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Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People

Chief Officer’s Message:

This time last year we were looking forward to a ‘facelift’ for the Centre, thanks to a grant from HSBC Bank. Now, for 2020, we start the year with a freshly painted Centre, new downstairs toilet, extractor fan in the kitchen and a brilliant refurbished basement area, housing donations received and providing storage for a wide variety of equipment. What a difference a year makes!

It was not without its challenges though! Whilst we were extremely grateful to HSBC Bury for providing storage for all the items out of our basement, those five flights of stairs became a little too familiar to a number of us during the summer events, loading and unloading items! So, a huge thank you to everyone for their patience, but particularly to all our volunteers who, despite this, continued providing support to clients as well as carrying on with craft fairs, car boots, summer shows, awareness raising, you name it, we did it! On Thursday 6th February, we are holding a ‘Morning Brunch’ for volunteers as a thank you for all your support. Please do come along – your help has been greatly appreciated. 10.30am-12pm. It would be lovely to see you there. Just ring the office and let them know if you can make it so that we can make sure there’s a bacon muffin for you!

This quarter’s Out of Sight is packed with new events coming up and information on new equipment and support for anyone with eye health issues. I hope you enjoy reading this edition. Please do let us know if you feel this newsletter would be useful to anyone else and we would be happy to e-mail a copy.

Happy reading!

Jill Logan, CEO.

Current regular social events:

All regular events are at the Blind Society unless stated otherwise.

Monday:

Morning: Local news discussion Drop In – tea & toast available, 10.00am-1.00pm.

Afternoon: Knit & Natter group, 1.00pm-3.00pm.

Afternoon: Benefit Support sessions available by appointment.

Late afternoon: Engage 2 Stage Drama group at the Met, 4:30pm-6:30pm.

Tuesday:

Morning: Drop In, 10.00am-1.00pm.

Morning: Eye Talk Support Programme, 10.30am-12.30pm, by arrangement.

Afternoon: ‘Healthy You’ sessions, meet at the centre. 3.30pm-4.30pm.

1st Tuesday of the month: Walking Group, meet at the centre at 10.30am.

2nd Tuesday of the month: Afternoon Social, 1.30pm-3.00pm.

3rd Tuesday of alternate months: RP Support Group, 1.00pm-2.30pm. Open to anyone with retinal dystrophy along with family and friends.

4th Tuesday of the month: Book Review Club, starting 25th February, 1.30pm-2.30pm.

Wednesday:

Morning: Breakfast Club, 10.00am-11.30am.

Morning: Craft Group, 10.00am-12.00pm.

3rd Wednesday of the month: Macular Degeneration Support Group, 1.30pm-3.00pm.

4th Wednesday of the month: Glaucoma Support Group, 1.45pm-3.15pm.

4th Wednesday of alternate months: BBS Mini Quiz Night with supper, 5.00pm-7.30pm approx.

Thursday:

Afternoon: Podiatrist appointments available. Book via office.

Afternoon: Over 60s Social Afternoon, 1.30pm-3.00pm.

Evening: Ukulele music group, 7.00pm-9.00pm.

2nd Thursday of alternate months: Volunteers’ coffee morning, 10:30am-12.00pm.

2nd Thursday of alternate months: User Forum, 10.30am-12.00pm.

Friday:

Lunch Club, 11.30am-12.30pm.

Afternoon: Music Group, 1.30pm-2.30pm. Beginners, no experience necessary – just for fun!

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact the office. A

warm welcome is extended to all service users and visitors to the Drop In at the Centre, open to the public between 10.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Events:

Young Families Support Group: First Tuesday of the month, 1.15pm-2.45pm. Have you felt isolated or unable to help with childcare because of your eye condition? Come along to this group, share your concerns and learn some useful hints and tips.

Healthy You Sessions: Every Tuesday, 3.30pm-4.30pm. If you have over-indulged over the festive season or you just want to start the New Year with a more healthy life-style, Tracey and Mags have started a weekly support group to share ideas and tips on food and exercise. The ladies have said, “together we can all help each other be healthier throughout 2020. We will be encouraged with some professional advice and each other’s experiences.”

Foot Clinic Appointments: We are delighted to announce that we can now offer this service weekly! Following the return of Carolyn who visits the Centre every four weeks between 11.00am and 2.30pm, Dougie is also going to continue his support. Dougie will be in every week between 12.00pm and 3.30pm, apart from Carolyn’s week. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this service, please do encourage them to make an appointment. Not only is it a great service, but also both Carolyn and Dougie donate £5.00 back to the Society for every client seen. The appointments are open to anyone.

