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We are urgently looking for
Volunteer Car Drivers
to transport our members to various events, social and support groups across
County Durham.

If you are interested in helping us to make a difference to people with sight loss, through supporting them with transport requirements please get in touch.

Julie Anderson – 0191 5673939
julie.anderson@sundrsb.org.uk

Reimbursement for mileage incurred is currently paid at 45 pence per mile.
All Volunteer Drivers will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Volunteer Car Driver advert

Headway will be starting a new activity/social group for people with sight loss/difficulty as a result of a neurological condition.
A new group will be developed for people from Washington, they will eventually decide what they would like to do in the group. Ie talks, games, visits, speakers etc.

This will be the 2nd Tuesday of the Month . 1-3 pm. Starting on 13th June

Address is
Washington Millennium Centre
The Oval
Concord.
NE37 2QD

We are located about 2-3 minutes walk from Concord bus station. Someone will be available to meet anyone for their first visit,

If you would like further information please contact Kim from Headway on 07830346985 or email kim.hunter@headwaywearside.org.uk

We hope that you enjoy reading it and find the information to be useful.  The full Newsletter is available free of charge to Society members in a variety of formats so why not sign up to become a member of the Society and experience the full benefit.

News from the Chief Executive

Welcome to the Spring and Summer  2024 Newsletters.

Firstly, I want to apologise for having to combine two issues of the newsletter into one. There has been so much going on within the Society and time has been at a premium. Hopefully, we are now back on track and can return to quarterly newsletters in the autumn.

At the beginning of the year our Community Sight Support Officer, Fiona Ferguson, left our employment to take up a new post with Darlington Borough Council. As Fiona and her husband live in Darlington this opportunity was too good to miss. I am sure everyone who benefitted from Fiona’s work throughout County Durham over recent years will join us in wishing her well in her new role.

Fiona’s departure resulted in the recruitment of a new Community Sight Support Officer and we have been extremely fortunate in appointing Joanne Peverley. Joanne has already started to make an excellent impression with clients and has settled in perfectly. She makes an excellent addition to our team.

Julie Anderson and Dale Burns-Maddison are progressing very well with their Rehabilitation apprenticeships. Julie will complete her two year training course shortly and become a fully qualified Rehabilitation Worker. Dale is coming towards the end of his first year of training.

Meanwhile, Sunderland City Council have asked the Society to take on some of the Hearing loss rehabilitation work due to one of their staff being on long term sickness. We are fortunate to have Ken Slowther who has been able to provide the service.

Mike Crozier is a member of the Society and works for Sunderland City Council. He has very kindly offered to raise funds for the Society by taking part in the Great North Run in September. He is currently training hard and is determined to succeed. Due to Mike’s sight loss he will not have as much opportunity to seek sponsorship for his efforts as he would like to raise funds for the Society. If anyone would like to sponsor Mike, please contact the office for information on how to do so.

IT and Assistive Technology

Our free Assistive Technology/Vision project offers practical support and advice and guidance to visually impaired people of any age living in Sunderland and County Durham on ICT and digital issues relating to their visual impairment.

Since starting the service in October 2022, it has proved to be very popular and we have dealt with over 446 clients through home visits or group sessions. We cover Laptops, PC’s, Android phones and tablets as well as iPhones and iPads as well as covering all aspects of assistive technology devices to help maintain your hobbies and independence.

You can access donated equipment to try out to see what suits you best including Clear View readers and offer advice and guidance on what would be best for you and your condition.

The service is available 4 days a week Monday to Thursday so you can choose a day and time that’s convenient for you to receive dedicated one to one advice and information in the comfort of your own home if you can’t make it to one of our venues in Pallion or Langley Moor.
If you would like to take advantage of this free National Lottery funded service please either email our Assistive Technology Officer john.walls@sundrsb.org.uk or call us on 0191 567 3939 and we will be glad to help.

COFFEE MORNING – SUNDERLAND – Second Wednesday of the month. Starts 10am till noon 

Wednesday 14^th June

MEN’S GROUP – Second Monday of the month. Starts 1.30pm – 2.30pm.

We have a fantastic line up of speakers for the year ahead.

