ACTIVITIES offered by a Black Country sight loss charity were showcased at an open day attended by dignitaries including the Mayor of Dudley.

Councillor Mohammed Hanif, Dudley South MP Mike Wood and Wollaston and Stourbridge councillor Nicolas Barlow were among guests who attended the event at the Beacon Centre's Stourbridge base.

Members of the public, volunteers and organisations including Health Watch Dudley and the Dudley Macular Society also attended the event on July 22 which showcased some of the craft projects completed by those with sight loss who attend Beacon's day centre at the Mary Stevens Centre, Hagley Road.

Beacon’s Stourbridge centre manager Jackie Tromans said: “It was a wonderful event and we were delighted to welcome so many faces, new and old, and show them around the centre.

“We are very proud of the work we do in Stourbridge and we particularly pleased to showcase the outstanding craft work completed by our service users.”

The centre hosts a range of activities such as crafts, quizzes, exercise sessions, music events, speaker sessions and flower arranging courses.

Two social groups are also held at the centre - Stourbridge Blind which is held on the second Monday evening of each month, and Halesowen Blind which takes place on the fourth Wednesday in the month.

A men’s group also runs at the centre on the third Tuesday of each month.

The Beacon Centre charity has, however, recently been told it is to lose £250,000 funding package from Dudley Council - some of which helps to pay for people with sight loss to attend the Stourbridge day centre.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the charity can email hbrown@beaconvision.org, check out www.beaconvision.org or call 01384 440333.