Wiltshire Sight What’s On E-Newsletter for June 2025
Find out about local notices, groups and events that are accessible to anyone living with sight loss. You can read the full What's On newsletter on this page by browsing the sections below. If you prefer, you can also download a Word document version of the newsletter.
Download the What's On newsletter as a Word document
If you find it easier to read a Word document version of the newsletter, you can download it below. The Word document follows our accessible formatting guidelines and may be easier to navigate with screen readers
6. Wiltshire Sight Whats On June 2025 (DOCX, 106 KB)
Wiltshire Sight Events and Notices
Digital support across Wiltshire
We now offer friendly, relaxed one-to-one technology support to help you get the most out of your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Whether you want to try voice commands, explore useful apps, build confidence with a new device, or simply learn the basics, we’re here to help. Appointments can be arranged at your local hub. Call us on 01380 723682 for more details and to book.
Courses and taster sessions will also be available later this year, so keep an eye out for updates.
Connect Online with Virtual Hubs
Our Virtual Hubs are open to anyone affected by sight loss. Hosted on Microsoft Teams, training is available for newcomers.
Join one of our hubs:
Parent Support Group: Third Thursday of month at 7:30 pm.
University Students Group: Fortnightly, Wednesdays at 7 pm.
Working Age Group: Third Thursday of month at 7 pm.
Young Adults Group (18–30): Fortnightly, Wednesdays at 7 pm.
Would you like to join? Contact us – 01380 723682 / info@wiltshiresight.org
Wiltshire Sight Hubs and Social Groups
Click here for our hub and social group listings webpage.
Our monthly advice hubs offer consultations with local advisors across the region. At a hub you can get tailored information and guidance and explore accessible aids. Most hubs also host social groups where you can meet others living with sight loss. Full listings are available on our website (linked above) or by calling us on 01380 723682.
Changes To Note for Upcoming Hubs
- 4 June Wroughton Social and Hub 10 – 12. As we’re hitting summer season soon, we’re going to be informally discussing Holiday tips and tricks when travelling as a VIP! Come and share your own ideas and pick up some new ones!
- The June Audiobook we’ll be discussing at the Swindon Audiobook group on Tuesday 10 June, will be “The Silence Factory” by Bridget Collins. Takes place at Swindon Central Library from 10-11.30am.
Events & Notices From Other Organisations
RNIB survey on volunteering experiences
RNIB is running a survey from 12 May to 30 June 2025 to better understand the experiences of blind and partially sighted people when it comes to volunteering. Whether you volunteer or not, they want to understand your motivations to volunteer, what stops you from volunteering, and what might encourage you to get involved with a volunteer role in the future.
The results will shape how volunteering opportunities are developed within RNIB and other organisations.
The survey can be completed here:
Link to Survey
For help completing the survey or to register for future surveys, email nicola.stanley-dickinson@rnib.org.uk or call 07736 462071.
Guide Dogs’ disability benefits survey distribution – suggested content for partner organisations
The Government has announced major reforms to disability benefits and employment support which could have a significant impact on people with sight loss.
Working with other sight loss organisations, Guide Dogs has launched a survey to find out more about how these reforms could impact people with sight loss and how they could be improved. The survey closes on Sunday 15th June at 11.59pm. Your response to this survey will help Guide Dogs and other sight loss organisations respond to the Government’s consultation and campaign for improvements to the Government’s proposals.
Local Leisure and Sporting Activities / Events
Enjoy audiobooks? Join Wiltshire Libraries online / telephone book group
Wiltshire Libraries run a small and friendly audio book group for people who are blind or partially sighted.
The group meets via Microsoft Teams on the second Friday of each month at 3pm. You don’t need a computer – just a phone is enough to join the call.
Each month a different member chooses the book. There’s no set genre – the group enjoys everything from crime fiction to non-fiction and beyond.
To find out more or to join, call Wiltshire Libraries on 01672 512663 or email libraryenquiries@wiltshire.gov.uk
Visually Impaired Sailing
The Visually Impaired Sailing Association (VISA) has published its schedule for 2025,
Driving Experiences
Speed of Sight is running Driving Experience Days (for people with disabilities including vision impairment).
Salisbury Museum – A Touch of Frink
Salisbury Museum is offering a free creative course for visually impaired people, inspired by the artwork of Elisabeth Frink. Join artist Miles Bodimeade to explore the Frink exhibition through a touch tour and create your own sculptures.
