MORE help is on its way to people with sight problems living in rural isolation - thanks to the South Lakeland Voluntary Society for the Blind's £310,000 National Lottery windfall.
The charity's dedicated team is delighted that it can now recruit three new members, to offer even more support and advice to people who are visually impaired.
A full-time outreach worker will be employed to visit people in their own homes, discuss problems they are experiencing - such as claiming benefits or reading their mail - and show them equipment such as 'big button' telephones and 'talking' clocks which can make their lives easier.
The charity has more than 50 volunteers who perform tasks such as helping in the office at Kendal's Stricklandgate House, raising funds, and taking some of the 450 members swimming or bowling.
The society can now afford to employ a volunteers' coordinator, who will offer support and training, and recruit new volunteers.
To cope with all the extra work, another office assistant is being taken on.
Meanwhile, the society is inviting Gazette readers to think of a new, modern name, to reflect the fact that it helps anybody with sight problems - not just totally blind people.
The society can be contacted at Stricklandgate House, 92 Stricklandgate, Kendal, LA9 4PU, telephone 01539-726613.
Stricklandgate House now has its own website in our CommuniGate section.
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