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Holly and Berries

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2Vision South West Winter 2016 Newsletter

Registered Charity Number 205913 (England and Wales) SC040050 (Scotland)Action for blind people (logo)Working with RNIB

3Vision South West Winter 2016 Newsletter

IntroductionHello and Welcome to the Winter Edition of Vision South West Magazine. Taking us into 2017 Vision South West will be replaced by a new look newsletter called RNIB Connect. Therefore, this is the last edition of our newsletter. Please read on for further information. If you would like to contact the VSW Production Team regarding this or any other matter please call Claire Rose on 0117 953 7750.

From Claire, Janet and Eunice (the VSW Production Team) we wish you a joyful festive period and a peaceful New Year.

What is RNIB Connect?RNIB Connect is a growing community of blind and partially sighted people, their friends, families and supporters. Think of it as a diverse network of individuals and groups.

The key purpose of RNIB Connect is to bring people together, to combat isolation, and strengthen the voices of blind and partially sighted people in campaign for change.

It’s about connecting people with others, to local activities, groups and organisations.

It’s a helpful, enjoyable and welcoming place for social connection and mutual support.

And it’s free to join!


4What do people get when they join RNIB Connect?Regular CommunicationsAt the beginning of each month people can expect to receive a magazine called Connect in the format of their choice. As soon as they join they will receive the most recent edition which brings them current news about the community and what’s going on in RNIB Group.

e News BulletinsThese email bulletins will be sent to you every fortnight and are themed around popular topics; they include tips, stories and news on events happening across the UK.

Digital MediaInformation is shared across a wide range of different media including RNIB Connect radio on Freeview channel 730; Facebook and Twitter, so there’s lots of ways to keep up to date with what is happening.

Meeting other blind and partially sighted peopleThere are lots of local social and activity groups available for you to go to. Being a member of the community will enable you to find out what’s available locally more easily. We have staff in our central teams who can tell you what’s on in your area and put you in touch with the local RNIB Connect Community Welcome Team. The ‘Welcome Team’ is made up of blind and partially sighted people who volunteer their time to support the community. As a member of RNIB Connect you’ll hear what’s going on in your local area and how to get involved, and if you want to start up a group yourself then we’ll help you do that too.


5Telephone Support GroupsYou don’t have to leave the comfort of your own armchair to be able to connect with new people. Talk and Support is a service RNIB provides that enables people to join up with people by telephone who have similar interests. All that is needed is access to a landline telephone and there is no cost to take part.

Connecting OnlineOur new website is launching this November which provides opportunities to chat with other people, find out what’s happening in your area, post blogs, and share stories and information. To sign up visit www.rnib.org.uk/connect.

Local and National CampaignsFrom lobbying Parliament to signing a petition on the dangers of street furniture there are many ways to influence decision-makers and raise awareness of how sight loss affects daily living. Whether you’re an armchair activist or like to get out and about, RNIB Campaigns Team can help people get involved in campaigning activities and it’s another great way to meet like-minded people.

VolunteeringThere are many different ways people can put their skills and experience to good use. Being a member of the community you will get to hear of lots of opportunities to use your own experience and knowledge for the benefit of other people. Support is provided every step of the way. Here is a sample of the many roles that you might hear about: Community Welcome Team volunteers (Community Connectors, navigators, social group leads, campaigners); Steering groups such as Customer Council; Management Advisory Groups;Telephone group facilitator;


6Blog writer. Roving Reporter for RNIB Connect Radio.

Our Connect Team will be calling you sometime over the next few weeks to see if you’d like to join the Connect community. If you’d like to speak to someone before then, or have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us on: 0303 1234 555 or email [email protected].

If you’re interested in getting involved in the planning and shaping of things happening locally to you, please contact your South West Community Facilitator; Sophie Fox on 0117 934 1720 or email [email protected].

Flu Jabs!Don’t put off the flu vaccination – it’s free because you need it

The Stay Well This Winter (SWTW) campaign has launched which encourages vulnerable people including people with long-term health conditions and anyone aged over 65 to get the free flu jab.

Flu is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious complications if you have a long-term health condition.

The free vaccine is also offered to other groups at particular risk of infection and complications, including - anyone aged 65 and over; residents of long-stay care homes; carers. Those eligible should contact their GP or pharmacist as appropriate, to arrange vaccination.

And if you are the main carer of an older or disabled person you may be eligible for the free flu jab, speak to your GP.

If you are eligible for the flu vaccine get it now – it’s free because you need it. Contact your GP, pharmacist or midwife to the get the flu jab.


