October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Did you know that breast screening is the best way to detect breast cancers early, when they are more easily treatable and before any signs or symptoms appear. So even if you feel fit and healthy, it’s really important that you still attend when invited.
Having a mammogram is nothing to worry about. It’s quick and easy and only takes 10 minutes and the friendly staff are on hand if you do have any concerns. So if you’re a women aged between 50-71, look out for your invitation letter coming through the post (every 3 years) and please, don’t ignore it, it could save your life.
For more information visit https://www.gatesheadhealth.nhs.uk/services/breast-screening/
And if you’ve missed your appointment or need to change it for whatever reason, don’t worry, just contact your local screening centre to book another appointment at a date and time to suit you. Tel: 0191 445 2554
#GatesheadHealth #breastscreening #breastcancer #selfcare #earlydetectionsaveslives #breastcancerawarenessmonth
Mike runs the Great North Run for the Society
Photo is of one of our members – Mike Crozier and his partner, Susan, who ran the Great North Run. Susan acted as Mike’s guide runner. They raised over £600 for Guide Dogs and around £400 for Sunderland and County Durham Royal Society for the Blind. Sponsorship money is still coming in.
Mike’s aim was to complete the course and stay alive! He did this in style and raised over £1,000 for the two charities.
Thank you Mike and Susan.
Sensory Support Day – Thursday 10th October at Bishop Auckland Market Place
Sensory Support Day – Thursday 10th October at Bishop Auckland Market Place
From 9:30 – 4:00
Do you struggle with your hearing or eyesight and need help?
Why not come along to our Sensory Support day and meet dedicated services, who work across County Durham to provide advice and guidance for people with vision or hearing impairments?
On Thursday 10th October, you can find us at Bishop Auckland Market Place from 9:30-4pm where the following services will be available to speak to:
- Action Deafness
- Durham Deafened Support
- Sunderland and Durham Royal Society for the Blind
- Durham County Council Sensory Support Team
We will have information for you to take away and a variety of equipment aids we can demonstrate to help overcome some hurdles for people who have vision and hearing impairments. There is also space on the bus for anyone needing to chat about the services we offer and we can take referrals too.
You will find us based in the Melissa Bus, which is a double decker bus parked in Bishop Auckland Market Place
We look forward to meet you and answer any questions you have!
Latest News and Updates
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
BOWLING
Why not pop along and meet up with The Sunderland Visually Impaired 10 Pin Bowling Team the ‘Sunderland Spinners’. They meet up each Thursday morning at The Riverside Bowl, Unit G, Colima Avenue, Sunderland, SR5 3XD at 11am except school holidays. New members always welcome.
For more information on the bowling, you can email Darron McCaul at:- admin@ibtbl.com or ring the office on 0191 5673939.
BRITISH WIRELESS FOR THE BLIND
We continue to be an agent obo BWFB who provide audio devices to those needing equipment to listen to audio books or play music. There are various players available on loan free of charge. Please call Julie Stormont to see if you meet the criteria to borrow one of these or find out what else may be available to you.
If you require any further information on any of the above services, please call 0191 5673939 or email office@sundrsb.org.uk and we 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.
Sunderland City Council’s Links for Life Fund
The Society has been extremely fortunate to be awarded funding through the City Council’s Links for Life Fund. This will enable us to offer many services for the benefit of visually impaired people and their families.
Services include;
• Monthly Coffee Mornings
• Monthly Afternoon Teas
• Monthly Social meetings
• Monthly Men’s Support Group
• Quizzes
• Monthly Macular Support Group
• One to one IT training
• Access to our professional Counselling service
• Healthy Lifestyle Activities
• Monthly LGBT Support Group
• Weekly Braille lessons
Anyone interested in attending these activities should telephone the office on 0191 5673939 for more information.
Morrison’s Supermarket supports the Society
Morrison’s Supermarket supports the Society
The Morrisons Foundation is the charity wing of Morrison’s Supermarket and they have very generously donated £5,340 to the Society. The funding is to support the work of the Society helping to ensure that services for people with sight loss continue to be available in the future.
We are extremely grateful to the Foundation for their support.
Sunderland and County Durham Royal Society for the Blind is one of the oldest charities providing support, services, information and advice for visually impaired people, their families and carers. It enjoys a membership of over 3,000 people of all ages.
The grant from the Morrison’s Foundation of £5,340 will make a tremendous difference to the Society and enable us to provide many more healthy lifestyle activities designed to address physical health and mental health.
Richard Wood, Chief Executive for the Society says, “Losing one’s sight is often compared to a bereavement. Even those who appear to be coping, can still encounter difficult and challenging situations from time to time. Whether, newly diagnosed or living with an existing sight condition, it can prove to be life changing. It can impact upon communication, mobility, socialising, self-care and even decision making, an initial shock, an element of denial, anger and more often, despair and outbursts of emotion. This pathway is perfectly understandable, as life is about to change. The Society exists to help anyone who is visually impaired.
