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Spring 2010. Issue No. 16.

A newsletter for visually impaired people.A newsletter for visually impaired people.

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Editorial Team:

Editor: Vicky Kay.

Journalists: Harry Morris, Glenis Lee, Betty Wade and Philip Singleton.

Photos provided by: Vicky Kay, Philip Singleton and Margaret Jackson.

Cover: Sheila Crumley tells us her experience of our theatre trip to see ‘White Christmas’ with Audio Description, Touch Tour and Pre-Show Audio CD, see page 8.

Note from the Editor:

Well hello all, I hope you all had a happy Easter, and didn‟t fill up too much on chocolate and hot cross buns!

Since the winter newsletter the work on our office roof has been completed, with only minimal leaks and a tolerable amount of noise (honest!). It now looks lovely with a sloping roof to stop puddles forming up there!

The biggest news however has to be Jill Doidge joining our team as our new Admin Assistant! We will meet her later in the issue.

As we have been busy in the office collecting information for our end of year report, this newsletter has been influenced by this and contains information about exactly who we are and what we have been up to.

We also have an interesting piece on Paul Bolton and his outlook on being visually impaired, and Sheila Crumley‟s experience of the Theatre trip to see Irving Berlin‟s „White Christmas‟ which was organised for last December.

Dotted in-between all these articles is the usual sprinkling of (hopefully) interesting pieces about local events, groups and need-to-know information!

I hope you enjoy it!

Vicky.

Editor and Development Worker.

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Tameside Talking News

Tameside Talking News is a weekly newspaper, presently on tape, for the blind or partially sighted of Tameside and Glossop. It was founded in 1975 and is run by a stalwart team of volunteers headed by Harry Ritson.

Tapes are prepared and posted every Thursday from their base at Dukinfield Town Hall. No charges are made for this service and there is free postage for returning the weekly tapes. New members are always welcome so please contact Harry on 338 3578 or Glenis at TBA (Contact details on back page).

Written by Glenis Lee, Development Worker, TBA.

Face to Face Counselling Service.

The national organisation „Action for Blind People‟ is now offering face-to-face counselling in Manchester to blind or partially sighted adults and family members.

Many people find it helpful to talk to someone about the wide range of emotions that the loss of sight can trigger. Sight loss may be a new experience or it may be something that a person has lived with for some time; however, changes in your vision can still affect you and members of your family.

Counselling can help people accept and come to terms with difficulties, and also identify ways of coping more effectively.

The service is free and confidential. They offer up to 8 sessions on a weekly basis, each lasting an hour. More or less sessions can be organised if required.

If you would like more information about this service or would like to book, please ring 0151 298 3235. They can provide a booklet about the service in various formats.

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We‟ve noticed that some people who get this newsletter don‟t really know who we are, so we thought we might explain a little about the set up of Tameside Blind Association, and the Community Support Project.

Some people have been asking why we rely on donations if we are funded by the Big Lottery. This is because Tameside Blind Association (TBA) is a bit like two organisations in one!

TBA started out in 1974 at 4 Wellington Parade, Dukinfield. It is run by a volunteer committee and needs donations to survive. Any money given goes towards this half of the association; keeping the various social clubs going, and also to the Grant Scheme, which helps visually impaired people pay for expensive equipment etcetera that they would ordinarily not be able to purchase. These are vital services, but in 2000 TBA decided that they wanted to do more to support the visually impaired community in Tameside, so they set up Tameside Blind

The two offices of Tameside Blind Association: On the left is the Project‟s office, and on the right is the Association‟s base.

Who are you?!

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Association‟s Community Support Project next-door, at 3 Wellington Parade. Because of the nature of the work, they knew this would have to be supported by outside funding.

We have been lucky enough to have secured funding 3 times in a row by the National Lottery‟s Big Lottery fund, and are currently funded up until 2013.

Confusion tends to arise because calling ourselves „Tameside Blind Association Community Support Project‟ is so long-winded, we tend to just stick to the name of the association. Plus, as the office is usually open in office hours and we do a lot of networking, we have become more of a „front of house‟ for the organisation as a whole.

