Kingston Association for the Blind run the following clubs for blind and partially sighted people living in the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames.
For bookings and more information about our clubs please call us on: 0208 605 0060, or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org
For our activities calendar dates and times see What's On
Social Eyes
Social Eyes - Alternate Tuesdays 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Quaker Centre, Kingston.
Join us for a light lunch followed by a chair-based exercise session for those who would like to participate or simply just socialize with your friends!
Lunch Club
Last Thursday of the month, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Quaker Centre, Kingston.
Why not come and spend a relaxing afternoon with us! Enjoy a light lunch, socialize and test your grey matter with our quiz, where members form into teams and a sighted volunteer writes the answers down on their behalf.
Football Club
Football Club - Saturdays, 10:45am – 11:45am, term-time only.
Two sessions run at the same time on Saturdays, 10:45 to 11:45am. They are for juniors (5-16 years) and adults. Sessions take place in a huge indoor bubble using audio balls and are supported by a team of coaches and volunteers.
How is visually impaired football different from sighted football? While the core game and principles remain the same as 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 which makes 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 soccerschools.fulhamfc.com.
Football Club - Saturdays, 10:45am – 11:45am, term-time only.
Tandem and Adapted Cycling Club
Mondays, for the session 1:00pm – 1:45pm, excluding Bank holidays.
Tandem takes place at Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre, Kingsmeadow.
Riding a tandem bike as a passenger is very like riding a horse: both parts of the team, the passenger and sighted driver, work and pedal together to go forward.
You must put your full trust in the driver's skills. It’s all about surrendering the control of your life to a cyclist who will keep the balance and will turn left and right when necessary.
Another option within the session is to ride a tricycle which you steer independently. The rider does not need to worry about balance as the three wheels support the seat, similar to a car seat. A volunteer rides beside the person on the tricycle and tells them where to go.
There is also another style of tandem which is called a Side by Side, consisting of a bicycle that seats one beside the other. Both passenger and volunteer ride together, one next to the other, in order to go forward.
Lawn Bowls
KAB Indoor bowling sessions runs fortnightly on Thursdays, 10:00am to 12:00pm. The Club meets at the King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Jubilee Way, Chessington, KT9 1TR.
Lawn Bowls was established in 2010 and continues to this day at the King Georges Field. It can be played througout the year as its played indoors and isnt affected by the British weather.
Cost: £5 per session. Food and Drink is available there.
We are happy to play friendly local matches, either home or away, with visually impaired or sighted teams.
Ten-Pin Bowling
Ten Pin Bowling - Mondays, excluding school and bank holidays. 11:00am - 1:00pm
Ten-Pin Bowling is a sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball on a wooden or synthetic lane to knock down pins. The wooden lane measures around 105 centimetres 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
- A spare when all the pins are knocked down by the second ball
- And an open, when there are still pins standing after the second ball.
In bowling for people with sight loss, volunteers say the scores out loud whenever a player rolls the ball.
The Club meets at Hollywood Bowl, Charrington Bowl, Kingston Road, Tolworth, London, KT5 9PB.
The cost is £5 per session and 2 games are played.
Please wear flat, closed toe, non-marking soled shoes.
Swimming Club
Beginners and Improvers
Our Swimming Club consists of lessons for beginners or for those who would like to improve. These 1-1 sessions are very gentle and participants are not forced to go beyond their boundaries. It is a gentle experience with the purpose of becoming confident in water.
Places are limited, so please phone the office to pre-book and discuss any needs you may have.
Swimming Club - 1-1 Swimming lessons for beginners, or for those who would like to improve are available by arrangement. Please phone or email the office for more information and to book.
Tandem Scheme
The Association has 3 of its own tandems and also has front and back riders who go out using their own tandems.
We are seeking to recruit more front riders to enable visually impaired back riders to go out more often. Front riders do not need to be experienced tandem riders as KAB will provide training, but do need to be experienced cyclists.
Volunteer front riders are matched with a client who wants to do similar distances and speeds. This can range from an hour cycling around the park to a whole day out. KAB provides protective helmets and a warning tabard for the back rider.
To further information or to book one of the Tandems, please phone our KAB office on 0208 605 0060, or email us at kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org