Welcome to the Autumn 2026 Newsletter. We hope that you enjoy reading it and find the information to be useful.
A special welcome to all our new members.

News from the Chief Executive

It is quite frightening to find how quickly the year is passing by. Here we are in October with Christmas only a matter of weeks away!

This year we are holding a Christmas Fayre in the large hall here at 53, St Lukes Terrace, Pallion, Sunderland on Saturday 21st November 2026 between 11am and 1pm. Teas and coffees will be available, a large Tombola stall, a Christmas Raffle, a cake stall, Society Christmas cards and stalls for other charitable organisations are planned. We will be extremely grateful for any contributions towards the event including raffle and tombola prizes, cakes and offers to help on the day.

The event is for everyone – families, children, grandchildren, parents, friends, etc.

Please contact Henry on 0191 5673939.

For the first time, the Society will have some specially printed Christmas cards for sale this year. They will be available at events and in the office here at Pallion. It offers an excellent opportunity for members and others to support the Society.

The annual Christmas Lunch will be held on THURSDAY 3rd December. Due to popular demand we have once again booked lunch at the Three Horseshoes, Leamside, Houghton le Spring. Booking is essential and as numbers are restricted it will be on a first come first served basis. Further details are included within this newsletter.

We are delighted to welcome Veronica Birkbeck as our new Hearing Loss Rehabilitation Specialist. Veronice worked for Sunderland City Council in a similar role and has many years’ experience. Veronica is joining the team as Ken Slowther is unwell. I am sure all members will wish Ken a speedy recovery.

Plans for the 150th Anniversary are progressing well and a full programme will be announced in the winter newsletter.

The new Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital has been officially opened, and the old Sunderland Eye Infirmary is now closed. The Hospital is on Plater Way, Sunderland SR1 3AE. There is plenty of space for car parking. The telephone number is 0191 5244900.

It appears as if the building we occupy here at 53, St Luke’s Terrace has now been sold although we await official confirmation. All of the indications are that the Society will be able to continue into the future.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will now be held on MONDAY 27th January 2027. The change of date has been necessary due to a request from our Accountants who are helping us to appoint an Honorary Treasurer. Full details and accounts will be included in the January newsletter.

Raffle and Tombola Prizes

We rely greatly on donated items for our raffles and have been delighted with all of the contributions made. Each year we hold a Christmas Raffle which raises several thousand pounds for the charity. In addition, this year we are organising a Tombola at a Christmas Fayre. All and any contributions you feel able to contribute will be gratefully received. They can be left with Henry here at Pallion, given to staff or we can arrange to collect. Thank you very much in advance.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Thursday 3rd December and is once again at the Three Horseshoes, Leamside, Houghton-le-Spring.

2 course £20.95 and 3 course £24.95
£5 deposit is required

Starters

Roast winter vegetable and chestnuts soup with Cheddar and herb croutons
Festive prawn cocktail with Marie Rose sauce.
Duck and orange pate with red onion chutney & toast.
Savoury chicken and sage bread and butter pudding with a cranberry cream sauce.
Goats cheese and asparagus tart with beetroot relish.

Mains

Roast breast of turkey with all the trimmings.
Roast brisket of beef with rich gravy.
Luxury seafood pie with cod, salmon, prawn and haddock with buttery mash and cheddar glaze.
Roast butternut squash, mushroom and leek crepe with a brie and thyme gratin.
Venison and root vegetable pie with a red wine gravy.

Desserts

Classic Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.
Mango and passion fruit cheesecake.
Triple chocolate brownie with a peppermint cream.
Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce.
Pistachio and white chocolate tart with raspberry coulis.
Luxury mixed ice cream.

Please ring the office on 0191 5673939 to book your place by Thursday 12th November 2026. We will be providing transport from our office in Pallion to the venue and back if you require a lift, and also for anyone in County Durham.

Counselling Service

Being diagnosed with a sight condition can prove completely life changing. Often, the expectation can be, once diagnosed, to readily adapt and adjust to the changes. The impact of a diagnosis can prove similar to those of any loss or bereavement. There are stages that may need to be overcome. Stages such as, denial, shock, fear, anger. The stages most apparent are usually, emotional and low mood. However, the reality of the changes and expected adjustments can prove overwhelming and challenging. If you or someone supporting you have recognized any of these stages, whether, newly diagnosed or experiencing changes in the existing vision, you may wish to access the counselling service.

