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Inspirational People

We are proud to know and work with many inspirational people in Sheffield. It is impossible to name every person, because we meet them every day. But we are going to feature a cross section of some of these people on a regular basis, so keep checking back! We hope that you enjoy reading about them.   

Janiece (Client and Supporter)  

Photo of Janiece serving at tennis 

When our client Janiece lost her sight very suddenly one New Year’s Eve she realised she had two choices. She could accept it and live life the best way she could or stay at home and be a miserable person'Read More'

Jackie (Client, Supporter and Volunteer)  

Photo of Jackie at SRSB 

Jackie found friendship, a talent for sport and a new zest for life when she came to one of the ‘Look Ahead Information Workshops’ at SRSB in Sheffield and all of them were quite a surprise to her'Read More'

Mick (Client and Volunteer)  

Photo of Mick and his wife Sue at the abseil raising funds for our charity 

Our client and volunteer Mick has achieved a huge amount after losing his sight in the last few years. He’s learned how to navigate daily life and successfully taken on a lot of big new challenges. 'Read More'

Jordan (Client)  

Photo of Jordan in the Health and Beauty Room at SRSB 

Sport has played a big part in the life of our client Jordan both before and since he lost most of his sight. And now it has the potential to help unlock a whole new career for him – as a sports massage therapist. 'Read More'

Nomaan (Client) 

Photo of Nomaan playing tennis 

Our client Nomaan began to adjust to a different way of life with visual impairment after a life-threatening illness. An introduction to SRSB/RSS helped him to begin that process 'Read More'

Anne (Client, Volunteer and Supporter)

Photo of Anne laughing 

When Anne first went to Rotherham Sight & Sound (RSS) little did she know what a big part of her life RSSSRSB and our clients would become for her. 'Read More'

Julie and Dennis (Volunteers)

 Photo of Julie and Dennis at SRSB working on the client newsletter mailout

If you receive your SRSB/RSS newsletter by post there is a very good chance it will be Julie or Dennis who will have put it in the envelope. The married couple have been a key part of the volunteer team at the charity for over 10 years, and helping with the mailing is just one of the many ways they support its work. 'Read More'

Phil (Client and Supporter)

 Photo of Phil

Reading an article in an SRSB newsletter more than a decade ago sent client Phil’s life in a totally new direction and changed it for the better. 'Read More'

Mel (Client and Volunteer)

 Photo of Mel

SRSB and the Mappin Street Centre have played a part in the life of Mel for as long as she can remember. 'Read More'

Rob Nolan (Client and Trustee)

Photo of Rob out walking on the moors

There’s a saying that if you want to get something done, ask a busy person. If there is any truth in that Robert Nolan will make an excellent new recruit to the Board of Trustees of SRSB/RSS. 'Read More'

Zheyuan (Client and Supporter)

Photo of Zheyuan at SRSB playing violin

Zheyuan is a client and supporter of SRSB who started using our services last year, when he began to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Sheffield. 'Read More'

Norman (Client and Trustee)

Photo of Norman

Norman Wragg became a trustee of SRSB almost 20 years ago, bringing with him a wealth of professional expertise and personal experience of living with sight loss. 'Read More'

Rose (Client)

Photo of Rose when we celebrated her 100th birthday at SRSB

Rose is one of a fairly elite but growing club who can say they celebrated their 100th birthdays as a client at SRSB'Read More'

Louise (Client and Supporter)

Photo of Louise

Blind runner Louise remembers her first run clearly, after just a short distance she went home exhausted. Now she would struggle to count the miles. 'Read More'

Andrea (Volunteer)

Photo of Andrea

Andrea came to an open day and was very impressed. She started off volunteering in the dining room and other events, then found her place in Creative Writing and has never looked back. 'Read More'

Victoria Smith (Supporter)

Photo of Victoria doing an eye check

Victoria Smith’s energy and enthusiasm for promoting eye health goes way beyond the call of duty as an optometrist and owner of an opticians... 'Read More'

Andy (Client and Volunteer)

Photo of Andy

Andy is a man on a mission. He wants to improve the lives of people with visual impairment... 'Read More'

Kion (Client, Volunteer and Supporter)

Photo of Kion

When teenager Kion tells you he’s blind and hard of hearing with a number of other health problems it comes as quite a surprise when he talks about the hobbies and passions that drive his life... 'Read More'

Jenny (Volunteer)

Photograph of Jenny

Volunteers play a vital part in the operation of SRSB and RSS and we just could not operate without them. Jenny is one of them, helping out on reception duties with our staff member Carol.. 'Read More'

Sarah Bennett (Client, Volunteer and Supporter)

Photograph of Sarah and her guide dog

Sarah Bennett can hardly believe how much her life has changed in the last few years. She’s transformed herself from a woman who never went out alone and would sit at home crying into someone has just had to cancel her gym membership because she is too busy to go. 'Read More'

Sheila (Client and Supporter)

Photograph of Sheila Sheila is a very active client and supporter of SRSB and talks here about the role our charity has played in helping her shape a new life after sight loss. 'Read More'

Andy (Client, Volunteer and Supporter)

Photograph Andy is a client, volunteer and supporter of Rotherham Sight & SoundSRSB's new centre in Rotherham.  'Read More'

