News
Our Latest News
28/07/2010
Week Commencing Monday 26th July 2010
Bonus Ball
The bonus ball for Saturday 24th July was number 27 and the winner was Joan Ogden a Monday lunch Club member.
Centre User Forums
It has been a while since we held a forum so Jenny has arranged for some to be held in August on Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th starting at 10.30 in the main hall and finishing at 12noon. If anyone has a subject they would like to ask a question about or something they would like to discuss could you please let us know in advance so Jenny can prepare any information necessary.
Opportunity to enjoy bowling
If anyone is interested in green bowling, we have sessions on a Wednesday afternoon at Worcester Bowling Club in Wood Terrace starting at 1.15 and finishing at 3.30. If there are enough people from outside Worcester to fill up a car, I will do my best to sort out some transport. Please let me know if you are interested.
Annual Boat Trip
The Rotary club annual Boat Trip is taking place on Thursday 26th August starting at 11.30 and finishing at 4.30pm. This year the Rotary are having a different approach and have only offered 5 places to us. The only fair way we can think of to do this is to put all the names of people who would like to go into a hat and then hold a draw. The rotary have said that if any more spaces become available later on they will offer us more places, but this cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to go on the trip please give your names to the Centre office and we will hold the draw in the week starting 2nd August.
Quiz
We are running a quiz throughout July and August where you can win a bottle of wine. The quiz sheets are available in large print from reception to take away and fill in, the entry fee is a minimum £1 donation. The clues are slightly cryptic but all the answers are British flowers. The quiz is also available in audio or Braille if required.
Next Golf training
The next and last golf training sessions of this year will start on Thursday 2nd Sept between 1 and 2pm at Gaudet Luce Golf Club in Droitwich. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are interested.
Warnings
The Worcester News warned people yesterday that sales people claiming to be social care professionals are targeting people in the Worcester area, calling to say they are assessing a person’s mobility needs. They then go on to give a hard sales pitch for mobility aids. If anyone gets a call like this, please do not give them information. This sort of call would not be made by social workers or other health care professionals and Trading Standards office would like to know about any such calls.
The police have warned that there is the possibility of distraction burglaries being carried out in the Crabbs Cross area of Redditch. A young man knocked at an elderly ladies door offering to do some gardening. Whilst she was in the kitchen he entered the lounge and stole her purse. They are just warning people to be very careful and be sure you know who you are letting onto your property.
07/07/2010
Sight Concern Worcestershire
Notices
Weekly Bulletin
Week Commencing Monday 5th July 2010
Fundraising Collections
We have a number of collections coming up in various areas over the next few months. The dates of there are as follows:
Thursday 22nd July – Collection at Tesco in Evesham
Saturday 25th September – Collection at Sainsbury’s in Redditch
Thursday 30th September – Collection at Tesco Warndon in Worcester
If anyone is interested in helping out with any of these then please let Alice, our fundraiser, know.
Disability-related harassment in Britain
The Equality and Human Right Commission is investigating whether public bodies and public transport providers are fulfilling their legal obligations to prevent people with disabilities from being harassed.
The Inquiry is examining how victims of disability-related harassment have been supported by public bodies and public transport providers.
They are asking if anyone who has suffered from any kind of harassment if they sought help from any public body or transport provider and what(if any) support they received, either as a result of being harassed because of their disability or because of their connection to someone who is disabled.
If anyone would like to talk about any experiences they may have had, please let us know if the Centre office and we can pass on your comments to the relevant people.
Opportunity to enjoy bowling
If anyone is interested in green bowling, we have
sessions on a Wednesday afternoon at Worcester Bowling Club in Wood Terrace starting at 1.15 and finishing at 3.30. If there are enough people from outside Worcester to fill up a car, I will do my best to sort out some transport. Please let me know if you are interested.
Interesting new training
This new training is specifically for people who have lost their central vision but still have some useful peripheral/side vision – predominately people who have Macular Degeneration of some description.
We are setting up a group which will teach and support people how to use their peripheral vision more effectively. The official term is “Eccentric Viewing” so some of you may already have heard of this. This type of training has been around for some time and for some people it has enabled them to improve their mobility or read their own correspondence more effectively.
We cannot guarantee that people will be reading novels again but it has worked in other areas of the country with good success rates. The Macular Disease Society is a great advocate of this training, and we are lucky to have a service user and Rhian, both who have had training in the techniques and will be running the first sessions.
We hope to start the sessions on two Thursday afternoons starting in August and you must be able to attend both.
The dates are Thursday 5th and 12th August here at the Centre starting at 2pm until 4pm. We shall be running more of these sessions regularly over the next 12 months.
The maximum number in the group is 4, due to the one to one support necessary. If anyone is interested please let us know and Rhian will contact you to discuss if the sessions will be of benefit.
