Kent Association for the Blind

13/12/2025

"When KAB reached out, I felt everything was going to be OK."

Last year, Richard’s life changed in an instant when he began to lose his sight due to Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, a rare genetic condition. Within weeks, he went from noticing a small speck in his vision to losing his central sight completely. But when a friend reached out to Kent Association for the Blind, Richard found the support he desperately needed. Through the support of our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, expert rehabilitation, counselling, and assistive technology training, he learned to rebuild his confidence and independence.

“I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for KAB,” he says. This Christmas, your generosity can help someone like Richard find hope again.

To make a donation, visit: https://www.kab.org.uk/christmas-appeal-2025-2

Image description:
A cut-out photo of Richard holding his long cane to his chest. The quote on the red background reads: "When KAB reached out, I felt everything was going to be OK." A black rounded button at the bottom reads: Help restore hope this Christmas.

13/12/2025

🎅 Tonight is our Christmas carols event at The White Horse, Bearsted . Join in the festivities and sing-a-long to some Christmas carols, assisted by the wonderful signers from the Boughton Monchelsea Community Choir. Enjoy some mulled wine, mince pies and be in with the chance to win a prize for the best Christmas jumper!

Arrive any time from 5.30pm with singing to start at 6pm.

Tickets can be purchased tonight from the KAB team at the venue, however it is better to book in advance, so that we are aware of numbers. You can book on our website up until 3pm: https://www.kab.org.uk/events/christmas-carols

Adults: £5.00
Visually impaired clients: £3.00
Young people under 18: FREE

12/12/2025

Join us for some festive fun this Saturday 13th December at The White Horse, Bearsted from 5.30pm. Visit our website to book tickets: https://www.kab.org.uk/events/christmas-carols or you can get your tickets on the night.

There will be Christmas carols, mince pies, a raffle and a prize for the best Christmas jumper.

Image description:
A Christmas tree with red and white lights, outside in the snow, with snow falling all around. In large gold lettering reads: Christmas Carols. In smaller text below in a red box reads: Saturday 13 December White Horse, Bearsted. Below is a yellow jumper with a Christmas tree on the front. Text beside reads: Best Christmas jumper wins a prize.

12/12/2025

We're looking for volunteers to join our Fundraising Team to collect donation boxes from various locations throughout the area, such as pubs, shops and clubs. All travel expenses will be covered.

Desirable skills but not essential – good numeracy skills, organised, trustworthy and ability to travel independently across the area you cover.

If you're interested and can cover one of the following areas, please get in touch: Canterbury, Deal, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Maidstone, Sittingbourne. Fill out our volunteer interest form: https://www.kab.org.uk/get-involved/support-us/volunteer-interest-form

Image description:
A red collection tin, with a KAB label with our logo. Text in boxes to the right reads: Collection Box Helpers wanted: Canterbury, Deal, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Maidstone, Sittingbourne.

12/12/2025

Share your Christmas wishes by email this year, with Don't Send Me A Card. Donate as little as £1.00 and send up to 100 e-Christmas cards in aid of KAB. Visit: https://www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecards/charities/kent-association-for-the-blind/christmas-3

You can send up to 100 e-Christmas cards in aid of KAB by donating as little as £1.00 with Don't Send Me A Card. There are seven designs to choose from and all donations will help to support sight impaired people across Kent, Medway and Bromley.

Visit: https://www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecards/charities/kent-association-for-the-blind/christmas-3

12/12/2025

Shopping for your Christmas presents online? Sign up to Give as you Live and we'll get free donations! Sign up today: https://www.giveasyoulive.com/join/kab

Image description from the shared post:
A wish list of Christmas presents, including Candle for Mum, Slippers for nan, Gift card for Uncle John. Below on the wish list reads: Donations for charity: £3,260. Make our Christmas wishlist come true by raising free donations as you shop. Logos of some of the retailers in the scheme appear below, including Argos, Boots, Sainsbury's, John Lewis, Very, M&S and EBay.

If we get just three new shoppers to sign up to Give As You Live this festive season, we'll be in with a chance to win a bonus £250 donation!

Give as you Live Online is the free and easy way to raise money for Kent Association for the Blind when you shop online with 6,000+ stores.

From holidays and travel, to clothing and gifts, you can raise hundreds of pounds from your everyday shopping, all at no extra cost to you.

Simply join for free and start shopping to make a difference for Kent Association for the Blind! https://www.giveasyoulive.com/join/kab

Image description:
A wish list of Christmas presents, including Candle for Mum, Slippers for nan, Gift card for Uncle John. Below on the wish list reads: Donations for charity: £3,260. Make our Christmas wishlist come true by raising free donations as you shop. Logos of some of the retailers in the scheme appear below, including Argos, Boots, Sainsbury's, John Lewis, Very, M&S and EBay.

