Activities and Clubs for blind and partially sighted people living in the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames. For more information and to book, please call 0208 605 0060, or email: adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org
Social Eyes
Social Eyes is a wonderful place to make friends and have a lovely time to enjoy various entertaining activities: from a gentle chair-based exercise programme, quizzes, craft and the occasional outing. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
Lunch Club
Our KAB Lunch Club offers a warm space for people to have a light lunch and
socialise with one another. After lunch, there is usually a fun quiz in which members form teams and a sighted volunteer writes the answers down on their behalf. Lunch Club is very popular among our members, they say it's very welcoming. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
Football Club
A football club for people with visual impairment, two sessions run on Saturdays, term-time, for children and adults.
How is visually impaired football different from sighted football? While the core game and principles remains the same as in sighted football, there are a few alterations to make football accessible to people with visual impairments:
• There are normally 5 people per team: 4 blind outfield players and 1 sighted goalkeeper.
• Ball bearings are placed in the ball and make a noise when moving to allow players to locate the ball.
• The game is played on an indoor pitch so that the sound of the ball is more distinguishable.
Officially, there are two different versions of football for people with sight loss, namely, ‘totally blind football’ and ‘partially sighted football’. However, KAB football is so inclusive that anyone can play, no matter the percentage of sight you have.
Taking part in visually impaired football is a great way to be active and meet other people with sight loss. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, the football club will be happy for you to join. It takes place at Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT. For more info and to book visit: tinyurl.com/2p8u796u. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
In association with Fulham FC.
Tandem cycling club
Riding a tandem bike as a passenger is very like riding a horse: both parts of the team, the passenger and driver, work and pedal together to go forward.
You have to put your full trust in the driver's skills. It is all about surrendering the control of your life to a cyclist who will keep the balance and will turn left and right when necessary.
You also will have the option to ride a tricycle which you steer independently. The user does not need to worry about balance as the three wheels support the seat, similar to a car. A volunteer rides beside the person on the tricycle and guides them where to go.
Another option is called 'Side by Side' that consists of a tricycle that has seats side by side and both passenger and volunteer ride it together in order to go forward.
Tandem takes place at Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics
and Fitness Centre. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
In association with Wheels for All, Kingston.
Bowls Club
Dates to be confirmed
The Bowls Club meets fortnightly for indoor bowling at the King George Field Indoor Bowls Club Chessington (October to April), and at Hook and Southborough Bowls Club Chessington (May to September). We are happy to play friendly local matches, either home or away, with visually impaired or sighted teams.
Funded by The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames.
Ten-pin Bowling Club
Ten-Pin Bowling is a sport in which the player rolls a bowling ball on a wooden or synthetic lane to knock down the pins. The wooden lane measures about around 105 centimeters wide and 18 meters long.
For scoring, there are three kinds of marks: a ‘strike', when all the ten pins are down during the first ball; ‘spare' when all the pins are knocked down by the second ball; and ‘open', when there are still pins standing after the second ball. In bowling for people with sight loss, volunteers will announce the scoring out loud whenever a player rolls the ball.
The Club meets at Hollywood Bowl, Charrington Bowl, Kingston Rd, Surbiton KT5 9PB. The cost is £5 per week and 2 games are played. Please wear flat, closed toe, non-marking soled shoes. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
Absolute Beginners Swimming Club
Our swimming club runs swimming lessons for people who do not know how to swim. Lessons are very gentle and participants are not forced to go beyond their boundaries, rather, it is a gentle experience with the purpose to become confident in water. Swimming lessons run every Saturday evening at 6.00pm - 6.30pm.
For our members who are new to the sessions, you will need to fill out a form and please ensure that your GP feels you are fit to join the sessions. Places are limited for the teaching, so please pre-book. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA. Sessions run in association with Spartans. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
Swimming sessions for accomplished swimmers
We also run sessions for experienced swimmers who have their own lane and can swim at their own pace. Sessions are every Thursday evening at 7.00pm-8.00pm.
For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
In association with Spartans Swimming Club.
Digital drop-in sessions
KAB offer sessions to learn more about digital products that can help make life more accessible to the visually impaired. Past device demonstrations included: Apple iPhones and iPads, RNIB braille lines, in which you can read the screen of a computer while user a screenreader and much more. Members can drop in to these sessions without pre-booking. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
Living with Sight Loss Course
An extremely useful course to introduce members to the visually impaired world. It runs a whole day, from early morning to late afternoon, attendants will listen to presentations about services that are available from Kingston Council, The Kingston Centre for Independent Living, Metro Blind Sports, and Kingston Hospital. It is also an opportunity to ask any questions and help with personal cases if necessary. For details of upcoming dates, please go to our 'Whats On' page.
Clubs run by other organisations within Kingston Upon Thames
Malden and Coombe Blind Club
The Club has been meeting for over 30 years. It meets fortnightly throughout the year on alternate Wednesday afternoons between 2.00pm - 4.00 p.m. at Christ Church Hall, Coombe Road, New Malden.
Membership is available to registered blind or partially sighted persons who live in New Malden, Kingston, Worcester Park and surrounding areas.
The Club has a varied programme of activities including, music, visits (to Richmond Park, Hampton Court and an annual Thames Cruise) and a Christmas party/luncheon. Members pay £20 per year which helps towards the cost of a home-made afternoon tea and entertainment. Outings are reasonably priced as they are subsidised from club funds.
Mini bus transport makes it possible for all who need transport to be brought to meetings.
For further information please call David Robson on 0208 546 9662 or 07881 348360
Surbiton Club for the Blind
Surbiton Club for the Blind has served the visually impaired for more than 70 years. It meets fortnightly at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church and the meetings are Tuesdays,from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. The only requirement to be part of the club is to be registered blind or partially sighted.
The club has a varied programme of activities including speakers who talk about interesting topics, music, day trips and an annual Christmas lunch. At each meeting, a good old afternoon tea is served. Each activity costs £5, not including day trips which are costed depending on what they consist of. Transport can be provided to those who live in Surbiton and Chessington, for people who live outside these boroughs, they must arrange their own transport.
For further information please phone on 0208 399 8596.
Surbiton Hill Methodist Church, 39 Ewell Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT66AF.
Kingston Macular Support Group
Closed due to COVID-19.2nd Thursday of each month in Kingston.
**If you require further information about the group please contact the Macular Disease Society on 01264 350551.