SIGHT CONCERN BEDFORDSHIRE
NEWS & VIEWS SPRING 2016-04-01
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Changes to our services in Bedford Borough Council Area
By Nick Gibson CEO
It is always sad when we, a charity, have to withdraw services from people who need them. Unfortunately we will be discontinuing a number of services in the Bedford Borough Council area from the 31st March.
The services that we currently provide under contract from Bedford Borough Council have been terminated. This includes support with benefits and concessions, housing and home assessments. We will no longer have a Visual Impairment Officer (formerly Community Support Worker) to support blind and partially sighted people who live in the Bedford Borough Council area from the end of March.
Please be assured that these services continue as normal in Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council areas where we have different contracting arrangements. The Low Vision services based in Bedford but serving all of Bedfordshire and our volunteer-led activities will continue in the Bedford Borough Council area, operating from our new home in St Bede’s.
We are currently in discussions with Bedford Borough Council regarding the impact of these cuts to services for blind and partially sighted people in their area.
Sight Concern is still available to help anyone affected by Sight Loss anywhere in Bedfordshire or Luton and we will be able to direct you to alternative support services where they exist. If you or someone you know will be adversely affected by this, please let us know.
Contact the Bedford Borough Council Customer Services Centre on 01234 267422 for information on replacement support services.
Service user’s event
2016 – At Kings House
See the centre page pull out for details of the day
We would love to see you there
A warm welcome to Martin our new Chair
By Nick Gibson, Chief Executive Officer
Just a quick article to inform you all that we have a new Chair.
As you will know our previous Chair, Linda Lomax had to stand down from her duties as both Chair and Trustee from Sight Concern due to illness of her husband Mike late last year.
Mike is now back to work and making steady progress back to full health.
I’m very happy to report that at the meeting of the full Board of Trustees in February Martin Green was unanimously elected to be the new Chair of Sight Concern Bedfordshire.
Many of you will know that Martin has been a volunteer and Trustee with the charity for over two years. Coming from an IT background, Martin has been one of the key people in the Bedford IT Club and is currently providing Susan with technical support for the re-design of our website.
The Board of Trustees are the legally accountable body of a charity. In charity law, Trustees discharge their responsibilities as a body rather than have powers as individuals. Therefor the Chair of Trustees is elected, amongst other things, to ensure the Trustees function as a Board and as a focal point for communicating the will of the Board.
The Chair is also a key person in ensuring the Board oversee the governance of the charity and as part of this Martin is available for any member of staff or volunteer to talk to or e-mail on any matters relating to Sight Concern Bedfordshire.
Please join me in wishing a warm welcome to Martin our new Chair.
A Quick Hello
By Martin Green, Chair of the Board of SCB
"Hello. My name is Martin Green and I am the new Chair of the Board of Trustees for Sight Concern. I am extremely proud to have been asked to undertake this role by my fellow Trustees and I aim to repay their faith in me by working hard to ensure that Sight Concern continues to provide support and assistance to the visually impaired community in Bedfordshire.
Before I became visually impaired, I had for many years worked in the area of information technology and I am now passionate about how technology can be used to enhance the life of the visually impaired.
I will be attending our Service User Event on 29th April and I hope to meet some of you there"
Kids Club Art Competition
By Mark Chapman, Visual Impairment Advisor
We have received some exciting news! At our last meeting of the kids club in February, we created lots of bits to enter a competition run by Blind Children UK. There was a prize of lots of art supplies and a chance that some of the entries will be displayed in Parliament. Some children even carried on making stuff at home!
We supplied lots of different art things, such as coloured in pictures, a tactile (and noisy) 3D Papier Mache egg, a giant mural, decorated eggs and a video of us decorating a tree with the eggs. We got everything together and sent off a box of Easter decorated bits and bobs. You can see the video we made at:
I then had an email from Blind Children UK. They thanked us for our competition entries and invited us to Parliament for the opening ceremony of the display! Oh my word!
A small team of us, including volunteers that run the club and two families with their children, were able to go up on the train. One little boy was extremely excited to be on the train and when we eventually arrived at Westminster tube station he couldn’t contain himself. We left the station and ended up almost directly under Big Ben.
We walked round Parliament to the side entrance and had to wait a little while to go through security, before our first important stop in the Parliament Jubilee Café. One reasonably priced coffee later and it was time to go in.
