Somerset Sight

What Somerset Sight does

Somerset Sight is a UK-registered charity (Charity Registration Number 1154472; Company Number 8432686; company limited by guarantee) providing practical, emotional, and social support services to blind and partially sighted individuals and their families across Somerset and Devon border areas. Founded in 1919 (with a 104th AGM recorded in October 2025) and headquartered at Northfield House, 51 Staplegrove Road, Taunton, the organization serves approximately 3,500 service users against an estimated 19,000 visually impaired residents in the region.

The service portfolio centers on the Mobile Advisory Service (MAS), a van-based outreach that delivers advice, equipment demonstrations, and access to low-vision aids across towns and villages; the Volunteer Visiting Service providing one-to-one home support; emotional support via trained workers; the "Seeing Life Differently" course for the recently diagnosed; technology support (including OrCam Read demonstrations via Touchpoint Vision); an audio library; and a layered programme of community activities including craft groups, the Somerset Sight Choir, Tai Chi Qigong, cook-and-share sessions, Dave's Diner drop-in cafe, and children's activities. Core services are free, while events carry small per-person fees (£5–£25). The organization does not operate proprietary technology; equipment and assistive devices are sourced from third-party suppliers such as VisionAid Technologies.

Revenue is generated through a diversified charity model: individual donations (online platform showing £34,885.96 from 184 supporters), legacy gifts described as a primary funding source, corporate partnerships (most recently JGA Group as Charity of the Year from April 2026), community fundraising events, and modest event/activity fees. Marketing is community-centered, combining the website, social media (Twitter, Facebook), local media coverage (ITV West Country, Points West), the MAS van's in-person presence, and corporate charity-of-the-year relationships. The organization is trustee-governed with no parent company, no shareholders, and no institutional investors.

Name

Somerset Sight

Legal name

Somerset Sight

Website

https://somersetsight.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Somerset Sight is a UK charity (founded 1919) providing practical, emotional, and social support services to over 3,500 blind and partially sighted individuals and their families across Somerset and Devon border areas, via a Mobile Advisory Service, volunteer visiting, equipment advice, and community activity programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Taunton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and regular donations from individual supporters, processed through the charity's fundraising platform. The donation page shows £34,885.96 raised by 184 supporters, including GiftAid contributions of £4,575.60.
2. Legacy Gifts: Gifts in wills are described as one of the most important funding sources. Testators can leave monetary gifts (fixed amounts) or residuary gifts (share of estate).
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate fundraising through charity of the year partnerships, workplace giving programs, and corporate event sponsorship. JGA Group named as Charity of the Year from April 2026.
4. Activity and Event Fees: Fees for paid activities and events such as cookery sessions (£5), Christmas lunches (£20), murder mystery evenings (£25), and children's activities (£5-£15). Some events are free (Music Mondays, Technology Support Days).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Somerset Sight is a not-for-profit charity that delivers practical, emotional, and social support services to over 3,500 blind and visually impaired people and their families across Somerset and Devon border areas. Core offerings include a Mobile Advisory Service (van-based outreach), a Volunteer Visiting Service for one-to-one home support, low-vision aids and equipment advice, emotional support, the Seeing Life Differently course for the recently diagnosed, technology support, and a broad programme of community activities (choir, cookery, craft, Tai Chi, children's events).