Monday 12^th June – Making a difference NE

DIABETES GROUP – 4^th Monday of the month. Starts 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Monday 24^th April

Monday 22^nd May

Monday 26th June

MACULAR MEETING – Fourth Wednesday of the month. Starts 1.30pm – 2.30pm.

Wednesday 28^th June – TBC

ONGOING SERVICES ON OFFER

Drop in for information or just a chat

Various support groups
Resource Centre
Loan of magnifying equipment
Braille mentoring
IT and Technology Support
Counselling
Benefits/Advocacy
Access to work/Job Club
British Wireless for the Blind Audio Equipment
Warm Spaces Venue

 If you require any further information on any of the above services please call Julie Stormont on 0191 5673939 and I will be happy to help.

Our office opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am – 3pm and you are more than welcome to call into the office at Pallion for a cuppa and a chat.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – All held at Pallion, Sunderland

AFTERNOON TEA – First Thursday of the month
1:30pm – 3pm
Only £2.50 per person. Selection of sandwiches, cake and savouries. Booking essential.
THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER
THURSDAY 7TH NOVEMBER
THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER

QUIZ MORNING
We now run these twice a month, see below for the next one. Great for a social gathering, a quiz and as always refreshments.
TUESDAY 3RD & 17TH SEPTEMBER
TUESDAY 1ST & 15TH OCTOBER
TUESDAY 5TH & 19TH NOVEMBER
TUESDAY 3RD & 17TH DECEMBER

MEN’S GROUP – Second Monday of the month.
1:30 – 2:30
MONDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
MONDAY 14TH OCTOBER
MONDAY 11TH NOVEMBER
MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER

COFFEE MORNING – SUNDERLAND – Second Wednesday of the month. 10am – noon
WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY 13TH NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 11TH DECEMBER – Xmas

MACULAR MEETING – 4th Wednesday of the month.
1:30 pm – 2:30pm.
WEDNESDAY 23rd OCTOBER – Parkinson UK
WEDNESDAY 27th NOVEMBER – Action On Dementia
WEDNESDAY 11TH DECEMBER – Xmas

SOCIAL GET TOGETHER – Please see dates below.
10am – noon
THURSDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
THURSDAY 17TH OCTOBER
THURSDAY 21ST NOVEMBER

The Taxi card Scheme which runs in Sunderland in conjunction with Station Taxis is very popular. For any new applications you need to apply the beginning of July please call Nexus direct on 0191 2020747.

LATEST UPDATE FROM NEXUS – There has been some confusion around the Scheme continuing but after speaking direct to a Manager within the Company I have been advised that the Scheme is continuing for another 6 months. Names for new applications are being taken and added to a list and forms will be sent once the Tenders have been assessed, agreed and then put in place. There is a delay with this happening. I will continue to provide updates within timescales agreed with my contact within Nexus but feel free to call them direct also. I will update the website once I have more information. Julie Stormont

We are delivering Living with Sight Loss courses throughout the year in the following venues:

Durham Methodist Church Hall, North Road, Durham. 

The Masonic Hall, Stanley,  

Town Hall, Bishop Auckland  

The course aims to provide information on all aspects relating to living with sight loss. The course includes sessions on a variety of topics. It also provides you with the opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation to share experiences and handy hints and tips. You are welcome to bring a family member or friend along.

If you are interested in attending any of the above courses and want to book a place or would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you or someone you know requires support and advice, we would love to hear from you, so why not contact us on the below numbers. We offer telephone support, home visits and appointments at Cecil Court .

Office: 0191 5673939

Durham City Coffee Mornings

Held on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month at North Road Methodist Church, Durham City.

Volunteers available Mon – Fri 10am – 2pm

Can help with collecting prescriptions, shopping, benefit/welfare advice

Please contact, Karen Wood on either 07534 983971 or 0191 5142011

Full details of all their activities are on their website at www.pallionactiongroup.co.uk

We are delivering Living with Sight Loss courses throughout the year in the following venues:

Durham Methodist Church Hall, North Road, Durham. 20 and 21 April

The Masonic Hall, Stanley, 19 and 20 June

Town Hall, Bishop Auckland 26 and 27 September

The course aims to provide information on all aspects relating to living with sight loss. The course includes sessions on a variety of topics. It also provides you with the opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation to share experiences and handy hints and tips. You are welcome to bring a family member or friend along.

