THIS year Wiltshire Sight has released a Christmas video highlighting the importance of looking after your eyes as part of its festive campaign.

Instead of asking people to put on a Christmas jumper or buy Christmas cards, the charity is asking people to help support it in providing services to the 17,000 people in Wiltshire that have a sight loss.

Pictures and videos were taken from the charity’s Friday Activity Group as they decorated their offices – St Lucy’s Sight Centre in Devizes – ready for the festive season.

Sight impaired children also got involved with the project, together with the activity group they create a feeling of Christmas cheer as well as communicating Wiltshire Sight’s main aims like emotional wellbeing and social inclusion.

The video highlights some crucial sight loss statistics, both nationally and specified to Wiltshire as well as how Wiltshire Sight can support people with generous donations made by the public.

Wiltshire Sight receives no Government or council funding so raising money is vital to ensure that its work supporting those with sight loss is able to continue.

Wiltshire Sight chief executive Leanne Hubbard said: “It was great to see everyone working together in the making of this video; staff, volunteers and clients all enjoyed getting involved.

"We hope this video will raise awareness of both sight loss in general and also the great services we provide throughout the year.”

Donations can be made on the Wiltshire Sight website - www.wiltshiresight.org - or for more information call 01380 723682.

The video can be seen here, on Wiltshire Sight’s website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

What could your donation fund?

• £10 would pay for an individual to receive emotional support via the telephone.

• £25 would pay for an individual to learn how to be safer in their kitchen and remain independent in their own home.

• £50 would pay for a community drop-in for up to 20 individuals to receive information, advice, support and access to resources.

• For just £2 a month, play the Wiltshire Sight Lotto to support people living with sight loss in Wiltshire and Swindon and with the chance of winning cash prizes.