The six-week course runs every Wednesday from 11 June to 16 July, 10.30am to 12.30pm, at Salisbury Museum (The King’s House, 65 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EN).
Booking is essential. No artistic experience is needed and the venue is fully accessible.
To book, contact Bridget Telfer at bridgettelfer@salisburymuseum.org.uk or call 01722 332151.
Fitness and Friendship Clubs – Age UK Wiltshire
Friendly, sight-loss aware sessions for older adults, offering gentle chair-based exercise, social time with tea and biscuits, and relaxing tai chi. First session is free, £5 after (some locations free). Clubs run in Swindon, Salisbury, Chippenham, and Devizes. For accessibility support, contact your Community Sight Loss Advisor.
More info: Tracey – 07754 612 569 or fitnessandfriendship@ageukwiltshire.org.uk
British Blind Sport launches new membership tiers
Click here: www.britishblindsport.org.uk/membership
To celebrate 50 years, British Blind Sport has launched new membership tiers to support blind and partially sighted people to get active. The free Active Membership offers access to events, resources, a community Facebook group, a discount on BBS shop items, and more. New Professional and Friends of BBS memberships are also available for coaches, volunteers, and supporters. To find out more and join, visit their website (linked above) or email info@britishblindsport.org.uk
Swindon Blind Craft Club
Swindon Blind Craft Club meets every Tuesday between 10 am and 1 pm and is run by Lou Curtis at Swindon Blind Association, Craven House, 145 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BU. Parking available and bus stop opposite. Bring your own lunch. Carers welcome.
You can enjoy a wide variety of activities, including creating baskets, painting, and tile decoration! Get in touch with Lou if you want to come along and find out more: 07703 306 403.
Swindon Chat group
Last Tuesday of the month 5.15pm
Contact communityconnectionsouthwest@rnib.org.uk
Swindon Bats Sports & Social Club
Swindon Bats have a fantastic variety of groups and events taking place including Ten Pin Bowling, Showdown, Coffee & Chat, Walk and Talk and more. Contact them at: info@swindonbats.org or call their Secretary Sue Mead on 07788150487. You can check their website for details of all their upcoming events and groups Swindon Bats Website
Bowls Club in Chippenham
The Bowls Club in Chippenham are running a weekly indoor bowls club for people with sight loss and other disabilities. Taking place at North Wilts Bowls Club in Chippenham (near Sainsburys) each Friday 4-5pm, September – Easter. Coaching is given. The contact for this club is Maureen on 01249 657228.
Devizes PHAB Group
(Physically disabled and Able bodied) an organisation which brings people with and without disabilities together. See their program of events at Devizes PHAB meetings and events
Children and Young People
All Aboard Watersports
All Aboard Watersports are running a paddle taster days for 8 – 18 year olds on Sunday 13th July 10am – 12.30am for visually impaired children.
They will have various activities on offer – kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding or katakanu.
To register your interest and find out more get in touch with Jemma on centremanager@allaboardwatersports.co.uk or call 01173 018 158
New College Worcester’s Summer Activity Break
Places are still available on New College Worcester’s Summer Activity Break for vision impaired young people aged 11 to 16 years on 22nd to 24th July (apply by 27th June). Residential and daytime only options are available.
The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath, Accessible show – You Know My Mum
“You Know My Mum” is a funny, emotional show which is accessible to blind and partially sighted people, and also has an empowering message about bereavement and being neurodivergent.
The show has top-class production values and has been developed with access in mind – there is audio description and touch tour provided as standard at every show.
Hear the audio trailer: https://youtu.be/G2OXoHGDm90
The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath, Thursday 17th July (1pm & 6pm), All ages 7+
Find out more: https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/you-know-my-mum/
VICTA – Free tickets
VICTA is offering to cover or contribute towards the cost of your vision impaired child’s ticket (up to the value of £20) to visit a public garden or green space in the local area during National Children’s Gardening Week (apply by 2nd June).
The Outlook Trust
Click here: About The Outlook Trust Charity. Adventure Activities For Blind Children.
The Outlook Trust is the only charity for blind and visually impaired children that organises and provides activity and residential breaks for blind, partially sighted children and young people with other disabilities.
VI Junior Introductory Sailing Taster Day
- When: Saturday 28 June 2025
- Who: 8 to 17 years
- Location: All Aboard Watersports, Bristol
- Cost: £5
- Closing date: 6 June
Sailing Vision Week, an annual sailing event for adults with a vision impairment, begins on 28 June with crews sailing out of Cornwall. We are looking for junior VI sailors-to-be to take part in our exclusive introductory taster event in Bristol on the same day.
