Sandwell Visually Impaired
Newsletter Issue 22 – Spring 2015
Donate: If you wish to donate to SVI's Justgiving by Text Account please text SVIG33 and the amount you wish to donate (example: SVIG33 £2) to 70070. All donations will be gratefully received.
In this issue:
Talking News making a difference one year on 2
Celebrating our 10th 3
March Open Meeting 4
Mayor welcomes Active at 60 to the ‘Big House’ 4
Up the wall...again! 5
Free football sessions 5
Last dance? Not likely, line up for more sessions 6
Created from scratch, a magical garden 7
Bill’s gardening tips 8
Tribute to a dear friend and colleague 9
SVI member in Birmingham musical 10
Polling station voting 11
Help for Gambian children 11
Contact SVI 12
Thanks 12
Talking News making a difference one year on
A year on from our postal launch and Sandwell Talking News (STN) has been making a difference to our listeners – more than 100 of them – who get our audio news through their door every week.
Thanks to a number of grants from Community First and Sandwell Community Chest, we send out 51 re-usable pen drives (pictured) and some fifty non-returnable CDs.
A blind listener in Tipton said:
“I look forward to my Talking News dropping through my letterbox. Stops me getting too lonely and I feel as if the readers are my personal friends. It lets me know what’s going on in my own neighbourhood.”
The contribution of the STN team – news readers and the ‘technical team’ who work behind the scenes – was recognised at the West Bromwich Community awards in March, with certificates in the Volunteer of the Year and Healthy Communities categories. Well done all!
As well as news from the Express and Star and information about services and events of interest to the visually impaired community, the STN is proud to be reflecting the heritage of our area by including talks on local history recorded at Tipton Library. We want to do more of this.
To get your free postal talking news contact:
SVI on 0121 525 4810
Email:
There’s a link to Sandwell Talking News on SVI’s website – you can listen online every week.
Celebrating our 10th
Friends old and new gathered for SVI’s 10th anniversary Annual Forum in November.
Graham Price, founder member and former Chair, reminded around 100 of us how SVI got started. Guest speaker Karl Farrell talked of his experience as a visually impaired person. Exhibitors and entertainment was rounded off by the cutting of the 10th celebration cake by some of SVI’s former and current committee members.
The formal part of the meeting, the AGM (Annual General Meeting) took place with new and returning Management Committee elected – a warm welcome to Helen Rourke, Gina Hudson and Pam Cross.
If you would like a copy of our constitution, financial records or Management Committee meeting minutes ring the SVI office or email:
March Open Meeting
The recent SVI open meeting bought together experts from Trading Standards, Sandwell Crime Prevention, the Police and Fire Services. The message – keep safe at home. Don’t be fooled by bogus callers or scammers, report any hate crimes and guard against fire in the home. For a pack of useful numbers to call, contact SVI.
Mayor welcomes Active at 60 to the ‘Big House’
Sandwell Mayor Councillor Derek Rowley welcomed Active at 60 members to the Council Chamber in March, informing us of his duties during the past year. We had an interesting and informative look at past Mayoral regalia in the Big House – we even got the chance to try the Mayor’s gown and chains on for size. Who knows, one day we might have an SVI member as Mayor!
A huge thank you to all for making us so welcome. The Active at 60 Group has trips planned for this summer thanks to funding from West Bromwich Community Chest.
Want to join the Active at 60 Group? To find out more ring the SVI office.
Up the wall...again!
Enthusiastic, energetic and yes, brave, SVI climbers are up the wall again thanks to a grant from Sandwell Disability Activation Fund.
Following the success of our Sports Relief funded indoor climbing course at Portway Lifestyle Centre last year, climbers old and new have taken on the challenge and are set to achieve NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme) qualifications at levels 1, 2 and 3.
“Absolutely brilliant and fantastic!” said one climber.
It’s not stopping once the course has finished – climbers are donning their safety harnesses to try out some outdoor climbing in the spring and are aiming for Snowdon before very long!
SVI are looking for funding to run a sailing course for visually impaired people. we don’t have the funding yet but are taking names for people who might be interested in sailing to start this summer – so call or email to let us know.
Free football sessions
Sense is a national charity supporting people with sensory impairments. They have recently received funding from Sport England to be used to create free sports activities for visually and hearing impaired people across the Midlands.
Football sessions are on offer, taking place every Friday at Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury.
The sessions include coaching provided by West Bromwich Albion coaches, and are designed to be a fun and social activity where you can also keep fit and meet like-minded people.
The free sessions run from 2pm to 3pm every Friday. Family members and carers are welcome. If you or someone you know would like to take part, or would like more information on Sense’s full range of activities, please contact Callan Barber on 07813 825571 or email
Last dance? Not likely, line up for more sessions
Continuing the success of our line dancing sessions funded by West Bromwich Community First, SVI in partnership with Ray Brookes, line dancing caller and instructor, are pleased to announce that the ever-popular sessions will continue at West Bromwich Town Hall on Tuesdays from 2pm to 3.30pm. Sessions cost £3.50.
Lisa Bradshaw said: “I really look forward to Tuesday afternoons. Ray is a brilliant instructor and has lots of patience. Lots of laughter and stomping can always be heard.
