CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY – AND NOISILY – FOR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED YOUNGSTERS

Two dozen blind and visually-impaired youngsters from all over Norfolk enjoyed a noisy start to Christmas when Captain Fantastic’s disco came to their party – as well as Santa, and a giant tactile giraffe.

The Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind’s annual YoungEyes Christmas Party saw the children and their families, along with friends and supporters, enjoy a noisy festive celebration, complete with foam snow, balloon modelling and dancing.

The children also had a chance to get up close and personal with a stunning tactile giraffe made by artists Maggie Campbell and Jenny Goater.

Gina Dormer, chief executive of the charity, which is to change its name to Vision Norfolk in the new year, said, “Our YoungEyes programme is such an important part of the support we are able to provide to young visually-impaired people and their families.

“We are determined that sight loss will not mean that these youngsters can’t have fun, and our Christmas party was the perfect start to the festive period for all these visually-impaired children and their families.”

Teresa Kay, whose daughter Rhiannon was one of those enjoying the party, commented, “I think it is truly wonderful to have YoungEyes events like the Christmas party, so Rhiannon will grow up knowing other visually-impaired children.  I hope that will mean she will not feel alone, and she will also have a support group of peers who understand her issues.

“We have attended all the charity’s events since we were first introduced to the charity when Rhiannon was three months old,  I value the support for Rhiannon and myself, seeing her being wonderfully entertained in a safe environment, enabling me the luxury of drinking a cup of tea whilst still hot and chatting to other parents.”

YoungEyes social events and activities are open to all children and young people up to the age of 18 with a visual impairment.  To find out more, email Barbara.dunn@nnab.org.uk.