At the Britannia Conference Centre, London Nw1

Registered Charity No. 1093675

REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE HELD ON 29 JUNE 2006

AT THE BRITANNIA CONFERENCE CENTRE, LONDON NW1

The Conference was chaired by Stephen Remington, Chairman of VISION 2020 UK’s Executive Committee and attended by 80 delegates from 41 organisations. In welcoming everyone, the Chairman said that this was the best attended Conference to date. Those present not only included a good number of representatives from the voluntary sector, but also a significant number from Social Services and Eye Health Professions, who were especially welcome. He set delegates a challenge to make three new contacts by the end of the day.

The programme was divided into seven sessions, one of which constituted VISION 2020 UK’s AGM.

SESSION 1

The Conference opened with a keynote speech from Anne Bristow, Director of Social Services for the London Borough of Haringey and Lead Officer for Sensory Services within the Association of Directors of Social Services. Her speech explored the changing role of Social Services and the contributions that not only social care professionals might make to improving the lives of people with a visual impairment but also, what might be the role of the wider local authority.

Notwithstanding changes in organisation and practice, visual impairment remained a low priority with limited resources and one which did not feature in Government targets. She suggested three examples related to sight loss which could be introduced to decision makers if we wanted to increase their interest in tackling visual impairment issues – smoking cessation, prevention of falls and regular eye sight tests

In conclusion, Anne stressed the need to get involved with local partnership groups which have been developed as part of the Community Strategy, often with substantial user and carer representation and to make the case for visually impaired people.

The full text of Anne’s speech is available in the Library Section of the VISION 2020UK website

SESSION 2

This title of this session “ I’m a priority – Keep me in Here’ was designed to find out what should be the highest priority for the Government and the Sector. 5 speakers put forward in no more than 5 minutes (strictly enforced by the Chair!) the reasons why their priority should be top of the list.

Information/Communication – Tom Pey stressed the point that as a visually impaired person, he frequently needed and should be entitled to information in an accessible format before he could do anything. This was essential not desirable information, for example train times and alternative routes or availability of social care.

Low Vision Services – Lance Clarke described the NHS as a jungle where low vision services had to be consistently on guard against attack. Registrations had dropped under the new system and the number of LV clinics had declined. It seemed to be easier for predators to continually cut services to save money, instead of reviewing what was already there, which would not necessarily mean extra money

Social and Eye Research – Alistair Fielder asked his audience how many of their organisations had research among their top three priorities – the result was rather disappointing! He drew attention to the higher incidence of falls among VI people and to the links between VI and depression and stressed the importance of getting evidence to improve conditions. If people thought research was expensive, try disease!

Technology – Roger Wilson Hinds stressed the benefits that access technology had brought to him over the years. There had also been an increase in self help groups based on technology. Partnership was the key - without technology he would not have been able to run his own business and he wanted to share the benefits with others.

Children and Young People – Megan Barley spoke of the importance of inclusion, but she felt there was still a postcode lottery for services for visually impaired children. Support for teachers and those working with the children was important to ensure that the children obtained the best education and employment opportunities, with a chance to understand and be part of the world around them.

Following the first round of voting, 2 priority areas were eliminated from the list these were Children and technology. The supporters of the remaining 3 priorities were each allowed 2 further minutes to promote their cause and the result of the final vote was to award the highest priority to Information and Communication.

This session was enjoyed by all but emphasised the difficulty of determining priorities from a list of very important subjects all of which it could be argued, had a strong case to be “the top priority”.

SESSION 3

Rethink Rehab Campaign - Tom Pey, Guide Dogs explained the background to the Campaign and reported on the activities of the Rehabilitation Group set up in August 2005.

Gary Dooley reported on the early findings of the survey, one of which showed that two thirds of those questioned found it difficult to cope with the demands of everyday life. The results indicated a desire for greater access and information and also a need for increased awareness of public services

The Survey also looked at the continuing shortage of rehabilitation workers and ways in which this might be addressed. Responses showed that contact with a rehabilitation worker was very important for a newly blind person.

A full version of the presentation including the initial research findings is available in the Library Section of the VISION 2020UK website

This was followed by a Group Discussion on the question ‘Will the rehabilitation needs of blind and partially sighted people be best served by preserving sight loss as a specialist disability? Alternatively should the sector seek to mainstream?’’

The main points from this will form part of the response to the Rethink Rehab Survey

SESSION 4

Network 1000 – VISION 2020 UK and the University of Birmingham were supported by the Big Lottery Fund in March 2004 to carry out the research project “Network 1000: Surveying the changing needs of visually impaired people”.Graham Douglas, reported on its initial findings and explained how the consultation network of 1000 visually impaired people (who can be regularly surveyed on a range of issues affecting them), had been selected.

The final question to respondees had been open ended, inviting them to state what issues were important to them. The replies included travel, transport, mobility, independent living skills, family support, social and emotional issues, accessible information, leisure activities, employment and attitudes shown by other people

The published findings will also feature some case studies to illustrate the key issues reported by those surveyed. Graham reminded his audience that this was an on- going exercise and further results will follow in due course.

The full report should be available in late summer 2006 and VISION 2020 UK will send a notification out as to how to obtain the full report.

The full text of his presentation is available in the Library Section of the VISION 2020UK website

SESSION 5

Lunch was followed by the AGM at which members of VISION 2020 UK re-elected un-opposed, 4 members of the Executive Committee as required under the Constitution. Michael Wolffe Treasurer, (College of Optometrists), Ron Bramley (Thomas Pocklington Trust), Tom Bremridge (Macular Disease Society) and Lance Clarke (NALSVI) will serve for a further period of 3 years.

