Sensory Matters Worcestershire

06/11/2026

It's Befriending Week!

Befriending is a fantastic way to help reduce social isolation and here's what one of our Sensory Matters Worcestershire volunteers enjoys most about her experience:

Andrea says "It was in that curious Covid time when all sense of normality was suspended that Sensory Matters Worcester (formerly Sight Concern Worcestershire) introduced me 'virtually' to Laura. And there began a relationship which has flourished and blossomed from that day to this.
For quite some time, there was no possibility of meeting face to face but that didn’t seem to deter us and finally, the Great Day arrived and I got to meet this friendly person I had enjoyed speaking to on the phone.
I think the best way to describe Laura is to say that I am 80 (ish!) and she is quite a bit older! She's truly amazing, full of life and we have such happy times together, covering all sorts of subjects and exchanging news of our doings. There is always lively talk and much laughter and occasionally we have outings and she has admired my garden. To cap it all, she makes a lovely cup it tea and it comes with cake!

Thank you, Laura, I really enjoy our time together. "

If you'd like to find a visiting befriender role near you, contact [email protected], call 01905 723234 or visit our website.



PD: A pink speech bubble with 4 pink dots inside. There is the outline of a coffee cup with steam rising from the coffee inside.

05/11/2026

Did you know loneliness affects 1 in 6 people globally? Befriending brings people together for planned social activities, building meaningful connections and reducing loneliness.

Find a befriending project near you at www.sensory-matters.co.uk or in the Befriending Networks directory:
befriending.co.uk/directory

Alt text:
1 in 6 people in the world feel lonely. Find a befriender near you at befriending.co.uk. Befriending Week, 1 - 7 November

04/11/2026

It's Befriending Week! Here's another great friendship that's a result of our Befriending Service.

Meet Win and Amanda! They were matched as part of our Telephone Befriending Service.

Amanda says 'How wonderful it is to be privileged to have Win in my life. Six years ago I contacted Sensory Matters Worcestershire (formerly Sight Concern Worcestershire) with an interest in being a volunteer befriender. Win and I began with a weekly telephone chat then I visited Win in her beautiful house. I’ve also picked her up to come to my house. We have so much in common - the love of animals, all things rural, gardens and my partner even went to school with her children!
Win refuses to allow her sight loss interfere with her love of meeting people in town, trips at home and abroad and even planning a house move. I always look forward to her news, and admire her positivity and good humour in dealing with life’s challenges - a truly inspirational lady.'

Win says 'Amanda is brilliant! I really look forward to her calls. She rings me every week and even though she's young enough to be my daughter, we have lots in common. We talk about films, Netflix and family. She always sends me a Christmas card and a birthday card and what's really lovely is that she draws them herself! Thank you Amanda for being my friend; my very special friend. You really are special to me.'

If you're interested in finding out more about volunteering with us, please email [email protected] or call us on 01905 723245



PD: Two blonde haired ladies smiling at the camera. Win is on the left with shorter hair, dark glasses on her head, wearing a dark polo-necked jumper and a beige jacket. Amanda, with longer hair is on the right. She is wearing a brown turtle-necked sweater.

03/11/2026

It's Befriending Week!

Befriending Networks are inviting all volunteers to their Connect Over a Cuppa online Befrienders' Social event today, Tuesday 3rd November 2026,
12.30 - 1.30pm to chat and celebrate volunteering during Befriending Week. Book your free spot at befriending.co.uk/cuppa26 or scan the QR code

If you're interested in becoming a befriender please contact [email protected] or call 01905 723245



PD: Three brightly coloured mugs in Befriending Networks branded clours orange, green and blue. Two of the mugs have speech bubbles. The words underneath are Connect Over a Cuppa Befrienders' Social, Tuesday 3 November 2026, 12.30-1.30pm. Grab a brew and join Befriending Networks for a relaxed one-hour virtual gathering for volunteer befrienders to celebrate Befriending Week.

02/11/2026

It's Befriending Week! Our Sensory Matters Worcestershire Befriending Service helps reduce social isolation and loneliness for our clients.

Meet Gary and Denis! They have recently been matched by our Visiting Befriender Service and are enjoying getting out and about and talking together.

Denis says 'There's 168 hours in a week and I spend most of that time alone with no-one to talk to, so having Gary as my befriender makes a great difference. I'm no longer isolated. My eyesight stops me getting around on my own, so I look forward to Gary's visits. We go on walks, go shopping, visit garden centres and cafes. We talk about our lives, our families and history; he's a great person to spend time with!'

