Blatchington Court Trust

Blatchington Court Trust BCT supports, informs & empowers young people with sight loss under the age of 30, & their families, throughout Sussex.

Our services are life changing and we are proud to work with our incredible young people & their families to make positive change.

BCT team member Connor is keen to find out what events our over 18 clients would like to take part in during 2026. He’s ...
13/11/2025

BCT team member Connor is keen to find out what events our over 18 clients would like to take part in during 2026.

He’s put together a short questionnaire, which should only take five minutes to complete, and will provide valuable feedback in shaping our events programme for next year. Complete it here: https://bit.ly/EventsFor2026
Thank you!

Our friends at VICTA UK are running a parent workshop: Early Intervention Sleep Support - Building Strong Foundations ne...
13/11/2025

Our friends at VICTA UK are running a parent workshop: Early Intervention Sleep Support - Building Strong Foundations next Tuesday, the 18th Novembe at 7.30pm on Zoom. Tickets are £5.

This session is for parents of children aged 0 to 4 who are interested in finding out more about the importance of helping their children to develop healthy sleep habits.

A good night’s sleep is critical for the whole family's wellbeing. VICTA’s sleep specialist Charlotte will discuss the impact that vision impairment can have on sleep, and look at how all of our senses can play a part in what happens at night time.

She will then cover some strategies that are particularly helpful for young children with sight loss to help them to gain some control over falling and staying asleep.

This session will be an hour-long presentation about the ‘back to basics' of sleep, sharing tested strategies to amend any existing sleep issues that may be occurring. There will then be 30 minutes at the end of the workshop for questions.

You can book a place here: https://www.victaparents.org.uk/our-events/early-intervention-sleep/

There's a few spaces left at each of the Art Clubs this Saturday. Come and have a go at creating textured foil art. This...
12/11/2025

There's a few spaces left at each of the Art Clubs this Saturday. Come and have a go at creating textured foil art. This is a new technique for our Art Club, and we'll be using textured natural and found objects to create beautiful pieces of art!

Tickets are £5pp and includes all materials, drinks and biscuits. We welcome Under 18s from 10-12 and then Over 18s from 12.30-2.30. Head over to the website now to book: https://blatchingtoncourt.org.uk/events

Are you considering whether mindfulness is for you? Join the Sussex Mindfulness Centre's free online taster sessions. Th...
10/11/2025

Are you considering whether mindfulness is for you? Join the Sussex Mindfulness Centre's free online taster sessions. Their one hour taster session will introduce you to the benefits of mindfulness, which include improved wellbeing and the ability to manage stress.

The Centre is offering Moment to Pause, a free lunchtime mindfulness session taster on Tuesday 11th November from 1pm-2pm.

Alternatively there is a free evening taster on Monday 17th November from (6pm-7pm). Both events are on Zoom so accessible from anywhere.

There are also dates further ahead available to book. Head to their website for more info and to book: https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/learn-mindfulness/courses-we-run/shorter-mindfulness-courses/

Come along to the Worthing Pavillion with us for an audio described production of Cinderella, the pantomime.BCT would li...
08/11/2025

Come along to the Worthing Pavillion with us for an audio described production of Cinderella, the pantomime.

BCT would like to invite our clients to a special audio described performance (limited number of headsets) of the pantomime Cinderella at the Worthing Pavillion Theatre on Sunday 4th January 2026 at 12pm.

Prior to the performance we have also arranged a touch tour and opportunity to meet some of the cast!

We have some free tickets up for grabs (1 per BCT client, while stock lasts) and you may bring one parent / carer with you for free too. Book your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cinderella-the-pantomime-tickets-1905504899449?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please note under 18's must be accompanied by a parent/ carer. If you have further family members that you would like to attend the same performance there will be an opportunity for you to purchase additional tickets (at full price) from the box office (01903 206206).

We have provisionally reserved some wheelchair accessible seating so please ensure to select the correct ticket.

As we near the end of Trustees' Week, we'd like to introduce you to one of our fantastic Trustees: Funke Bayo-Awonaike. ...
07/11/2025

As we near the end of Trustees' Week, we'd like to introduce you to one of our fantastic Trustees: Funke Bayo-Awonaike. Over to you Funke...

I am a Chartered HR professional with an extensive background spanning the public, private and third sectors. I hold a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Oxford Brookes University, and have led initiatives that drive change, strengthen workforce capability, and enhance employee engagement. I’m passionate about helping people reach their full potential and creating inclusive workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to thrive.

I was inspired to become a Trustee of BCT because of the Trust’s strong commitment to empowering young people with vision impairments to achieve their full potential. As a parent of a visually impaired child who has been supported by the Trust, I’ve seen firsthand the difference BCT makes, not just to the young people, but to their families too. Becoming a Trustee has allowed me to give back to a charity that has had such a profound impact on my own family, while contributing my HR expertise to help strengthen its mission and extend its reach.