Positive reports on the previous year were received from the Chairman, the Treasurer and the Chief Executive, Mike Brace. The meeting approved a 3% increase in annual subscriptions from 1 April 2007.

In presenting his Chairman’s report, Stephen Remington took the opportunity to thank all VISION 2020 UK members, Trustees and Working Groups for their support and the very small team involved in providing the administration. VISION 2020 UK had created a framework which made possible the involvement of Health and Social care professionals together with key staff and volunteers in the not for profit sector. There were a number of examples of increased partnership working and a lot of effort put into bringing large and small organisations together.

SESSION 6

This session was devoted to Barbara McLaughlan’s presentation of the initial findings of the Low Vision Services Survey carried out by the AMD Alliance and RNIB. The survey had been conducted to assess service provision five years on from Barbara Ryan’s Low Vision Report launched in 1999. Questionnaires were circulated to Primary Care Organisations and low vision service providers.

An outline of the main results showed that

• 25% of respondees acknowledged their services were less than satisfactory.
• 50% of PCT’s said that Low Vision services were a low priority – only 1 in 10 rated LVS as a high priority
• 30% gave funding as the reason for non provision
• 40% took the view that existing services were adequate, giving this as the reason for not doing more
• Less than 1 in 5 service providers advertised, eg in GP’s surgeries
• 1 in 6 did not give training for low vision equipment
• Although inter agency working had improved, there appeared to be no practical recognition of the need for emotional support
• 53% of respondees who knew about the Low Vision Committee in their area, felt it had a positive impact; 47% felt it made no difference

A full report on the findings will be published later in the year and there would be further discussion with VISION 2020UK.

SESSION 7

The Conference concluded with Group Discussion, chaired by Lance Clarke, Chair of the VISION 2020 UK Low Vision Steering Group. Delegates were invited to consider whether ‘Low vision should be a low priority. After all isn’t it more important to get the medical condition sorted out and after that, the rest will just fall into place?”

The main points put forward by each group were on similar lines:-

• For many older people, their sight loss cannot be cured so they need low vision equipment to maintain their independence
• More advice leads to a better quality of life
• Instantly available advice on LV equipment will keep people safe and save money for the NHS. Equipment is of no benefit to users without training
• The importance of all aspects of low vision training and more home visits.
• Some training could be carried out in the home by a wider range of individuals, eg electricians

The Conference was closed by Stephen Remington who thanked all participants and all those involved in arranging the Conference and assisting on the day. VISION 2020 UK Trustees and Working Groups would continue to act to encourage partnerships and ensure that the organisation added value to the work for visually impaired people.

Stephen encouraged everyone to go back to their organisations and continue the process of partnership working and hoped that delegates had successfully used the Conference to make contact with people and organisations they previously did not know.

VISION 2020 CONFERENCE - 29 JUNE 2006

DELEGATES LIST

Nick AstburyRoyal College of Ophthalmologists

Mary BairstowVISION 2020 UK

David Bamber Action

Megan BarleyVIEW

Tony BestSENSE

Brenda BillingtonRoyal College of Ophthalmologists

Heather BillingtonAction

Gail BlackwellCam Sight

Mike BraceVISION 2020 UK

Ron BramleyThomas Pocklington Trust

Helen BrazierNational Library for the Blind

Tom BremridgeMacular Disease Society

Anne BristowADSS

Colin BrownAction

Tina BrowneWaltham Forest PCT

Ashrafia ChoudhurySeeAbility

Lance ClarkeNALSVI

Christine CorcoranUniversity of Birmingham

Pat CrawfordGuide Dogs

Peter Curtis-Wales Council for the Blind

Gareth DaviesNLBD

Martin DeanGreenwich Council

Ann DelfGuide Dogs

Gary DooleyGuide Dogs

Graeme DouglasUniversity of Birmingham

Kathy EvansRoyal College of Ophthalmologists

Tom Fagan SeeAbility

Alistair Fielder Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Derek ForbesMerton Vision

Margaret ForthLeeds Social Services

Carl FreemanRNIB

Lynette GayferAddenbrookes NHS Trust

Steve GillmanGreenwich Council

Michael Gordon-LennoxSt. Dunstan's

Fazilet HadiRNIB

Libby HalfordChildhood Eye Cancer Trust

Deborah HamlinLOOK

Sandra HanafinAction

Rosalind HarrisonAssoc. of Health. Professionals In Ophthalmology

Fran HibbertMerton Vision

Richard HolmesAction-

Steve JerromAction-

Nicholas JohnstonRNIB

Gill JonesEssex Social Services

Robert LeaderSt. Dunstan's

Anita LightstoneRNIB

Barbara McLaughlanRNIB

George MonaghanHammersmith & Fulham

Carol MonaghanRoyal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Patrick O’NeillHaringey Council

Keith OttawayGreenwich Council

Sue PaveyUniversity of Birmingham

Tom PeyGuide Dogs

Richard PorterIAPB

Katie RandersonGuide Dogs

Stephen RemingtonAction

Michael RobertsFight for Sight

Beverley RickettsAssoc. of British Dispensing Opticians

John RoulstonRoyal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

David Scott-RalphsSeeAbility

Julie ShalesSt. Dunstan's

Abi SmithIAPB

Carol SmithRNIB

Angela StokesRNID

Alan SuttieRNIB

Jim ThomasAction

Jacqui WakefordAction

Sir John WallSOVIL

Trish WeltonRoyal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Roger Wilson-HindsChoice Technology Ltd

Michael WolffeCollege of Optometrists

Kay WrenchVIEW

Assisting

Margaret Alexander )

Laura Beaumont )VISION 2020 UK

Maureen Brace )

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