SIGHTLINEWinter 2016

Welcome to the Winter Edition of

Support 4 Sight’s Newsletter

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Supporting people with sight loss in EssexRegistered Charity number: 1074812

A Very Merry Christmas to all our readers

News from Support 4 Sight

Holiday Closing Dates for the CentreThe Centre in Saffron Walden will be closed from noon on Friday 23 December. We will be open again from Wednesday 4 January 2017. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2017 Diaries and CalendarsWe have Large Print 2017 pocket diaries, desk diaries and wall calendars in stock. The prices are:

Pocket Diary £6.00Desk Diary £8.70Wall Calendar £6.00

You can call into the Support 4 Sight Centre to buy them, or phone us on 01799 523700 if you would like us to post items out to you.

Christmas StarsWould you like to remember a special person and dedicate one of our Christmas Stars to them? Support 4 Sight Christmas Stars are featured in our shop window from now until 3rd January 2017. Write a name or message on the tag provided and tie it to a star for a donation (minimum donation £2). Your kind donation will help lighten the load for a visually impaired person in Essex this Christmas.To find out more please contact Support 4 Sight by telephone on 01799 523700 or email fundraising@support4sight.org.uk.

Saffron Players perform Sleeping Beauty! Join us for an afternoon of fun and frolics at this matinee pantomime performance at Saffron Walden Town Hall on Saturday January 21st. Tickets are £8 each, just call the Centre to reserve your ticket.

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AGMThe AGM was held on 25th October at our Centre in George Street, Saffron Walden. There has been a lot of change over the year including new trustees, a peer mentors project and the launch of the Support 4 Sight video. We also held a Family Fun Day and started a new coffee morning in Chelmsford. We have 166 members, 84 volunteers and provided support to an additional 910 people with sight loss this year.

Thank you to everyone who supported us over the last 12 months. We’re look forward to an even better 2017!

Fundraising Evening at Saffron ScreenOn Monday 19th September, Saffron Screen hosted a special presentation of the moving documentary, Notes on Blindness, a powerful portrayal of sight loss issues. Paul gave a talk before the film; this was an ideal opportunity for people to learn about Support 4 Sight services. Tees Law kindly sponsored a bar for the night; we also held a raffle, sold refreshments and a collection was taken.

A fantastic £285.37 was raised! A big thank you to everyone who came, our Support 4 Sight volunteers and to Tees Law. Oh, and to Natalie for all her organising work.

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Saffron Walden Golf clubSupport 4 Sight was honoured to be chosen by Saffron Walden Golf Club as their Charity of the Year for 2015-16. During this time the Club, captained by Chris Porter and Ladies Captain Jaine Fieldhouse, raised an incredible total of £15,000! Chris also raised another £1,000 at the final Dinner Dance by singing a rendition of a Max Bygraves number. Well done Chris! We have also received a further £2,300 from Branden Chapman, the Seniors Captain.

A fantastic year and a simply amazing amount raised. We would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who were involved with supporting the Club.

Late Night ShoppingWe also had a very festive time at Late Night Christmas Shopping in Saffron Walden on the 2nd December. We sold a variety of knitted crafts and candles on our stall and made a very impressive £325!

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Mark Start from Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre with Seymour & Natalie.

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Support 4 Sight Events and Activities

Coffee Mornings Do come and join us for a cup of tea or coffee at your local group. If you have any questions about the coffee mornings, or for information on how to get to the venues, contact us on 01799 523700.

HarlowOn the second Tuesday of each month at the Potter Street Baptist Church ‘Coffee Stop‘, 98 Potter Street, Harlow CM17 9AW, 10.30am until noon.Dates: 10th January, 14th Feb, 14th March, 11th April.

ChelmsfordLast Wednesday of each month at the Village Hall, 158 Main Road, Broomfield, CM1 7AH, 1.30pm to 3pm. Please note the afternoon times and that January’s date is not the last Wednesday of the month.Dates: 18th January, 22nd Feb, 29th March, 26th April.