30/06/2010
Sight Concern Worcestershire
Notices
Week Commencing Monday 28th June 2010
Future trips
We have had to change the date for the walking trip to Thursday 1st July starting from Centre at 11.15 and hope to be back here for 2.00pm. The date had to be changed due to an unavoidable alteration in the start date of the new golf sessions. Any one interested please see Sharon on reception.
On Thursday 8th July our trip to Weston Super Mare is now full. The pick up points will be Woodfield Middle School, Redditch at 9.00am, Bromsgrove Bus Station 9.15, Worcester Croft Road 9.45 and Malvern Barnards Green at 10.10-10.15am.If you have paid a £5.00 deposit the out standing balance will be £5.50 each person please pay at reception by the 1st July. There is still time for you to have a meal at the hotel if you would like to, just let us know.
Wear Bright for Sight Day
We have changed the date of Wear Bright for Sight day this year so that it happens before the summer holidays in order to encourage more schools to take part. As we had such fun in the Centre last year we are hoping to hold Bright For Sight days during the whole week. The staff usually dress up and we hope some of you will to, we pay £1 for this, and perhaps it would be good to have a raffle and maybe a buffet(if anyone is willing to contribute something) on the Tues, Wed and Thursday of the week starting 5th July. Please let us know what you think.
Fundraising Collections
We have a number of collections coming up in various areas over the next few months. The dates of there are as follows:
-
Thursday 22nd July – Collection at Tesco in Evesham
-
Saturday 25th September – Collection at Sainsbury’s in Redditch
-
Thursday 30th September – Collection at Tesco Warndon in Worcester
If anyone is interested in helping out with any of these then please let Alice, our fundraiser, know.
Disability-related harassment in Britain
The Equality and Human Right Commission is investigating whether public bodies and public transport providers are fulfilling their legal obligations to prevent people with disabilities from being harassed.
The Inquiry is examining how victims of disability-related harassment have been supported by public bodies and public transport providers.
They are asking if anyone who has suffered from any kind of harassment if they sought help from any public body or transport provider and what(if any) support they received, either as a result of being harassed because of their disability or because of their connection to someone who is disabled.
If anyone would like to talk about any experiences they may have had, please let us know if the Centre office and we can pass on your comments to the relevant people.
07/06/2010
Notices
Week Commencing Tuesday 7th June 2010
Visit to Centre
Don’t forget that Sonia Spurr is coming to tell you about the new cancer strategy for NHS Worcestershire on Thursday 10th June, I have also just remembered that she is coming also on Wed 16th June, both these sessions will begin at 11am in the main hall.
Future trips
Because of the success of the last walk, we are planning to hold another one on Thursday 24th June, this time it will be going down towards the river and walking along there until we come to the Cathedral. From there we shall go up through the Cathedral gardens and on to Friar Street for lunch at the same pub (if they will have us back!) Please be aware that this will be a longer walk and there will be quite a few steps to negotiate. Once again, we shall leave the Centre around 11.30 and hope to get back about 2pm. Please let us know if you would like to join in.
On Thursday 8th July we are planning a trip to Weston Super Mare and shall pick up from Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester and Malvern. This year I have contacted the Laureston Hotel (the Action for Blind People hotel) who have agreed e can park the coach there and people can walk around the gardens and order lunch there if they would like to. This would be a change for people who perhaps don’t want to walk too far but still like to have a day out. The only thing is that we would need enough people to eat lunch there in order to take advantage of their offer, we do have a copy of their bar snack menu if you are interested, please let us know when you put your name down. The total cost of the trip is £10.50p each and as usual there will be a £5 non returnable deposit when you book.
Volunteer Help Needed
We are also looking for volunteers to help us sell Christmas cards this year and we have the opportunity to join in with ‘Cards for Good Causes’. We have to provide names of volunteers who would be willing to help out for one half day per week in the shop at St Helens Church in Worcester and we have to have names by 28th June, so again please let us know in the Centre office if you can help with this.
Make a Will month
We are doing another ‘Make a Will’ month in June, this time with MFG Solicitors who have offices in Worcester, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster. During this month, MFG will reduce their fees to £60 for a single will and £85 for a double and donate all of this month to Sight Concern. If you are interested in taking up this offer you need to call MFG on 0845 5555 321, say which branch you want to make an appointment with and explain it is for Sight Concern wills. If anyone has any further questions about this then please see Alice, Our fundraiser.
Fire Safety
We have a small number of CD’s about fire safety for people with sight loss, if anyone would like to borrow one, to take home and listen to. Could you please bring it back afterwards so someone else can borrow it. We also have a freephone number you can call to book a visit for the community safety team who may be able to provide a free smoke alarm for you. Please ask at reception.
Informal courses for carers
There are a number of free practical courses coming up in various areas of the County for informal/family carers to take part in. They are as follows:-
Redditch:-
22nd June – Handle with Care – 10am – 3pm St David’s House
30th June, 7th & 14th July – 10am – 1.30pm at Arrow Valley Countryside Centre, but you must attend all three sessions.