You may recognise the members of staff at TBA‟s Support Project; Philip Singleton (Project Manager) Jill Doidge (Admin Assistant) Glenis Lee and Vicky Kay (Development Workers). This team would not function without the committee‟s support, as well as all the volunteers that help to provide services to the visually impaired community in Tameside.

TITANS SPORTS CLUBS

Tameside Council support a set of sports clubs for people with a disability. Clubs run at various sports centres around Tameside and encourage sport and physical activity. The TITANS were set up in 2007 and have qualified coaches and staff on hand at each session.

Sports include athletics, cycling, dance, Boccia and kurling, football, swimming, trampoline, basketball and some sessions are aimed at particular age groups e.g. 10 – 16, and others to all adults etc.

Contact Shaun Higgins on 0161 609 1277 for further details of locations, times etc.

Written by Philip Singleton, Project Manager, TBA.

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Hello, my name is Jill Doidge and I‟m delighted to be the new Admin Assistant for Tameside Blind Association!

I have come to work here after working for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance in Manchester for the last 10 years and I‟m very much looking forwards to working in a smaller, more personal office and getting to know the community.

I‟m Mum to a six year old boy which means I don‟t get too much time to indulge in hobbies, but I love to cook and I read a lot, I also like tattoos and enjoy going to see bands.

I will be working weekday mornings in the office, so if you phone up I‟ll probably be the one answering the phone! I‟m very much looking forwards to getting to know you all!

Written by Jill Doidge, Admin Assistant, TBA.

Welcome Jill !

No its not the punch line for a joke, a gentleman

really does want a second-hand parrot, although

not the feathered variety! A Parrot machine is a

cross between a personal organiser and a simple

Dictaphone; it records and stores your phone numbers,

addresses and memos in an audio format that you can play back

whenever you want to access them. If anyone has one and

would like to sell it or knows where you can get one cheap, (No

pun intended... honest!) please contact us (contact details on

back page).

Second-hand parrot wanted!

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The election is looming and it is set to be a close-run thing, so every vote counts! If you want to have your say but are not sure how to go about it because of declining/lack of sight, then we will talk you through a few options of how to cast that all important vote.

When voting at the polling station, tactile voting templates and large print versions of ballot papers are available if you ask. With the tactile voting template, a staff member will read out the options to you in order, so you can remember what number down the box is the one you want to cross, and feel where you need to make your mark. Alternatively, you can take someone with you to assist you or ask the presiding officer at the polling station for help.

If you would prefer a postal vote you can request the application form to be in large print, and you can request someone to come and assist filling out the postal ballot paper.

If you do not feel confident to do any of the above, you can „vote by proxy‟; where you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf. The deadline for applying to vote by proxy is normally 6 working days before an election. However, if you have a medical emergency within the 6 days before Election Day, you can apply to vote by emergency proxy if the emergency means that you cannot go to the polling station in person. Unless you are registered blind, you may have to get someone to support your application to confirm that your reason for applying to vote by proxy is valid.

If you would like more information or would like one of the services, please ring the election office on: 0161 342 3768.

Don’t lose your vote!

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Sheila Crumley and our trip to the theatre...

Sheila is a diminutive 86 year old but what she lacks in height she makes up for in personality. In spite of being diagnosed with Age Related Macular Degeneration in 2001 this energetic octogenarian doesn‟t let this stop her from following the interests she holds dear. Although originally she was an enthusiastic reader, she is unable to be the bookworm that she once was, but now she enjoys listening to talking books instead. The Tameside Talking News keeps her up to date with local current affairs. Her independence is important to her and she intends to maintain this. Keeping active is also vital; she has been going to a keep fit class for the past 25 years, and also walks whenever she can – indeed it would be hard to imagine her not being on the move! Socially she is closely tied to Tameside Blind Association, the Macular Group and the Time of Your Life Club, where she has become an enthusiastic member of a singing group. This group has a busy time entertaining at various venues including residential homes and she tells me that their latest „gig‟ is at the commemoration of VE day 65 years ago at Age Concern, on Katherine Street in Ashton. She has also previously lent a hand at the Scope charity shop.

