Bury Society for Blind & Partially Sighted People of... · Web viewA word of reassurance from one...

Chief Officer’s Message:I do hope you have been enjoying the sunshine and are looking forward to the summer. As I hinted last time, we have had a very busy time over the last couple of months and can now update you on some really thrilling news. I am pleased to confirm we are now the proud owners of Wolstenholme House, 4 Tenterden Street, Bury. This is a large, three storey, Victorian, double fronted house, formerly housing the NHS, facing out onto Jubilee Way. We will be just round the corner from the Bus Station and have our own car park, so far more accessible for visitors. This is a big step for the Society but one that we are very excited about. Not only will we be able to carry on with our current services but also, expand our provision to meet your needs.

Up until the end of July we shall still be at our current premises on Bolton Street as we are undertaking quite a bit of building work to get the new premises exactly right. So we’re looking to move in on 1 August – fingers crossed! We shall, of course, be inviting you all along to visit our new home and sample a nice cup of tea and a cake!! Further updates in our next Newsletter.

Remember –wherever we are, you are always very welcome to pop in and meet the staff and volunteers for advice or just a chat.

Legacy News

The Society has been overwhelmed by receiving two generous legacies of over £20,000 by Mr & Mrs Pomfret and £5,000 from Mrs Doreen Chatterton. Many of you may recognise Doreen Chatterton as she was

OUT OF SIGHTIssue 26 - May 2011 Newsletter

Welcome to edition 26 of “Out of Sight” the newsletter produced by Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People

Edition 26, May 2011. Page 2

a valued volunteer as well as a client with the Society. Legacies are always a wonderful gift for any Charity but particularly in the current climate. The difference this money makes to the Society is immense. Our sincere thanks to these generous donors – we intend to acknowledge their generosity with an appropriate tribute at our new premises.

A Plea

Do you know of any Companies or individuals who are in a position to donate items/money towards our new premises? Our new home needs furnishing and decorating, any help would be appreciated. Please pass any details onto either Jill or Debbie at the office.

Help Surgery

Just a reminder that Michelle Hurley, who visits you initially when you first register with the Blind Society, is holding a ‘Help Surgery’ here at The Centre. She will be available on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of every month between 3pm & 5pm. This is an opportunity to discuss your condition, equipment or areas of concern. Do drop in and have a chat – also, anyone supporting a partially sighted person is welcome to come along.

The Green Room

Have you heard about Adult Care’s new Connect & Direct at Textile Hall on Silver Street next to the Library? No, well come along and find out more – from us! We’re going to be based there on the second Monday of every month between 1pm and 4pm. We shall be demonstrating equipment, chatting about our services and also guiding people on how to use the Adult Care’s enquiry system to get action! We will be based in The Green Room – do come along and visit us!!

Jill Logan

FUNDRAISING


The Society’s second annual Quiz Night took place on Friday 11th March at the Mosses Centre. 24 teams of 4, highly competitive people answered 6 rounds of general knowledge questions on a wide range of subjects including sport, music, television and food & drink. Half way through the evening competitors took a well deserved break for a drink, a Pie & Pea supper and the Raffle draw. When all the rounds were completed, the team with the highest score at the end of the evening were ‘Royals Rotary Rogues’ who were presented with the Society Quiz Trophy. The winning team was made up with members of the Radcliffe Rotary Club, and at the end of the evening they presented the Society with a cheque for £50 which we very much appreciate. The other teams were made up of Members, Volunteers, Directors, Staff, family and friends, and as well as a great fun night out which everyone enjoyed, almost £500 was raised for Society funds.

Mothers Day Gift wrapping Event

On the 3 days leading up to Mothers Day, the Society’s Gift wrapping service proved very popular with shoppers in the Millgate Shopping Centre. The event raised almost £800 in total, helped very much by the ‘bottle’ Tombola and personal appearances by Charity, the Society mascot.

Great Manchester Run

On 15th May, a group of 8 volunteers and staff took part in the BUPA Great Manchester Run. Family and friends sponsored them to complete the 10k course through Manchester city centre, and collectively they raised over £1,000 to date for the Society. This was a fantastic achievement particularly for Alan Norman, who, only last year underwent a triple heart by-pass operation.