Saffron Walden Last Tuesday of every month at the Bowls Club, Abbey Lane, 10:30am till noon. Dates: 31st January, 28th Feb 28th March, 25th April.Great Dunmow Second Thursday of every month at Banks Court, Chequers Lane, 10.30am till noon. Dates: 12th January, 9th February, 9th March, 13th April.

Braintree Last Thursday of every month at Church House, St Michaels Lane, 10:30 to noon. Dates: 26th January, 23rd February, 30th March, 27th April.

For more information please call Stephanie Emberson on 01799 523700

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Braintree Support GroupThis meeting is always held on the second Wednesday of the month, from 2pm to 3.30pm, at Braintree Baptist Church, Blyth's Meadow, Coggeshall Road, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3DA. We have speakers from many different organisations and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. We are very lucky to have great support from the Rotary Club who transport some of the members and who also put on wonderful teas for us at different times of the year.

Dates: 11th January, 8th February, 8th March, 12th April.

Focus Days & Exhibitions We are in the process of organising our focus days and exhibitions for 2017, aiming to have a range of suppliers with all kinds of useful advice and low vision aids attending.

We will be sending out information early next year once we have dates confirmed.

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Support 4 Sight Recent Outings and Events

Low Vision ExhibitionsWe held two low vision exhibition days in October – one at Saffron Walden Bowls Club on 22nd and the other at Church House, Braintree on 27th October. These were very well attended with over 50 people at each event. We are very grateful to Church House and to the Saffron Walden Bowls Club for allowing us to use their premises.

We will be sending out information on our 2017 exhibitions early next year.

Social TripsThe Support 4 Sight social calendar has been rather busy of late! In October we went to The Bull Inn in Blackmore End, near Wethersfield. The food and service was excellent and the portions were very generous!

Also in October a group of theatre loving S4S members went to see Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, performed by the amazing Pantaloons Theatre Group.

The cast of three played a host of characters, sang, made us laugh and also feel very uncomfortable as the eerie story was re-told. The performance was held in Radwinter Church near Saffron Walden.

In November Support 4 Sight members had another social lunch at The Green Man in Lindsell. Just for once, we were all on one table, which was lovely! Again the food and service was excellent and Eric’s panna cotta was much admired before being devoured!

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NoticeboardGive As You Live Donate money to Support 4 Sight through your online shopping at no extra cost to you. This is a great fundraiser for us and is easy to use –please let all of your family and friends know about it in the run-up to Christmas. You need to register with www.giveasyoulive.com and choose Support 4 Sight as your charity, then follow the online links and start shopping.

You can shop for products from thousands of leading online retailers, use their price comparison tool to ensure you get the best price and even save money by using the exclusive offers and deals available on the site.

RecyclingIf you have any old jewellery, mobiles, stamps or Canon or HP printer cartridges (branded only) that you are looking to dispose of, please do pass them on to us for recycling. Everything we recycle helps to raise funds for Support 4 Sight and goes towards the many services we provide. Any items can be dropped off at our Centre in Saffron Walden during opening hours. Alternatively you can just put them though the letterbox.

We also take donations of items to sell on eBay or on our bookstall. For any more information about our recycling services, please contact us on 01799 523700.

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Focus On

NHS Campaign: Stay Well This WinterThis campaign encourages people aged 65+ and people with long-term health conditions to prepare for winter.

Winter conditions can be seriously bad for our health, especially for people aged 65 or older, and people with long-term conditions. Being cold can raise the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. The cold and damp weather, ice, snow and high winds can all aggravate any existing health problems and make us more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. But there are lots of things you can do to stay well this winter.

Feeling unwell? Don’t Wait – See Your PharmacistAt the first sign of a winter illness, even if it’s just a cough or cold, get advice from your pharmacist, before it gets more serious. Pharmacists are fully qualified to advise you on the best course of action. This can be the best and quickest way to help you recover and get back to normal. If you can’t get to a pharmacist yourself, ask someone to go for you or call your local pharmacy.

Make Sure You Get Your Flu Jab The flu virus strikes in winter and it can be far more serious than you think. Flu can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and it can be deadly. That’s why the flu jab is free if you’re aged 65 or over, or if you have a long-term health condition.

