A Derbyshire charity has been selected for a prestigious national campaign that will see all public donations doubled to support local older people living with sight loss.
Campaign Details
Sight Support Derbyshire is taking part in the Big Give Small Charity Week campaign to raise £1,250 in just one week. If the team reaches its target, the match funding initiative will see that total boosted to £2,500 to fund its vital Befriending Project. The charity was chosen as one of just 257 organisations across the country to benefit from the scheme, following a competitive process that saw 1,108 small charities apply. Every pound donated during the week will go directly towards helping older visually impaired residents who are feeling lonely and isolated.
Addressing Loneliness
Loneliness can often go hand in hand with sight loss, especially in older people who may have other health or mobility issues. The Befriending Project addresses this by pairing individuals with a trained volunteering befriender who visits typically once a week for a chat or calls on the telephone.
Abigail Beaney, fundraising and marketing lead at Sight Support Derbyshire, said: "We are thrilled to have been given this amazing opportunity to raise double donations towards our Befriending Project as part of the Big Give Small Charity Week campaign. It’s going to be a busy week letting everyone know that their generous donations can be doubled – but only for this week!"
Match Funding Details
Donations made to the project will be generously matched by the Postcode Places Trust, thanks to players of the Postcode Lottery. However, the match funding will only apply to donations made via the Big Give website between noon on Monday, June 22, and 5pm on Monday, June 29, 2026. Feedback from local people who use the service highlights its positive impact, with one participant sharing: "At two o’clock on a Thursday afternoon, my doorbell goes and in comes my lifeline."
Another person noted: "Whoever put us together, they are an angel!" Meanwhile, a third resident said: "I really look forward to his visits as we always have a good chat. We have shared interests so there’s always plenty to talk about. I feel less lonely now I know I will have him visit me every Monday."
Explaining how the match funding works, Abigail Beaney commented: "It’s actually quite fun making a donation and seeing it doubled before your eyes! For example, if you make a £10 donation it will be doubled to £20, and then if you’re a UK taxpayer it will also be eligible for Gift Aid. So a donation of £10 suddenly becomes £22.50!"
Kathy Kozlowski, chief executive officer at Sight Support Derbyshire, added: "We are so grateful for this opportunity to raise extra funds to help visually impaired older people who are feeling isolated. Loneliness can have such a negative impact on wellbeing and it’s only thanks to the generosity of the public and the kindness of our volunteers that we are able to make a difference to people’s lives through our Befriending Project. We really hope that the generous people of Derby and Derbyshire will help us raise £1,250 in online donations which could mean we raise up to £2,500 by the end of Small Charity Week!"
How to Support
Supporters can get involved by visiting the dedicated campaign page online to make a donation from noon on Monday, June 22, 2026. Local people are also being encouraged to hold coffee mornings, cake sales, or dress down days to help support the cause.
