There are estimated to be over 10,000 sight-impaired people in Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire Association for the Blind (OAB) offers advice, information, emotional support, counselling and specialist equipment demonstration to anyone in the county with a visual impairment or their carers.

The charity’s Campoli Centre is a new fully accessible and well equipped building stocked with a wide range of special items to aid people’s independence, just off off the Abingdon Road.

Colin Cure, OAB’s Director, said: “Our centre has started to receive visitors keen to try out the gadgets and seek our advice.

"We’ve had a number of group visits and meetings of societies and professionals, and we have provided professional counselling to people who are distressed by their sight loss.

“We’ve set up computer training sessions and we are now hosting special reading training for people with ‘peripheral’ vision.” One client commented: “My visit to the resource centre was a great success. I couldn't believe how wonderful it was. The IT section was very well laid out and was very interesting… The demonstrations of equipment were very helpful. As my sight deteriorates it is useful to know that these things are available.”

During the last year the charity has given advice and information on thousands of occasions by telephone or on email.

Colin continued: “With the help of our marvellous volunteers we are continuing to run six groups for visually impaired people and supporting five independent groups. We have also held Information Days at different libraries, delivered radios to people who do not have one and provided help to make individuals’ computers accessible.

“I’m also pleased that we have received some funding from a generous donor to pay a contribution to the travel costs of any visually impaired person who lives in Cherwell District to come and visit our centre.”

If you are interested in running for OAB in the Oxford Half Marathon in October, they would be delighted to hear from you. The charity may be able to offer a free place and a free sports massage at the end, and in return you need to raise at least £150 for their work.

They would also like to hear from visually impaired people who wish to join practical sessions trying out the equipment and learning how to manage in the home. Find out more at www.oxeyes.org.uk or telephone 01865 725595.