Simplyhealth funds counselling for people with sight loss

Health company, Simplyhealth, has donated £30,000 to the Macular Society to help people with macular disease gain access to counselling services.

The national sight loss charity offers free telephone counselling with accredited counsellors. The service is designed to offer emotional support to help people come to terms with sight loss, “regain their confidence, find ways of maintaining a positive outlook and take back control of their lives,” the Macular Society explained. 

The donation from Silmplyhealth will be used to fund the service for a 12-month period, allowing the charity to increase its number of counsellors, as well as the counselling sessions it can offer.

Simplyhealth has supported the Macular Society since 2004. Last year, it sustained the charity’s volunteer befriending service, which aims to provide friendship to people with macular disease.

Roger Cotton, head of corporate giving at Simplyhealth, said: “As with many newly-diagnosed conditions, there is often a knock-on psychological impact which, unless addressed, only adds to the impact of the condition.”

“We’re delighted to continue our support of Macular Society by funding this invaluable counselling service, helping people with macular degeneration make the most of life by focusing on adapting to the sight loss in a more positive spirit of mind.”

Head of fundraising at the Macular Society, Sarah Day, added: “We are extremely grateful to Simplyhealth for its ongoing support. The organisation is one of the Macular Society’s most generous and dedicated supporters and this recent donation will ensure this emotional support continues to be available to everyone who needs it.”