We will be accepting sponsor money up to the end of June, so there is still time to acknowledge this wonderful achievement, just contact Debbie Edwards on 0161 763 7014 for details. We will publish the final total in our next newsletter.

Items Wanted for our Summer Events & Craft Group

As we have our Summer events coming up the Society are looking for the following items for our tombola stalls. If you have anything in good


condition you are able to donate please contact the Society for collection, if you have a willing family member or have a befriender from the Society they could perhaps bring them to us on your behalf, that would assist us even more! I am looking for teddies in good condition (don't worry if his face needs a bit of a wash we can sort that) and good quality unwanted gifts that would make good tombola prizes and also costume jewellery (necklaces, bracelets, broaches, earrings) even if the beads or fixings are broken as we can re-use the beads and put on new fasteners.

Please call the Society on 0161 763 7014 and ask for Debs.

Our Craft Group have got a very busy summer planned to raise money which will help with the refurbishment of our new premises, they will be attending all of the following events:-

4th June Radcliffe Carnival11th June Bury Carnival19th June Prestwich Carnival26th June Bury Agricultural Show3rd July Music in the Park, Tottington9th July Hawkshaw Carnival14th August Pets in Need, Tottington

Please support YOUR Society, and persuade as many friends and family as possible to attend these events to ensure their success.

We are also looking for volunteers to help out at these events.

If you know someone who drives, and has access to a vehicle to transport and help erect our gazebo please contact Jane Deakin on 0161 763 7014.

We would also like someone to help run the tombola stall, and if you have any budding ‘thespians’ in the family, or someone who just likes a bit of fun, we are looking for people to wear our mascot costume at these events. For more details, contact Jane on 0161 763 7014.

SOCIALS


On 23rd March the Society held a Chocolate themed party for Members at the Resource Centre. During the evening which was attended by many members, volunteers, directors and staff, there was a quiz, Ferrero Rocher eating competition and raffle as well a huge selection of chocolate ‘goodies’ to eat.

Tracy Marno compiled a quiz where all the questions and answers were related to chocolate, the person who got the most correct answers was Liz Gerrard, who received – you’ve guessed it – a box of chocolates as her prize.

Contestants who entered the chocolate eating competition had to eat as many Ferrero Rocher as they could in one minute. This year there were 6 hopefuls who gave their all to win the title, and the winner, Sue Doherty, managed 6 in a minute which was 1 more than last years winner. Who knows, maybe next year we could have a record winner for the Guiness Book of Records!

Jewel in the Crown

On Tuesday 19th April a group of 45 members, volunteers, directors and staff descended on the Jewel in the Crown Indian restaurant for a meal and ‘get together’. This regular event is proving very popular as the number of people attending has increased year after year.

The food and the ambience were, as usual, first class and everyone had a lovely time as the following photographs show.

Edition 26, May 2011 Page 6

Future restaurant trips for your diaries include an evening at the Hare and Hounds in Holcombe Brook on 22nd June, where a 2 course meal will cost members £5 and non members £8. In September we plan to go to an Italian Restaurant and in November to a Chinese restaurant.If you would like to join us for all or any of these events, please call in at the Resource Centre to put your name on the list and if you have a Ring n Ride number, quote this at the same time and we will organise the booking for you.

This years Summer trip to Millstones in Harrogate will be on Thursday 18th August. Letters with details of this popular day have been sent to you, and if you would like to join us, make sure you complete and return the booking form along with a cheque or postal order for the appropriate amount before the 30th June 2011.

Are you a lover of bling! Yes? Well buy a £2 ticket from the Society (which includes a glass of wine or soft drink) and come along to our jewellery/handbag party on Monday 4 July at 7.30pm.

Benefit Information

As most of you will be aware there are massive changes being implemented regarding benefits that will affect many of our visually impaired clients. It is difficult to provide all the details but I will try to highlight the most important information.

Since 27 October 2008 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has been the benefit for people who are unable to work because of sickness or disability. If you were already receiving Incapacity Benefit (IB), Income Support (IS), or Severe Disabled Allowance (SDA) before 27 October


2008 you will continue to receive those benefits until you are reassessed under the rules of ESA.

Jobcentre Plus intends to contact almost everyone receiving IB, SDA or IS (on the basis of disability) between March 2011 and March 2014 to reassess them for ESA. It is not possible to opt out of this process, although people who reach state pension age before 6 April 2014 (men born before 6 April 1949 and women born before 6 April 1952) will not be reassessed.

