Visually impaired islanders in Jersey get crafty in the lead-up to Christmas

  • ITV Channel presenter Megan Murphy went to meet islanders at the Westlea Centre and have a go at wreath-making

Jersey islanders with visual impairments have been treated to some festive fun in the run-up to Christmas.

Eyecan clients have been making festive wreaths using plenty of locally sourced foliage to cover their decorations.

The charity has more than 500 people on its books, but regularly supports 50 every week - all who live with some variation of visual impairment.

Stella Picot is one person who comes to the Westlea Centre every week.

She has Macular Degeneration: a condition which slowly blurs - and in extreme cases - stops vision entirely.

Stella was diagnosed three years ago and says: "I gave up driving myself because as we were going up the hill, I thought I saw somebody along the edge.

"I did think, I shouldn't be driving then, because I thought 'No, I really can't see that person there'."

Megan is wearing glasses that simulate Stella's eye condition, Macular Degeneration. Credit: ITV Channel

Olwyn Ruellan is also a regular visitor to the hub in St Martin and told ITV News the impact the charity's work has had on her confidence:

He explains: "I wasn't going out, I didn't want to go out anywhere.

"That completely changed. Here they help me so much and helped me realise, you know, I wasn't the only person."

Olwyn told ITV Channel that her confidence has grown significantly since working with Eyecan. Credit: ITV Channel

Mark Coxshall, CEO of Eyecan Jersey, said that the clients have always been the focus of their work in the community.

Mark said: "This is a great opportunity really to show that sight loss is no barrier, and you can actually see by the quality of the work during the morning, it's absolutely fantastic.

"I think moreover this is about social activity for our members. It's about members supporting each other and developing those peer support networks, which is really one of our big aspirations."

The charity wants more islanders to be aware of its services, to ensure all those who need assistance can access the help.

Mark continued: "Eyecan is the only sight loss charity working on island.

"We just want to make sure that people have those necessities, to help them live their strongest lives - particularly when they've been diagnosed with sight loss and they have all of those fears and anxieties that come with that."

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