MORE than 200 countries are served by Lions Clubs International.

Lions serve locally and support eight global causes one of which is Sight.

Crediton Lions collecting spectacles in Crediton Town Square.
Crediton Lions collecting spectacles in Crediton Town Square. (Crediton Lions)

Thursday, October 8, is World Sight Day. October 8 to 18 is Lions Global Service Week for Sight.

Crediton and District Lions support a number of initiatives related to sight including Crediton Talking News where Lions, with other volunteers, help produce a weekly free service for blind and partially sighted people to receive articles from the Crediton Courier and other publications in audio form.

Lions recycle used spectacles and hearing aids which are distributed to third-world countries.

Collection boxes are available at Redlands Surgery, Crediton Eye Clinic, and now at Landscore School.

Crediton Talking News during a recording session, with the computer bought with funds from the League of Friends of Crediton Hospital with right, Eric Parkes and the Friends’ chairman, Louise Adams. SR 1011
The Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Guy Cochran, centre, during the Lions World Sight Day Challenge with Ann Whitehouse, Crediton Lions President, second left, and other Crediton Lions. AQ 5166
When Crediton Lions challenged then Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Guy Cochran, to walk to a cafe and order a drink during a Lions World Sight Day Challenge with Crediton Lions. AQ 5166 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Another new and exciting project for Crediton Lions is Lions Child Sight UK, a vision screening service for children at primary schools.

Using advanced non-invasive infra-red scanning cameras, trained Lions can scan children’s eyes for possible undetected problems before they affect education and well-being.

If an abnormality is detected, parents are advised to get children’s eyes tested by opticians to avoid potentially serious problems in the longer term.

Four Landscore pupils have won the Lions SW ROAR award for their idea of a watch to alert people with sight and hearing impairments of impending danger. They received the award from Crediton Lions President Ann Whitehouse and Lion Eric Parkes. AQ 2811
Four Landscore pupils when they won the Lions SW ROAR award for their idea of a watch to alert people with sight and hearing impairments of impending danger. They received the award from Lions Ann Whitehouse and Eric Parkes. AQ 2811 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The Lions are aware that there are Macular (low vision) social groups in Exeter and Tiverton meeting monthly. Why is there no group in Crediton?

Crediton and District Lions are undertaking an exercise to ascertain whether there is a need for a Macular/Sight Loss Club here.

Lions welcome hearing from any blind or partially sighted people and/or their families whether they would use such a group and, if so, what they would like provided.

When Crediton Lions and the Crediton Courier were featured on tv programme Escape to the Country with Courier Editor Alan Quick, left, with members of Crediton Lions Club with Sonali Shah, right. (Tindle)

The Club is at an early stage and needs to hear from you so that it can, hopefully, set up a group early next year.

Anyone interested please contact 07970 969846 or point out the contact to someone you know.