When the process begins you will receive a letter from Jobcentre Plus and an ESA50 form to complete. This form asks for information about your disabilities and the difficulties you have carrying out a number of activities. After you return the ESA50 a date will be set for a medical examination. This is a new medical test that determines whether or not you can receive ESA and, if you can, what your obligations will be to continue to receive it.

The medical test for ESA is called the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and is in two parts. The first part is the ‘limited capability for work assessment’. In the current ‘limited capability for work assessment’ there is a 'vision' section that assesses the level of your sight loss and problems it may cause. The new test has removed this 'vision' assessment and replaced it with a new activity designed to assess the problems of people with sight loss which is called "Navigation and maintaining safety, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used."

There are 3 descriptors for this. The first navigation descriptor says that ‘you are unable to navigate around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.’ If you meet this criterion then you will score 15 points and pass the test.

The second navigation descriptor says that ‘you cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment’ Again if you meet this criterion you would score 15 points and pass the test.


The third descriptor is that ‘you are unable to navigate around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.’ If you meet this criterion and have no other health issues then you would score 9 points and would not pass the test.

If you are called to attend a medical examination under these new rules, you should make sure you explain to the assessor the sort of practical problems you would have crossing the road in an unfamiliar area, such as finding a crossing and checking that it has audio or other indication of when to cross.

The second part is the Limited Capability for Work-related Activity Assessment. Even having received notification that you are entitled to ESA the matter has not ended as there is then the Limited Capability for Work-related Activity Assessment (LCWRA) which determines whether you are placed into the support group of claimants or the work-related activity group. If you are blind or partially sighted, but you have no other physical or mental disabilities, you would normally be placed in the work-related group and will have to attend a number of work-focused interviews with an adviser. The interviews are intended to explore your options for returning to work and the barriers that you might face in employment. You will be required to discuss and devise an action plan of activities with your personal adviser. If it is considered that you have failed to take part in interviews with your personal adviser you can be sanctioned and your ESA reduced.

If you pass the new medical test, your existing benefit will be converted into an award of ESA.If you do not pass the medical test for ESA you will no longer be entitled to IB, SDA or IS and you will have to consider claiming another benefit.

If you are refused ESA because you did not pass the medical test you can appeal however you only have a month in which to make your appeal. You will be paid the basic rate of ESA while you are waiting for your appeal to be decided.


If you are not awarded ESA because you have not responded to a letter from Jobcentre Plus, or you have not attended a medical examination as requested, you can appeal against the decision, but ESA will not be paid while you are waiting for the appeal. The Government has published plans to change the medical test used to decide entitlement to ESA. These changes took effect from 28 March, but the rules have not yet been passed by Parliament and it is not certain whether these changes will be introduced or from what date they will come into effect. There is a danger that many blind or partially sighted people will no longer qualify for ESA if this new assessment is introduced. RNIB believes that the test does not properly take into account the barriers blind and partially sighted people face in relation to work.The RNIB is running a campaign against this new test. For further information you can go on the RNIB’s website at www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign.

One other major change, which this time may help people who are registered blind, is the amendment to Disability Living Allowance.As from 11 April 2011 some blind people will be able to claim the higher rate mobility component, but only if you are under 65 on 11 April 2011, that you are registered or certified as severely sight impaired (blind) and that you match the requirements for visual acuity and visual field.

Visual acuity is the measurement of your central vision and how well you can see detail. It is assessed using an eye test chart called the Snellen scale. Your visual field is what you can see around you; this is also called your peripheral vision.

If your visual acuity is:

1. less than 3/60, meaning you only can read the top line of an eye test chart from 3 metres away, you will qualify for the higher rate

2. if your visual acuity is between 3/60 and 6/60, (this means that can read only the top line of the eye test chart from 6 metres away) you must also have

a) a complete loss of your peripheral vision andb) severely restricted central vision (this means no more than 10

degrees in total), sometimes called tunnel vision in order to qualify.


http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign

If your visual acuity is better than 6/60 you will not qualify, for example if your acuity is 6/36 or 6/18.

