MyVision Oxfordshire
MyVision Oxfordshire 2023 Winter Appeal
Donate to MyVision Oxfordshire this Winter and help support blind and visually impaired people across Oxfordshire
Story
This year at MyVision has been one of our busiest ever. We've expanded our Community Engagement Project further across the county, and we've launched our Get Online Get Connected project, enabling many more people to access technology training in their local communities. This, alongside our other established services, means that in 2023 we have been able to support 917 people living with sight loss across Oxfordshire.
We couldn't have done any of this without your support. We would be very grateful if you would consider donating to MyVision Oxfordshire's Winter Appeal today. Each donation, no matter how big or small, is vital to ensure we can continue supporting local blind and visually impaired people.
Thanks to the wonderful contributions of all our donors so far, we have unlocked all £3,000 of our available match funding*. However, our Winter Appeal is not over yet, and we have set a new goal of reaching a total of £8,000!
Your donation will make such a meaningful difference to the lives of visually impaired adults and children across Oxfordshire. One such person is Humphrey, who is a longstanding member of our Henley Social Group. He has kindly told us his story, which we've included below. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Humphrey's Story
Four years ago, Humphrey faced a life-changing event, which resulted in him receiving lifesaving surgery, losing his sight, and retiring from work, in a single day.
“I’m lucky to be alive” he said, yet the impact of visual impairment has been “quite dramatic”. “I can’t read on my phone; I can’t use the computer in fine detail; I had to retire; I also lost my hobbies, like woodworking. It has had a major impact. I also collected coins, but I can’t see those anymore.”
Humphrey found out about MyVision through friends after moving to Henley in 2021. He has since joined our Henley social group, where he has not only built connections with other visually impaired people in the area but has also been able to try some new hobbies. Humphrey has joined other group members in making easter cards, paper flowers, and creating a mosaic.
Recently, Humphrey has started working with Jamie and Andreas from MyVision to learn more about assistive technology. Although Humphrey cannot read his phone, and struggles with his computer, they have been able to help him find ways around this so he can remain connected with friends and family.
“It’s really helped. The ability of Apple phones to help is amazing, but it’s quite daunting to learn it without any instruction. During lockdown, my wife had to learn it off YouTube to then try to teach it to me. [At MyVision], however, it’s used more practically. My wife uses the phone normally and then has to switch the way she thinks for me, whereas [Jamie and Andreas] do it automatically since they use it that way anyway.”
Humphrey has found the support from MyVision to have a significant impact on his life. To everyone who is thinking about donating to our Winter Appeal, Humphrey said, "Definitely do, it’s a must, without a doubt it’s worth it; MyVision is such a great supportive place.
Your contribution will transform lives, empower individuals, and ensure that nobody faces the challenges of visual impairment alone.
*Thank you to Technique Web, BluePlanet, and our anonymous donors for providing the match funding for the Winter Match Funding Challenge.