Community Foundation for Merseyside has donated £5,000 to sight loss charity Galloway’s to help relieve the loneliness of visually impaired people in the Sefton area. The money is from the foundation’s LCR Cares – COVID-19 Community Support Fund and National Emergencies Trust.



Whilst the charity has temporarily suspended face to face social groups, sight loss advisors are calling blind and partially sighted people on a regular basis, providing advice and support. They have also set up Talking Together, a teleconferencing facility which allows people to dial in and talk to each other.

Galloway’s is also continuing its Talking News service, which has been added to its Alexa Skill, enabling even more people to access audio news from the Sefton area.
Carl Moore, sight loss advisor at Galloway’s in Wright Street, Southport, said: “We are very grateful for the support from Community Foundation for Merseyside, as it enables us to continue to deliver our services to blind and partially sighted people in Sefton.

“We are ringing people on a regular basis, informing them what other services are available, such as food delivery, and how to keep in contact with people. They are finding it very useful and are very grateful for this regular contact as many of them have no family or friends who are calling them.”

Rae Brooke, Chief Executive for the Community Foundation for Merseyside, said: “Galloways, who is providing a vital lifeline to improve the mental wellbeing of blind and partially sighted people in the Sefton area, is amongst the many incredible organisations we have supported. “We know the detrimental impact of this pandemic will be evident over the long term and to enable us to continue supporting the work of groups like Galloway’s, we are calling on those able to do so to donate to the LCR Cares COVID-19 Community Support Fund.”

The LCR Cares COVID-19 Community Support Fund has distributed more than £1.1m to over 260 frontline community groups and charitable organisations supporting the most vulnerable.

Galloway’s, which has sites in Penwortham, Chorley, Southport and Morecambe, supports more than 7,000 blind and partially sighted people across Sefton and Lancashire.