LEADING sight loss charity the Macular Society has joined forces with a Blandford-based medical practice to launch a new support group in the town for people with macular disease.

The Society has teamed up with Blandford GP Practices to set up the Blandford Macular Society Support Group, which will offer information, encouragement and friendship to people with the condition.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with nearly 1.5 million people currently affected and many more at risk.

Judy Pride, Macular Society regional manager, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside the Blandford GP Practices to launch this new group. The group is here for anybody affected by sight loss and we want to encourage people to come along. Friends and family are also very welcome.

“It’s good to be able to learn from each other’s experiences and get tips. The peer support can be so helpful. We have more than 400 groups like this all over the UK and they can really help people increase in confidence and become more independent.

“The group will invite guest speakers on a variety of subjects, including sight loss and its impact on our daily lives. The meetings are also social occasions where we can chat over a cup of tea.”

The disease can have a devastating effect on people’s lives, leaving them unable to drive, read or see faces. There is still no cure and most types of the disease are not treatable.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common form of macular disease, affecting more than 600,000 people, usually over the age of 50.

Sara Stringer, Blandford GP Practices social prescribing lead, said: “We’re really looking forward to working with the Macular Society and all of the members of the new group. We hope this group will benefit all those that attend as much as all the other support groups we currently have running in the local area.”

The group will meet for the first time on Wednesday 18 September, from 10.30am-12pm, at Blandford Youth Centre, Milldown Road, DT11 7DB, and then on the third Wednesday of each month.

For more information about the Blandford Macular Society Support Group, please contact Judy Pride on 07947 373 244, email judy.pride@macularsociety.org, or Sara Stringer on 01258 452 501, email sara.stringer@gp-J81019.nhs.uk, and find out more about For more information on macular disease, call the Macular Society on 0300 3030 111 or email help@macularsociety.org.