Eye Talk Support Course: We are due to start another of our 5-week courses on Tuesday 4th February. These sessions cover a wide range of subjects, including coming to terms with your sight loss, practical daily living skills, benefit advice and transport information. They are particularly useful for anyone who has been newly diagnosed, but equally as a refresher for a person whose sight has perhaps deteriorated. Places are limited and so if you are interested in joining any of our sessions, please contact Gill Currie, 0161 763 7014 ext. 204.

Hate Crime Awareness Event: Wednesday 5th February, 10.00am-2.00pm. Once again we are joining with other organisations to raise awareness of Hate Crime. Come along and see us outside T J Hughes in the Millgate Centre.

Auction Sale: Put your bid in at our Auction Sale of items. Bids are being taken from Wednesday 5th, with the Auction being held during the Thursday Afternoon over 60’s Group, 1.00pm-3.00pm. For more information, leave your contact details and Margaret will be in touch.

‘Thank you Brunch’ for volunteers. Thursday 6th February, 10.30am-12.00pm. Book your place to attend our special event to thank all our volunteers for their support during 2019. A great opportunity to meet other volunteers too!

People’s History Museum trip, Spinningfields, Manchester: 14th February, 10.30am. We are delighted to be joining Walthew House clients on an audio tour of the People’s History Museum. Walthew are funding the entrance through their ‘Making More Happen’ funded project. Places are limited to 15. We will be travelling via the metro and so sighted guides are required to help support any clients wishing to attend. Book your place now via the office.

Brand New Book Review Club, fourth Tuesday of every month. Do you like books? Reading can be such an enjoyable hobby, whether it’s a large print book, via a tablet or audio. Come along and find out more. First session starts at 1.30pm on Tuesday 25th February.

Annual Quiz Night: Friday 6th March, 7.00pm at Elton Liberal Club. Yes, it’s that time again; brush off the cobwebs and get your thinking caps on, folks! Carl is back as our Quiz Master with his usual set of challenging quiz questions. Always a fun night, why not put together a team of four? Tickets on sale now, £5.00 per person, including sandwich supper.

If you find you’ve caught the Quiz Bug, why not come along to our ‘BBS Mini Quiz’ on Wednesday 25th March, 5.00pm to 7.30pm approx., with Pasta Bake tea served at 5.00pm for £3.00 and £1.00 per person quiz entry. Booking at the office.

User Forum: 12th March, 10.30am-12.00pm. At our last meeting it was suggested that the notes be distributed to everyone for information, to keep all updated on what is happening with the Society. A copy of the notes has been included with this newsletter. If you have found the information useful and would like to continue receiving the notes, then please let us know and we will include you on our mailing list. Alternatively, the forum is open to all clients, family, carers and volunteers and we would be delighted to welcome you at the next meeting.

RP Support Group: Tuesday 17th March, 1.00pm-2.30pm – Open to anyone with any form of retinal dystrophy, along with friends and family.

Equipment Focus Day: Tuesday 24th March, 10.00am-2.00pm. Come along and meet representatives from Optelec and Enhanced Vision who will be demonstrating a variety of low-vision magnifying equipment. For more details, please contact Gill Currie at the office.

News from Other Organisations:

D-Caff: Greenmount village Community D-Caff meets every second Friday and fourth Tuesday in the month from 1.15pm to 3.15pm, at Greenmount Cricket Club. A lovely place to meet for people living with Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, their carers, family and friends. All the sessions have a themed approach, with activities varying from reminiscence, music, dance and singing, to quizzes/games and exercise, but most of all the focus is on fun, friendship, love and laughter. Light refreshments are provided with a warm welcome!

If you are interested in finding out more, contact Joani Beale on 07956 155 383 or e-mail d-caff@.uk.

Bury Diabetic Support Group: Free chair-based exercise sessions are held at Communic8te, 8 Tenterden Street, Bury BL9 0EG. Mondays 3.45pm-4.45pm, arrive at 3.30pm for tea and biscuits. Booking essential, 0161 761 4904 (Joyce).

Bury U3A Accessibility Study Group: U3A (University of The Third Age), is open to all retired or semi-retired individuals and has many special interest groups. One such group is the Accessibility Study Group who report to the Board of Trustees on matters relating to wider participation in U3A activities by members who have conditions which might prove limiting. Work so far has included:

• Persuading Town Hall management of the need to upgrade the sound and hearing loop system in the Elizabethan Main Hall where U3A holds its monthly meetings.

