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New group has a very bright future
A new group for blind people in Corby is going from strength to strength.
The Corby Torch Fellowship group is a non-demominational Christian group that gets together every few weeks to provide help and support for blind and partially-sighted people from across the town.
The idea for the group came from a Churches Together meeting last year, and it held its first gathering at the Epiphany Day Centre in Elizabeth Street in September 11.
Organiser Jim Wade said: "Our September launch meeting saw a registered blind Corby girl, Jane Simpkin, singing beautifully for us as she read the words from her Braille hymnbook in front of the 30 folk present.
"There was so much food brought in by helpers that after eating all that they could, everyone took a doggy bag home with them.
"Our November meeting was also encouraging as even more blind and partially-sighted people came along.
"The minibus we hire from the Corby Volunteer Centre is invaluable to us as we offer free transport to anyone needing it.
"However, this is working at full capacity and volunteers with cars may be needed in the near future to increase our capacity and bring people in and take them home again afterwards.
"Along with singing a couple of hymns, we had fun with a quiz and trying to discover what was in a bag without seeing the object: everyone just had to feel inside with their hand for 10 seconds. The speaker in November, Barry Osborne, happened also to be a renowned singer with a delightful baritone voice and he sang at either end of his talk."
The organisers of the group also run a visiting programme in which they aim to go to each member's home every month between meetings.
Mr Wade added: "Some blind folk are extremely lonely and a visit can make so much difference."
The speaker for the December 13 meeting that takes place from 2.30pm and 4.30pm at the Epiphany Day Centre will be Rev Paul Arnold.
All members of the blind and partially-sighted community are welcome, whatever their religious beliefs.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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