Fife sight loss charity scoops national award for innovative support for community

A Fife charity has scooped a national award for its work to support people with sight loss throughout the area.

Seescape, formerly Fife Society for the Blind, won the Community Award at the Visionary Conference in Birmingham last month. Sponsored by Specsavers, the UK-wide awards ceremony recognised outstanding achievements in the sight loss sector and in supporting our local community. Seescape was the only organisation in Scotland to receive an award, and the first Scottish charity to win in several years.

The charity helps those with sight loss live more independently and provides a range of services including rehabilitation, advice, and technology demonstrations. It also offers social opportunities to those with visual impairments across Fife, as well as community-based assessments, home visits, and drop-ins at its visual impairment hub in Glenrothes to give information on the latest support and technologies available.

The award acknowledges Seescape’s significant contribution to improving eye health throughout Fife. Judges praised the charity for its use of local expertise, voices and contacts throughout Fife to bring about positive change, including working in partnership with local organisations, such as the NHS, to improve eye health, supporting people with sight loss to improve their community connections and wellbeing and helping people access assistive technology. In the past year, the charity has modernised and expanded, with a new hub opening in Glenrothes and a renewed focus on accessible technology and supporting people experiencing loneliness or isolation because of sight loss.

Lesley Carcary, chief executive of Seescape, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised with this award and grateful to all colleagues for their daily work to support people with sight loss in Fife.
“We pride ourselves on our partnership working, which means we can reach more people and improve lives.
We know from what our clients tell us that we do a great job, but it’s wonderful to see our approach celebrated by this award.”

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Seescape’s Honorary President, said:

“Seescape’s support for people experiencing sight loss is well known throughout Fife, making a profound difference to many lives and I’m now delighted their pioneering work has been acknowledged across the UK with this award and that Seescape is now recognised as a leader across the UK in support for those experiencing sight loss.
“In particular, I would like to pay tribute to the Sight Support and Accessible Technology teams who were singled out for mention for their ground breaking contribution to supporting individuals with the most up-to-date technological supports and reading materials.
“I’ve supported Seescape for many years and have seen first-hand the amazing work it does throughout Fife. I wish the Seescape staff well in all they do in the years ahead.

Fiona Sandford, chief executive of Visionary, said: “Seescape is a brilliant example of what is possible when charities, the NHS, local authorities and community optometry work together. Congratulations to everyone at Seescape.”

Specsavers clinical services director Giles Edmonds said: “With our practices in the heart of communities across the country, we passionately believe in the power of partnership to change lives. We know that our NHS remains under huge pressure and that by working together we can support it to deliver its vital work and care for patients.

‘Charities play a huge role in our communities, and we are proud to work with Visionary through this award to shine a light on the difference they make.’

Seescape, the operating name of Fife Society for the Blind, has served visually impaired people in Fife for over 150 years. It is the leading provider of support for the visually impaired in Fife, offering a range of services including advice, training, technology assistance, social groups.