Staffordshire Sight Loss Council: Meet the members

Meet the staff

Head shot of Louise Connop, Senior Engagement Manager for Central England.

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.

Ashleigh Bryant, SLC co-ordinator for Central England. Ashleigh is looking at the camera, smiling broadly. She has long brown hair

Ashleigh Bryant

Ashleigh Bryant is the Sight Loss Council Co-ordinator for the West Midlands.

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

Previous to working in the sight loss sector, she worked in the NHS supporting adults with learning disabilities and mental health.

In her spare time, she enjoys socialising with friends, going to the gym and travelling around the world!

Meet the members

Headshot of Alison Teale, Staffordshire Sight Loss Council volunteer. Alison has shoulder length, fair hair and is wearing glasses. She is smiling at the camera.

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.”

Photo of Sidrah Farooq, Staffordshire SLC member. Sidrah has long, dark hair and is wearing a black hair band. She is smiling at the camera.

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”

Photo os John Williams, Staffordshire SLC member. John has a shaved head a dark bear. He is stood against a brick wall and is wearing blue and white pinstripe shirt.

John Williams

Coming soon!

Geoff Ryder

Coming soon!

Klaudia Suchowiak

Coming soon!

Ian Knowles

Coming soon!

Tanja Price

Coming soon!

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