New to the area, 76-year-old Grace was looking to establish herself in her new community and make new friends, when she found the Reminiscence Group at Battle Library, run in partnership by InTouch and Fresh Visions.
Being blind and having a sight dog meant that Grace, who lives alone, had previously struggled to find suitable groups to join, so she was over the moon to find a group she could feel a part of.
Every week, there’s a different activity for members to get involved with, whether that’s sharing photographs and memorabilia with the group, listening to a guest speaker, participating in a quiz, or heading out on a trip.
Grace has been attending for just over a year now, and she shared the impact the group has had on her.
“It’s not easy to move to a new place when you’re older and on your own, and it’s certainly not fun to try and do it when you’re blind. It’s a lot harder to settle into a new town. Without exception, everyone in the group has made me feel very welcome. This is my first step to becoming part of a different, more inclusive community.
“The sessions are interesting, I especially enjoyed when the fire service came and explained things to me. And I know Wilma, my sight dog, loves coming in too, in fact she drags me to the path of the library!
"It’s given me a lot of confidence and somewhere to go. I now have friends, and feel a bit more part of this community, I’m grateful for that.”
Over time, the group has become one of the most established and popular community groups at the library. Members have grown in confidence and now have the self-belief to lead quizzes and provide talks.
Intouch is Fresh Visions’ senior programme, which supports people aged 55 and over to combat isolation and loneliness. Find out more.
The Reminiscence Group takes place every Friday at Battle Library.