A CHARITY which helps Wiltshire residents with sight loss and visual impairment will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.

Wiltshire Sight will kick off its centenary with a special concert at St Mary's School in Calne on Friday January 19.

World-renowned blind pianist Derek Paravicini will be performing at the concert.

He plays entirely by ear, has memorised thousands of pieces including pop, jazz and classical, and takes requests from the audience.

Doors open at 7pm and the concert begins at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £35 each and include refreshments.

Mike Weston, Wiltshire Sight Chairman, commented: "Everyone with sight loss suffers in different ways and the advice we give to people reflects this.

"We do not receive any funding from our local authorities and therefore we rely on donations and fundraising activities such as this concert, to help us support our increasing numbers of end users."

The charity was first established in 1918 as the Wiltshire Blind Association to help soldiers returning from the First World War whose sight had been damaged.

It was renamed Wiltshire Sight in 2014 to reflect that it supports people across the sight-loss spectrum and has won multiple awards for its innovative services and training programmes.

It assists more than 2,500 people of all ages, as well as their families and carers by offering information, advice and guidance, as well as giving people practical and emotional support to help them in their daily lives.

To buy tickets to the first of many events celebrating the charity's 100th anniversary, visit www.calnefoundation.org/wiltshiresight

Call Wiltshire Sight on 01380 723682 for more information.