Counselling can be a great opportunity to talk to someone in confidence about your thoughts and feelings. It is a confidential, non-judgmental, understanding service that will ensure your anonymity and provide bespoke one to one person centered care.

We can provide face to face support at the Pallion office, by telephone if you are geographically unable to meet in person or have transport or mobility issues. You can choose either weekly or fortnightly contact, depending upon your preference. Each session lasts around one hour and operates upon a booking system that is convenient to you and your availability.

Support is delivered by experienced and qualified counsellor’s, who are members of The BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). Working in accordance to The BACP, Ethical Framework for Good Practice.

Referring into the service is easy. You can make the referral yourself. A friend or family member can make a referral, with your consent. A member of staff, a rehabilitation officer, ECLO or significant other, can make the referral.

If you would like more information about the service, or feel you may benefit from accessing support, please do not hesitate to make contact using one of the options listed below.

Please take some time to think about your own wellbeing. Thank you for reading this article.

Jackie Kent MBACP
Counsellor/Counselling/Clinical Supervisor
Mobile: 07766839901
Email: [email protected]
Society website: www.sundrsb.org.uk
Office telephone number: 0191 5673

IT and Assistive Technology

Google have recently removed Google Assistant from all Android devices and replaced it with an AI assistant called Gemini.
Unfortunately this is a case of progress making the lives of visually impaired people more difficult

Visually impaired users rely on familiar, reliable interactions they can trust without seeing a screen. Google Assistant delivered consistent, straightforward commands that worked the same way every time, with clear, concise verbal feedback. Gemini, by contrast, often prioritizes flexible, conversational creativity over structure; its answers can vary widely in length, format, and clarity, making it harder to anticipate or follow as well as being more slower to respond.

If you used to use Google Assistant on your phone to make calls or send and receive texts and are struggling then contact our Assistive Technology Officer and he might be able to assist you to get some control of your phone back.

Since the opening of the new Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital we had been inundated with new referrals as well as still receiving referrals from Durham Sensory Support team and from Newcastle, Durham and Darlington hospitals this means we currently have over 883 visually impaired individuals who have received Assistive Technology help, advice or equipment donations and are coming to up to 2000 home visits soon. This has meant a bit of a backlog, but we will try our best and get out to see you as soon as possible.

John Walls
Assistive Technology and Employability Officer

Charles Bonnet Syndrome Support Group

The Charles Bonnet Support Group continues to go from strength to strength; however, we are always happy to see new faces. Our group is very informal and friendly and family and friends are always welcome too. We love to hear about other people’s experiences of Charles Bonnet Syndrome and share tips for coping with hallucinations and anxieties caused by the symptoms. The feedback we receive confirms that our group members love the peer support and the informality of the group and the tea and biscuits always go down well.

Dale Burns-Maddison

News from Sunderland Specialist Eye Infirmary

Dear all,
I wanted to update you regarding the i-SIGHT 2 dry AMD study at Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital.
Unfortunately, the Sunderland site has decided to close its participation in the study early. The decision has been made because the hospital team is not able to commit the capacity and staff support required to continue identifying, recruiting and screening patients for the study.
This is disappointing news for the North East, particularly given the level of interest and support we have received locally.
I am very grateful for the help you have each given in raising awareness of the study, sharing information with patients and local groups, and supporting our efforts to identify people who may have been suitable for referral.
As the Sunderland trial site will no longer be recruiting, I would be grateful if any further Sunderland-specific patient awareness or referral activity could now be paused.
The study will continue at other trial centres, and I will keep you informed of progress with the development of the treatment and of any future opportunities that may become relevant to patients in the North East.
Thank you again for all of your support and for the time and effort you have given to helping us raise awareness of the study. It has been genuinely appreciated.
Best wishes,
Philip Jones
Clinical Research Team UK
i-Lumen Scientific
[email protected]

Services and events at Pallion, Sunderland

The Society is very welcoming and always has a tea or coffee available so why not pop in for a chat.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – 2026 SUNDERLAND

53 St Luke’s Terrace, Pallion. Sunderland SR4 6NF

Please contact Henry Hardy on 0191 5673939 for more information or turn up on the day

COFFEE MORNING – Every 2nd Wednesday of the month
10am – 12.00pm

WEDNESDAY 11th NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 9th DECEMBER (Joint event with Macular Support Group)

QUIZ 11am – 12.30pm

TUESDAY 3rd and 17th NOVEMBER
TUESDAY 1st and 15th DECEMBER

MACULAR – Every 4th Wednesday of the month
1.30pm – 3.00pm

WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY 28th OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY 25th NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 9th DECEMBER (joint event with Coffee Morning)

Charles Bonnet Syndrome Support Group

To be held at Pallion commencing 1pm

16th November
14th December

10-PIN 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 Washington Hollywood Bowling Alley except during school holidays. New members always welcome.