If your sight is too poor to be measured in this way, for example if you can only count fingers or you only have light and dark perception, you will qualify. Many of you will already have received a phone call or letter from the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service and they will be assessing as to whether you are entitled to the high rate component. If you are refused the award then you can appeal, but you only have a month in which to do this and you will require some additional evidence from your consultant. Some people are saying that it is wise to contact your Consultant prior to getting the decision letter regarding the DLA so that you already have an up to date report from your Consultant ready at hand should you need it. If you are severely sight impaired and you are turned down for the higher rate of mobility and/or the middle rate of care component, or your existing payment has been reduced by the DWP, contact the RNIB’s Helpline on 0303 123 9999. They will be able to advise and assist you to challenge the decision if appropriate and they may be able to represent you at your appeal.If you do get higher rate mobility component you can use the mobility award to hire or buy a car using the Motability Car Scheme. Call 0845 456 4566 for further details and also you are exempt from paying road tax for one car. This could be a car you hire using the Motability scheme or you can nominate another person's car. You will be sent a road tax exemption form automatically if you are awarded higher rate mobility. We would welcome any feedback that you have regarding whether you have been refused these benefits, whether you have appealed the decision or even if it was straightforward and you were awarded the benefits.

Have a Look at This

If there are any sighted people reading this Newsletter who are interested in knowing what it is like to learn Braille, there is a new fun book available to help you to learn to ‘sight read’ Braille.

Jill Pemberton, a local lady, is sighted and learned Braille when she started work as a Braille corrector at The National Library for the Blind. Jill joined the Unit for Visually Impaired Learners at Bolton Community


College. She passed the RNIB Examination for Standard English Braille, and achieved an A* grade, and became a tutor after taking a Teacher Training Course.

Her book explains the principles of Braille and invites you to enjoy jokes and solve puzzles by sight reading the Braille format, and maybe it may encourage you to learn Braille in the tactile format.

Her book offers the beginner an insight into a fascinating subject. At the same time it could help sighted tutors, support workers, parents, friends and colleagues of visually impaired Braille users. Those who are already familiar with Braille might find it useful for revision or reference.

At some stage, Jill is hoping to produce a companion book in Braille format which will correspond to the answers to the puzzles. This will depend on the popularity of the print book. The cost of the book is £7 plus £1 towards postage. Jill can be contacted on the following email address:

[email protected]

Edition 26,May 2011 Page 12

Trainee Guide DogSeeks temporary accommodation

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is looking for committed volunteers to give temporary homes (for a period of ten weeks) to dogs undergoing training in this area.

Do you live or work in Whitefield or Unsworth

I am a local Guide Dog Instructor looking for somebody to look after my dogs during a 12 week period 3 times a year. The hours I work are Monday & Wednesday 9.00am until 3.00pm and Tuesday & Thursday 9.00am until 4.00pm. I would collect the dog at 9.00am and drop the dog back off either at 3.00pm or 4.00pm.

A concrete area in your garden would be ideal for spending.

If so, you could benefit from the fun and companionship of having a dog in your home without the commitment of full-time dog ownership. All equipment, feeding and veterinary care is provided.

For further information please contact

Volunteering Department

Telephone: 0845 371 7771

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

The organisation ‘Guide Dogs’ is concerned about the increase in the number of attacks on Guide dogs and the resultant psychological and physical impact that it has both on the handler and on the dog itself. They say that in some cases guide dogs have had to retire prematurely because they are unable to continue working. This has obvious implications for the owner both in terms of their mobility but also in the loss of a companion. Research has highlighted that most attacks occur


in public places from 9am to 3pm, the attacking dog is off the lead and almost half were bull breeds – bulldogs, mastiffs bull terriers and pit bull types. Also more than half the attacks were made on dogs that were in harness and working with their owner or trainer at the time. Expense wise this has an enormous impact on the Guide Dogs organisation in relation to veterinary costs and the training of dogs should the guide dog need to retire as a result of the attack. They have written to all Chief Constables urging them to take action against the perpetrators, however it is clear that education, training and enforcement need to go hand in hand. They are requesting that guide dog owners who have experienced a dog attack report the incident to them using their guide dog incident report form so that they can monitor the situation and build an evidence base.

We do know that here in Bury there have been a few attacks on Guide dogs, whilst they have been working, especially in the Kay Gardens area. If this happens to your dog then please let the Police, the Guide dogs organisation and staff at the Blind Society know. We can pass the information on to other Guide dog owners to make them aware of the danger areas.

