Welcome to the Autumn 2011 Newsletter
We would like to offer a very warm welcome to all of the new members who have joined the Society since the publication of the Summer Newsletter. We hope that you enjoy receiving the Newsletter and gain a great deal through your membership. Support, advice, information and friendship are readily available whenever it is needed.
Sunderland Sensory Exhibition
The 3rd annual Sensory Exhibition to be organised by the Society will take place on Wednesday 9th November 2011 at the Stadium of Light. Once again we have a large number of Exhibitors booked in and we will also include demonstrations by Guide Dogs Demonstration Team and by Sit and Be Fit.
Admission is free and free transport is available to and from the Stadium of Light provided by Compass Community Transport. Buses will leave Cowan Terrace beside Park Lane Bus Station every half hour from 10am.
The Exhibition will open at 10am and close at 4pm.
There will be a wide selection of Companies and Businesses who specialise in producing equipment for both sight loss and hearing loss. Several service providers and charities are also attending.
Anyone who requires further information should telephone the Society on 0191 5673939.
Hello and Goodbye!
For six weeks during the summer the Society enjoyed having another Social Work Student, Cheryl Yorston, working in the office. Cheryl was a real pleasure to work with and helped the Society a great deal. We are delighted to learn that Cheryl successfully passed her first year at Sunderland University. We wish her well for the future and thank her for all that she did for the Society.
We would also like to offer a very warm welcome to two new volunteers. Harry and Chris Ellis have been helping out in the office for several weeks now. They both have guide dogs – Alfie and Faith.
Anyone telephoning the office on a morning will usually be greeted with Harry’s very friendly voice and Chris is proving popular with members and visitors who just need to have a friendly and sympathetic chat.
Society Holidays
Turkey and Tinsel Holiday
A Turkey and Tinsel holiday has been booked at the Doric Hotel, Blackpool on 28th November 2011. The cost is £179 per person and includes dinner, bed and breakfast, together with travel to and from the Doric Hotel. A non refundable deposit of £30 per person is required. Please contact Lynn on 0191 5673939 for further details and availability. There are still places available but must be booked very quickly.
10 Pin Bowling
The Society entered a couple of teams in the National Blind Ten Pin Bowling League. The teams met once per fortnight during the summer and autumn at the bowling alley on High Street West. Professional Coaches helped each participant and the scores from each match were e-mailed direct to the League Headquarters.
We are now entering teams for the Trios Winter League. If anyone feels they would like to learn more or take part please contact the office on 0191 5673939.
Socialeyez
Change of venue
Due to its proximity to public transport Socialeyez will now be held fortnightly on a Wednesday at the Cooper Rose in Vine Place, Sunderland. The Cooper Rose is only a couple of minutes walk from Park Lane Interchange and it also offers evening meals and drinks promotions.
One of the groups most recent meetings, which was held on Wednesday September 21st proved to be very successful. The group discussed a range of activities and events they would like to participate in over the coming months and into next year, including comedy nights and a weekend holiday. The group also arranged to meet for coffee at Starbucks on Saturday October 1st. Since June of this year, when Socialeyez began, all members of the group have been extremely keen on attending a comedy night. Hopefully this will be arranged very soon.
New members are always welcome, so if you are interested in joining Socialeyez please do not hesitate to get in touch with the office on 0191 5673939.
Feel free to browse our website at: www.social-eyez.co.uk
Or find us on Facebook
Geoff Smart
Socialeyez Chairman
Monthly Coffee Morning dates for 2011
Please note that the November Coffee Morning has been cancelled as it would clash with the Sensory Exhibition at the Stadium of Light on 9th November.
Wednesday 14th December
Macular Matters
Sunderland Macular Support Group meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:30pm in the Education Room of Sunderland City Library, Fawcett Street, Sunderland. The Group usually organise a day trip in August rather than hold a meeting. This year they thoroughly enjoyed a visit Wallington Hall in Northumberland on Wednesday 17th August.
New members are always welcome and meetings are very well attended.
Meetings for the remainder of the year will take place as follows;
Wednesday 23rd November – Henry Murison from RNIB
Wednesday 21st December – Christmas Party
Gardening Group
The Gardening Group have been very busy managing the Sensory Garden at Barley Mow Park. Once again the project has been entered into the Sunderland in Bloom competition and the judges have visited the garden twice this year. The results will be known in due course.
During the winter months a series of meetings will be held to plan for next year.
Anyone interested in joining the Gardening Group would be most welcome and it does not matter if you have gardening experience or not as support is always on hand. Please telephone the office on 0191 5673939 for further information.
Sunderland Sensory Support Team
Sunderland Sensory Support Team are located at;
The Independent Living Centre,
Claymere Road,
Leechmere,
Sunderland
SR2 9TS
Office hours are;
Monday to Thursday – 8:30am to 5:15pm
Friday – 8:30am to 4:45pm
The Team can be contacted on 0191 5205555
A member of the Sensory Support Team attends the Society’s Monthly Coffee Mornings and each Macular Support Group meeting.
Nearly New Shop
We are still trying to obtain permission to use an empty shop in Sunderland so that we can run a Nearly New Shop for 2 weeks to raise funds for the Society. It is proving to be difficult despite so many properties being empty. However, we will not give up on our search and as soon as we do manage to open one we will let everyone know through the Newsletter. We would like to thank everyone who kindly donated goods for us to sell in order to raise much needed funds for the Society.
We are still collecting clothing, bric a brac, toys, books, household goods, etc to sell so if you have any items to donate please telephone Lynn on 0191 5673939 to arrange collection.
Sunderland RP Support Group
A support group for anyone who suffers from RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) has been formed by the Society. The group will meet on first Friday of each month at 2pm in the City Library, Fawcett Street, Sunderland. Anyone with an interest in RP is welcome to attend and further information is available from the office on 0191 5673939.
Future meetings will be held on the following dates;
Friday 4th November – Speaker will be Linda Oliver of Guide Dogs UK
Friday 2nd December – Speaker to be confirmed
Sunderland Aquatic Centre
The speakers at the Macular Support Group held on 26th October were from Sunderland Aquatic Centre. They were extremely enthusiastic about the Centre and all of the facilities available to the public.
There are several blind and visually impaired people who regularly make use of the Aquatic Centre swimming pool and the gym. The Centre Support Team take great care of anyone who needs assistance and will even meet people off buses and taxis and take them into the Centre.
Several members of the Macular Support Group expressed interest in visiting the Aquatic Centre to have a guided tour and we have agreed to explore this.
Anyone who is interested in a visit should telephone Lynn on 0191 5673939 to book a place.
Christmas Appeal
With only a few weeks to go to Christmas, it is a busy time for everyone with shopping, writing cards and wrapping presents. It is also a very difficult time financially for many people, particularly given the current economic situation around the World.
All charities are finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds in order to deliver services at this time and Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind is no exception.
We depend so much on the generosity of so many people – even though they themselves are experiencing difficulties.
May I take this opportunity of asking everyone if they would consider making a donation to the Society this Christmas? All contributions would be welcome – no matter how large of small.
The Society can offer so much to blind and partially sighted people for relatively small sums. Any donation you may feel able to give will be extremely welcome and will help to make a difference to our members.
Thank you very much
Richard Wood
Newsletters
Newsletters are also available in large print or by e-mail. If you would prefer to receive yours in either format please call the office and speak to Scott.
Society Newsletters are also available in audio via our website www.sundrsb.org.uk