• Researching provision of accessible performances in theatres across the area, and making this information available to members of U3A and other relevant organisations. We have provided Bury Blind Society with a list of upcoming audio-described performances at local theatres. We would welcome feedback from members of the Society on their experiences if they attend any of these.

In addition, we are working with Bury Society for Blind & Partially Sighted People to present a workshop to increase awareness of the support available for anyone living with a sight loss condition. For more information, please contact Bury Blind Society for details.

Leisure and Arts:

RNIB Cricket Fixtures 2020: There’s something new and exciting happening for cricket fans this summer – the launch of the brand new ‘The Hundred’ tournament.

And you can keep up with all the action with RNIB’s Cricket Fixtures 2020 magazine which will also include fixtures for the County Championships (Divisions One and Two), the Vitality T20 Blast, and the Royal London One-Day Cup, as well as international matches.

RNIB Cricket Fixtures 2020 will be available to buy towards the end of February in braille, on DAISY audio CD and via email. All formats will be priced at £2.95. (Taken from RNIB ‘New Product Guide, January 2020’.)

Theatre Events, February 2020 to March 2020: (Audio-described performances)

February:

Wed 5th, 7.30pm We Will Rock You Palace Theatre, M/cr.

Sat 15th, 2pm A Little Space HOME

Thurs 27th, 7.30pm A Monster Calls The Lowry

(Tour, 6.30pm)

Sat 29th, 2.30pm Wuthering Heights Royal Exchange

March:

Sat 7th, 2pm Swan Lake Ballet The Lowry

(Tour 10.30am)

Thurs 12th, 7pm Marriage of Figaro The Lowry

(Tour 5.45pm)

Fri 13th, 7.30pm Insane Animals HOME

Wed 25th 7.30pm Acosta Danza The Lowry

(Tour 6pm)

Holidays:

With these dark nights, are you looking forward to the summer? Maybe planning your 2020 holiday? Here are two companies which might be of interest.

Traveleyes: Traveleyes was founded in 2004 by the blind entrepreneur, Amar Latif. It is the world’s first commercial tour operator to provide independent group travel for people who are blind or partially sighted. Blind travellers can simply choose a group holiday from its fully accessible website or audio brochure, then just book, and go! Those who travel solo no longer have to depend on family members or friends to accompany them on holiday.

Sighted travellers join each holiday too. They help to make the world a more accessible place by guiding and describing the sights to blind travellers. In return, sighted travellers benefit from a discount of up to 50% on each holiday. Why not have a look at the amazing choice? Phone 0113 834 6094 or e-mail, info@traveleyes-. Alternatively, you can write to Traveleyes at: P O Box 511, Leeds, LS5 3JT.

Revitalise: revitalising holidays for disabled people and carers. ‘Everything you’d expect from a holiday, backed up by excellent nurse-led care and an army of brilliant volunteers to get the party started, and keep it going. Suitable for anyone who has other disabilities in addition to sight loss and needs that little extra help. Phone: 0303 303 0145. bookings@.uk. Web site, .uk

Information Updates:

Glaucoma feedback: At one of the sessions our Glaucoma group held, patients were asked for their comments on their experiences in hospitals. The information was collated and put in a letter to the International Glaucoma Association. Our group, led by Bernard Dunphy, was thanked for its input and the Association stated that the specific points about information needs of patients was very helpful and would be taken into consideration when reviewing its leaflets. The document was quite lengthy, but we have copied just one paragraph below to give a flavour of the response. If you would like to know more, please do come along to the Glaucoma Support Group which meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at the Centre, 1.45pm to 3.15pm.

‘Delays and cancellations in appointments are a huge issue within ophthalmology. One of our targets for 2020 is to petition the NHS and other bodies to address this. We’re excited to see some areas changing how they deliver glaucoma care in order to manage surging demand, for example virtual clinics or community monitoring. We’re hoping initiatives such as these become more widespread and help more patients get seen according to clinical timescales and in a supportive manner. Obviously, we understand that clinicians are under huge amounts of pressure, and we want to collaborate with them to help them help patients. For example, we’re currently developing a training programme for optometrists who care for glaucoma patients, to help them help patients with drops more effectively.’ – Joanna Bradley, IGA.

In addition, Bury Blind Society are working with the Community Eye Service to look at issues people are experiencing in their eye-care pathway. Over the next couple of months, we shall be visiting a number of the specific eye condition Support Groups to give everyone the opportunity to feed back. If you have not already requested a visit, and you feel your group would like to be included, please contact Jill Logan at the Centre. If you are not in a group but would still like your views included, please do contact Jill.

