“RNIB’s vision is to create a world where sight loss is not a barrier – we do this by equipping people to thrive.”

RNIB Northern IrelandOur Services, Support and Information

Who We AreWe’re the Royal National Institute of Blind People in Northern Ireland (RNIB NI) and we’re here for everyone affected by sight loss. If you’re blind or partially sighted, or supporting somebody who has lost their sight, we offer a wide range of services, support and information to help. Working with our supporters and partners, we’re changing wider society to create a world where sight loss isn’t a barrier to living life to the full.

RNIB HelplineOur Helpline is your direct line to support, advice and products from RNIB to help you to remain independent.

Call: 0303 123 9999, or email: helpline@rnib.org.uk

We’re available from 8am to 8pm weekdays and Saturday from 9am to 1pm and we’re only a phone call, or an email away.

Sight Loss Advice ServiceThrough our Helpline you can reach our specialist team of Sight Loss Advisers, dedicated to providing you with in-depth help and advice on a range of issues, such as:

• Common eye conditions and making the most of your remaining sight

• The help you’re entitled to from your local council and health trust

• Certification and registration of your sight loss

• Benefits and concessions to which you might be entitled

• Daily living, including shopping, travel and technology

• Education and employment• Housing• Leisure activities and sports• Sources of local support and

other organisations that may be useful to you.

As well as answering one-off queries, we take the time to talk you through the services that are relevant or of interest to you. We can also provide short and medium-term casework and advocacy. If your enquiry is about something that we cannot help with directly, we’ll always try to find you details of other organisations that can advise you.

“ RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice team explained what benefits I was entitled to and helped me with my claims. The money was vital, as I was working part-time and spending more on public transport, taxis and specialist equipment.”

Ken Carson

In the CommunityThrough our Community Access Team, we provide practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people within their local community to build confidence and independence, enabling those with sight loss to live a full and independent life.

To contact a member of our team please call us on: 028 9032 9373, or email rnibni@rnib.org.uk

You can also find us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/RNIBNorthernIreland or follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/RNIBNI

“ RNIB brings people together, it really does. I’m so grateful for the friendships I have now made.”

Orla Fitzgerald

RNIB Connect RNIB Connect is a community of blind and partially sighted people who come together to have fun, share information, get creative, open discussions and drive change. It’s free to join, just visit: rnib.org.uk/rnibconnect and also join the RNIB Connect NI Facebook group: facebook.com/ groups/RNIBConnectNI

In addition, RNIB NI produces a local audio podcast called Craic On featuring interviews and stories from local people. Visit: rnib. org.uk/CraicOn for ways to listen and contribute. You can also listen in 24/7 to Connect Radio at: rnibconnectradio.org.uk, or via Freeview Channel 730.

Counselling and Confidence BuildingIf you or a family member are experiencing sight loss, you may be worried about the future and the changes you’re facing. Through our free Need to Talk service you can access:

• Therapeutic counselling: a one-hour session per week for eight weeks by telephone or online via email, video conference, or messaging service for people aged 11 and upwards.

• Confidence building: RNIB’s Living With Sight Loss courses take place once a week over six weeks exploring a range of topics such as useful local services; emotional support and wellbeing; assistive technology; mobility and daily living. You are also welcome to bring a friend or family member along. RNIB’s Living With Sight Loss courses are currently available for anyone aged 18 and over. We also offer this as an online course which can be taken at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home. This is also useful for family members or friends to complete to increase their understanding of how they can support a loved one.

• Free eLearning Course for Professionals: This fully funded 80 minute course is aimed at those working with or supporting people affected by sight loss; from public sector workers, to those in the education and the healthcare sectors.

For further info, phone: 0303 123 9999; email: needtotalk@rnib.org.uk, or visit: rnib.org.uk/needtotalk

Products to Support Independent LivingHundreds of helpful products for people affected by sight loss are available to purchase online at: shop.rnib.org.uk, or by calling the RNIB Helpline on: 0303 123 9999. Our advisors are trained to offer impartial advice and signpost to other sources as well as the products sold by RNIB.

You can purchase everyday essentials such as canes and roller tips from our Belfast Products for Life showroom. Phone: 028 9032 9373 (option 2) to find out more. The Belfast showroom is located on the ground floor of Victoria House, 15 – 17 Gloucester Street, Belfast.