December 16th

… Just before Christmas Tameside Blind Association organised a visit to the Lowry Theatre to see Irving Berlin‟s White Christmas musical. 15 people attended and Sheila was an enthusiastic participant in this event. The group was transported via Ring and Ride and a volunteer using their car to the theatre in Salford. Before the actual performance of the show 2 representatives from Vocaleyes (the organisation providing the live audio description for the show) and a few staff members from the show took them on a touch tour backstage. They were shown the costumes, scenery and props and were encouraged to explore them. As a souvenir of their day, the group were photographed on the stage of the Lowry Theatre where the actual production of the show was to take place.

After all this activity the group were assisted to their seats in the auditorium by the volunteers who helped them with their

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The Braille Chess Association have launched a new project to offer teaching, coaching and other support to blind and partially sighted people who wish to play chess, or individuals or agencies who are thinking of setting up chess groups for visually impaired people in their area.

They will fund teaching and training for visually impaired people and will help with funding projects aimed at setting up chess groups for visually impaired people.

The project covers people of all ages and they are also particularly keen to assist young people of school age. Please contact Stan Lovell for more details: 01723 373447, or email him at stan.lovell@tiscali.co.uk.

Check mate!

Some of the group on Stage! From left to Right: Sheila Crumley, Vicky Kay, Doris Jones, Hilda Wilde, Marjorie Fish, George Cross, Margaret Jackson,

and Fran Booth.

headphones and made any adjustments necessary in order to take full advantage of the audio description which describes visual aspects of the performance that may not always be seen. Finally, the curtain went up and the show began…

Written by Betty Wade, TBA Volunteer.

Editors note: Vocaleyes also sent out audio CDs (see front page picture) describing the stage, props and costumes etc.

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Launch of the National Care Service

In the biggest change to the welfare state since the creation of the NHS in 1948, everyone who needs care when they are old or disabled will get it for free, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced on 30

th March, as he launched the National Care

Service in England.

Andy Burnham said: 'Today we are launching a National Care Service that is fair for all, ending the cruel care lottery we have today. Like the NHS, everyone will contribute and everyone will get their care for free when they need it. However like the NHS, it‟s going to take time to build, and will be phased in over time.

'The National Care Service will mean that people will be treated with dignity and respect, people will have control and choice over their care and they will be helped to stay in their homes for as long as possible. People who have to live in residential care will, from 2014, get their care for free after two years and there will be more help to pay the residential costs.

'We‟re not replacing the millions of carers or families who look after each other. They are the underlying principle of the National Care Service and we will better support them‟.

'We‟ve already laid strong foundations through reforms over the past few years. But, with an ever growing older population – there will be 1.7 million more people needing care in the next 20 years – we must radically overhaul the way care is paid for and provided‟.

Following the biggest ever consultation on care and support that saw over 68,000 members of the public, carers and representative organisations have their say, it is clear that people believe it is right that everyone should contribute to a care system that is free when people need it– similar to the NHS.

The cost of care is currently a cruel lottery. No one has any way of knowing how much care and support they may need in the future. A 65-year-old can expect to need care costing on average £30,000 during retirement. However, some people, for example

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The „Low Vision Aid Design Award 2010‟ is an exciting opportunity to take part in a free competition to design a low vision aid (e.g., optical magnifier) for people with sight problems.

The prize fund includes 3 prizes: Year 7 to 11 School pupils; Sixth form college pupils or school pupils in years 12 or 13; and College Design Students or people over 18 years old. The over 18‟s category has a prize of £500, with a donation of £400 to a charity of their choice (or to the affiliated school or college).

Designs should be capable of being manufactured and launched to market in 2011 and as such, technology and innovative features should be based on existing or achievable technologies.

Submissions must be made between 1st and 14th May 2010.

For more information see the website www.lvadesignaward.co.uk, or contact Barbara Ryan on 029 20874374, alternatively get in touch with us (contact details on back page) and we can tell you the full details advertised on the website.

