Lunch clubs for blind and partially sighted

The club, which is run through the charity 4Sight, is based in St Francis church hall, Hassocks and offers support and companionship for people from a wide catchment, including Burgess Hill and Hurstpierpoint.

Blind and partially sighted members are picked up by car and taken to the club and offered lunch. There are invited speakers from time to time and a variety of activities.

The club meets from 10.30am to 2.15pm every other Wednesday, alternating with a similar club run for people in Clayton.

Organiser Dorothy Lazenby said: “We thought the clubs in Clayton and Hassocks might close last year due to funding cuts which have affected charities all over the U.K, but we have received such generous support from individuals and organisations that we are keen to keep going.

Dorothy has been involved in the Hassocks and Clayton clubs for nearly 24 years.

She said: ““We’ve tried to get clinics and doctors’ surgeries to tell people about us but we are not getting the referrals to the Hassocks club that we used to.”

The Yews offers a similar lunch club through 4Sight on the second and fourth Friday in the month from 10am to 2.30pm. New members are also welcome

Jane Aston, who runs the club at the Yews, said: “We are doing well but we have lost one or two members of late and would always welcome more people.”

If you would like to attend the Hassocks club please call Dorothy Lazenby on 01444 450947.

If you would like to attend the Haywards Heath club please call Jane Aston on 07599518887.