‘Me and my cane’- extract from ‘Sideview’, courtesy of the Macular Society.

Ella Moyo had always resisted using a cane. “Like a lot of people who don’t need a long or guide cane for mobility reasons, I was dead set against carrying a symbol cane. Why would I draw attention to myself or label myself as disabled or vulnerable?” she explains.

But in 2012, when the “fiercely independent” Ella signed up for a month’s volunteering in India, she found out that her flight would involve changing planes three times. Colin Daniels, manager of the Macular Society’s Working Age and Young People’s Service, suggested that Ella take a symbol cane with her. They are shorter than a guide cane and used as a way to signal quickly that someone with a visual impairment might need a little extra help.

And it made a potentially stressful situation a lot simpler. “I was self-conscious to begin with, but it meant that I didn’t need to explain to each person I met that I was partially sighted. They understood immediately and were falling over themselves to help,” Ella says.

Ella understands why some people have mixed feelings about drawing attention to their sight loss or worry that other people don’t understand how much they can see. You don’t have to use the cane all the time, of course. “I don’t use it so much at the moment as I need both my hands free for the prams,” Ella says. “But when I’m somewhere unfamiliar, or the stakes are high, it can be really helpful – for example, when I went to my Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment. It was in a building I hadn’t been to before, and I wanted to make sure I got there on time!”

If, after reading this, you are interested in having a symbol cane, or would like information on Personal Independence Payments, please do get in touch with us at BBS office. We’d be happy to help.

You Can Do It!

Maybe you read the wonderful article in The Bury Times dated 23rd January, entitled ‘Disabled mum lands dream job after 16 years’?

We were delighted to read that our own member, Kelly Allen, has been successful in her quest for work. Kelly is a real inspiration to anyone currently looking for work.

Kelly’s inability to find work had left her feeling miserable and she had little hope of being able to secure paid work when she reached out to the Jobcentre in Bury.

Ms Allen said, “I was feeling so depressed after being out of work for so long. I felt that my dyspraxia and my visual impairment were a barrier to finding work and I would never get a job. Now that my daughter is a teenager, I wanted to show her that it is important to go to work and generate an income.” Through Bury’s Jobcentre Plus, Ms Allen was referred to the ‘Working Well’ work and health programme, and at the end of the programme Ms Allen was overjoyed to land a job as a pupil escort for Bury Council. Kelly added: ‘I have felt for so long that I was just standing still and not achieving anything…….I have such empathy for people, young and old, who face difficult challenges. You can’t give up – we can all make a contribution and develop our lives.”

(With thanks to the Bury Times and Kelly).

Equipment Focus Day: Tuesday 24th March 2020, 10.00am – 2.00pm. Come along and explore the latest products and technologies for blind and partially sighted people. Enhanced Vision and Optelec will be at the Centre, providing the opportunity for a hands-on experience of their latest products. There will be an experienced consultant on hand to give you advice and answer any questions you may have. Portable electronic magnifiers are the natural progression from normal hand-held magnifiers, due to high-powered magnification and the ability to change colours and contrasts. Portable magnifiers are ideal for looking at labels, tags, menus and general spot-checking.

Depending on your vision and needs, you may want to consider larger magnifiers. Larger electronic magnifiers are more powerful and enable you to see more of a page. We also provide readers which read material aloud. Some of our magnifiers will magnify and read aloud.

These events give you a fantastic opportunity to see these latest innovations and have hands-on experience.

Funding, Fund-Raising & Volunteer Update

We are grateful for all the kind donations we received over the Christmas period and the support for our Christmas Raffle. The winners have all been contacted and prizes collected. If you wish to find out the winning numbers, they are displayed on our web site and in the Main Reception. The raffle raised over £1,500, helping towards our support services.

In particular we would like to thank the entertainer, Geoff Kenyon, for all his support during 2019. Geoff has kindly donated all his fees during 2019 to the Society, amounting to an amazing £465.00. In addition, our thanks for the support of The Tottington & District Horticultural Society for nominating us as their charity for 2019, A Edwards, the Queen Anne in Unsworth, Alkrington Senior Citizen Club, Eye Openers, V Herdson, M Taylor and R Lees for their generous donations to the work of the society. We also received a cheque for £200 from Asda, Bury, after being nominated for their Token Scheme.

