A SIGHT loss charity in Hampshire is to open a new community information and advice hub to support the health, wellbeing and independence of blind and partially-sighted people in Andover.

Open Sight Hampshire will hold the Information Hub in the Andover Library on the third Tuesday of the month between 10am and noon. It will offer independent living services and technology support.

The Information Hub has been made possible through funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, and is one of 11 hubs across the county. Hubs opened in Basingstoke and Fleet last year.

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Project manager at Open Sight Hampshire, Jane Beesley, said: “Living with a sight loss condition can be very isolating and daunting, especially for older people.

"The Information Hubs are places where people with sight loss can get practical help and learn to use technology to make the best use of the sight they have, which will make a massive difference to their mental wellbeing.

"We are incredibly grateful for the support from the National Lottery, so we can bring more Hubs to more people across Hampshire.”

James said that one client had been struggling with deteriorating sight for about 18 months, before hearing about the hub in Fleet.

He was able to access useful information and advice to help him cope with his sight loss.

Located in libraries, one day a month, the hubs allow people with sight loss to access the support they need without having to travel long distances to unfamiliar places.

In Hampshire there are an estimated 62,000 people living with some degree of sight impairment – with 9,000 of those estimated as living with significant sight loss in north Hampshire.

People can drop in without an appointment for a chat and to get free impartial advice to help them make the best use of their residual sight so they can be as independent as possible in daily life, and get assistance with the latest digital technology to communicate with family and friends as well as to connect with the wider world.

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More information is available at opensight.org.uk, or by calling 02380 641244.