Bringing Outlookers Closer to Our Communities Across Kirklees

When people think of Outlookers groups, they often think of our well-established weekly sessions in Dewsbury, Batley and Huddersfield. These groups continue to thrive and provide invaluable support, friendship and connection for people living with sight loss.   However, many people may not realise that we also host a number of smaller community groups twice a month in Cleckheaton, Mirfield, Denby Dale, Holmfirth and Slaithwaite.

These local groups play a vital role in our outreach work across Kirklees. We understand that visual impairment can create barriers to many aspects of everyday life, including travelling independently and accessing support services. Public transport is not always as connected or accessible as we would all like, and for some people travelling across the district can be difficult, time-consuming or simply not practical.  That’s why our smaller local groups are so important. By bringing support closer to where people live, we can reach individuals who may otherwise feel isolated or unable to attend one of our larger sessions. Meeting people within their own communities helps to build confidence, reduce loneliness and create new local friendships.

We would love to see these groups continue to grow. If you live near one of our smaller venues, please consider coming along and showing your support. Your attendance could make all the difference to someone who is visiting for the very first time. Sometimes seeing a welcoming, active group can be the encouragement a new member needs to keep coming back and become part of the Outlookers community.

In addition to our local groups, we also host a monthly Macular Group in Huddersfield, which is incredibly well attended and provides a valuable opportunity for people affected by macular conditions to share experiences, information and support.

For those who are unable to attend a face-to-face session, we also offer a weekly Friday afternoon Zoom group, led by our fantastic volunteers. This provides another way for people to stay connected, socialise and access support from the comfort of their own home.

Whether you’re looking for friendship, information, support or simply a good chat over a cup of tea, there is an Outlookers group for you.

To find details of all our groups, including links to join our WhatsApp community, please visit our What’s On page:

👉 https://www.outlookers.org.uk/whats-on/

Together, we can continue to grow our outreach services, reach more people living with sight loss across Kirklees, and ensure that nobody feels alone in their journey. Every attendee, volunteer and supporter helps make that possible.