In partnership with the local Macular Society group, BASIS holds a weekly social gathering in Wickford. Here people are able to swap ideas, listen to speakers and generally have an enjoyable time together.

By meeting up with others who are experiencing sight loss later in life people are able to come to terms with their new way of life knowing that they are not alone. They realise that others are also going through the trauma of losing their sight and having similar difficulties with carrying every day tasks they would hardly have thought about in the past.

Once people realise that they are not alone, that they can still enjoy life by doing things differently and finding new activities they can achieve, they are able to approach life from a new perspective. Their expectations are raised as is their self esteem and they move on in life with confidence.