Wheathampstead woman retires after 10 years service helping the
visually impaired
24 June 2010: Sue Lewis, 60, from Manor Road,
Wheathampstead is retiring after 10 years service to the
Hertfordshire Society for the Blind (HSB).
Sue works as an Outreach Worker for HSB, which provides help
and advice to blind and visually impaired people across
Hertfordshire. For her role, Sue travels across East and Central
Hertfordshire(1) visiting visually impaired clients to assess
their needs and provide support. Sue also runs the charity's
volunteer visiting scheme, where volunteers visit
visually-impaired people in their homes to provide good company
and carry out small practical tasks.
Sue was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Maria Surgenor,
HSB's Chief Executive Officer, at the charity's annual Volunteer
Summer Social event on Tuesday 22 June (2). "Sue will be
missed by all the staff, volunteers and the visually-impaired
people she helps," said Maria. "She has worked so hard over the
last 10 years, working many evenings and weekends, to help local
people with sight loss. Sue has made a massive difference to many,
many people's lives and I wish her all the best in her
retirement."
Sue, who worked as a district and hospice nurse before starting
work for HSB, says she will be sad to leave the job. "I love
my job and find it very rewarding. Many of the people I visit have
recently been registered visually-impaired, so need support and
advice to help them cope with the devastation of sight loss," said
Sue. "Deciding to retire was a difficult decision, but I've had
some ongoing health issues and need to slow down."
Sue said she's not yet thought about what she will do in her
retirement, but hopes to spend more time with her two children.
One of the people who has been helped by Sue during her 10 years
at HSB is David Heath, 55, from Stevenage, who is registered
blind. "Sue is brilliant and has given me self-confidence"
said David. "When I first met Sue I was shaking and nervous. She
encouraged me to become a volunteer for the charity and I now
volunteer teaching blind people how to use JAWS, a screen-reader
software."
David has now been volunteering for the charity for 5 years,
teaching computer skills to visually-impaired people and helping
at the charity's Sight Information Point in Stevenage, where
people can try out assistive equipment.
The charity is hiring two members of staff to replace Sue.
59-year-old Vanessa Macdonald, from Cowards Lane, Codicote, is the
new Outreach Worker for East Hertfordshire. The charity will
shortly appoint an Outreach Worker for Central Hertfordshire.
HSB needs more volunteers in Wheathampstead, St Albans, Harpenden
and the surrounding area. Volunteers are needed in a variety of
roles such as visiting visually impaired people in their homes,
helping out at the charity's monthly Sight Information Point in St
Albans Library, and supporting patients in eye clinics at St
Albans Hospital.
For more information on volunteering, contact
Vicky Palumbo on 01707 880544 or
reception@hertsblind.com,
or visit the HSB website at
www.hertsblind.com