Malvern Hills:-
13th July Handle with Care 10am -3pm OT Stores, Malvern
Bromsgrove:-
8th July – Dementia Awareness – 10am – 2pm Bromsgrove Methodist Centre
Worcester City :-
7th July Emergency First Aid – 10am – 2.30pm British Red Cross Centre
20th July Handle with Care – 10am – 3pm Timberdine Resource Centre
We have the telephone numbers to call if anyone is interested.
World Cup Sweepstake
We are running a sweepstake for the World Cup. It costs £2 to enter. First prize is a bottle of champagne and some chocolates and second prize is a bottle of wine. You need to see Sharon on reception and pick your country at random out of an envelope. All money raised goes to Sight Concern.
Wear Bright for Sight Day
We have changed the date of Wear Bright for Sight day this year so that it happens before the summer holidays in order to encourage more schools to take part. It is going to happen on Friday 9th July. As there aren’t many people in the centre on a Friday we might make it ‘Wear Bright for Sight’ week here!
Fundraising Collections
We have a number of collections coming up in various areas over the next few months. The dates of there are as follows:
Saturday 26th June – New College Worcester’s summer fete. We have been offered a stall at this where we can sell the canvas bags, bracelets, badges etc.
Thursday 22nd July – Collection at Tesco in Evesham
Saturday 25th September – Collection at Sainsbury’s in Redditch
Thursday 30th September – Collection at Tesco Warndon in Worcester
If anyone is interested in helping out with any of these then please let Alice, our fundraiser, know.
28/05/2010
Sight Concern Worcestershire
Notices
Week Commencing Tuesday 1st June 2010
Visit to Centre
Don’t forget that Sonia Spurr is coming to tell you about the new cancer strategy for NHS Worcestershire on Thursday 10th June, I have also just remembered that she is coming also on Wed 16th June, both these sessions will begin at 11am in the main hall.
Careers Advice
The Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford are holding a Careers Taster Event on Mon 21st and Tues 22nd June. This will be an opportunity to identify realistic potential careers paths and gain expert advice and guidance from their Employment Liaison Team who have had much success in placing adult trainees into employment. The sessions are open to anyone who is blind or partially sighted, accommodation, food, refreshments, taster sessions, resources, residential support and social activities will be provided free of charge by RNC but transport to and from RNC is not covered.
If you are interested in attending these sessions please contact RNC on 01432 376621 or by email to info@rncb.ac.uk
Future trips
Because of the success of the last walk, we are planning to hold another one on Thursday 24th June, this time it will be going down towards the river and walking along there until we come to the Cathedral. From there we shall go up through the Cathedral gardens and on to Friar Street for lunch at the same pub(if they will have us back!) Please be aware that this will be a longer walk and there will be quite a few steps to negotiate. Once again, we shall leave the Centre around 11.30 and hope to get back about 2pm. Please let us know if you would like to join in.
On Thursday 8th July we are planning a trip to Weston Super Mare and shall pick up from Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester and Malvern. This year I have contacted the Lauriston Hotel (the Action for Blind People hotel) who have said we can park the coach there and people can walk around the gardens or book some lunch there if they would like to. This would be a change for people who perhaps don’t want to walk too far but still like to have a day out. The only thing is that we would need enough people to order lunch there in order to take advantage of their offer, we do have a copy of their bar snack menu if you are interested, please let us know when you put your name down, there will also be a £5 nonreturnable deposit needed at this time.
Volunteer help needed
On Wednesday 16th June, we will be holding an event in the Guild Hall for Eye Health Week, between 10am and 2pm. We are looking for some volunteers who would be willing to help us with refreshments and who would also be willing to talk to members of the public about our Services. Members of staff from Sight Concern will also be there over that period so you would not be on your own. Please give your name to the Centre office if you are interested.
We are also looking for volunteers to help us sell Christmas cards this year and we have the opportunity to join in with ‘Cards for Good Causes’. We have to provide names of volunteers who would be willing to help out for one half day per week in the shop at St Helens Church in Worcester and we have to have names by 28th June, so again please let us know in the Centre office if you can help with this.
Make a Will month
We are doing another ‘Make a Will’ month in June, this time with MFG Solicitors
Who have offices in Worcester,Bromsgrove and Kidderminster. During this month,
MFG will reduce their fees to £60 for a single will and £85 for a double and donate all of this month to Sight Concern. If you are interested in taking up this offer you need to call MFG on 0845 5555 321, say which branch you want to make an appointment with and explain it is for Sight Concern wills. If anyone has any further questions about this then please see Alice, Our fundraiser.
Chamber of Commerce Awards
Some great news came onto the office last week as we have been ed as finalists at this year’s Chamber of Commerce Awards for Community Enterprise of the year. The publicity and recognition this will bring to the charity is fantastic and something that everyone should be really proud of. The awards ceremony is on Thursday 10th June so we will let you know then if we win.