Walking through the impressive corridors of power was thrilling. Seeing where Nelson Mandela stood to address both houses and where historic decisions have been made for many years was wonderful. We walked past the entrances to the House of Commons and the House of Lords and up to the Upper Waiting Hall. Blind Children UK had a display set up to demonstrate to MPs the importance of support for visually impaired children. We had sent so much material that our pieces were on the front table, and scattered around the display boards.
They had also taken our decorated eggs and pinned them around most of the room. The display was there all week and it’s nice to think of all the MPs and Lords walking past our children’s work. I hope they all stop to have a look.
They announced the winners of the individual categories and then the last award was for the group category and we won! I think it’s fair to say I was louder than the children, although only a little bit. We had our pictures taken with our prize of art supplies for the group. We stayed for a little bit talking to a few MPs who attended and then made our way back to Luton tired but happy. Apparently they do a touch tour of the Houses of Parliament so maybe we’ll be back there soon.
Rowing-sport for all
By Lynda Higgins, Rowing Coach at Bedford Rowing Club
Bedford Rowing Club can offer 'learn to row' sessions for all.
The club has specially designed stable boats that make the experience safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Technique can be taught on rowing machines first where individuals can get a feel of how the body should move through the rowing stroke. This is great for coaches who can correct mistakes with a more hands on approach. Technique taught on the indoor rower is identical to being on the water.
If individuals want to progress with rowing and have aspirations to train on a regular basis then that will
be possible too. Most of the boats are crew boats with 2,4 or 8 others, so there will always be 'a buddy' to row with.
If individuals want to row recreationally then that is possible to.
For more details Email me at
News From The Low Vision Clinic
By Kath Pepper, Low Vision Clinic Coordinator
The Low Vision Service is back. The Low Vision Service is now running again at the new Bedford office Bedford using the main Saint Bede’s entrance on Conduit Road. The new room facilities are compact and welcoming and we have the use of the Saint Bede’s café for refreshments while you wait.
Up With the Larks
By Mark Chapman, Visual Impairment Advisor
A couple of years ago a small group from Sight Concern Bedfordshire joined a guided walk with the National Trust at Dunstable Downs for International Dawn Chorus Day. We have just received an invitation to go this year on Sunday 1st May. People interested have to meet at 4am at the Chilterns Gateway Centre on Dunstable Downs. Depending on where you live that could mean getting up at 3am! The event includes a walk through the trees with a hope of catching the Dawn Chorus. The costs will be £4 per person with the opportunity to pre order breakfast. At the moment they have reserved 10 spaces for us. So who's up for getting up at around 3am to hear the Dawn Chorus?
My Day in Court
By Fred Hicks, Client of SCB
I have been to court for the first time in my life and it all happened because a taxi driver refused to take my Guide Dog Uri in his cab! It was a very upsetting experience.
Joyce, at the IT club, got in touch with someone from Sight Concern and the next thing Bob from the council rang and then came and took a statement from me.
The taxi driver was taken to court and I had to attend Luton Court as a witness. My friend Jess came with me.
The case came up on Monday 18th January and the driver pleaded not guilty. After the evidence was heard, the jury went out and when they returned, they found him guilty. He was fined with costs, which was a very good result.
I took Uri with me to court where he was well received.
Since the court appearance, I have been interviewed by the local newspaper and it has made the front page of the Beds on Sunday, which I did not expect it to do.
I was even more surprised when Three Counties Radio rang and interviewed me on the radio.
People have stopped me and said ‘it’s about time something was done about this’ and I think I have started the ball rolling. When I am in the supermarket, people come up to me and say ‘hello’ and ‘well done’. I am enjoying being a celebrity. Although I think they might be a bit more interested in Uri than me!
Moonwalk Donations
By Simon Watson, IT Club Volunteer
Hello my name is Simon Watson and I am a volunteer at sight concern Bedfordshire. I help with the I.T. clubs in Luton.
At the end of last year Mark Chatman came up with the idea of a sponsored walk around the moon. I then asked him if I could help with the collating of the miles and sponsorships.
We have set up a page on “Make a Donation” to make it easier for people to donate and so that those who are raising money don’t need to bring money into the office. Make A Donation do not take any money for the service. You can sponsor a charity or a person if they have set up a page for donating.
If you would like help to set up a payment then just contact me on
More updates to follow throughout the year.
Quick Quiz
By Alison Taylor, Admin Co-ordinator
AMD is the most common cause of vision impairment. How does it affect the eyesight?
A. Central vision loss
B. Peripheral vision loss
C. Night vision loss
D. None of the above
The correct answer is A Central Vision loss.
In AMD, the cells in the macula (the central portion of the retina) gradually cease to function. Most people with AMD retain their peripheral vision.
