Volunteers needed to help run Wrexham-based support group

A leading sight loss charity is calling for volunteers to help run a Wrexham-based support group for people with macular disease.

The Macular Society is appealing for anyone living locally who would be willing to give up some of their time to help organise and run the group’s meetings, with help from the charity’s services and volunteering team.

The group is also looking for people to assist with general tasks such as booking guest speakers.

The Wrexham Macular Support Group meets on the third Thursday of each month (excluding August, December and January), from 1-3pm, at Avow: Association of Volunteer Organisations in Wrexham, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham LL11 1ND.

It is one of 25 groups of its kind in Wales and more than 400 in the UK offering vital information, encouragement and friendship to people who are affected by macular disease.

The group’s next meeting will be on Thursday 20 September.

With an ageing population there increasing numbers of people are being affected by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In Wales AMD is the leading cause of blindness, with around 6,300 people diagnosed every year.

Marian Williams, Macular Society regional manager, said: “The Wrexham Macular Support Group provides a real lifeline for people living locally with sight loss.

“The peer support offered by the groups is absolutely vital – it’s incredibly reassuring for people to know that there are others who truly understand their situation.

“With more than 200 people in the UK being diagnosed with macular disease every day, the existence of our support groups has never been more important.

“If you have some free time and would be willing to help out, either by helping to organise the meetings or assisting in some other way, we would love to hear from you.

“We will also be available to support our volunteers as they learn their new roles and provide any guidance they need going forward.”

In Wales, the Macular Society has been able to establish and run new sight loss support groups and recruit volunteers across the country thanks to more than £340,000 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

For more information about the Wrexham Macular Support Group, please contact Marian Williams on 07495 054 053, or email [email protected]