Design an aid!

people with severe dementia, could end up needing care costing as much as £200,000.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:

'We must find a fair way of funding the National Care Service. The stakes are very high. That‟s why we must have a clear consensus. We are setting up a commission to tell us what would be a fair way for everyone to pay into this new system‟.

'Everyone will pay into it in a fair way and in return everyone will then have peace of mind that their savings and homes will be protected from high care costs. The whole of society will benefit and the National Care Service will support individuals and families for generations to come.'

The White Paper; „Building a National Care Service‟, was published on 30

th March and is available online at:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/publicationsandstatistics/publications, and found under White and Green papers, 2010.

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Make a Noise in Libraries!

This year‟s „Make a Noise in Libraries‟ fortnight is 1

st – 15

th June.

Organised by the RNIB, „Make a Noise in Libraries‟ is an annual campaign which aims to bring public libraries and blind and partially sighted people together.

Each year Tameside Library Service organises an afternoon for visually impaired readers to meet up, find out what‟s new in libraries and listen to a speaker.

This year the event will be on Monday 14th

June, 2 – 3.30pm at

Dukinfield Library.

As „Crime Fiction Week‟ also overlaps this event (from 14th – 20

th

June) we have got local crime author Dolores Gordon-Smith, teamed up with fellow crime writer, Jane Finnis, in to talk about writing crime fiction. Come along on the afternoon and find out where writers get their ideas from, how they research their books, why they write about crime, and much more!

Many crime writers‟ books are available in large print and also on cassette and CD. There will be a display of audio books at Dukinfield Library during the week, if you want to „swot up‟ before you come!

The event is free, there will be refreshments and TBA Community Support may be able to help with transport to the library.

If you would like to attend, contact TBA (Contact details on back page) before Thursday 10

th June.

Written by Chris Smith, Reader Development and Marketing Co-ordinator, Library Services.

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Keep ‘In Touch’ with the visually impaired

community!

In Touch is a BBC Radio 4 programme with news, views and information for people who are blind or partially sighted. Peter White, the main presenter who has been blind since birth, covers topical items, campaigning items, and practical advice etc.

Peter interviews a range of people who relate their stories and recent programmes have covered topics such as the voting process for deaf/blind people, the launch of a cookbook called „Can‟t See Will Cook‟, a discussion with the R.N.I.B. chairman, a blind wheelchair user offering advice, a look at blind cricket and Peter himself on „Blindness for Beginners‟!

The programme does leave the studio sometimes and Mani Djazmi, one of the presenters, has even been spotted in Chester at the „National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People‟ (NALSVI) conference which TBA attends, and in Manchester where I met him covering the European Blind Football Championships.

BBC Radio 4 is broadcast on 92-95 FM, freeview and freesat channel 704, and Sky channel 0104. The „In Touch‟ show is aired every Tuesday evening between 8.40pm to 9pm. Many of the stories are generated by listeners. If you wish to get in touch with „In Touch‟ (!) the phone number is 0800 044 044 or their website is: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/intouch. Past programmes are also available online via the podcast and the BBC iPlayer.

Written by Glenis Lee, Development Worker, TBA.

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How are we doing?

The numbers for the end of year report for Tameside Blind Association‟s Community Support Project have been collated and sent off to the Big Lottery Fund‟s head office, so we thought you might also be interested to find out what this part of Tameside Blind Association has been up to since February 2009.

The project was specifically designed to help improve the lives of Tameside residents who have a visual impairment by providing direct support services, promoting awareness in the community, and maintaining contact with visually impaired people to encourage independence.

Direct support services. Since February 2009 we have had over 100 new people referred to us (all of whom get a home visit) and had 350 request forms filled out (many having multiple requests on). Of these requests over 100 have been for transport and guiding to medical appointments. Also, 10 more volunteers have been recruited and trained during the year to assist with these requests.

During the year we have: set up 6 new befriending relationships; supported 8 computer-users with various IT related issues; supported people through the Digital Switchover; and introduced 10 people to social clubs.

The walking group continues to be popular, with 17 people added onto the walking group mailing list last year. Also the Harley bike ride and Lowry theatre trip went down very well, which involved a lot of organising.

Promoting awareness in the community.