Product overview

Somerset Sight is a not-for-profit charity organization (not a technology product company) providing practical and emotional support services to over 3,500 visually impaired people across Somerset and Devon. The organization operates a portfolio of integrated services including the Mobile Advisory Service (a van-based outreach program), low visual aids and equipment provision, a flagship Volunteer Visiting Service offering one-to-one home support, emotional support services, technology support, and various community activities such as social groups, the Somerset Sight Choir, Tai Chi sessions, cook and share programs, and children's activities. Services are delivered through the main headquarters at Northfield House in Taunton, a Mobile Advisory Service van visiting towns and villages across the county, and local community venues. The organization also publishes a magazine and provides an Information Hub with resources for those affected by sight loss.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Advisory Service (MAS) A van-based outreach service that travels to towns and villages across Somerset and Devon to provide advice, low-vision equipment demonstrations, and purchasing support for visually impaired people who cannot travel to the Taunton headquarters.
• Volunteer Visiting Service A one-to-one home support service pairing visually impaired individuals with a volunteer who assists with correspondence, appointments, socialising, and trips out.
• Emotional Support Support services delivered by trained emotional support workers to help individuals cope with the psychological and social impact of sight loss.
• Equipment and Advice (Low Vision Aids) Provision of specialist low-vision aids and equipment demonstrations together with practical advice to help visually impaired individuals maintain independence in daily living.
• Seeing Life Differently Course A free course for individuals recently diagnosed with sight loss, designed to help them adjust and learn to live independently.
• Technology Support Assistance with accessible technology devices for visually impaired people, including demonstrations of products such as OrCam Read, delivered through Technology Support Days.
• Social Groups and Activities A programme of weekly social and recreational groups (craft, music, bowls, sailing, shooting, and cookery) held across Somerset to reduce isolation and provide inclusive leisure opportunities for visually impaired people.
• Audio Library A library of audio resources available to visually impaired individuals.
• Information Hub An online directory of articles and resources covering children and young people, daily living, help and support, information and advice, training, and useful contacts.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JGA GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026JGA Group has selected Somerset Sight as their Charity of the Year starting April 2026. Jason Porter and his daughter Abi produced a winning video explaining why Somerset Sight should be chosen, securing this corporate partnership for fundraising and staff engagement activities.
• VisionAid Technologies LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVisionAid Technologies Ltd participated in a Vision Aid Drop-in Day at Somerset Sight in November 2025. They provide over 1,000 specialist low vision and blindness products and offer free, no-obligation in-person demonstrations throughout the UK.
• Touchpoint VisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTouchpoint Vision consultant Mike Page (with 8 years experience including 5 years at RNIB) conducted an OrCam Read Smart demonstration day at Somerset Sight in February 2026. OrCam Read is a handheld reading device for people with mild low vision, reading fatigue, or dyslexia.
• Eyetech OpticiansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEyetech Opticians held a 40th birthday party fundraiser on 18th June 2026 with all proceeds going to Somerset Sight. Event included cake sale, bike-a-thon, fizz and nibbles party, Iris camera photography, and raffle.
• Various Local Venues and OrganizationsminorOthersPartnerships with various community venues including Methodist Churches, village halls, Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil Bowls Club, Admiral Blake Fish Bar, The Blue House (Frome), and other community spaces that host activities and events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): National UK charity providing advice, support, and services for people with sight loss. Directly comparable to Somerset Sight's mission of supporting blind and visually impaired individuals, but operates UK-wide with far greater scale and funding.
• Guide Dogs (formerly Guide Dogs for the Blind Association): National UK charity providing mobility services and emotional support for people with sight loss. Comparable in mission and service breadth (training, community, advocacy) to Somerset Sight, but with a national footprint and much larger fundraising base.

Direct peers

• Macular Society: UK charity dedicated to supporting people with macular disease, the leading cause of sight loss in the UK. Comparable to Somerset Sight as a sight-loss support charity offering local groups, advice, and peer support, though focused on a specific condition.
• SeeAbility: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and sight loss. Comparable to Somerset Sight in providing direct support services and assistive technology advice for visually impaired individuals, with overlapping service user profiles.
• Blind Veterans UK: UK charity providing lifelong support to vision-impaired veterans. Comparable in offering emotional support, rehabilitation, equipment advice, and social activities for visually impaired people, though restricted to ex-military beneficiaries.
• Fight for Sight: UK charity funding eye research and providing support to people affected by sight loss. Comparable mission space to Somerset Sight in serving visually impaired individuals, with overlap in advocacy and information provision, though primarily research-focused.

Regional players

• Devon in Sight: Local charity supporting blind and partially sighted people in Devon. Closely comparable in scope and scale to Somerset Sight, serving an immediately adjacent region where Somerset Sight's Mobile Advisory Service already extends.
• Wiltshire Sight: Local sight loss charity serving Wiltshire. Highly comparable to Somerset Sight as a regional charity offering similar services (advice, equipment, social groups) to visually impaired people, but in an adjacent county without direct territorial overlap.

Others

• Visionary (UK network of local sight loss charities): Membership network connecting local sight loss charities across the UK. Directly comparable to Somerset Sight as a peer-tier local sight loss charity, providing networking and benchmarking infrastructure rather than direct services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/somersetsight
• Facebookfacebook.com/somersetsight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somerset-sight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Somerset Sight