Recipe

Summer Chicken in a Pot – a lovely fresh tasting, easy to cook one pot casserole - serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion , chopped


http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/onion/

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/olive-oil/

500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs

300g small new potatoes

425ml low-salt vegetable stock (such as Kallo low-salt vegetable stock cubes)

350g broccoli , cut into small florets

350g spring greens , shredded

140g petits pois

bunch spring onion , sliced

2 tbsp pesto

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy pan. Add the onion, gently fry for 5 mins until softened, add the chicken, then, fry until lightly coloured. Add the potatoes, stock and plenty of freshly ground black pepper, then bring to the boil. Cover, then simmer for 30 mins until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked. Can be frozen at this point.

2. Add the broccoli, spring greens, petit pois and spring onions, stir well, then, return to the boil. Cover, then cook for 5 mins more, stir in the pesto and heat through

Meet The Author!

Erica James is coming to town!

Who is Erica James you may well ask. Well Erica James (born 1960) is the author of several bestselling novels. Born Erica Sullivan, she grew up in Hampshire and lives now with her two sons in Cheshire. She


http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/spring-onion/

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/spring-greens/

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/broccoli/

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/new-potatoes/

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/chicken/

began writing after attending a creative writing course at the Avron Foundation

For her novel Gardens of Delight she won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2006.

Erica will be a visiting the VI reading group at Whitefield library at 1.30pm on Monday June 6th.

If you would like to join us on this afternoon, to hear about her writing and her latest novel, then contact: Anne Elton on 0161 253 7512

Partnership event between Bury Society for Blind & Partially Sighted People and VI Unit – Bury Library.

Here are a few of her novels on audio and large print in our libraries – you may like to order one before her visit

Tell It To The Skies

The beautiful city of Venice has been Lydia's home for many years. It's a place she loves and where she's found a sense of peace and fulfillment. Then one day she glimpses a young man's face in the crowd that threatens to change all that. He's a heart-stopping reminder of a dreadful secret she believed she had banished to the past ..As a young child, Lydia and her sister are sent to live with cruel grandparents they've never even met before.. Lydia believes she is to blame for her mother's death., she is also a suspect in her grandfather’s murder Now, twenty-eight years later, Lydia is persuaded to leave behind the safe new life she has created for herself and return to England to face the past.

It’ the little things

Dan and Sally Oliver and their friend Chloe Hennessey are lucky to be alive. Three years on, after surviving one of the world's biggest natural disasters - the Boxing Day tsunami - their lives have changed dramatically. Dan and Sally are now parents. Dan is enjoying being a stay-at-home father taking care of their young son, and Sally is the bread winner and loves her job as a partner in a Manchester law firm. The arrangement has so far worked well, but when Dan starts to question whether Sally has got her priorities right, the cracks in their


marriage begin to appear. Dan and Sally have everything Chloe wishes for in life - a happy marriage and a beautiful child.

Act of faith

It's almost Christmas. But for Ali the season of good cheer is the anniversary of her baby's death. As she stands at her son's grave, she is poignantly aware of how dramatically her life has changed. Determined to stand on her own two feet, and get through Christmas alone, Ali turns down her ex-husband's unexpected invitation to spend the holiday with him and his father, only to give in to her best friend's cajoling to share the festive season with her. The only trouble is, it means having to be nice to Sarah's awful husband, Trevor. Sarah may be a saint for putting up with Trevor, but Ali is no such thing, and as his cranky behaviour escalates, she takes it upon herself, in an extraordinary act of daring impetuosity, to play God with her friend's incomprehensible marriage. But Ali's meddling has consequences even she could not have foreseen

Her latest novel is Promises, promises

'I Must Stand Up for Myself More' promises Maggie Storm who spends her days cleaning houses for people who often have more money than manners. Married to a man with as much sex appeal as Mr Blobby, she dreams of a life straight from the pages of a romantic novel. 'My Head Must Rule Over My Heart' promises Ella Moore who, determined never to let her heart get the better of her again, is recovering from seven wasted years of failing to win over the daughter of the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life. 'No More Women' promises Ethan Edwards,ut when Ella appears unexpectedly in his life, he finds himself turning to her for very different reasons...