If you have children or grandchildren aged two, three or four, or in school years one, two and three, they are eligible for a free flu vaccination.

If you are the main carer of an older or disabled person you may also be eligible for the free flu jab. Just speak to your GP or pharmacist.

You can also find more information at www.nhs.uk/getflujab

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And don’t forget that if you’re aged 65 or over, you also are eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine, which will help protect you from pneumococcal diseases such as pneumonia. Consult your GP for information.

Check your medicine cabinetAsk your pharmacist which medicines should be in your cabinet to help get you and your family through the winter season.

Many over-the-counter medicines (including paracetamol and ibuprofen) are available to relieve symptoms of common winter ailments, such as colds, sore throat, cough, sinusitis or painful middle ear infection (earache). So talk to your pharmacist for advice on getting the relief you need.

To manage winter illness symptoms at home:

Rest Drink plenty of fluids Have at least one hot meal a day to keep your energy levels up Use over-the-counter medications to help give relief.

PrescriptionsMake sure you get your prescription medicines before your pharmacy or GP practice closes for Christmas. You can also order your repeat prescriptions online. To sign up to GP online services ask at your practice or to find out more visit nhs.uk/GPonlineservices .

If you’ve been prescribed antibiotics or any other medication, make sure you take them as directed.

Where to go for the right medical care:

For life threatening emergencies call 999

Call 111 if you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. This service is available for clinical advice, assessment and for direction to the most appropriate services for treatment.

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For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or local pharmacist. You can also access NHS advice at www.nhs.uk.

For more information and advice visit www.nhs.uk/staywell

Tips for Keeping Warm in WinterAs the nights close in and the weather gets colder we start to think about how best to keep warm. As we get older we tend to move around less frequently and also our bodies respond differently to the cold and this can leave us vulnerable to the effects of the cold. Here are a few ideas to help keep you warm.

Keeping Your House Warm

Use Tin Foil: One way to prevent unnecessary heat loss from radiators, particularly those attached to external walls, is to use heat reflective aluminium foil behind the radiator. This prevents heat disappearing through the wall by reflecting it back into the room. You can buy radiator foil from DIY centres or even use even use good quality kitchen foil.

Use Thick Curtains: Heat is often lost through windows so curtains with thermal linings are worth thinking about and are relatively cheap. If you don't want to splash out on new curtains you can have them lined with materials like cheap fleece or use PVC shower curtains. Placing a curtain in front of doors to the outside adds another layer of protection.

Let the Sunlight in During the Day: It's important to try to use as much natural - and free - heat (in the form of sunlight) as possible. Window shades and curtains should be kept open during the day. Closing your curtains as soon as dusk falls will maximise your house's potential to retain that heat.

Consider Double Glazing: This option is heat-efficient but it's relatively costly. If you can't afford it, why not fake it? A special film is available that can be put across single-glazed windows. You attach

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the film to the window frame using double-sided tape and then fix it using a hairdryer. There's a downside, however, as you won't be able to open your windows without breaking the seal. But a pack to cover a medium-sized house costs about £15. Watch Out for Mini-Draughts: It's worthwhile putting an extra barrier in front of letterboxes in the form of a brush. The same goes for keyholes, which can be protected with simple circular keyhole covers that slip over the top. Cat or dog flaps can also be filled with some sheep's wool insulation or pieces of blanket. Use ‘sausage dog’ draught excluders at the bottom of doors.

Keeping Your Body Warm

Keep Moving if You Can: Not always easy but try not to sit still for too long and – maybe get up and make yourself a warm drink. Chair based exercises can be useful if walking is difficult – move your arms and legs, and wiggle your toes.

Have Hot Meals and Drinks: These will help to keep you warm. Have a nice hot drink before you go to bed – and you could even think of taking a flask to keep by your bed.