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Thank you for both your words and your commitment as a Trustee, Funke. We're incredibly grateful to you for your time and expertise!

We’ve got some exciting events planned for Christmas this year which we wanted to share with you now before your diaries...
04/11/2025

We’ve got some exciting events planned for Christmas this year which we wanted to share with you now before your diaries get too full!

We’ll kick off the month with our December Art Clubs on Saturday 6th December. As you might imagine, we have a wonderfully festive theme of scented decorations, cards & crackers. Our younger clients age 18 and under can join the fun from 10am-12pm, with over 18s getting their chance for Christmas creativity from 12.30-2.30pm.

And the artistic fun doesn’t end there! This year we are holding an end-of-year Art Exhibition to showcase the fabulous artwork produced at the Art Clubs throughout the year. Pop down to BCT on either Thursday 11th (3-5pm) or Saturday 13th (11am-1pm) December to admire the creations of our clever clients! There will also be drinks and nibbles on offer, so do join us!

Our newest team member Connor is hosting ‘A Very Merry Meet-Up!’ on Tuesday 9th December for our older clients age 18-29. Get into the festive spirit with an evening of good company, games and plenty of Christmas cheer! We’ll have food and drinks to enjoy, a mix of fun board games to bring out your competitive side, and lots of time to chat and connect. This is free event, which starts at 7pm.

As with all our events, further information and booking can be found on the website: https://www.blatchingtoncourt.org.uk/events/

We hope to see you at BCT in December!

Join us in celebrating Trustees’ Week!Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of ...
03/11/2025

Join us in celebrating Trustees’ Week!

Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK, including the eight fabulous Trustees that we are honoured to have here at BCT:

Andy Dalby-Welsh
Funke Bayo-Awonaike
Alan Harris
Shelley Boden
Alison Acason
Richard Martin
Steve Pavey
Richard Schavarien

Thank you both to our Trustees and those supporting other organisations, for the time, commitment and effort you bring to your charities to help them thrive.

Did you know we sent out a weekly newsletter full of information about our events, services, and updates and useful snip...
02/11/2025

Did you know we sent out a weekly newsletter full of information about our events, services, and updates and useful snippets from other organisations? It's a great way to keep abreast of everything we're up to here at BCT and beyond!

Sign up to our newsletter today: https://bit.ly/BCTNewsletterSignUp

Get into the festive spirit with an evening of good company, games and plenty of Christmas cheer! Join us for our specia...
31/10/2025

Get into the festive spirit with an evening of good company, games and plenty of Christmas cheer! Join us for our special festive event for clients age 18-29, on Tuesday 9th December from 7pm.

Whether you’re looking to unwind before the holidays, catch up with friends, or meet new people, this is the perfect chance to do so in a relaxed and welcoming setting. We’ll have food and drinks to enjoy, a mix of fun board games to bring out your competitive side, and lots of time to chat and connect. Plus you'll receive your first Christmas present of the year!

As well as celebrating the season, this is also a chance for you to share your ideas and have your say on the events we’ll be running in 2026. We want to hear what matters to you, so we can make sure our activities reflect what young blind and visually impaired people really want.

Come along, celebrate the season, shape the year ahead, and make some festive memories! Book your place now: https://bit.ly/BCTMerryMeetUp25

RNIB wants to find out if blind and partially sighted people, as well as the public, know about community eyecare servic...
30/10/2025

RNIB wants to find out if blind and partially sighted people, as well as the public, know about community eyecare services (like GPs, high street opticians, and other local eyecare options). They also want to understand how these services can help people before, during, and after an eye diagnosis.

Who can take part?

Anyone aged 18 or older living in England.
People who use eye services in the community.
Professionals such as optometrists, ophthalmologists, nurses, etc. (these professionals may be invited for in-depth interviews based on their survey responses).

You can find the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3657DYV

If you’d like help completing the survey, please feel free to contact RNIB’s Nicola Stanley-Dickinson on 07736 462071.

RNIB also has a few places left on a discussion group scheduled for November 2025. The group is for people who have been diagnosed with an eye condition within the last two years. Anyone interested needs to complete the sign up form here: https://forms.office.com/e/uYJ5M2MEXP

Nicola is available to help, as above.

Join us at the BCT office for coffee, cake, and conversation! We've a relaxed drop-in taking place on Thursday 30th Oct...
28/10/2025

Join us at the BCT office for coffee, cake, and conversation! We've a relaxed drop-in taking place on Thursday 30th October, from 10am-12pm. This is a great opportunity for clients (aged 18–29) to meet the team, ask questions and connect with others.

Parents are also welcome to learn more about the transition to adult services and our upcoming social events.

More info: https://www.blatchingtoncourt.org.uk/events/

Address

6a Hove Park Villas
Brighton
BN36

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