Sharing Knowledge, Building Confidence: Anne Sowden’s Kitchen Equipment Show and Tell sessions

A huge thank you goes to our wonderful member, Anne Sowden, who has recently been delivering informative and engaging kitchen equipment show and tell sessions at our Batley and Dewsbury groups.

Anne, who lives in the Westtown area of Dewsbury, has been attending our groups for around five years. Many members will remember that she originally attended alongside her late husband, Harry, whom she supported to access the group. Following Harry’s passing, Anne has continued to attend and remain actively involved, more recently following her own diagnosis of macular degeneration.

Like many people who receive a sight loss diagnosis, Anne was determined to learn as much as she could about the support, services and equipment available to help her maintain her independence. She recently attended one of our Living Well with Sight Loss courses and quickly took the opportunity to be referred for a Low Vision Assessment at Hanson’s Opticians in Mirfield.

Since then, Anne has embarked on what can only be described as a very enthusiastic fact-finding journey. She has been researching and exploring a wide range of products and equipment designed to make everyday tasks easier for people living with sight loss. In particular, she has developed a growing knowledge of kitchen aids and microwave-friendly products that can support safer and more independent living.

Our staff team first noticed Anne chatting with friends at the group about some of her recent kitchen equipment purchases. As she shared practical tips and demonstrated how various items could be used, it quickly became clear that her lived experience and growing expertise would be hugely valuable to other members. We encouraged Anne to turn these informal discussions into a couple of short show and tell sessions for the groups she regularly attends.

The sessions have been a fantastic success. Drawing on her own experiences, Anne has demonstrated a variety of products, shared practical advice and offered honest feedback about what works well in everyday life. Her enthusiasm, positivity and willingness to support others have encouraged valuable conversations amongst members and helped raise awareness of the many tools and products available to people living with sight loss.

These sessions perfectly demonstrate the power of peer support. There is something incredibly reassuring about learning from someone who is going through a similar experience and is willing to share their knowledge openly. Anne’s sessions have helped fellow members discover new ideas, increase their confidence and explore ways of adapting everyday tasks while maintaining their independence.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Anne for volunteering her time, sharing her lived experience and helping others to expand their knowledge. Her positive attitude highlights the importance of seeking information, exploring available support and embracing new ways to continue living well with sight loss.

The accompanying photograph shows the fabulous Anne during one of our recent Batley groups, sharing her expertise with fellow members around the table. We are incredibly grateful for her contribution and look forward to seeing what she discovers next!

Thank you, Anne, for being such a positive role model and valued member of our community.