Welcome to the Autumn 2009 Newsletter
Sunderland’s first Sensory Exhibition
Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind, in conjunction with the Sensory Support Team, is hosting what we believe to be the very first Sensory Exhibition to be held in Sunderland. The event will take place on Thursday 12th November 2009 in the Banqueting Suit at the Stadium of Light – home of Sunderland Football Club. The event is called, “Wear Vision – Wear Hear” and will be open to the public between 10am and 4pm. Fraser Kemp MP (President of our Society) will officially open the event at 10am.
There will be demonstrations of specialist equipment, opportunities to seek advice and obtain information on a broad range of issues relating to both visual and hearing impairment. Refreshments will be available and sighted guides will be provided.
Free accessible transport to and from Cowan Terrace (beside Park Lane Bus Station) and the Stadium of Light will be provided by Compass Community Transport throughout the day and admission is free.
It is intended that this will become an annual event and we hope that as many people as possible will attend. Further details are available from the office on 5673939. All Society personnel will be present at the event so please note that our office will be closed on the 12th November.
Planning the way forward
The Trustees of the Society have been working very hard preparing a business plan to map out the future direction of the Society. All of the services currently offered to members have been reviewed, together with lots of thoughts and ideas for the future. The plan also highlights the need to improve facilities and access at our office here at 8, Foyle Street. This is a very exciting time for the Society and highlights the great potential to improve and expand all that we do for visually impaired people throughout Sunderland and North Durham.
Obviously, whatever we do requires funding and so a great deal of time is going to have to be spent raising the necessary capital.
The opportunity to change, improve and grow as a service provider for the visually impaired has never been greater and the Society looks forward to the future with confidence.
Mrs Hilary Welch
Our hard working Office Manager, Hilary, has decided to leave the employment of Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind. Her last working day in the office will be Friday 16th October 2009.
I am sure that all members of the Society will join with us to say a big thank you to Hilary and to wish her well in the future.
Bloomin Marvellous!
Members of the Society’s Gardening Group were thrilled to bits to find that our Sensory Garden in Barley Mow Park had won a Certificate of Merit in the annual Northumbria in Bloom competition. The Awards Ceremony took place in Durham on 14th September 2009.
This is a great achievement and one to be proud of considering that it is less than a year since the Group was formed.
There is plenty of room for more members to join the Gardening Group. It meets twice per month to undertake management work in the Sensory Garden. During the winter months we intend organising guest speakers and occasional visit to other gardens of interest.
Recently the Society was approached by an organisation called Helix Art to explore the possibility of working in partnership with the Gardening Group on an art project in the Sensory Garden. Members of the Group are keen to provide seating in the garden and currently they are working with Helix Art exploring a broad range of options.
Further information about the Gardening Group is available by telephoning Geraldine on 0191 5673939
Sonata Internet Audio Player
As reported in a previous Newsletter the new Sonata Internet Audio Player is available through British Wireless for the Blind Fund. Information on this player is available from British Wireless for the Blind Fund, 10, Albion Place, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 5DZ.
Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind is a local agent for British Wireless for the Blind Fund.
Macular Support Group Meetings
Future meetings of the Sunderland Macular Support Group are as follows;
Wednesday 28th October 2009. The speaker will be Mr L. Dobson of Washington who will speak about his hobby of woodwork, which he continues after developing Macular Disease.
Wednesday 25th November 2009. The speaker will be Michelle Dutton, Group Support Officer for the Macular Disease Society.
Wednesday 16th December 2009 A Christmas Get-together with entertainment for members and friends.
Meetings are held in the Education Room, Sunderland City Library, Fawcett Street and commence at 1:30pm.
Please note - the November meeting will commence at 1pm as the Education Room is booked by another organisation at 3:30pm
Coffee Morning dates for the remainder of 2009
Wednesday 14th October 10am – 12noon
Wednesday 11th November 10am – 12noon
Wednesday 9th December 10am – 12noon
There will be a selection of homemade Christmas cards available to purchase at the October Coffee Morning.
Wear Vision
Recently, the Trustees of Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind registered the name “Wear Vision” as a trading name for the Society. It will not take the place of Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind, but will be available to the Society where it is felt to be appropriate. The name has been incorporated in the Sensory Exhibition at the Stadium of Light on the 12th November 2009.
2010 Diaries
The Macular Disease Society produce large print diaries and we have a supply of these for 2010 in the office. They cost £3:50 each and are proving to be very popular. They are basically the size of a pocket diary only thicker.
News from the Sensory Support Team
Sunderland Council was one of the few Authorities in the country to issue a Visual Impaired Registration card, and those people who requested one were subject to an administration cost. For the past two years the Sensory Support Team have been issuing the new style Visual Impairment registration cards.
These cards are recognised nationally and, unlike the old style, do not require a photograph, are issued free of charge and replace the cards previously issued by Sunderland Council.
The Team are now offering registration cards to all people who are registered with a visual impairment and those who wish to have one should contact the Sensory Support Team, Council Offices, The Broadway, Houghton le Spring. DH4 4UJ or telephone 0191 5662330
Fundraising
Second hand Rose
In order to raise much-needed funds for the Society, we hope to open a temporary Nearly New Shop in the future. The idea is to find premises that are currently vacant and to obtain permission to open a Nearly New Charity Shop for a two to three week period. We are currently appealing for donated items of clothing, bric a brac, furniture and household goods, which we will be able to sell in the shop. Obviously everything we will be able to sell must be in excellent condition. Sadly, we will not be able to accept electrical goods for re-sale.
