Pioneering New Service Reduces Isolation for Blind or Partially Sighted People in Shetland.

A new service offering support to blind and partially sighted people in Shetland was launched at Market House, Lerwick on Thursday, 8th December by the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland and Vision Shetland. An Open Day followed this on the Friday in the Market House Resource Room.

The two charities are joining forces with NHS Shetland, NHS Grampian and Shetland Islands Council to help reduce the loneliness and isolation experienced by local people living with sight loss.

The Resource Centre established at Market House will provide a friendly and informal way for people to access vision services in Shetland.  A wide range of vision aids and equipment to make life easier will be available and may be demonstrated in the centre.  In addition, RNIB Scotland’s award-winning Vision Support Service will compliment the Resource Centre’s facilities.

Offering practical support through the Resource Centre, and emotional support at the point of diagnosis through the Vision Support Service, RNIB Scotland will be able to quickly draw on other local and national services and also refer onwards to local statutory and voluntary providers where appropriate.

John Legg, director of RNIB Scotland, said: "This is a great opportunity to extend our services at grassroots level across Shetland.  The Resource Centre and Vision Support Service will help people come to terms with losing their sight and to go on to lead fulfilling lives."

Phil Hibbert of Vision Shetland said: "The Resource Centre and RNIB's Vision Support Service are long awaited and a very much needed answer to that nerve-wracking gap between diagnosis of serious sight loss and prompt access to help and ongoing support.

The challenge now will be to raise awareness of the services available, not only to potential users, but also to health and social professionals and other relevant organisations”.