“Line dancing is great fun and you don't need a partner; it’s suitable for all ages. We learn a new dance every week and then try and remember the previous dances (that's when the fun starts).
“Some people come along and just listen to the music and watch us dance.”
Come along and join us!
Created from scratch, a magical garden
Snowdrops abound, crocus peep, irises flourish and daffodils wait to wave amongst the primroses and numerous flowering shrubs. All this happy plant life smiles at you from a former rubble-strewn, steep bank viewed from Maureen’s room at Ash Lodge Nursing Home in Smethwick.
Graham (SVI Management Committee member), helped by friends and family decided to create a ‘room with a view’ for Maureen, who is now confined to such a small space in bed or wheelchair. They dug out the docks, stinging nettles, wild geranium (known as Herb Robert) and thistles but took care to keep the foxgloves and purple flowering toadflax.
The steep bank would have been unstable if fully dug over but ‘spot action’ worked well as we wished to retain some of the existing wild flowers and planting newcomers was made easy with imported planting compost.
There will be splashes of colour throughout the year. We can’t wait for the unfolding seasons!
Bill’s gardening tips
Check old seeds: Place a few on to a paper kitchen towel. Spray a couple of times with water until damp, then fold the towel over and place in a plastic bag putting in a dark warm place. Check after two weeks to see if seeds have germinated, if there’s life you can use the rest of the packet in the usual way.
I find placing seeds in a tray equally distanced apart a real pain, so here’s my trick. Take a thin piece of plywood, cut to the same size as your seed trays, drill 10 millimetre holes around 30 millimetres apart – and then place this on top of the compost tray and drop seeds in the holes – job done seeds equally spread apart!
Owen’s carrots
Take a large plastic tub, place 25 ml of gravel in the bottom, fill with compost 50ml from the top, then place gravel 50ml apart across the top. When I take a piece of gravel out I put in a couple of carrot seeds, cover with 10 ml of compost, water, then wait for carrots to grow. Don’t forget to hide from Owen!
If you have a talent for gardening, we would love to include your stories in future newsletters, or you could do a regular gardening slot in Sandwell Talking News. Interested? Contact SVI.
Tribute to a dear friend and colleague
By Tony Averis, SVI Chair
With much sadness, I write this tribute for a dear friend.
Tony Orlebar was an SVI Committee Member for three years but I knew him personally for much longer. As well as being a truly nice guy he was also a hardworking, committed advocate for disabled people and was an asset to our Management Committee and members.
He was always ready to go that extra mile to help other people whilst never complaining about his own serious health issues.
He was taken from us too soon and we miss him dearly. We thank his wife, Georgina for continuing Tony’s role within SVI and thank his family and friends for their kind donations.
We would like to extend our gratitude to other people who have thought of SVI in memory of loved ones. All donations are sincerely appreciated.
SVI member in Birmingham musical
Helen Rourke, SVI member and guide dog owner, is playing Sister Mary Theresa in the musical Sister Act to be performed at the Crescent Theatre, Sheepcote Street, Birmingham from 5 to 9 May 2015.
Sister Act tells the hilarious story of disco diva Deloris Van Cartier who witnesses a crime and has to be placed in protective custody in a dilapidated convent.
Disguised as a nun, she immediately clashes with the strict Mother Superior. When Deloris turns the choir into the hottest act in the neighbourhood, this fame comes with a price.
With the gang giving chase, is time running out for Deloris or will her new-found swinging, singing sisters come to her rescue?
Based on the smash hit movie of the same name this fabulous, family-friendly feel good show is full of energy with music to raise the theatre roof!
Evening performances begin at 7.30 pm and there is a matinee on the 9th at 2.30 pm.
Tickets cost £14 to £18 (Box Office 0121 643 5858) but if you book through Helen you will get a £1 discount per ticket – contact her on 07879 402713.
Polling station voting
All polling stations by law allow guide dogs, and a companion to accompany a visually impaired voter to cast their vote.
A magnifier will be available and a large print version of the ballot paper(s) will be on display, with a hand-held version to be used as a specimen.
You can use a special template so you can vote in secret. It’s similar to a stencil – a tactile Braille overlay that enables you to vote unaided if you are a Braille reader or if someone has explained which box is for which candidate. It's like a signature guide but with more detail.
If you have questions or concerns about your visit to the polling station, contact the council’s elections team on 0121 569 3244.
Help for Gambian children
An SVI member from Oldbury has asked if we can help visually impaired children in The Gambia.
Govi School for the Blind is the only school where visually impaired children can study. There are 25 teachers –16 are visually impaired former pupils.
The school provides free education, learning materials, transport, breakfast, lunch, uniforms, school shoes and medical treatment to ensure the wellbeing of their pupils.
Materials used for teaching and learning are very expensive and hard to get. If you have any unbroken and unwanted Braillers, tape recorders, computers (with visually impaired software), magnifiers, hand frames or Braille books please call SVI on 0121 525 4810 to find out how to donate them.
Contact SVI
Tel: 0121 525 4810
Email:
Website: www.sandwellvisuallyimpaired.org.uk
Thanks
Thanks to: The editorial team, Sandwell Council and Reach Project Printing, Tipton.
Newsletter editor: Sandra
SVI aims to make living and/or working in Sandwell better for people coping with sight loss.
Registered charity number: 1131021
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