A charity is putting on a session for people to have a go at sports designed for people with sight loss.

Carlisle Sight Support, a charity of 30 years in Carlisle, is trying to raise awareness of the possible activities for younger people with visual impairment or sight loss.

It is putting on a one-off taste event later this month where people can have a go at blind football and goalball.

The event takes place from 1-3pm on Friday, November 25, at St James Parish Centre in Denton Holme, Carlisle, and is in partnership with Carlisle United Community Sports Trust.

Mark Costello, a regular volunteer at Carlisle Sight Support, said: “It’s mainly an awareness-raising event because, since we have mostly older members, we are trying to put on activities that raise awareness of options for people with vision loss that are younger.

“If I’m around town I’ll see people that have sticks, and younger people walking around with these, and they don’t always use our services, so we’re wanting to say we work with younger people and there are opportunities and activities that we can put on.

“We’re working with Carlisle United Community Sports Trust on this, so they’re going to lead elements of blind football.”

 Mark added: “They’re for people with or without sight loss.

“Everyone gets a blindfold on so there’s no advantage or disadvantage.

“They use a ball with bells inside, so it’s very much around hearing, and at a slow pace.

“We don’t expect any crunchy tackles, it’ll be more of a walking football type pace.

“Goalball was invented after the Second World War when people were coming back with blindness and wanted things to do, it’s also a form of rehabilitiation.

“The sport is almost like a mix between bowling and goalkeeping.

“There are two teams of three, one team will fire a ball down towards a large goal at the other end that is defended by three people laying down, and the ball’s got bells in it.

“It’s quite fast paced.”

Mark said it’s better for people interested in going to call him up beforehand at 07864 080 596 so they know exactly how many blindfolds and balls they need, but they can also just turn up on the day.