Local Charity, Sight Support Ryedale (SSR), is celebrating after being awarded £437,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with blind and partially sighted people. SSR has been supporting its members for nearly 25 years and is currently staffed by 1 full-time, 2 part-time staff, and 20 volunteers. 

 

The charity offers a range of support and activities to people across Ryedale. These include individual assessments; befriending and well-being calls; magnification assessments; advice on daily living aids; the use of accessible technology; and emotional support. In addition to the services SSR provides regular social groups; chairobics and dancing sessions, Living with Sight Loss Courses; days out, and shopping trips. Activities are held across the area, and wherever possible door to door transport is provided. 

 

Sight Support Ryedale’s services are designed to help those living with sight loss continue to live independently and with confidence. To reduce social isolation and promote positive mental health. To support those living with sight loss and their families and to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health and care. 

 

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will ensure that the charity can continue to be sustainable and increase its capacity over the next three years to support more people in Ryedale. 

 

Di Tymon Chief Officer a Sight Support Ryedale, says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to ensure our continued provision of services for blind and visually impaired people in our area. Through the vital services and activities we provide, people are better equipped to cope with the challenges that sight loss brings. Our work helps to combat social isolation which improves mental health. We bring people together to for peer support and vital signposting to other support organisations. Plus, a bonus is that many friendships are formed” 

 

Nick Medcalf, Chair of Trustees at Sight Support Ryedale, says: “The security of funding that the National Lottery Community Fund provides will give Sight Support Ryedale the opportunity to deliver its ‘Vale and Moors Inclusion Project’ as well as allowing the organisation to operate with confidence over the next three years. It is an exciting time for all of us as we increase the scope and scale of services and I am grateful to the funders as well as all the staff, volunteers and trustees who will make this next part of our journey so useful to our membership. 

 

The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its new strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030. 

 

As part of this, the funder has four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives. 

 

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities. 

 

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk 

 

Do you want to make a difference in a charity where our mission is to improve the quality of life for local people with sight loss? 

 

 

We are Sight Support Ryedale, a local charity based in Malton, North Yorkshire that supports, enables and empowers people who are blind and partially sighted. We currently have operational funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. We aim to support people to overcome their daily challenges with sight loss and achieve their potential to develop a more inclusive and independent life. We are looking for a chief officer who will be an exceptional leader with the capacity to engage, develop and motivate others. Key to this role is the ability to develop good relationships with both internal and external partners. We are seeking a dynamic and innovative chief officer to lead SSR through a transformative period. 

 

The successful candidate must possess a blend of operational skills and the capacity to implement deliverables and achieve strategic applications. 

 

The chief officer will inspire SSR employees and volunteers, furthering their development/provision and will also ensure financial sustainability and future growth for the organisation and its service users. 

 

SSR provides a range of services to meet the needs of members with sight loss including, support, information and social activities, to facilitate enhancing the everyday living of our clients. 

 

It will be essential for the chief officer to: 

 

Proactively lead a robust fundraising strategy for financial sustainability and growth. 

 

Lead and implement developing strategic and operational innovative management processes, through a dynamic values led approach and further the development of the organisation, staff, volunteers and clients. 

 

Manage and maintain auditing systems through applying efficient and compliant accounting skills. 

 

Location: Malton North Yorkshire 

Post: full time /hours negotiable 

Salary up to £40,000 Gross. 

 

Closing date for applications: November 25th 2024 

 

Interview Date: December 12th 2024 

 

Application and questions must be addressed to the Chair of Trustees at medcalfn@btinternet.com 

 

Sight Support Ryedale operates an equal opportunities policy and is a disability accredited employer. 

 

Sight Support Ryedale have regular gentle exercise classes in the form of dancing and chairobics. 

 

If you would like top find out more please call the office on 01653 698860 or email nicole@sightsupportryedale.org