You will be greeted at the centre by the VICTA Sport team and introduced to your Royal Yachting Association (RYA) dinghy instructor and assistant. They will accompany you through the whole session, make sure you are fully kitted out and introduce you to the basics of sailing. You will then be offered control of the boat with full assistance as you make your way out onto the water.
No previous experience required, and all kit will be provided – just bring your sense of adventure!
VI Junior Introductory Sailing Taster Day – VICTA
Inclusive tennis at Winterbourne
Weekly tennis sessions for young people aged 8 to 18 who are disabled, d/Deaf or neurodivergent. Thursdays 5–5.45pm and Fridays 11.15am–12pm at Winterbourne Tennis Club. First session is free. Sign up via: bit.ly/winterbourneAcez
Online Groups / Events / Socials
- LOOK is partnering with Retina UK, to present an online event on Monday, 30th June: ‘How to Talk to Your Child About Inherited Progressive Sight Loss’.
- The Royal Society for Blind Children is running some online support sessions for parents. They are also holding a ‘Moving on up Group’ for young people who will be moving to secondary school in September, meets monthly to prepare for the transition. The next session is on 3rd June.
- LOOK’s Parent Support Groupmeets monthly. The next meeting is on 5th June and will be a chat session.
- The Albinism Fellowship is running an online New Parents Eveningon 28th June.
- Retina UK runs an online Peer Support Group for the parents and carersof children with an inherited retinal dystrophy.
Support Groups and Courses
Local Audio Described Arts Events
Salisbury Playhouse
Wiltshire Creative are gearing up for Salisbury International Arts Festival.
From the 24th of May until June 8th, they will have events happening across the city, from comedy to music, spoken word to family events. Visit their website for further details: Wiltshire Creative Website Link or call ticket sales on 01722 320333.
Online Events / Notices / Groups / Socials
- Retina UK peer support groups, Online & Focused Interest Groups. Retina Uk Website Link Mark Baxter, Information and Support Coordinator. You can email him at services@RetinaUK.org.uk or call him on 07889 595783.
Groups include: *NEW* Women’s Peer Support Group, *NEW* Parent’s & Carer’s Peer Support Group, *NEW* Young Adults Peer Support Group, Men’s Peer Support Group, National Peer Support Group, *NEW* ‘Talking’ Home & Garden, *NEW* ‘Talking’ Creative Arts, ‘Talking’ Travel, ‘Talking’ Tech
- The Royal Collection, which looks after the Royal Family’s art collection, runs free monthly online lecturesfor blind and partially-sighted people on the first Tuesday of the month.
- Socialise, Vision Support’s virtual social club for young and working age peoplemeets monthly. The next session is on 10th June. Their dial-in social group, ‘Time to Chat’ will have its next session on 3rd June.
- UK Keratoconus Self-Help and SupportOrganisation runs quarterly Zoom meetings. The next one is on 3rd June.
- providing on-the-spot tech supportfor people with dual sensory loss. The next one is on 30th May. Deafblind UK also runs a fortnightly online Job Club for people with sight and hearing loss. The next meeting is on 30th May.
- BBS UK runs virtual monthly chats for adults with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
- Glaucoma UK’s next Digital Support Groupmeeting is on 4th June, and the topic is ‘Glaucoma and eye drops: the basics’.
- The Macular Society runs monthly support groups and webinars. Find out more on the Macular Society support groups webpage They also runs ‘My Macular and Me’ webinars each month. As well as on-line, condition specific groups for people affected by diabetic macular oedema, myopic macular degeneration, Best disease, Sorsby’s fundus dystrophy and Punctate Inner Choroidopathy.
- Torch Trust, the Christian sight loss charity, runs online coffee morningson the 4th Thursday of each month.
- Behcet’s UK runs regular online Support Group Meetingsfor people affected by the condition. They also offer a helpline and peer support.
- Nystagmus Network runs virtual support groupsfor people living with or affected by acquired or with congenital nystagmus.
- The next session of Blind Ambition’s monthly Working Age Forumsessions, which discuss issues related to employment, is on 10th June.
- The next session of Thomas Pocklington Trust’s ‘Let’s Talk Jobs’ workshopsis on Monday 9th June.
- Sight loss and other disability organisations are urging people who are concerned about the UK Government’s changes to benefits to contact their MP. You can do this using a form on the RNIB website.