7Update from Heather Banks, Engagement OfficerIt has been an exciting few months here at Action for Blind People as I have been out and about raising awareness to teams across Bristol who work with people with sight loss who can benefit from our services including: Bristol City Council’s Care Direct Team; Bristol Eye Hospital; Age UK; Dementia Wellbeing Service. I organised a well-attended stakeholder event with the theme of ‘Collaborative Working and Confidence Building for people with sight loss’ which showcased our Living with Sight Loss courses and our Rehabilitation service – there is a strong commitment from services to work together which is really encouraging.

I look forward to doing more work with services across South Gloucestershire, BANES, North Somerset, Gloucestershire and Somerset.

If you have any thoughts about how I can raise awareness of Action’s services across the geographic regions that we cover I would love to hear from you – my phone number is 0117 9341708 and email is [email protected]

Book a FREE Home Fire Safety Visit todayAvon Fire & Rescue Service offer a free service delivered in your home to provide you with information about fire safety specific to your circumstances. It usually takes around twenty minutes to complete.

The visit includes:

o A risk assessment of your home.


8o Safety advice where required, including a ‘night time routine’ of measures that can keep you safer at a vulnerable time.

o Help in making an escape plan, including advice on ‘staying put’ if you have mobility issues and/or your escape routes being blocked by fire.

o A check of your fire alarms and the fitting of new ones if required, including installation of Deaf Smoke Alarms all free of charge.

If you are interested in having a free Home Fire Safety Visit and live in the Avon region (Bristol, B&NES, South Glos, North Somerset) then please:

Call: 0117 926 2061 and quote agency code AFBP.

Once received, a fire officer will contact you in order to make an appointment at a date and time convenient to you.

Better Journey CardsFirstgroup have designed some helpful cards for people to print out and carry with them, to show the bus driver when they get on the bus to help with a better, safer journey. You can download them and print out at home.

The Safe Journey card has messages such as “Please speak slowly, I am hard of Hearing” , “Please be Patient, I am visually impaired”, and another saying “Driver, please let me know when we get to...” where you can write in your destination stop.https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/node_images/Safe_Journey_Card.pdfThe Better Journey card has messages such as “Please count out my change with me”, and “Please scan my pass for me”https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/node_images/Better_Journey_card.pdf


9Meeting groups in Bristol for Braille enthusiastsAre you a Braille reader, or want to become one? Do you think Braille deserves to be more widely taught and used? Would you like Braille technology to be more affordable?

A community group called the Braillists meets regularly in the Watershed, Bristol, to test out new technology, learn about Braille resources and advocate for greater Braille provision. Founded in 2014 it now has over 240 members across the country, with the Bristol group one of the most active.

They have worked with transcribers, Braille libraries and New College Worcester. One of their most exciting projects is a radically more affordable multiline Braille e-reader called Canute, being developed by Bristol Braille Technology for under £600. The Braillists help test and design the Canute as co-developers.

If you'd like to know more, sign up to the newsletter (http://braillists.org/forum/signup/), join the conversation online(http://braillists.org/forum/) or learn more about the Canute (http://bristolbraille.co.uk/).

Dates for Your Diary Crafts and BasketryTuesday afternoons 2.00 - 4.00pm. Cost £2.00Last meeting before Christmas 20 December, re-start 10 January.

Coffee Morning Thursday mornings 10.00 – 12 noon. Cost 50pLast meeting before Christmas 22 December, re-start 5 January.

Wednesday Drop-in Sessions Wednesday Afternoon Open meetings 2.00 - 4.00pm


10Last meeting before Christmas 21 December, re-start 4 January.

Macular Society Friday mornings 10.00 – 12 noon. Cost £1.002 December, 6 January, 3 February, 3 March.

U3A Short Story Group Monday mornings 10.00 – 12 noon. Cost £1.005 December, 9 January, 6 February, 6 March.

U3A Reading Group Monday mornings 10.00 – 12 noon. Cost £1.0012 December, 16 January, 13 February, 13 March.

Items For SaleMerlin LCD CCTV for Sale4 years old. VGC£700.00 ono.Call Simon Brooks Tel 0117 974 1376

Omega HD MagnifierMagnifies from 1 - 25Still boxed never usedCost £800 new a bargain at £250Please phone Ron Barry on 0117 963 2336 or 07796 465 989

Four Audio Described Christmas shows for your diaryBath Theatre Royal7 January 2017 - Aladdin Box office: 01225 448844


11Bristol Old Vic7 January- The Snow QueenBox Office: 0117 987 7877

Bristol Hippodrome16 December – CinderellaDisability Liaison Officer: 0117 302 3222

Weston Super Mare Playhouse28 December – Beauty and the BeastBox Office: 01934 645544

Action for Blind People10 Still House Lane, Bristol, BS3 4EBTel: 0117 953 7750 Fax: 0117 953 7751 Email: [email protected] Registered Charity No. 205913 (England and Wales) SC040050 (Scotland)


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