Stroud’s newest shop, Insight Gloucestershire, a charity set up to help people with sight loss, opened its doors this morning – its first shop in the county.
Located at 58 High Street, the shop has been designed with accessibility at its heart. Wide pathways, high-contrast colours around the till area and doorframes, and an accessible till system make the space welcoming for shoppers and volunteers with sight loss.
Shop manager Gemma Bennett told Stroud Times that the first day of trading had been a success: “It’s been good. I think the rain has slightly deterred people, but the sun’s coming out now – it’s been a really nice morning.
“We sell most things – mainly clothes and we do sell bric-a-brac, books, puzzles, children’s items, menswear, shoes and accessories.
“We’re open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am-4.30pm and people can just come in and bring their donations to the counter where someone will take them.”
At the back of the shop, a new resource centre will open in early October. This will provide a safe and confidential space for weekly appointments and drop-in consultations, with a wide range of equipment available to try, including lighting, magnifiers, kitchen tools, and reading aids. Community Sight Loss Advisors will be offering expert advice and support.
The resource centre space itself is already complete, with fresh décor, a new carpet, and a striking blue door featuring the charity’s logo. While the equipment will be installed in the coming weeks, visitors will be able to see the new room and its potential when the shop opens. A formal launch with local professionals and partners is planned for later in the autumn.
Mike Silvey, CEO of Insight Gloucestershire, said: “We are very excited to be opening our new premises, which will provide a base for local services in Stroud, enabling us to provide more accessible support for people living with sight loss.
“We are proud to be launching our first Insight Gloucestershire shop and incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible, our supporters, volunteers and those who have generously donated high-quality stock. As a small local charity, we rely on our community’s support, and they have done us proud.”
Insight Gloucestershire’s aim is to ensure that people living with sight loss have access to timely and appropriate support services and are empowered to lead active and fulfilled lives.
There are 3,300 people living in Gloucestershire with significant sight loss and a further 5,400 with moderate sight loss – enough to impact their daily lives. Insight Gloucestershire is the only charity providing face-to-face support for people with sight loss.
Sight loss has practical and emotional consequences. It can restrict social and personal interaction, leading to isolation whilst removing a person’s independence as they have to rely on others for simple tasks.
Anyone interested in volunteering in the shop can contact Insight Gloucestershire on 01242 221170.
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