For more information on the bowling, you can email Darron McCaul at:- [email protected] or ring the office on 0191 5673939.

Durham Dates

Durham Group North Road

9th Nov 2026,
14th Dec 2026

Stanley Group Masonic Hall

Stanley Social Group will re-start meetings early in 2027at Stanley Masonic Hall, Scott Street, Stanley DH9 8AD. For more details please contact Joanne Peverley on 07595 956 345.

Delves Lane Community Association Consett – Social Group Held at Delves Lane

This new Group meet at Delves Lane Community Association in Consett on the 3rd Monday of each month between 10am and 12pm. This group invites attendees with Sight Loss to come together for support, a cup of tea and a chat. The group included people of all ages from 25 years to 90 years.

We are currently looking for more Volunteers to help with the Groups. If you are interested please contact the office on 0191 5673939

Joanne Peverley, our Community Sensory Support Officer can support with benefits advice, housing, social groups and blue badges.

Development Officer’s News

Help is available with the completion of PIP, Attendance Allowance and ESA forms also migration over to Universal Credit. Support with telephone assessments for benefit checks can also be arranged. I can assist with applying for a Blue Badge, Taxi Card and Bus passes, blind tax allowance and blind concessionary TV license.

Julie Anderson

Sunderland Adult Services

Sunderland Sensory Support is now integrated into Adult Services at Sunderland City Council.

The Team can be contacted on 0191 5205555

County Durham Sensory Support Team

If you are a County Durham resident and need support from the Sensory Support Team please either telephone Social Care Direct on 03000 267979, Text message on 07786 027 280 or e-mail [email protected] They can assess your care and support needs and complete a referral for you.

Meta Glasses and Privacy Concerns

Meta smart glasses, developed by Meta in partnership with Ray-Ban, combine traditional eyewear with modern technology. They allow users to take photographs, record videos, listen to music, make calls and interact with artificial intelligence (AI). These features offer convenience and new ways to communicate, but they also raise significant concerns about privacy, consent, data protection and the potential misuse of personal information.
One of the main privacy concerns is the ability to record people without their knowledge or consent. Unlike smartphones, which are generally visible when someone takes a photograph or records a video, smart glasses have a more discreet design. Although recording indicators are intended to notify others when the glasses are recording, people may not notice them or understand what they mean. This creates the possibility of individuals being filmed in public places, workplaces, shops or social settings without realising it. Consequently, Meta glasses challenge traditional expectations of privacy and make it more difficult for people to know when they are being recorded.
Another important concern relates to the collection, storage and processing of personal data. Smart glasses can capture images, voices and information about a user’s surroundings. Depending on the features being used, AI services may also process information to answer questions or identify objects. Users may be uncertain about what information is collected, how long it is retained, who can access it and whether it is shared with third parties. If personal information is stored or processed insecurely, there is a risk of unauthorised access, data breaches or misuse. Clear privacy policies and meaningful user controls are therefore essential.
The use of artificial intelligence introduces additional ethical questions. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into wearable technology, people may worry about facial recognition, identification and the possibility of monitoring individuals without their permission. Even where a particular feature is unavailable or restricted, the development of more advanced technology could increase these risks in the future. Such concerns are particularly relevant to vulnerable individuals, including children, who may be recorded without understanding the implications.
There are also legal considerations. In the United Kingdom, the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 establish requirements for handling personal data. The Information Commissioner’s Office provides guidance on the use of surveillance technologies and the protection of people’s information. Whether particular recording activities fall within data protection law depends on the circumstances, including who is recording, the purpose of the recording and how the information is used. Nevertheless, individuals and organisations should consider consent, transparency and proportionality when using smart glasses.
Despite these concerns, Meta glasses can provide genuine benefits, including hands-free communication, accessibility features and convenient content creation. The challenge is to balance innovation with responsible use. Manufacturers should provide clear recording indicators, transparent explanations of data practices, strong security measures and accessible privacy settings. Users should also respect others’ privacy, avoid recording sensitive situations without permission and think carefully before sharing footage online.
In conclusion, Meta glasses demonstrate how wearable technology can improve everyday life while creating new privacy challenges. Their discreet recording capabilities and integration with AI make informed consent, responsible data handling and public awareness especially important. By combining appropriate safeguards, effective regulation and responsible behaviour, society can benefit from this technology while protecting individual privacy and trust.

