IN the few years since it was established the Macular Society’s St Helens Support Group has helped visually impaired people enjoy support, friendship and activities.

Group users are pictured enjoying festive celebrations with Mayor Councillor Andy Bowden when they held a party with plenty of music and humour.

Macular disease is the largest cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting over half a million people, most of them over the age of 55.

Many of the volunteers who run the St Helens Support Group have first-hand experience of the disease and are invaluable in helping sufferers’ rehabilation. They meet at Holy Cross Church on Corporation Street between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month. Their aim is to help people and give them an opportunity to talk about their visual impairment.

“Without this local group I would have nowhere to go as I feel no one understands what it is like to have sight loss,” said one member.

“Being around people who actually understand what it is like to live with sight loss coupled with being in a safe and pleasant environment has helped me to improve my social independence.”

For further information contact help@macularsociety.org or ring 0845 241 2041.