Visually impaired club in Ammanford improving people’s lives

T VIC runs every Tuesday from 2pm to 3:30pm at Ammanford Evangelical Church.

The club allows visually impaired people to meet new friends and do a range of fun activities.

The visually impaired club had a go at golf. (Image: T VIC)

Artist Viv Rhule came down and taught everyone how to fent. (Image: T VIC)

The club loves a birthday celebration. (Image: T VIC)

The visually impaired club go on a range of trips. (Image: T VIC)

Chair of T VIC, Elinor Gilbey said: “This is an important facility. It is a lifeline to so many people. It has been run by the local authority for over 40 years. We are constantly on a mission to raise funds and awareness of the group.

“We do activities such as weaving, mosaic art, golf, and felting. Last Christmas we took them to the theatre and the cast let them hear the noises. Lyn Thomas, one of our members, was in tears.”

Lyn is completely blind and has been a regular at the visually impaired club for three years.

Lyn said: “It has been a lifeline to me. I was stuck at home, then I heard about this group. I am an entertainer. I have met new friends and I’ve learned a lot about history.

“I would describe this group as a great way to meet people. We have different speakers every week. It’s great and I advise everyone to come here.”

Lyn has been coming to the club for three years. (Image: Newsquest) Meanwhile, Nicola Mattocks has only been coming to the club for a few months after losing her husband.

Nicola said: “I rang up the council and they put me in touch with Brian (Hobart). I started coming along in February and the club has made me feel so welcome. I enjoy the companionship and friendship.

“It’s also allowed me to try new things like indoor bowling. This was after spending six months in Winter all by myself.”

Brian, who has been at the club since February 2012, added: “First and foremost it’s a social club to prevent isolation. It’s somewhere to hang out with like-minded people. We don’t need to suffer in solitude.”

Brian Hobart has been at the club since February 2012. (Image: Newsquest) However, since the COVID pandemic, it has become harder for visually impaired people to attend.

Brian continued: “Pre-COVID, this venue was free of charge. Everything stopped during the pandemic. Now we spend most of our time trying to fundraise for transport.

“The difficulty in starting groups post COVID has been enormous. The church has been good to us by providing a lot of support.”

Due to their disabilities, members of T VIC cannot take public transport and need to be directly taken to the facility which requires funding.

For more information about the visually impaired club in Ammanford, visit the T VIC Facebook page.

To donate to the visually impaired club, go to their JustGiving page.