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