Amy Rollitt (Client, Volunteer and Supporter)

Photograph of Amy  SRSB client, supporter and volunteer Amy Rollitt credits what she calls: “The magic of Mappin Street,” with giving her a new lease of life.  'Read More'

Photograph of Ken   Many of our wonderful clients at SRSB also play a vital role as volunteers and fundraisers. Ken Bower is one of those people who is always willing to give his time and put in a huge effort to help others. 'Read More'
Photograph of Martin  Martin is a keen gardener and sportsman with a burning ambition to achieve something big in life, even though he is visually impaired. 'Read More'
 Photograph of Carol Carol speaks so enthusiastically about our services, and this comes from her involvement with several groups. 'Read More'
 Photogrpah of Joyce at the centre with her letter and photograph of the CAPITOLS For client Joyce Stout, one of the most difficult adjustments when her eyesight deteriorated was having to give up playing music 'Read More'
Photograph of Mike and Catherine  Catherine Harris has two great passions in life. One is her husband Mike and the other is the vast assortment of gadgets that she uses to help her navigate her way through her very busy days. 'Read More'
Photograph of Bill at the Cathedral  Bill discovered that his creative talent on the piano suddenly “magnified by a factor of 10” as a result of his sight loss 'Read More'
Photograph of Mark at SRSB  When he suddenly lost most of his sight in the space of a few months Mark Skelton feared his working life would end and he was only his in 30s. 'Read More'
Photograph of Jean and Peter at an SRSB social evening An enthusiastic client of SRSB over many years Jean has a long list of the ways it benefits her life, but right at the top is friendship. 'Read More'
Photograph of Jonathan

Jonathan is a professional footballer for the FA England Blind Football Team, and a client of SRSB. 'Read More'

Photograph of John working on a car

John Boyce is a client and volunteer who has lifelong love of motor vehicles. 'Read More'

Chris is a fully qualified holistic therapist, works at Cairn Home and also finds time to volunteer for SRSB. 'Read More'

Photograph of Graham in his studio

Graham is a client, but also an active volunteer and supporter, getting involved with lots of things at SRSB'Read More'

Photograph of Val with some of her cards

Val is a client, but also an active supporter, getting involved with lots of things at SRSB'Read More'

Photograph of Walter with his medals

Walter is one of SRSB's clients with an interesting and inspirational story to tell. 'Read More'

Photograph of Eric at SRSB

Eric is a client and supporter of SRSB as well as being an active member of the Sheffield Visually Impaired Walking Group. 'Read More'

Photograph of Hayley at the Skydive 2012

Hayley is one of SRSB’s clients and is also an active supporter of our charity.  'Read More'

Tom Monaghan (Volunteer)

Photograph of Tom with client

Tom has been supporting SRSB as an IT Volunteer for eight years. 'Read More'

Layton (Client)

Photograph of Layton

Layton first became involved with SRSB when he began attending our Little Sparklers Playgroup. 'Read More'

Julie Smethurst (Client and Former Trustee)

Photograph of Julie with the Olympic Torch

Julie was a Trustee at SRSB from 1990 and is an inspiration to so many people. 'Read More'

Josie Naldrett (Client and Supporter)

Photograph of Josie at SRSB

Josie is a Line Dancing Teacher who developed a passion for the activity after she began to lose her sight. 'Read More'

Graham Bell (Volunteer)

Photograph of Graham  Graham was one of SRSB’s longest serving volunteers who supported our charity in various roles. ‘Read More’

Les Culf (Client and Supporter)

Les runs the Archery Group. He is an inspiration to others with of his enthusiasm and can-do attitude. ‘Read More’

Pat Powell (Supporter)

Photograph of Pat showing her medal to clients at SRSB

Pat recently took part in the London Marathon for SRSB. ‘Read More’

Simon Wheatcroft (Supporter)

Photograph of Simon running

Simon is a blind runner who is taking part in the Sheffield Half Marathon in May for SRSB. ‘Read More’

Bunmi Sobowale (Supporter)

Photograph of Bunmi

Bunmi is a new supporter of SRSB who has an amazing story. ‘Read More’

Gail Fagan (Client and Volunteer)

Photograph of one of SRSB inspirational client

Gail is an active client and volunteer at SRSB. ‘Read More’

Trina Brown (Client and Volunteer)

Photograph of Trina presenting In Focus Trina is a client of SRSB. She is also a presenter on the In Focus local radio show. 'Read More'

Betsy Wilson (Client and Volunteer)

Photograph of Betsy at SRSB Betsy is one of our clients, but also one of our many colourful and inspirational characters! ‘Read More’

Alan Thorpe (Client)

Alan pictured with his guide dog

Alan is a positive role model and believes that visual impairment shouldn’t stop people from achieving what they want, only that you have to overcome a few limitations. ‘Read More’

 

Jack Wallace (Former Volunteer)

Photo of Jack at an SRSB volunteer party

Jack Wallace was a wonderful volunteer who worked tirelessly for SRSB for many years. ‘Read More’


 

Photo of a group of someone abseiling down the Hallam Uni building

We'd love you to join our amazing team of abseilers in June

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Photograph of a meeting in the centre

Please visit our Client Events page for all the latest telephone, online and in person events

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Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind links