‘I thought I can do that’
Mary Gifford, 77, from Withington, has been volunteering with a sight loss charity for over 20 years now(Image: Henshaws)
For more than 20 years, one woman from Withington has been a trusted voice at some of the most popular art galleries and museums across Greater Manchester.
Mary Gifford, 77, has been helping visually impaired people experience the joys of exhibitions, concerts and collections since 2003. A volunteer with northern sight loss charity Henshaws, Mary has helped organise countless trips and days out and it’s something she says has been just as beneficial for her – giving her a ‘purpose in life’.
“Volunteering gave me a purpose in life, and it replaced my career,” Mary said. “The people I help are my friends and family. I get so much pleasure from seeing what they get out of it.”
Mary, who broke barriers as a female economist in the 1970s, decided to give volunteering a go in 2002 as part of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester where she helped wheelchair users access the venue.
The decision to begin volunteering came after a turbulent few years for Mary. In 1998, she married her husband John, who she had first met at the age of 45 whilst on holiday in Egypt. 14 weeks after their marriage, John passed away from kidney cancer.
Mary Gifford, 77, has been volunteering with Henshaws for more than 20 years now(Image: Henshaws)
After John’s tragic death, Mary had returned to work part time as a potter before being made redundant at the age of 53. She said of the time: “I lost my 30-year career, my love of my life and husband and couldn’t have been more at rock bottom.”
Whilst volunteering at the Commonwealth Games, Mary saw a leaflet for the Henshaws charity and decided to apply to become a volunteer. Now one of their most active volunteers, she’s been with them ever since.
“After my husband died, I knew I wanted to volunteer but I thought I can’t help people with cancer because it’s too near the bone, but I wanted to work with people with disabilities,” she explained.
The group visits give blind and visually impaired people a chance to explore museums and art galleries(Image: Henshaws)
Having had some of her own work featured in exhibitions at venues like the Gallery Oldham in the past, Mary was asked by staff at Henshaws whether she would like to help take visually impaired people to museums and galleries.
“I thought I can do that,” she laughs. “I love classical music, I go to the theatre, love art, go to the Hallé and used to make pots. To me, art is a spiritual experience and it means a lot to me. I want to help people tap into that.”
One of the most recent Art Galleries and Museums Group trips Mary volunteered with was a visit to the Gallery Oldham – a full circle moment for her back to where her work had once appeared.
Mary said volunteering with Henshaws has given her a ‘purpose in life’
Another trip was to the Soundscapes Session at Manchester Museum, which featured a spotlight on biodiversity and wildness. The group session included a full audio description and saw the group handle items, including wildlife models.
One of those to attend the recent museum trip was Pat Martin, from Stockport, who is medically retired and has been attending the group for eight years. She has been supported by Henshaws since 2013 when she was first diagnosed with sight loss.
“For me, it’s about seeing something I wouldn’t normally see,” she explained about why she comes to the group. “In a gallery I can’t see the pictures that well and have tripped over the wires because I’ve got too close to be able to see. At the group I can see things that sighted people see.
Fred Hernandez, who has no sight and is now retired, regularly attends Henshaws’ Art Galleries and Museums Group (Image: Henshaws)
“People say to me ‘you used to do this’ and ‘you used to be so good at this’, and I say ‘yes, it’s because I had sight then. It’s not that I can’t do it now, it just takes me longer now’. When I was diagnosed, I was devastated that my sight was going and it was frightening.”
Also at the session was Azam Dossajee has also been part of the group since 2022, after hearing about the charity from his neighbours – who just so happen to be the cyclists and Paralympic champions Lora Fachie, and her husband Neil, who both have visual impairments.
“For me, I had sight for all my life so now living without it is a huge adjustment,” he explained. “My family has been amazing but it’s hard for them to understand and coming here and meeting people with similar experiences and that understanding means a lot.”
Fred Hernandez, who has no sight and is now retired, also regularly attends the group and added: “When I retired, I thought ‘What am I going to do with myself?’ You become isolated and lose the art of conversation.”
Mary with Azam Dossajee during the group’s recent visit to Manchester Museum(Image: Henshaws)
Speaking about the work she does, Mary said: “I know what it’s like to be rock bottom and I know a lot of these people who have been diagnosed with sight loss are going through a similar experience. I empathise.”
Mary and Henshaws are always looking for volunteers, including drivers, to make the Art Galleries and Museums Group’s trips possible and welcomes more venues to encourage their staff to take part in Henshaw’s Visual Impairment (VI) Awareness Training course, which helps businesses adapt their spaces to be VI friendly.
Henshaws has a list of VI-friendly places, including touch tours with the Hallé Orchestra at The Bridgewater Hall, alongside with more information and support on their website.