We regularly take part in promotional activity including talks to social clubs and stalls at events which not only promote ourselves, but also awareness of the various issues we promote.

We also promote awareness through networking with other organisations by taking part in local meetings, talks and training events, these include: Tameside 3

rd Sector Coalition (T3SC)

events; health networks; hospital advisory boards; and District Assembly meetings, to name but a few. These help spread

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knowledge of us and what we do, and also attract requests for more formal training. During the year we have taken part in a total of 42 events, talks and meetings. We also provide awareness and guiding training courses, which last year was given to over 350 people in total, including hospital workers, Citizens Advice Bureau staff, police cadets, and 6

th form college students and staff.

We have been in the local press a few times this year - local teenagers swam with sharks to raise funds for Tameside Blind Association; we ran a joint project with the local recycling service to make information and knowing „which bin is which‟ more accessible; and we were also contacted for our opinion on the closure of the talking book service the council previously offered in conjunction with the RNIB. All this press coverage helps promote our cause and our organisation.

Maintaining contact to encourage independence.

This newsletter was published 3 times last year, reaching over 850 people each time. Copies of the newsletter go to all our service users, volunteers, councillors, MPs, associated professionals (e.g., Vision First staff), doctors and opticians. Audio copies are also sent out to service users who have requested that format.

Last year we also produced a booklet advertising cinema and theatres where Audio Described performances are available. This was sent to all visually impaired people known to us (about 650 at that time).

Both these help people to remember who we are and what we do. They also promote information that can aid people‟s independence, as well as encourage people to try new things.

We have had a few challenges to contend with; with Vicky settling into her new role, building work outside the office, work on our new roof, Tracy leaving, and the recruitment process. All have affected some of our work (especially considering we all work part time), but we hope you haven‟t noticed too much! We hope that whatever contact you have had with us over the last year has been satisfactory.

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Come and Have Your Say

at the Visual Impairment Service User Forum!

The User Involvement Team is part of Tameside Adult Services and works to consult Service Users.

Throughout the year forums and conferences are a chance to tell us what you think about services and what we need to know to best support you.

There are annual conference programmes and forums for people with physical and sensory disabilities, people with learning disabilities and older people.

One of these forums is the Visual Impairment Service User Forum which takes place quarterly. The forum is usually on a Tuesday afternoon from 2-4pm at Ryecroft Hall and the next is on Tuesday 20

th July 2010. The forum is for anyone with a

visual impairment who uses Tameside services. Transport to the meeting can be provided for those who can not use public transport. Other support can be arranged if needed.

If you would like to come along, or if you have any issues you would like to raise at the forum please contact Nicola Carter on: 0161 304 7981 or email: nicola.carter@tameside.gov.uk.

For information about other User Involvement events please contact Sandy Parkinson on: 0161 366 4333, Minicom: 0161 366 4335, or email: sandy.parkinson@tameside.gov.uk.

We look forward to meeting you.

Written by Nicola Carter, Tameside Adult Services.

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RNIB Talking Book Service – UPDATE

In the last newsletter we reported on Tameside Councils withdrawal of funding for this popular service. Since then publicity in the local press has raised awareness of the issue and attracted the attention of Councillors who have been incensed at the action of the Council. This amounts to a small budgetary saving for the Council, but a big loss to potential new users of the Talking Book Service which provides novels, factual books and educational material on CDs. These are played on a DAISY player which is loaned as part of the service and which allows easy navigation around the chapters of each book.

We have received messages from existing users confirming their excellent experiences of the scheme and their annoyance that others in future will not have the same free access that they have enjoyed.

This issue has been raised at the Visual Impairment Service User Group at their January meeting. Service users expressed their concern at the funding withdrawal and the inferior alternatives that were available.

Please let us know your views.

Written By Philip Singleton, Project Manager, TBA.

Are you eligible for free sight tests?