Service Users’ Event
Friday 29th April 2016
King’s House, Bedford
This is your invitation to our
Annual Service User Event
We look forward to welcoming you to our 2016 annual conference for the visually impaired on Friday the 29th April.
This year we are in Bedford and after the success of last year’s format, will again have a large range of exhibitors, including equipment suppliers, local services and partner organisations. We will also have a range of activities for you to ‘have a go’ at including an opportunity to record your feedback on our services.
Tickets for the event are £5.00 per person (lunch is not included).
A booking form is on the inside back page of this magazine.
Take a look inside for details of the day.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Martin Green, Chair
Nick Gibson, Chief Executive
Booking, Refreshments and Schedule
This year the tickets will be £5.00 per person and do not include lunch. Tea and Coffee will be available all day, for a small donation.
Kings House includes a lovely café that will be open all day, offering a wide range of hot and cold drinks, lunches and snacks. Staff there are familiar with VIPs and of course we’ll have volunteers around to help all day.
The Exhibition will be open from 10:00am to 4:30pm and will have a wide range of equipment and service suppliers, local organisations and information. There will also be two ‘have a go’ workshop sessions with a range of activities for you to try and experts to question. You can sign up to these on the day and take your pick!
To book your place, either fill in and return the booking form on the
inside back page of this issue of News & Views magazine or contact us by phone or email with the information needed for the form.
Outline programme
10:00Registration opens (Café available)
10:30 Chair’s Address and Chief Executive’s Address
11:00Workshop session 1
12:00LUNCH AND EXHIBITION
14:00Workshop session 2
15:00Keynote speaker (TBA)
15:45 Closing Remarks
16:00Close
Exhibitors
The list of organisations attending the event is still growing. At the time of going to press, the following are expected to attend to demonstrate their equipment or services and talk to you about your interests and needs.
Visual Aid Companies & Services
•HumanWare
•Professional Vision Services
•Dolphin
•Enhanced Vision
•Optilec
•Sight and Sound.
•Guide Dogs for the Blind
Health and Well Being
•Stop Smoking Team
•Independent Living Centre
•Carers In Bedfordshire
•Healthwatch
•Sport and Exercise
Leisure and Activities
•Wireless for the Blind
•Bedford Audio News
•Calibre Talking Books
•Bedford Library Audio Service
•IT Clubs and Training
•The Small Crafty Bunch
Further exhibitors have been invited and the list keeps growing.
The Venue, directions and transport
Kings House,
Ampthill Road,
Bedford,
MK42 9AZ.
Many of you will be familiar with Kings House as our ‘home’ for five years. Our event will be held in the main conference facility, accessed through the café entrance.
Getting there by public transport
The nearest train station is Bedford. The nearest Bus Station is Bedford. From Bedford Bus Station, Service 2 (Park and Ride, Elstow) stops
outside the venue and runs regularly throughout the day.
There is a large Park and Ride to the south of Bedford, buses (Service 2) from which stop outside the venue.
If you would like more information on public transport routes please
contact us.
Getting there by car
Approaching Bedford from the South, East or West. Take the A6 (Luton) exit from the Bedford Bypass (A421) and travel North up Ampthill Road. Go straight on at three sets of traffic lights. Kings House is on the left in less than half a mile.
From Bedford Town Centre: Follow signs for A6 Luton (past the Hospital) to travel South on the Ampthill Road. Kings House is on the Right, shortly after the Nissan, Ford and Honda car dealerships.
On Arrival
No matter how you get there, we will have volunteers available to meet and greet you, escort you to the registration desk and familiarise you with the venue’s layout.
They will also be available during the event to provide assistance.
Northern Ballet’s Swan Lake
Touch Tour Insight and Audio Described Performance Saturday 30th April at Milton Keynes Theatre
With all the beauty for which Swan Lake is renowned, Northern Ballet brings you a modern take on an iconic classic. This show is the ultimate experience whether you’re a dance lover or this is your first trip to the ballet.
This tale of love and obsession is performed to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful and moving score, played live by Northern ballet Sinfonia.
Our audio described performance access days enable visually impaired patrons to enjoy a range of activities that enhance the enjoyment and understanding of ballet.
The day consists of an insight workshop with Company dancers demonstrating movements from the production, followed by a touch tour in the auditorium to feel the set, props and costumes.
The audio described performance, described by VocalEyes, enables patrons to enjoy the story of the ballet and the emotion and quality of movement accompanied by live music from the Northern Ballet Sinfonia.