If you'd like to become a visiting befriender please contact [email protected] or call us on 01905 723245.



PD: Two men smiling at the camera. Denis on the left wearing a red baseball cap and black jacket. Gary is on the right, wearing glasses and a scarf. Behind them is a white house.

01/11/2026

It's Befriending Week!

Befriending Networks are inviting all volunteers to their Connect Over a Cuppa online Befrienders' Social event on Tuesday 3rd November 2026, 12.30 - 1.30pm to chat and celebrate volunteering during Befriending Week. Book your free spot at befriending.co.uk/cuppa26 or scan the QR code

If you're interested in becoming a befriender please contact [email protected] or call 01905 723245



PD: Three brightly coloured mugs in Befriending Networks branded clours orange, green and blue. Two of the mugs have speech bubbles. The words underneath are Connect Over a Cuppa Befrienders' Social, Tuesday 3 November 2026, 12.30-1.30pm. Grab a brew and join Befriending Networks for a relaxed one-hour virtual gathering for volunteer befrienders to celebrate Befriending Week.

https://befriending.co.uk/product/cuppa26/

29/10/2026

Join our Worcester Lottery today for just £1.00!

Yes, that's right, for just £1 you can be in with a chance to win, not only a cash prize or free draw entries, but for every ticket you buy, you'll get a free entry into the Super Draw! And you'll be raising funds for Sensory Matters Worcestershire to continue to support Worcestershire's blind, visually impaired, d/Deaf, hard of hearing and people living with dual sensory loss.

On the last Saturday of each month the Super Draw offers Big Prizes and this month it's an iPhone 18 Pro Max 512GB!

You've got to be in it to win it, so why not click the link below to start raising funds and be in with a chance to win!

https://www.worcesterlottery.org/support/sight-concern-worcs?utm_campaign=iphone18-oct26-bts&utm_source=cause-admin&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Hyperlink

PD: a picture of a silver iPhone 18 Pro Max 512GB on a purple background. To the right the words Support Sensory Matters Worcestershire on Worcester Community Lottery, worcesterlottery.org, Sensory Matters Worcestershire is offering you the chance to win big prizes and help raise much needed funds.

Sensory Matters Worcestershire is offering you the chance to win big prizes and help raise much needed funds.

29/10/2026

It’s

A stroke can affect your sight. Around 6 in 10 stroke survivors notice new changes to their vision afterwards (Source: University of Liverpool, 2019).

That might mean blurred or double vision, losing part of your vision, or finding reading harder than before.

If you’ve noticed changes to your sight after a stroke, we can talk you through your options. That could be tips to make everyday tasks easier to see, magnifiers and other sight aids, or a visit to one of our low vision clinics to help you make the most of the sight you have.

Call us on 01905 723245 (Monday to Thursday, 10am–4pm), email [email protected] or visit sensory-matters.org.uk

28/10/2026

Meet Flappity! Flappity sits at the front of house, here at Sensory Matters Worcestershire, welcoming our visitors and changing with the seasons and special events. Members of our weekly Art Group, for visually impaired people, have been busy preparing him for Remembrance Day by painting and crocheting poppies.

If you'd like to join our Art Group for visually impaired clients, it's held at
The Bradbury Centre, 2 Sansome Walk, Worcester WR1 1LH
Wednesday 10.30am until 12.30pm
£2 per session
Refreshments included

We also run an Art Group for our hard of hearing and d/Deaf clients at
The Bradbury Centre
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 10am until 12pm
£2 per session
Refreshments included

PD: Flappity, a large penguin is dressed in khaki green with a sash of red crocheted poppies across his body. On his head is a khaki beret with a poppy on the right hand side. He is stood in the foyer at The Bradbury Centre with a backdrop of poppies painted onto Perspex with painted scenery showing a large white iceberg, a black and blue background and a gold circle at the top right side.

27/10/2026

Have you got questions about sight or hearing loss?

Maybe you’ve noticed your eyesight changing. Maybe a family member is struggling to hear the television, or you’re wondering if there’s a gadget out there that could help. Whatever it is, we are here to help you find the answers.

Our information and advice service is free, confidential and impartial. You don’t need a referral. Just pick up the phone and our friendly team will take it from there.

Give us a call on 01905 723245 (Monday to Thursday 10am-4pm) or email [email protected]



PD: Sensory Matters staff showing a digital magnifier with enlarged text to a man, offering practical support for sight or hearing loss; a large headline asks "Questions about sight or hearing loss?" and the Sensory Matters Worcestershire logo is visible.