Due to her sight loss Beryl had to give up playing indoor bowls, which she loved. Beryl could no longer drive due to her eye condition which meant getting to the bowls was difficult. She also found the lighting was not effective.

“I had about 200 friends at the bowls and enjoyed the social aspect. I have always been social. Suddenly everything changed.”

Beryl was diagnosed as having both wet and dry macular degeneration, therefore having no central vision. During Covid she found it difficult as she could no longer socialise with others. She would go for walks alone but missed the social interaction. This started her social anxiety.

On a visit to the macular clinic she picked up a leaflet about My Sight Notts and decided to approach us. She first visited us in August 2022 in a very emotional state. During that conversation Beryl talked about feeling alone and how she would like to visit her family in South Africa. An appointment was booked with a Sight Loss Advisor to discuss the services on offer.

During this appointment it was clear that Beryl was feeling very low and missed the social interaction. We discussed the counselling service and Beryl decided she would give it a go.

“I was not convinced it would make a difference – I was surprised that it did.”

Beryl has been pleasantly surprised by the counselling. It went so well that Beryl started to access other My Sight Notts services starting with Shared Vision, a series of workshops that help you to come to terms with your sight loss. In February 2023 she finally went to South Africa to visit family, an amazing feat considering how she had been only months earlier.

Beryl has now attended our choir, the Tuesday coffee mornings and our Nottingham social group, which she really enjoys.

“I found a niche. I had joined groups before but they have been clicky. Not at My Sight Notts. Everybody, staff included, are so approachable. They’ve made me feel somebody again.”