Sight Support Derbyshire (SSD)

Fifteen years ago, the then Chief Executive Officer of Derbyshire Association for the Blind changed the legal name of the charity to Sight Support Derbyshire. He talked to people inside the organisation, asking them what they would like the charity to be called, and Sight Support Derbyshire was chosen. It was ratified by the board, because it describes exactly what they do.

“It is my hope,” says Martin, “that Sight Support Derbyshire will continue doing what we're doing, helping the visually impaired people of Derbyshire."

"One of our activities is the rehabilitation programme, which we run on behalf of the Derbyshire County Council. We go into Visually Impaired people's homes to try and create a situation where they can remain and live independently. 

When you realise that you’re making a difference, that people are benefiting from what you're doing, that makes it all worthwhile. There was 92 years old gentleman who was shown by our people, a little Dycem non-slip placemat, on which you can stand your glass, knowing it can’t get knocked over. This lovely gentleman said that it was absolutely wonderful, because he can now have his nightly gin and tonic or whisky without fear of knocking it over.”  

Martin has been involved with quite a few charities, including the Chernobyl Children's Project, which helped children in Belarus. After Chernobyl exploded, the radioactive dust blew mostly into Belarus, to the northwest of Ukraine, and the soil was damaged with radioactivity. There were lots of dreadful birth defects as a result of that. 

A lady in Derbyshire, set up the Chernobyl Children's Project with two aims in mind. One was the humanitarian aid, which is what Martin got involved with out to Belarus, but the other was bringing children across to the UK for a two-month holiday. Their lifespan was believed to be enhanced by two years as a direct result of this. 

Martin got involved in driving articulated lorries and took part in one of those convoys to Belarus. 

He is clearly passionate about Sight Support Derbyshire and said that the charity, has been operating for 111 years and like all charities is dependent on fundraising and makes a point of maintaining good financial control of what they do.

SSD County Headquarters can be found in Derby; in a building they bought after COVID which has given them a solid foundation. Fundraising is vital to them, since they are both a charity and a business, and they have to make sure that ends meet.  Their expenditure is often more than their income, but fortunately they are the beneficiaries of legacies, and that's absolutely vital.

If anyone reading this wishes to leave something in their wills to a worthy cause, then that would be wonderful, and would help the charity to both survive and thrive.

Sight Support Derbyshire who don’t spend any money on advertising, and do hope that this article will be read by many, and will be heard by the Long Eaton & District Talking Newspaper’s 150 visually impaired listeners who listen to them on a Memory Stick that they receive every three weeks, and can also heard on ALEXA, and on their Website (www.longeatontn.org.uk).

The Long Eaton & District Talking Newspaper works closely with their sister Talking Newspaper in Derby, (Derby Talking Newspaper) to ensure that no Visually Impaired folk are missed throughout Derby and the Erewash Valley.

SSD has a presence at both of the major Eye Clinics in Derbyshire; Royal Derby and Royal Calow in Chesterfield and have people there that will be available when somebody comes out from a consultation and been told they’ve got an irreversible eye complaint, which probably will only get worse. 

Martin Sykes was grateful to Martin Wilson, Chair of Trustees of Sight Support Derbyshire for agreeing to be interviewed and is always thankful to SSD,  for everything they do for those who are Visually Impaired including listeners of Talking Newspaper, current and future.