If you are interested in attending any of the above courses and want to book a place or would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you or someone you know requires support and advice, we would love to hear from you, so why not contact us on the below numbers. We offer telephone support, home visits and appointments at Cecil Court .

Fiona Ferguson 07595956345

Office: 0191 5673939

We are delighted to have joined with Houghton Blind Club in order to provide another outreach centre on the Sunderland/Durham border.  We are always looking for new members to join us and spend a wonderful afternoon in the warm and welcoming atmosphere in the company of others.

Houghton Blind Club meet up at Houghton-le-Spring Hall DH4 5AF each week at 12:30pm on Tuesdays. Anyone is welcome to drop in and enjoy a cup of tea, and to take part in our fun activities and have a chat.

New Kitchen and Boiler for Houghton le Spring and District Centre for the Blind

The Society has installed a brand new kitchen and boiler at Houghton le Spring and District Centre for the Blind.

Funding amounting to £7,500 for this improvement work has been provided by Sunderland City Council’s Coalfield Area Committee through the City Council’s Neighbourhood Fund.

The Centre has been given a new lease of life and is now available to hire by community groups. The Houghton le Spring and District Support Group for visually impaired people continues to meet weekly on a Tuesday.

The Screwfix Foundation also donated £5,000 as matched funding for the project.

Anyone interested in hiring the facilities should telephone the Society on 0191 5673939 We would like to thank the Coalfield Area Committee for this wonderful support and the Screwfix Foundation. Without this support the work would not have taken place.

We continue to provide many Social Groups and Services. The Social Groups
provides many people with Company and the chance to make new friends.
The Society is very welcoming and always a tea or coffee available so why not pop in for a chat. We often have various items donated so call to see if we have what you are looking for.
There is also a wide variety of catalogues and information booklets available free of charge so if there is something you would like more information on give the office a call on 0191 5673939.l

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – All held at Pallion, Sunderland

AFTERNOON TEA – First Thursday of the month
1:30pm – 3pm
Only £2.50 per person. Selection of sandwiches, cake and savouries. Booking essential.
THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER
THURSDAY 7TH NOVEMBER
THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER

QUIZ MORNING
We now run these twice a month, see below for the next one. Great for a social gathering, a quiz and as always refreshments.
TUESDAY 3RD & 17TH SEPTEMBER
TUESDAY 1ST & 15TH OCTOBER
TUESDAY 5TH & 19TH NOVEMBER
TUESDAY 3RD & 17TH DECEMBER

MEN’S GROUP – Second Monday of the month.
1:30 – 2:30
MONDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
MONDAY 14TH OCTOBER
MONDAY 11TH NOVEMBER
MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER

COFFEE MORNING – SUNDERLAND – Second Wednesday of the month. 10am – noon
WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY 13TH NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 11TH DECEMBER – Xmas

MACULAR MEETING – 4th Wednesday of the month.
1:30 pm – 2:30pm.
WEDNESDAY 23rd OCTOBER – Parkinson UK
WEDNESDAY 27th NOVEMBER – Action On Dementia
WEDNESDAY 11TH DECEMBER – Xmas

SOCIAL GET TOGETHER – Please see dates below.
10am – noon
THURSDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
THURSDAY 17TH OCTOBER
THURSDAY 21ST NOVEMBER

ONGOING SERVICES ON OFFER

Drop in for information or just a chat. Various literature available i.e., Catalogues, information leaflets
Coffee Mornings/Afternoon Tea/Social get together.
Quiz morning’s
Various support groups
Resource Centre
Loan of magnifying equipment
Braille mentoring
IT and Technology Support
Counselling
Benefits/Advocacy
Access to work/Job Club
Living with Sight Loss Event
British Wireless for the Blind Audio Equipment loan

Richard Wood

Sunderland Visually Impaired 10 Pin Bowling Team are now meeting every week at The Sunderland Bowl, 141 High St West, Sunderland at 11AM. New members welcome. Please call Julie Stormont at the Society on 0191 5673939 for more info.