Health & Wellbeing - Vision Northumberland

People living with sight and/or hearing loss are among the most vulnerable and socially excluded in society. Many experience complex challenges like social isolation, difficulty forming and maintaining relationships, struggling to get involved in their communities, finding it hard to pursue interests or keep active.

As a result, many have health and wellbeing issues and lead more sedentary lives.

Vision Northumberland strives to support individuals to overcome these barriers and create equality of opportunities so that sensory impaired people can maintain their mental and physical health.

Chatter Box Café

Vision Northumberland’s popular and friendly Chatter Box Café is the perfect place to enjoy some homemade scones, lattes and cakes.

Opened in 2021, our fully accessible café is run by an amazing team of volunteers and provides the ideal setting for meeting new people, develop enduring connections, get support and advice from Vision Northumberland employees and, most importantly, have fun!

Everyone’s welcome so come and join us every Tuesday and Thursday at Reiver House, Staithes Lane, Morpeth, NE61 1TD

Located close to the bus station, free onsite parking is also available. Our Volunteer Transport service may also be able to support your visit.

Sports & Leisure

At Vision Northumberland, we believe that those with sight and/or hearing loss should have equal access to sports and leisure activities.

Most sports and games can now be made accessible to people with a sensory loss including sight, and there are even sports invented specifically for sight impaired people, such as goalball.

You can find more details on how to take up sport as a hearing or sight impaired person by visiting UK Deaf Sport and British Blind Sport respectively. Both sites also have ‘Activity Finders’ which will let you search for opportunities in your area.

Games such as chess, dominoes, cards, bingo and even snakes & ladders come in accessible versions.

Vision Northumberland’s Activity Coordinator provides a schedule of activities you can take part in. Click here to download our latest Sports & Activities leaflet or visit our News & Events page.

For more information, please contact our Activity Coordinator by calling 01670 514316 or emailing info@vision-northumberland.org.

Clubs & Support Groups

Sight and hearing loss often creates barriers to social interactions which can lead to loneliness, loss of confidence and mental health issues.

Vision Northumberland’s Clubs & Support Groups booklet provides information on local groups, specifically for those with a sensory loss, so individuals can take part in social activities with their peers, build friendships and form lasting bonds.

Vision Northumberland recognises that sight and/or hearing loss can significantly affect people’s ability to access activities. Therefore, our Volunteer Transport service has been put in place to help you get about. Subject to availability, our volunteer drivers can support you to access social activities and groups if required. See our Volunteer Transport pages for further details.

Click here to download the latest leaflet on our Clubs and Support Groups or consult our Events calendar.

If you are interested in joining any of the groups or would like further information, please contact us on 01670 514316 or you can call the group directly on the number provided.

Befriending Service

Vision Northumberland's telephone befriending service, Client Connect, aims to reduce social isolation and combat loneliness for visually impaired people.

The service connects registered, vetted volunteers with vision-impaired clients for regular telephone chats; providing emotional support, enabling social contact and passing on valuable hints and information.

Support is offered to all clients who wish to benefit from a regular or occasional calls by a volunteer. Contact our Client Connect Coordinator on 01670 514316 for more information or to request a Client Connect caller.