Dale Burns-Maddison

Room Hire

The Society has rooms available to hire at very reasonable competitive rates here at 53, St Luke’s Terrace, Pallion and at Houghton le Spring and District Centre for the Blind. Refreshments can be provided and, if required, lunches can be ordered.

For further details and costs please contact the office on 0191 5673939.

North East Bus Hailer Trial In the North East

The Mayoral Strategic Authority Transport Customer Experience Team, has recently been investigating the possibility of bringing Bus Hailers to the North East. The bus hailers are used for drivers to identify the specific bus the users want to catch. This is especially useful to prevent users from missing buses in busy interchanges where buses may be parked in a different stand as stated, or when a bus is driving into a stand which already has another bus parked at the front. Through a contact in Greater Manchester, we now have three of the TfGM hailers and are looking to reach out to charities and organisations across the region who have expertise and experience on the subject. We think it would be great to carry out a trial/pilot with different groups in our region to ascertain whether bus hailers (or a variation thereof) will be useful to visually impaired residents across our region. As we only have three hailers, we don’t have the capacity to be giving away hailers yet, but would like to give as many people as possible the opportunity to try them out and give us their feedback (and then we can look into creating some North East specific bus hailers for users in our region). We are open to looking into alternatives and variations (such as the possibility to request certain specific services in a similar style printout, rather than the full hailer) and welcome any suggestions.

Following the trial, we would like to organise a workshop/feedback session to discuss next steps. If you would like to collaborate with us on the project, or if you would like to try them out with us, please get in touch via email: [email protected] (Transport Customer Experience Programme Officer, North East Combined Authority) [email protected]

Blindlife in Durham

We are a friendly pro-active group of blind and partially sighted people that meet regularly at events where we have chats and plenty of laughs. We provide monthly talks on a range of subjects, social events; days out together; New Age Curling; and New Age Bowls and Boccia. Blind Life in Durham also enters New Age Curling Competitions with any members wishing to take part.

“We welcome new members and I know for many, the organisation is a lifeline just as volunteering and setting it up was for me.”
And it shows “It is about what we can do”

The founder and Chairman of Blind Life in Durham, Jim Welch, has had to face a lot in his life – losing his mobility and being confined to a wheelchair, he only had sight in one eye from birth and then he lost the sight in his good eye. But Jim, together with his wife Margaret refused to let it get them down.

Not knowing any other people who were blind Jim felt very isolated and depressed. He missed doing things that you take for granted such as reading the paper and being able to do his diary. Jim soon realised there wasn’t much in the way of activities for blind people in his area, so by being introduced to a few visual impaired people Blind Life in Durham was born.

The Group meet at Framwellgate Moor Community Centre, Front Street and hold fortnightly New Age Curling sessions on Saturdays between 1:30pm and 3:30pm at St Pauls Centre, Spennymoor.

Further details are available by sending an email to [email protected]

Who’s Who in the Society

Chairman of the Trustees – Mrs Lynda Scanlan

Chief Executive Officer – Mr Richard Wood

Finance, Administration and Reception – Mr Henry Hardy

Development Officer and Sight Rehabilitation Specialist – Mrs Julie Anderson

Hearing Loss Rehab Officer – Veronica Birkbeck

Sight Loss Rehabilitation Specialist – Dale Burns-Maddison

IT and Assistive Technology Officer – John Walls

Employment Officer – John Walls

Community Sensory Support Officer – Durham – Joanne Peverley

Houghton le Spring Centre Manager – Emma Bontempi

Counselling – Mrs Jackie Kent

Christmas Fayre

Saturday 21st November 2026
11am to 1pm

Stalls, refreshments, entertainment, tombola, raffle and much more

Venue – 53, St Luke’s Terrace, Pallion, Sunderland SR4 6NF

Everyone welcome – families, children, grandchildren, parents, friends, etc.

Donations towards raffle and tombola will be most welcome.