Here a few of our latest CD audio books added to stock in the library

The postmistress by Sarah Blake

The wireless crackles with news of a blitzed-out London and the war that courses through Europe, leaving destruction in it’s wake. Listening intently on the other side of the Atlantic, Emma considers the fragility of her peaceful married life.

Bouquet of thorns by Tania Cross


Dartmoor, 1877. Rose Chadwick is desperate to help Seth, the wrongly convicted man who has touched her heart, but she feels it is beyond her control. Her husband had promised to help clear the prisoner's name, but he scorns her sympathy for the vicious way the prisoners are treated.

Rescue me: my life with the Battersea dogs a biography by Melissa Wareham

Melissa Wareham always wanted to work with dogs. After failing her biology O Level she realised she'd have to start at the bottom, cleaning out kennels at Battersea Dogs Home. This is both a poignant and delightfully funny look at life in Britain's most-loved dogs' home.

Killer instinct by Zoe Sharp

Susie Hollins is found dead, the latest victim of the homicidal rapist stalking the local area. Charlie Fox, teacher of self defence, is drawn in to help with the investigation. But then the killer starts taking a very personal interest in Charlie.

The Visual Impairment Library team are now based within Whitefield Library, however, audio books will still be stocked at other libraries throughout the borough.

QuizOur quiz this time will test your memories about the Royal wedding of William and Kate in April. In order to win a prize, answer all the questions, then take the first letter of each answer, and use the letters to make up the happy couples new title.

Good luck……


1. Kate’s middle name?

2. The name of Kate’s mum?

3. Which ex Prime Minister was too ill to attend? 1st name please

4. What village does Kate come from?

5. Which footballer attended the wedding? 1st name please

6. Which hotel did the bride stay at the night before the wedding?

7. Who is the father of Beatrice and Eugenie?

8. What did Gordon Brown & Tony Blair fail to receive?

9. What kind of car did Kate travel to the Abbey in?

When you have got the answer, ring the Society on 0161 763 7014 after 5.0 pm. leave your name and telephone number on the answering machine along with your answer, and you could be the winner.

Closing date for entries is Friday 24th June

The answer to the last quiz was ‘Cheetah’ and the winner was Syd Pritchard who won a lunch for 2 at 3czons restaurant.


Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted

People

Services we offer are:Resource CentreHundreds of items of specialised and adapted equipment are available to help visually impaired people with daily living both in and away from home. These can be tried and purchased from our Centre

Advice and InformationAdvice and information leaflets on many issues surrounding visual impairment are freely available at the Resource Centre,

We are able to offer a form filling service for benefit applications e.g Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Pension Credit in order to maximise your income.

Home Visiting ServiceVolunteers are recruited and trained by the Society to be placed with visually impaired people who need help in a variety of ways.

These can include ‘being a friend’ or a ‘listening ear’ in addition to specific needs such as help with personal shopping, reading, answering correspondence and visiting places of interest. All these things help to regain confidence so often lost through visual impairment.

Library Services

All branches of the Public Library in the Borough contain a facility for visually impaired people. The main branches at Bury and Whitefield have more services than those in the more rural areas.


Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted

People

Services we offer are:Hospital Information ServiceLearning from an Opthalmologist at the Hospital Eye Clinic that nothing can be done for an eye condition is a devastating blow and the recipient of this news becomes extremely anxious. A word of reassurance from one of our Hospital Information staff can often alleviate this anxiety which can then lead to other areas of help available through the Society

Social ActivitiesMonthly and annual social gatherings are organised by the Society to bring visually impaired people together, providing the opportunity for social interaction whilst enjoying refreshments and being entertained.

Socials are held on every second Tuesday of the month at Walshaw Social Club in the afternoon and every fourth Tuesday of the month at the Grundy Centre in the evening. In addition to the monthly socials, the Society also organises an annual summer outing, restaurant visits and trips to the cinema twice a year, a summer picnic and a Christmas party.

Any clients who are interested in attending one of our Socials please contact us on 0161 763 7014.

Drop in Centre

All Members are welcome to visit the Centre between 10 am and 3.30 pm Monday to Friday for FREE Tea or coffee and biscuits.

36 Bolton Street, Bury, BL9 0LLTelephone: 0161 763 7014

Fax: 0161 763 3395

Bury Society for Blind & Partially Sighted People of... · Web viewA word of reassurance from one...

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