We are delighted to report that we had a bumper year with our Christmas gift-wrapping. For Christmas 2019 we were based initially at Tesco’s Bury and then in The Millgate Shopping centre. In total, we raised £3428.40 thanks to the generous members of public and the efforts of our volunteers.

Another Christmas activity which raised excellent funds for the Society was the annual Santa Sleigh Collection with Radcliffe Rotary. Our dedicated ‘Santa Elves’ helped to raise, over two nights, a total of £485.00!

For 2020 we are launching our ‘Small Change makes a Big Difference’ fundraising campaign. Do you have unwanted small change? Why not save it in one of our collection boxes and hand it in, or we can collect when it’s full? Your change can make a huge difference to someone living with sight loss. If you are interested in having a collection box, please contact the office for details.

Talking of collections, we are always looking for new venues to place our collection boxes. We are grateful to Michael Garrett who has put forward three businesses so far. Would your local shop like to have one of our collection boxes? Again, contact us if you think you can help.

We are always looking for people who can help at collection events, held at local supermarkets, garden centres etc. If you would like to be involved, please contact the office and ask for Diane.

Fundraising: We are very happy to provide support if you wish to hold a fundraising event within your workplace on behalf of Bury Blind Society. We have funding packs to help you organise your activity. Please contact Alex or Jill for further details.

Why not join? It’s a great way to support the Society and have the opportunity to win some money yourself! You don’t have to be a member of Bury Blind Society; anyone can take part. Each month there is a prize draw of 50% of the fund, split 30% to the first number drawn, 15% for the second and 5% for the third, leaving 50% proceeds to the Society. Each member can have a Membership of anything from £1 to £100. Payment is by standing order on the first of each month and the draw is on the 2nd Friday. If you are one of the three lucky winners, your winnings go straight into your bank the following Tuesday.

Winners!

Listed below are the numbers of our winners over the last quarter. Thank you for your support.

November

1st No. 232 £80.70

2nd No. 173 £40.35

3rd No. 24 £13.45

December

1st No. 114 £82.20

2nd No. 142 £41.10

3rd No. 275 £13.70

January

1st No. 220 £82.80

2nd No. 282 £41.40

3rd No. 116 £13.80

Don’t forget to join our ‘100’ Club. Each entry is just £1.00. Thank you to all of those who have already signed up. For further information or an application form contact the Centre on 0161 763 7014, or email jill.logan@

Legacies and funeral donations: This quarter, sadly we lost a number of our dear friends including Arthur Hewitt, Arthur Flowers, Janine Pritchard and our Deputy Chair, Michael Moor. Our thoughts are with all their families at this sad time. We are particularly grateful to Arthur Flowers’ and Michael Moor’s families for remembering the Society with their funeral donations.

A gift in your will, a Funeral Donation or donation, large or small, ‘In Memory’ of a loved one, will ensure that Bury Blind Society can be here for other people living with sight loss in Bury. If you would like to discuss leaving a gift in your Will, please contact Jill Logan, CEO for information. Thank you.

We Say Good-Bye:

Trustee, Michael Moor: We are very sorry to report that our Deputy Chair, Michael, passed away on 26th December. Michael chaired our Finance Sub-Committee and was greatly instrumental in developing our Corporate presence. He was a great advocate for the Society and very supportive of all our work. As well as the Society, Michael also played a major role in the Bury Lions for many years. He retired from his job as a Manager with Yorkshire Bank when his eyesight, due to RP, deteriorated. Despite this, he embraced life and used his many skills to help the two charities. We shall miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with Pauline, his wife, and his family at this sad time.

Long-standing Member, Janine Pritchard, also sadly passed away on Christmas Day. Many of you will be familiar with Janine and remember her as always enjoying having a dance at our annual Summer Outings. In addition, Janine was a regular attender at the Centre, joining in with a number of groups. Janine touched many lives in her own unique way and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Derek and the family.

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Services We Offer

• Eye Talk Support Sessions

• Early Intervention & Rehabilitation service

• Benefit Information

• Counselling Sessions

• Comprehensive Resource Centre

• Regular Social Activities

• Hospital Information Service

• Befriending Services

• Visual Impairment Awareness Training

• Symbol Cane Training

• Referral for Mobility training.

• Daily Living Skills.

• Skills for Seeing (“Eccentric Viewing”)

• Specialist Equipment Demonstrations

• Support Clinic

• Drop-In Centre

For more information contact the Centre on 0161 763 7014.

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OUT OF SIGHT

Issue 62. January 2020 Newsletter

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