Torch Trust: Introduction to Sight Loss Friendly Church

Torch Trust is a Christian sight loss charity. Sight Loss Friendly Church (SLFC) is Torch Trust's exciting initiative to help churches to become more accessible for people with sight loss.

See below for upcoming dates for Torch Trust's Introduction to SLFC and Q&A Zoom sessions, as well as more information, provided by Torch Trust, about Sight Loss Sunday and the resources available for churches.

SLFC Q&A
Thursday 17th October at 2pm (1 hour)
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsf--rpj4vGtTk5i0r7lGmO3RRuNhtJ6mJ#/registration
Meet our expert panel from Torch Trust and ask your questions around welcoming and including blind and partially sighted people in all aspects of your church. No question is too trivial or inappropriate, we're all at different stages in our sight loss friendly journey. As well as asking our experts, churches with experience of inclusion are also welcome to chip in with hints and tips on how they have overcome any challenges.

Introduction to SLFC
Thursday 14th November at 2pm (45 minutes)
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlceqpqT8vHdbre1Ekzi5oMpsYOxGg5HQr#/registration
This session covers a brief overview of what it means to be a sight loss friendly church. There is an interactive element in the form of an informal quiz, personal stories and videos about sight loss and an overview of our services. Come along if you're thinking of signing up your church or if you'd like to refresh old knowledge.

Sight Loss Sunday – Sunday 13th October
This October we invite you to mark Sight Loss Sunday at your church. Sight Loss Sunday is an opportunity for churches across the UK to put on a sight loss accessible service and to become more aware of ways that services can be adapted to be more sight loss friendly.
This year Sight Loss Sunday will be taking place on the 13th October. This year's theme is Walking by Faith. We hope that churches around the UK will join us in celebrating the gifts of people who are blind or partially sighted, and recognising that they have vital roles to play in communities and congregations. With your support, we can reach more churches than ever before with our resources, supporting churches to become more sight loss friendly.

Resources
This year we have released a third set of resources to help your church mark Sight Loss Sunday. We have added these new resources to our website and as with previous years, you may pick and choose the ones which feel relevant to you and your church. The resources include suggested songs, Bible readings, sermon notes and some additional resources. The previous years' resources are still available to be used, so you also have the option to mix and match, and use elements from any of them. You are welcome to use as many as you would like and we hope you also take some of these ideas into your future services. You can access our resources here: torchtrust.org/SLSunday. We hope you'll find the resources inspirational and if you mark Sight Loss Sunday, we'd love to hear from you.