Clubs and activities
Have you ever thought about taking up dancing, bowling or even shooting? Why not join one of Cornwall’s VI clubs and give it a try.
At our affiliated clubs, you can take part in a range of activities in a safe and friendly environment, socialise and make new friends. If you don’t want to take up a new activity, there are plenty of social clubs to join instead. Our dedicated team of volunteers arrange the transport, activities and venues and make sure members have the best possible experience
BLIS (Blind in Song) Singers
The BLIS Singers meet on a Tuesday afternoon once a fortnight at Shortlanesend Village Hall with members from across Cornwall including St Austell and Penzance. The group has a large repertoire of over 100 songs and they perform concerts throughout the year. Large print song sheets are available each week for those that can use them.
Bugle Blues, Bowling Club
Every Thursday morning the Bugle Blues meet at Goonbarrow Bowling Club in St Austell. During the summer they play outside on the six rink grass green and during the winter they move into the heated clubhouse to play short mat bowls. There are friendly competitions between members to take part in if you want to, or you can just go along to have a practice and meet with friends. There are also friendly matches against other sighted clubs.
“I lived with a visual impairment all my life and before joining the club about 15 years ago I would never go anywhere without my family. Now I’m a new woman! My confidence has grown, I go out and about on the train with my guide dog and I’ve taken part in competitions all over the country.” Pauline
BUGS (Blind Using Guided Sights) Shooting Club
This club attracts a broad age range of people who go along to St Austell Rifle Club every Wednesday afternoon. Most members shoot with rifles but you can choose a pistol if you prefer. The sight on top of the rifle picks up light which radiates from the target and emits a pitch through a set of headphones. The pitch increases the closer you get to the bullseye, letting you know when it’s time to pull the trigger. Members of the club enter national competitions each year but you don’t have to be good at shooting to join, everyone is welcome to give it a go.
Dance Club, Par
Running for over 20 years, the club now meets every few months at Par Methodist Church on a Monday afternoon between 2-4pm. Dance instructors teach ballroom as well as line dancing and barn dancing.
Dance Club, Townshend
Members meet up once a fortnight on Thursday afternoons between 2:00-4:30pm in Townshend Village Hall. You can learn ballroom and sequence dancing or just sit back enjoy the music. The Dance Club is open to both sighted and non-sighted members.
Guitar Club
You don’t need to have your own guitar, you don’t even need to have played before but if you want to meet up with other visually impaired musicians to practice or learn, the Guitar Club meets once a week on Friday afternoons in Falmouth.
“It’s a good laugh and you can learn with no pressure.” – Club Member
Launceston Social Club
This club has been running for over 70 years! Members get together on Tuesday lunchtimes twice a month at different venues for food, entertainment and socialising. There is a draw and auction at each event which is always great fun. Members get a special deal on a two-course meal plus tea or coffee at each venue.
Saltash BAPS (Blind & Partially Sighted) Social Club
This popular club has been running for 60 years! Meeting on Tuesday afternoons once a fortnight members can enjoy the entertainment, often speakers or musicians, as well as tea and cake. The club minibus picks up members living in Saltash whilst volunteer drivers cover the Looe, Polperro, Liskeard and Menheniot areas. The club organiser is an active fundraiser which means members are treated to Christmas dinner as well as trips out during the year.
Walking Buddies
Our Walking Buddy Scheme aims to pair people who are visually impaired with a volunteer from their area to go on short walks around their community. This can help them gain confidence in going outside, learn new routes around their area and help keep them social and active. With support from iSightCornwall, the Walking Buddy pairs decide their own schedule and routes and we offer every Walking Buddy volunteer guide training.
Telephone Befriending
We set up our telephone befriending scheme during a time of national lockdown but we had such good feedback we have decided to make it a permanent option. Sight loss can cause feelings of loneliness and isolation and our Telephone Befriending service aims to offer a respite with a regular friendly phone call. Clients are matched with a volunteer who will call them either once a week or fortnightly. The volunteers can offer a friendly listening ear and can chat to their befriendee about hobbies, interests and current affairs.
Workshops and one-off days out
We also work with local artists, businesses and organisations to offer workshops, such as our recent series with Leach Pottery which saw participants being given a hands on tour of the pottery before trying their own hand at creating something out of clay, and one-off days out such as our kayaking event with Access Lizard Adventure which saw participants getting out on the water.
If you would like to speak to one of our representatives about Clubs & Activities in your area, please contact us on 01872 261110 or email us at info@isightcornwall.org.uk
Become an iSightCornwall member
In order to join one of our affiliated clubs, you will need to become an iSightCornwall member. This is so that you are covered by our insurance whilst you are at the club. Membership costs just £15 a year and you will also receive discounts in our Resource Centre Shop and Online Shop, discounts on our car scheme, personal invitations to community drop-in events and much more.
Apply to be a member online or call 01872 261110.
Transport grants
We understand that transport can be a barrier for visually impaired people who want to get out and about in their local community. So we provide grants to each of our affiliated clubs to help cover the cost of transport for their members.
Affiliated club agreement
iSightCornwall understands the importance of maintaining an active social life, hobbies and interests to avoid feeling isolated and to stay independent. iSightCornwall supports 14 visually impaired clubs and groups across the county.
Affiliated Clubs operate independently and managed by volunteers who organise activities, outings, and entertainment and provide a friendly and caring environment for their members.
Other clubs which are not affiliated with iSightCornwall include:
Active Blind Leisure (ABLe)
Bude Support Group
Cornwall Association of Blind Shooting Club (CABS), Helston
Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)
Visually Impaired Runners Cornwall
Young at Heart Social Club (Hayle)
Macular Disease Support Groups
There are also various Macular Disease Support Groups across the county.