Staffordshire Sight Loss Council: Meet the members

Louise Connop

Louise Connop is the Senior Engagement Manager for Central England. She has been registered Sight Impaired since birth, and Severely Sight Impaired from the age of seven.

Louise enjoys spending time with her two young children and generally living life to the full – travelling and socialising with her friends and family.  She is extremely passionate about raising awareness of visual Impairment (VI) and educating and encouraging the wider world to understand how to become more VI friendly.

Previously Louise worked in marketing, the public sector and ran the Low Vision Department at the Beacon Centre for the Blind in Wolverhampton.

“With the right attitude and support network, we can all achieve whatever we put our minds to” is a phase that Louise uses often.

PJ Balderstone

PJ Balderstone is the Sight Loss Council Co-ordinator for the West Midlands.

Along with SLC members, PJ helps represent the voice of blind and partially sighted people, supporting them to raise awareness for a more accessible and equal world.

Previously PJ worked in the visual impairment and disability sector, she worked for an Assistive Technology company supporting adults with learning disabilities and visual impairments.

PJ enjoys spending her spare time with her family, socialising with friends, singing and playing guitar.

Alison Teale

Alison lives in Lichfield, Staffordshire, with her family and a rescued ex-racing greyhound named Kevin. In 2018, she was registered as severely sight impaired due to Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Alison has spent most of her working life in the NHS, particularly in public health including screening and vaccination programmes. She retired in 2022.

In her spare time, Alison enjoys going to pottery classes, theatre, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Alison said: “I’m really pleased to join Staffordshire Sight Loss Council. This is a great opportunity to help make a positive difference for blind and partially sighted people, particularly in how we can reduce barriers and improve accessibility to local services.”

Sidrah Farooq

Sidrah was diagnosed as severely sight impaired in 2020. She has retinal dystrophy and has had visual problems since birth.

Sidrah lives in Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire with her mother and cat. She enjoys shopping, eating out and she enjoys Ju Jitsu.

She said: “I am looking forward to being a part of Staffordshire Sight Loss Council and helping to make a difference in the world”

Geoff Ryder

Geoff was registered as partially sighted in 2004 due to diabetic retinopathy, after living with Type 1 diabetes since 1974. Sport has always been a big part of his life – he was a high‑level martial artist in his younger years and now enjoys playing goalball.

Geoff is passionate about supporting others and takes his volunteering with Staffordshire Sight Loss Council seriously. He is committed to making a positive difference for blind and partially sighted people in his community. He also shares his skills by helping to teach Braille.

Tanja Price

Tanja has been visually impaired all her life and brings a wealth of lived experience to her role with Staffordshire Sight Loss Council. Her personal journey has shaped a strong commitment to improving accessibility and ensuring blind and partially sighted people are heard.

In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, creating diamond art pieces, and discovering new podcasts.

Tanja said: “I joined Stafford SLC because I wanted to help give blind and partially sighted people a voice.”

Ian Knowles

Ian is registered severely sight impaired with a condition called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. He is originally from Wigan but moved to Stoke-on-Trent after meeting his now wife.

In his spare time, Ian enjoys watching Rugby League, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, and spending time with family.

Ian joined Staffordshire Sight Loss Council because he wants to raise awareness of how poor accessibility can be in his local area, and how much work is still needed to improve conditions for the blind and partially sighted community.

He says: “I wanted to make a difference and highlight just how much still needs to change for blind and partially sighted people in Staffordshire.”

Klaudia Suchowiak