Keep Your Whole Body Warm: It’s better to wear lots of thin layers rather than one thick layer. Modern materials, such as fleecy tops, are very lightweight but also very warm. Don’t forget that thermal underwear, warm tights and socks are also very important.When sitting at home you might find that a shawl or blanket will be very useful. Again modern lightweight fleecy fabrics are very effective. Don’t forget that air is slightly cooler at ground level so if you keep your feet raised they will stay that bit warmer.

Wear warm clothes in bed, including thermal underwear, bed socks and even a hat if that helps! Your body can lose an awful lot of heat through the head. Use a hot water bottle or electric blanket in bed, but don’t use both at the same time as this can be dangerous.

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If you do use an electric blanket don’t forget to check if it can be left on all night or if it’s only designed to warm the bed before you get in. Electric blankets should also be checked every 3 years by an expert. There are various heated cushions and warmers available to buy. For example the Heated Cushion with Foot pockets at £14.99 from Coopers in Bishops Stortford – you plug it in and it heats up electrically. This product is available on Coopers Website at www.coopersofstortford.co.uk. It has not been tested by us here at Support 4 Sight.

The Guardian Newspaper – Ideas for Xmas PresentsWith the festive season again upon us, we have spotted a range of modestly priced Guardian and Guardian-related puzzles which could make nice Christmas gifts. Here’s one we can really recommend:

Eric Westbrook's 3D crossword puzzle calendar. Each month has its own puzzle. As a bonus it is linked online to a monthly prize competition and a newsletter for the solutions. There is a program available for downloading that enables totally blind solvers to take part.  Of each purchase price of £12.99, £5 goes to the BBC Children in Need Appeal, with the remaining net profit shared between BBC CiNA and the RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning. Everything is better explained at www.calendarpuzzles.co.uk where the 2017 calendar may be ordered.

Cheque Writing GuidesThose of us who write cheques face the problem that there is not a single common writing guide that can be used for the cheques of all banks. Each bank has its own layout for you to write details of the payee, amount and date and, of course, your signature. We have checked with several local banks and none of them have a ready supply of guides. We were informed by Nationwide, Barclays and Halifax that they will order on request, so if you would like a cheque writing guide, please get in touch with your local branch.

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Christmas Fun

Five Interesting Yuletide FactsStockings - Hanging stockings out comes from the Dutch custom of leaving shoes packed with food for St Nicholas's donkeys. He would leave small gifts in return.

Christmas Songs - Jingle Bells was the first song broadcast from space when Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang it on December 16, 1965.

Christmas Pudding - Christmas pudding was originally a soup made with raisins and wine.

The Many Names of Santa - Santa has different names around the world - Kris Kringle in Germany, Le Befana in Italy, Pere Noel in France and Deushka Moroz (Grandfather Frost) in Russia.

Tangerines - The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.

…and last but not least, a few seasonal jokes

Mummy, mummy! Can I have a puppy for Christmas?No, you can have turkey like the rest of us.

What did the reindeer say before he started his comedy routine?This will sleigh you.

What do Santa’s Little Helpers learn in school?The Elf-abet!

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Contact us

If you want to speak to us at Support 4 Sight, our Centre is open from 9.30am to 2.30pm; telephone 01799 523700. You’re welcome to drop in without an appointment, for a chat and a coffee. It’s a good opportunity to meet the staff, our volunteers and other members.

Here is the list of staff at Support 4 Sight:

Madeleine Cassidy – DirectorPaul Atkins – Resource Centre and Volunteer ManagerLinda Pollard & Michael Lovell – Paul’s Support WorkersVanessa Cowell – Community Support WorkerNatalie Emuss – AdministratorGemma Golab – Essex Vision CoordinatorJenny Fleet - Volunteer CoordinatorGeoffrey Fry – Business Development and Training CoordinatorStephanie Emberson – Community Support Worker (Carers)Mary Martin – Business Development Executive

With support from:

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All information in this Newsletter is checked and believed to be correct at the time of publication, but cannot be so guaranteed. Support 4 Sight shall not be liable for any

loss suffered directly or indirectly as a result of its use.

Produced by Support 4 Sight (Essex)2 & 4 George Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1EQ

Telephone 01799 523700Registered Charity No. 1074812