If anyone has items they would like to donate, please telephone the office on 5673939. Contributions can be donated at 8, Foyle Street and it will also be possible to arrange collection.
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer in High Street West, Sunderland have very kindly agreed that the Society can raise funds within the store on the 3rd, 4th and 5th December 2009. Volunteers are invited to assist shoppers with their bag packing in the food department and, in return, the Society can provide collection buckets for cash donations. Anyone interested in volunteering should telephone the office and speak with Richard
Great Cumbrian Run 2009.
Two young men have very kindly offered to take part in the Great Cumbrian Half Marathon on 25th October 2009 and to raise sponsorship in aid of Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind. The more sponsors who sign up, the greater the funds we will receive. If anyone feels they would like to sponsor the runners please contact the office on 5673939.
Christmas Appeal
As we approach the Christmas period our thoughts automatically go to family and friends and all of the preparation that goes into making Christmas such a memorable time.
There are so many plans to make Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind a much more effective organisation for the benefit of the visually impaired. A great deal of our aspirations requires funding. The Society now enjoys a membership of almost 1,000 people and we would like to take this opportunity of asking if anyone would like to consider making a special Christmas donation towards are future development? Any amount will be most welcome and can be sent to our office at 8, Foyle Street, Sunderland SR1 1LB. Many thanks in anticipation.
Friends of the Society
There are many ways in which the Society can raise much-needed funds. Applications for grants from the local authorities, grant making charitable trusts and the lottery are all dealt with by the office. There are, however, many opportunities to raise funds through smaller scale activities such as Coffee Mornings, Jumble Sales, Raffles and sponsored events. It has been suggested that the Society could form a “Friends of Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind” Group to help plan and organise these events.
This could be a great opportunity to meet and make new friends and to get involved more with the Society. No previous experience is necessary. Anyone interested can telephone the office and speak to Richard on 5673939 for more information.
Computer and IT training
The Society is currently working in partnership with the University, Colleges, Library and Local Authority in order to offer specialist training in the use of computers and IT to any visually impaired person who is interested. We are currently applying for funding in order to purchase the necessary software and to cover the costs of a Tutor. We will keep members up to date in the Winter Newsletter.
Sit and Be Fit
Keep fit classes will be available to members in due course. We are currently exploring potential venues to hold the classes. Further details will be available soon.
Telephone Support and Befriending Service
Funding has now been secured for the Telephone Support and Befriending Service. Special dedicated telephone lines will be installed shortly here at Foyle Street and we will begin training for all of those people who have contacted the Society to offer their services as befrienders.
Young Person’s Group
The Society will be launching a Young Person’s Group early in the New Year. Conversations have taken place with several young visually impaired people and it is clear that there is a demand for such a group. Further details will be included in the Winter Newsletter
World Sight Day
To celebrate World Sight Day on Thursday 8th October 2009 members of the visually impaired community were invited to the City Library and Arts Centre to hear a presentation by local Author, Ann Cleeves. Ann lives in Northumberland and one of her books is to be made into a television drama starring Brenda Bleythn.
Best of Health Awards
Sunderland Eye Infirmary’s Macular Degeneration Team won the prestigious Hospital Team of the Year award in the Sunderland Echo’s Best of Health Awards in July. Scores of patients from the Eye Infirmary nominated the team resulting in them receiving the highest number of nominations.
Useful Vision
Useful Vision is a registered charity based at Riding Mill in Northumberland whose aim is to support children with vision impairment in the North East. A series of events has been organised for children starting with a “Spooky Cooks Kitchen Workshop” to be held on 25th October 2009. This event will be held at Hedworthfield Community Centre, Jarrow between 10am and 3pm.
A Christmas Party will take place on 13th December 2009 at Bede’s World, Jarrow between 10am and 2pm
A Theatre Trip to see Peter Pan will take place on 2nd January 2010 at the Northern Stage.
Further details are available from the charity on 01434 682160
Action for Blind People
Action for Blind People is a national charity that provides practical support to blind and partially sighted people through work, housing, leisure and support.
The organisation is currently being funded by the Northern Rock Foundation to provide housing related support designed to help visually impaired people to live in the home of their choice as independently as possible.
This includes support with re-housing, support to obtain up to date Occupational Therapy and Sensory Needs assessments, coordinate access to services for equipment and adaptations to the home, support to make your home safe and secure and to improve housing conditions such as disrepair, poor heating and energy efficiency.
Anyone wishing to discuss a range of options that may help to improve your housing situation and maximise independence can contact Action for Blind People’s North East team on 01642 233439
Variety of Learning
When at school I couldn’t see,
To do the work that was given to me,
I felt I missed out on quite a lot,
So now I’m going to take a shot,
At something I feel I can do,
I really want to see it through,
So off I go to Manor House for the Blind
Intending to learn in a variety of kind,
With a vocational and social aspect in mind.
As well as the skills I was creating,
The friendly atmosphere was elating,
I worked and socialised to my hearts content,
It seems like it was heaven sent,
Its changed a lot in life for me,
To do things more with ability,
I’m going to College to do a foundation course,
And hope all this takes away the remorse.
Poem composed by Mary Hewison.
And finally
All that remains to be done is to wish all of our members a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year
