Campaign by Story
Imagine losing your sight tomorrow.
The everyday tasks you take for granted, making a cup of tea, finding the right button on the washing machine, telling your shampoo from your conditioner, suddenly become impossible challenges.
This is the reality for thousands of people across Scotland every year.
When Omer from Edinburgh was diagnosed with Glaucoma he felt his independence slipping away.
“At first, it was subtle, I realised I wasn’t seeing the full television screen and started struggling to read. After seeking medical advice, I was diagnosed with glaucoma. That diagnosis changed everything.”
Simple things he’d done his whole life; working, cooking, reading all became overwhelming.
“The hardest part was facing my new reality; I had to accept that this is how it is for me now. The emotional impact of losing my sight was so difficult and I really struggled to come to terms with what was happening to me. I felt isolated, frustrated, and my mental health took a real hit. The stress also started affecting my physical health, and my blood pressure went up, I just wasn’t myself. I was under so much stress because of my vision loss, I was lost and didn’t know what to do.”
Then Caroline Hedley one of our Rehabilitation and Mobility Officers worked with Omer to get him:
• Bump-ons (tactile stickers) to label his kitchen appliances
• A liquid level indicator so he could pour hot drinks safely
• High-contrast placemats to make mealtimes easier
• Large-button items and tactile markers for everyday tasks
• And more
“But more than anything, what helped me the most was feeling that Sight Scotland genuinely cares about how I’m managing and how they can help.”
Simple equipment can restore independence immediately.
The right tools help people with sight loss:
• Make hot drinks safely
• Prepare food confidently
• Navigate their own home
• Maintain dignity and independence
But here's the catch: most people don't know these tools exist. And even when they do, cost can be a barrier
Why Starter Packs?
Before this project, our equipment provision was ad hoc and funding dependent.
Someone in Edinburgh might get help immediately. Someone in rural Aberdeenshire might wait months. One person got tactile labels. Another got nothing.
That's not fair. And it's not effective.
Starter Packs standardize our approach, ensuring everyone who needs help gets the same immediate support, regardless of where they live or their financial situation.
Your Impact
£20 provides:
Bump-ons and tactile labels for one person's entire home
£50 supports:
Essential kitchen safety equipment for independence
£100 funds:
A complete Starter Pack for one person
£500 helps:
Five people regain independence in their homes
The Bigger Picture
This isn't just about equipment. It's about:
Independence: The dignity of making your own cup of tea
Safety: Preventing accidents in your own home
Confidence: Knowing you can cope
Connection: Staying engaged with life, not withdrawing in fear
Hope: Understanding that sight loss doesn't mean life is over
For £100, we can give someone all of that.