Technology SupportOur Technology for Life service helps you to understand the technology best suited to your needs. We can help you to get online and make the most of digital devices like tablets, smartphones, laptops and e-readers.

Our services include help over the phone, face-to-face assistance via our volunteer network, and drop in and training events. We also provide an online Technology Resource Hub which will help you understand how products work: rnib.org.uk/technology

Employment ServiceYou may be worried that you will be unable to find work or stay in your current job due to your sight loss, however, there is help and support available. Through our programme, Workable NI, we provide ongoing mentoring and IT training to blind and partially sighted employees who are facing any difficulties in work due to their sight.

Through our Eye Work Too programme we help people gain the experience, skills, and confidence they need to secure employment.

We also provide advice and training to employers. Enquire with our Employment team about visual awareness training for your team, and the potential of offering a short-term work placement for one of our Eye Work Too programme participants. Visit: rnib.org.uk/eyeworktoo

Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs)Our Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) provide emotional and practical support at the point of diagnosis of an eye condition, or serious sight loss.

In Northern Ireland, RNIB has ECLOs in hospital eye departments to provide coverage across all Health Trust areas.

We offer:

• Emotional support, explain medical jargon and help you understand your diagnosis

• Practical information and advice such as simple adaptations to everyday tasks to make life that bit easier

• Onward referral to other useful services

• A point of contact so you or your family don’t feel as if you’re facing sight loss alone.

Nurses, doctors, health professionals and others, either within clinics or elsewhere, can link patients to our ECLO support. You can also self-refer. Contact us by email: ecloni@rnib.org.uk, or phone: 0303 123 9999.

Children, Young People and FamiliesWe provide services for blind and partially sighted children and young people, including those with complex needs, from birth to 25-years-old. This service offers:

• Specialist advice, information and guidance

• Connections to information and networks

• Family, early years and transitions support

• Products, toys, games, books, magazines and curriculum materials.

We also provide family learning days and weekends for children and young people with sight loss and their families.

“RNIB as a whole has been extremely helpful in all walks of my son Ben’s life. In particular, our local RNIB Family Officer has been a constant rock, source of support, wealth of knowledge and her enthusiasm is infectious. Nothing is ever a problem to her and she is always just a phone call away.” Hannah Conroy

Community FundraisingIt is only through the generosity of our donors that we can deliver our life changing services, support and information to people affected by sight loss in Northern Ireland.

If you would like to support us through fundraising, we can help you with advice and ideas. You can run or walk in a local marathon, host a Tea for RNIB party with friends, ask your local school to consider our curriculum-relevant RNIB Dots Raise Lots campaign, or you can nominate RNIB as the beneficiary charity to local groups and associations who raise money for various charities each year.

To find out more about fundraising for RNIB NI, please call us on: 028 9032 9373 Visit: rnib.org.uk/communityfundraising for some fun ideas, or email: rnibni@rnib.org.uk

Campaigning for ChangeWe work with politicians and policy makers to influence legislation, policy and practice at local, regional and UK level, to achieve positive change for people with sight loss.

Working with, and on behalf of blind and partially sighted people, we campaign to influence change on issues such as accessible health information, accessible transport, safe streets, social inclusion and equality.

Our Campaigners Active Network (CAN) groups are led by people who are blind or partially sighted working in their local communities and campaigning on local issues.

If you’re interested in making change happen, please contact us at: rnibni@rnib.org.uk or call: 028 9032 9373.

Volunteering with RNIBBecome one of our incredible volunteers who make every day better for people living with sight loss. There are lots of ways that you can help us, even if you only have a couple of hours to spare. We can help you to find an opportunity to match your time, skills and what you want to gain from volunteering.

To become a volunteer with RNIB, please call us on: 0303 123 9999. To view available volunteering opportunities, visit: rnib.org.uk/volunteering

Phone: 0303 123 9999Email: helpline@rnib.org.ukVisit: www.rnib.org.uk/northernireland

Contact Us

RNIB (Belfast Office) Victoria House, 15 – 17 Gloucester Street, Belfast, BT1 4LS

RNIB (Derry/Londonderry) Embassy Building (First floor) 3 Strand Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 7BH

© RNIB registered charity in England and Wales (226227), Scotland (SC039316), Isle of Man (1226). Also operating in Northern Ireland.

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facebook.com/RNIBNorthernIreland

twitter.com/RNIBNI

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