11/12/2025

Join us for some festive fun this Saturday 13th December at The White Horse, Bearsted from 5.30pm. Visit our website to book tickets: https://www.kab.org.uk/events/christmas-carols

There will be Christmas carols, mince pies, a raffle and a prize for the best Christmas jumper.

Image description:
A Christmas tree with red and white lights, outside in the snow, with snow falling all around. In large gold lettering reads: Christmas Carols. In smaller text below in a red box reads: Saturday 13 December White Horse, Bearsted. Below is a yellow jumper with a Christmas tree on the front. Text beside reads: Best Christmas jumper wins a prize.

11/12/2025

Join us on Saturday 13th December at the White Horse in Bearsted for a wonderful evening of Christmas Carols in aid of KAB. Enjoy a mince pie and mulled wine whilst listening to music by the Boughton Monchelsea Community Choir. Take part in the sing-a-long and Christmas jumper competition, and win exciting prizes in the raffle!

Arrive any time from 5.30pm with singing to start at 6pm. https://www.kab.org.uk/events/christmas-carols (Adults: £5, Visually impaired adults: £3, Children up to 18: £FREE).

09/12/2025

This Christmas, please help restore hope for someone whose world has been turned upside down. Your gift will make a huge difference: To make a donation, visit: https://www.kab.org.uk/christmas-appeal-2025-2

Last year, everything changed for Richard in an instant. Richard has Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy - a rare genetic disease that can cause sudden and irreversible sight loss. He tells us: “I have relatives who are blind because of the condition, but I never thought it would happen to me.”

One morning, as he was working from home, he noticed a small speck on his glasses. He recalls: “I tried to rub it off, but it wouldn’t. Then I realised…it was really happening to me – I was losing my sight.”

Over just a few short weeks, Richard’s sight rapidly deteriorated. His computer screen magnification went from 200% to 800%. He could no longer read emails or safely cross the road.

“I had no central vision. Within two months, I lost my sight. My whole world completely fell to pieces. I truly felt my life was over.”

But a friend reached out to Kent Association for the Blind - and that’s when hope began to return.

Richard met Scott, KAB’s Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, at the hospital. “When he reached out, I felt everything was going to be OK. Someone was listening and fighting my corner - chasing doctors and getting me fast-tracked to Moorfields Eye Hospital.”

Next came Hazel, KAB’s Rehabilitation Worker. “She taught me cane training, how and when to cross the road safely, and showed me that life was going to be OK. She helped me learn how to do the everyday tasks I used to do - like using the washing machine, with tactile stickers on the buttons.”

Richard benefitted from KAB’s counselling service when he needed emotional support most, and from our Assistive Technology Team who gave him training to use a computer with specialist software.

“I never thought I’d be here today. I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for KAB.”

This Christmas, you can help someone like Richard find hope again. Your gift could help fund the vital services people depend on when their world has turned upside down, like counselling, assistive technology and social groups.

To make a donation, visit: https://www.kab.org.uk/christmas-appeal-2025-2

Image description:
A cut-out photo of Richard holding a microphone. The quote on the red background reads: "Within two months, I lost my sight. My whole world completely fell to pieces." A black rounded button at the bottom reads: Help restore hope this Christmas.

09/12/2025

Book your tickets for our Christmas Carols event this Saturday at The White Horse, Bearsted: https://www.kab.org.uk/events/christmas-carols

Enjoy a mince pie and mulled wine whilst listening to music by the Boughton Monchelsea Community Choir. Take part in the sing-a-long and Christmas jumper competition, and win exciting prizes in the raffle!

Image description:
A Christmas tree with red and white lights, outside in the snow, with snow falling all around. In large gold lettering reads: Christmas Carols. In smaller text below in a red box reads: Saturday 13 December White Horse, Bearsted. Below is a yellow jumper with a Christmas tree on the front. Text beside reads: Best Christmas jumper wins a prize.

09/12/2025

When Tony was registered blind in 1999, he did what many people in his position do, he simply got on with life. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and macular scarring, he quietly made adjustments at home and at work, without seeking help. He recalls: "I didn’t want to wear a badge that said I was visually impaired. Even as a lay minister, my congregation had no idea how bad my sight was. I just found other ways to manage."

For years, Tony managed with limited vision; avoiding bright days, relying on taxis, or staying indoors. Then, earlier this year, something shifted. Tony is a lay minister in the Diocese of Rochester, and works as a chaplain in Tunbridge Wells. You can read about how Tony was encouraged to get help, after a talk at the Enabling Leaders course by former Paralympian visually impaired skier Mark Chamberlen on the The Church of England website:
https://www.churchofengland.org/media/stories-and-features/i-feel-liberated-how-disability-project-training-programme-transformed-life