Andrea Curro is our new Community Activity Assistant for Glasgow. Andrea will be running Activity Groups in the Glasgow area to reach and engage with more people affected by sight loss, whilst providing a social platform to help combat isolation and loneliness.
Andrea, who is originally from Italy and is in the last year of his English Language degree at the University of Glasgow, is loving working for Sight Scotland and says he finds running the activity groups both inspiring and rewarding.
He explains: “Our Activity Groups will provide activities for members to explore interests, develop new skills and meet new friends, in a safe and welcoming environment. The idea behind these groups is to provide a social platform where members can come along and hopefully enjoy themselves and meet new friends.
"People with visual impairment can lose their confidence, self-esteem, and the ability to do many day-to-day activities. This can often result in isolation and loneliness. The Activity Groups give us another way to engage with and help more people. It has huge potential to make a big difference to people’s lives.”
New groups, new ideas
Andrea says that since this is a new service in the Glasgow area, it felt like having a blank canvas where he could implement his ideas and initiatives.
“I have always liked helping people and making new connections. Since this is a relatively new service, it felt like I had a blank canvas to start from. I really want the activity groups to build community and boost confidence, we want the groups to be a great way of engaging with more people in the community in a positive and rewarding manner.
“So far, we have started two groups; a Peer Support Group for all ages which meets in the Mitchell Library and a Parent Support Group to help parents who have children with vision impairment. Hopefully, in the coming months, we will be launching more groups, so if anyone wants to be involved, or has an idea for a group please get in touch with me via the information line.”
Andrea adds: “I have been working for Sight Scotland for four months now and it has been great, I have met so many wonderful people and my coworkers in the Family Wellbeing Team have been so helpful and a real motivation for me.
"These activity groups are part of Sight Scotland’s Family Wellbeing Service, which has a wealth of knowledge to help support and empower anyone affected by sight loss to regain or maintain their independence. The support can either be face-to-face, over the phone or online."
For more information:
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Call: 0800 024 8973
Peer Support Groups
For people who experience visual impairment, and their loved ones and friends.
Glasgow Southside
Group: Pollokshaws Library Parents Support Group
Meets at: Pollokshaws Library, 60 Shawbridge St, Glasgow G43 1RW
When: Every third Friday of the month from 11 am to 1 pm.
For more information: Email communityactivity@sightscotland.org.uk
Glasgow City Centre
Group: Mitchell Library Peer Support Group
Meets at: The Mitchell Library, North St, Glasgow G3 7DN
When: Every second and fourth Friday of the month from 11 am to 1 pm
For more information: Email communityactivity@sightscotland.org.uk
Glasgow North West
Group: Knightswood Peer Support Group
Meets at: Knightswood Library, 27 Dunterlie Ave, Glasgow G13 3BB
When: Every third Friday of the month from 11am to 1pm
For more information: Email communityactivity@sightscotland.org.uk
Parent Support Group
For parents who have children with visual impairment.
Glasgow West End
Group: Clarice Pears Parents Support Group
Meets at: Clarice Pears Building School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 90 Byres Rd, Glasgow G12 8TB
When: Every second Tuesday or Wednesday of the month from 1pm to 3pm.
For more information: Email communityactivity@sightscotland.org.uk
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