Macular Society services in Wales
This page can also be viewed in Welsh.
We provide free information and support to people with macular disease in Wales, alongside their family and friends, to help them maintain their independence.
Our Community Engagement Manager (Wales) and dedicated teams at head office offer a range of services for anyone affected by macular disease. We also work in partnership with local organisations across Wales to ensure support is available where it's needed most.
Our support includes:
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Peer support groups and telephone groups
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Trusted information about macular conditions and treatment
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Links to other relevant services and resources in Wales
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Opportunities to get involved in volunteering or raise awareness locally
Peer Support
You can access a range of Macular Society peer support services in-person, over the telephone or online.
Peer support includes local support groups, working age and young people and condition-specific groups; where you can receive tailored support.
"I felt really isolated. But when you start to look into it there’s huge communities of people out there, for all sorts of different conditions. So that was really lovely; to meet other people going through the same thing was really good."
Anna
Our support services
We offer a variety of support services to help you or anyone affected by macular disease.
If you have questions or need guidance, please contact our helpline team.
For additional support, you can access our counselling service and befriending. You may also benefit from our treatment buddies.
To continue living independently, Skills for Seeing can help you make the best use of the vision you have and Connect by Tech can advise on what technology is available and how to use access it.
Want to find out more about any of our services above?
Please visit our Support for you webpage or call our helpline team on 0300 3030 111. All calls are confidential.
Regional societies
Sight Life
Provides local services and lifelong support, so that blind and partially sighted people across the majority of South Wales can enjoy fulfilled lives.
North Wales Society for the Blind
NWSB provide practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people of all ages throughout North Wales. They work to promote independence, choice and confidence whilst also providing the essential services their members tell them are important to them.
Sight Cymru
Provides services and support for people with sight loss in South and West Wales. (Formerly Sight Support and previously known as Gwent Association for the Blind.)
Vision Support
Vision Support is a well-respected North-East Wales charity. They provide person-centred services which meet the needs of adults and children with vision impairment across Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy.
Vision Rehabilitation Specialists
Provides specialist assessment, training and advice to visually impaired individuals to increase their knowledge, skills and independence. To find your local Rehabilitation Officer please visit the Perspective Information portal.
Eye Clinic Liaison Officer
ECLOs act as an important bridge between health and social services and are central to the support and wellbeing of patients in eye clinics. They also help prevent avoidable sight loss, by talking through treatment and helping people to understand their medication if necessary. To find your local Eye Clinic Liaison Officer please visit the Perspective Information portal.
Low Vision Service Wales
If you already have a vision impairment or low vision, or are registered as either sight impaired or severely sight impaired a specially trained and accredited Low vision Optician/Optometrist can help you make the best use of the sight you have. To find your local Low Vision Optometrist please select Wales Eye Care Service using the Perspective Information portal.
Events in Wales
We work in partnership with organisations and professionals across Wales to support and attend local events that provide information and guidance for people with macular disease. These events may include opportunities to hear from clinicians, ECLOs, nurses or rehabilitation officers, as well as connect with others living with sight loss.
We also continue to offer national opportunities to hear from experts through our regular webinars and the annual Macular Disease Conference.
Anyone in Wales and across the rest of the UK is welcome to attend these events. To find out more, visit our Events webpage or call our helpline team on 0300 3030 111.
Working with policy makers in Wales
Wales Vision Forum
The purpose of the Forum is for organisations representing people with sight loss to come together to share, discuss and outline work programmes and priorities to enhance joint working and reduce duplication to maximise our collective reach and impact.
The Forum is a platform for sharing information, good practice and expertise, as well as consulting and identifying opportunities to support service and campaign planning.
Eye Care Collaborative Groups
Each health board in Wales has an Eye Care Collaborative Group. These groups have been established to monitor the performance of eye care services and aim to listen and learn from patient feedback and outcomes. The Wales Vision Forum, which is made up of local, regional and national sight loss charities in Wales, has representatives on each group.
Low Vision Advisory Group
This is a subgroup reporting to the Wales Eye Care Service Joint Committee. The Group’s function is to advise Low Vision Service Wales (LVSW) with particular attention to setting and improving the standards for a good quality low vision service for individuals of any age in Wales.
Membership of the Macular Society
You don’t have to face macular disease alone in Wales, anyone can join our community at the Macular Society, and we’ll help you or someone you know find your way with expert advice and support.
For more info on membership please see our Membership webpage.
Volunteering in Wales
Would you, or someone you know, be interested in volunteering for the Macular Society in Wales?
We have a wide range of opportunities to get involved - from supporting local peer groups to helping raise awareness or providing practical help.
To explore current volunteer roles and how you can make a difference, please visit Volunteering for the Macular Society. You can also get in touch with our Volunteer and Group Support Team directly on 01264 560 259 - they'll be happy to talk you through the options and help you find the right role.
Macular Society Research in Wales
We want to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease for everyone in Wales, by funding research to find new and better treatments, and one day a cure. We provide information on new treatments, clinical research and much more.
To find out more please visit our Explore our research webpage.
Fundraising in Wales
Would you like to fundraise to help Beat Macular Disease in Wales? You'll be helping fund research to find a cure faster and helping to support those living with macular disease now. We can't do this without you, and together we cannot fail.
There are plenty of ways you can get involved. Our community fundraising team is here to support you all the way. You can contact the team via email community@macularsociety.org or phone 01264 560 222.
Our work in other regions
We are proud to have staff based around the UK to give you localised support; including regional managers, peer support coordinators and a groups admin team based at our head office in Andover.
Support for you
We provide free information and support to those with macular disease, along with their family and friends, to help people keep their independence.
We'd like to thank the National Lottery Community Funds and all of the National Lottery players, for supporting our services in Wales and Scotland.
Get the latest news and advice from the Macular Society
To hear about life-changing research, treatments and tips for living with sight loss, subscribe to our monthly enewsletter today. Together we can Beat Macular Disease.
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