by our Community Sight Loss Advisors and, after an initial eligibility  assessment, each beneficiary receives 8 hours of vital telephone support from a qualified counsellor. These counselling sessions give them the invaluable space to talk about their feelings in confidence while discovering tools and coping strategies to manage their emotions.

Each beneficiary also receives follow up checks and ongoing support from Suffolk Sight.