Minister for Veterans, Louise Sandher Jones MP, has praised Sight Scotland Veterans during a recent visit to the charity’s Hawkhead Centre in Paisley.
A veteran herself, the Minister served in the Army as an intelligence officer before entering politics, including a deployment to Afghanistan. She was elected as the MP for North East Derbyshire in 2024 and appointed Minister for Veterans and People at the Ministry of Defence in September 2025.
“Today I visited the outstanding Hawkhead Centre at Sight Scotland Veterans in Paisley and saw first-hand the incredible work being done. Facilities like this are absolutely vital. Some veterans face significant challenges in life, and for those with visual impairment, it is so important to be supported by people who understand their background and speak the same language.”
Bryce Payton, 89, an RAF veteran from Paisley who has Macular Degeneration, led the tour of Hawkhead and shared how important the work is that Sight Scotland Veterans does and the impact it has on people’s lives.
"It was great to welcome the Minister for Veterans to the Hawkhead Centre and a real pleasure to show them around.
"Coming to the Hawkhead Centre has been a lifeline for me. It gets me out of the house, I meet great friends, and I take part in so many brilliant activities like woodwork and art - things I never dreamed I would be doing when I first started to lose my sight. They’ve shown me what is possible."
Louise Sandher Jones MP was joined during the visit by Johanna Baxter MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Paul Sweeney MSP for Glasgow, Susie Hamilton, Scottish Veterans Commissioner and by Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans.
Johanna Baxter MP, said:
“I am so pleased to bring the Minister for Veterans to visit Sight Scotland Veterans and see firsthand the incredible work this charity does for veterans, both in our local community and across Scotland.
“I am particularly proud that the Hawkhead Centre is in my constituency. The work this facility does for people who have served our country is truly remarkable.
“The camaraderie between veterans is inspiring to witness. The staff treat every veteran as if they were part of their own family, and the dedication, kindness, and professionalism they show is truly incredible. The support provided by Sight Scotland Veterans makes such a difference to the lives of those who have given so much to our country.”
“When veterans come here, they can build trust, find real understanding, and regain a sense of camaraderie that means so much to those of us who have served. Visual impairment can be extremely difficult. It can strip confidence and affect independence, but charities like Sight Scotland Veterans show what is possible with the right care and support.”
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The Hawkhead Centre
The Hawkhead Centre is Sight Scotland Veterans' Paisley-based activity hub for veterans with sight loss.