You are eligible for a sight test funded by the NHS if you are: Registered blind or partially sighted; Aged 60 or

over; Diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma; Considered to be at risk of glaucoma; Aged 40 or over and are a close relative of a person diagnosed with glaucoma; Claiming benefit (Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Working Family‟s Tax Credit/Disabled Person‟s Tax Credit); Or on a low income and named on a valid HC2 (full help) or HC3 (partial help) certificate. For more information, talk to your local optician or ring „The Eyecare Trust‟ on 0845 129 5001.

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PAUL BOLTON

After working at Remploy for 20 years TBA member Paul Bolton lost his job when the Stockport works closed down.

Paul was determined to find some sort of work. He had been born with an eye condition which makes the centre of his vision poor. He says: “What you‟ve never had you don‟t miss. People who have had sight, then lose it, suffer more”.

About two years ago Paul was rushed into Tameside Hospital following a heart attack. The doctors showed him a scan of his heart, and pointed out the damaged areas. This was enough to convince him that it was time to give up smoking.

A keen radio listener, Paul tells us that his favourite stations are Radio 7 (Digital), Radio 4, Talk Sport, LBC, and the BBC‟s World Service.

Paul is positive in his attitude to work. “I don‟t think about what I can‟t do. I know what I can do. It‟s inbuilt – you just know”. To help in his search for work Paul contacted „Action For Blind People‟, in Eccles. They suggested voluntary work at Manchester Museum. After successfully completing a training course, Paul is now a volunteer in the Department of Fossils and Palaeontology and mainly works on the handling table.

Paul is enthusiastic about his voluntary work, but warns that potential volunteers must make sure that the organisation they are interested in provides adequate training.

Written by Harry Morris, TBA Volunteer.

If you like to discuss books you have enjoyed listening to, Tameside Libraries and Vision First run a readers group for visually impaired readers. The group meets on the third Monday of each month 2 – 3pm at Vision First on Wilshaw Lane in Ashton. We discuss a range of books; fiction and non-fiction, classics and recent publications. Calibre Audio Library supplies the cassettes for group members. If you would like to know more phone Chris Smith on 342 4450.

Book Club.

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Has anyone ever tried to sell you shares over the phone? Some financial firms use high-pressure techniques to sell high risk investment products such as Penny Shares and Contracts for Difference (CFDs).

Often these companies target people for whom these forms of investment are unsuitable. They may call or write to you offering a free research report on shares you already hold and ask permission to contact you again.

You don‟t have to agree to anything, so don‟t be pressurised into buying any investment by anyone, particularly if they have contacted you out of the blue. Often if a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is! And remember, it is not rude to say „no‟.

If you are considering an investment, challenge the advice you‟ve been given and make sure you ask why the investment would be suitable for your particular circumstances. Do your own research and make sure you fully understand the products you are offered and the risks involved before investing.

If you are unsure about where to invest your money, or you have experienced high-pressure sales techniques from a financial firm you can call the moneymadeclear service on 0300 500 5000.

Moneymadeclear is part of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) which is an independent body who can give you impartial advice and guidance, and also tell you what to do if things go wrong.

So far the FSA have taken enforcement

action against 5 firms for their bad sales

practice, and work is continuing in this area

with the hope of stopping these firms. If you

have any information they would love to hear

from you.

Say ‘No’ to high-pressure sales!

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Published by:

3/4 Wellington Parade, Dukinfield, Cheshire. SK16 4LE

Tel: 0161 343 4090 / 6903

email:csp@tamesideblind.org.uk www.tamesideblind.org.uk

Printed by

P.D. Print, Hyde. Registered Charity No. 504063

AMESIDE

LIND

SSOCIATION

Please remember Tameside Blind Association when you make your will.

This local charity works for all visually impaired people in Tameside - serving the Community for 30 years.

3/4 Wellington Parade, Dukinfield SK16 4LE

0161 330 7778

Charity No: 504063

We are currently collecting stories from people who

have a visual impairment about their good and bad

experiences of visiting local hospitals. If you feel you

were treated particularly badly or well, then we would like to hear

from you. Please could you write, email or phone in (contact

details below) and let us know where you were treated, what

your sight condition is, and the details of your experience. These

stories will be collected together and made confidential. We are

hoping to share the results with the local hospitals, so we need

as many responses as possible!

Hospital stories.