December 2014 Newsletter
AGM Wednesday 11 February 2015
Please come along to the PAB Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11th February from 10.30 to 12.00 at St Peter's and All Souls Church Hall. Coffee and biscuits will be available. The committee has lots of ideas about how the association should develop and we need your input! If you would like to volunteer or nominate someone else for the Committee (with their agreement, of course!) please call Barbara in the office on 01733 344 844 and she can send you a form or help you to complete one. Large print and braille copies of reports will be available at the meeting but if you would like any papers in advance, in large print, audio or braille, do contact Barbara.
Informing people recently diagnosed with sight loss
We are delighted to let you know that with your help we have been awarded £3000 by the Lloyds Bank Community Fund. This will allow us to produce an information folder for people newly diagnosed with serious sight loss, to make them aware of what is available locally, thus reducing the fear and isolation that sight loss can cause. Other members of the Peterborough Low Vision Forum will work with us to put together relevant information that will signpost how and where in the Peterborough area to access services such as transport or benefits.
Peterborough City - “A city where people of all ability can move about freely, independently and safely”
During Guide Dog week in October 2014 Cllr Marco Cereste undertook a blindfold challenge where he negotiated the obstacles and hazards blind or partially sighted people face on a day to day basis to maintain their right to independence. At one point during the walk Cllr Cereste said “If I were blind I would be dead now”.
From this exercise Mr Cereste has asked the group that he met on that day to present a wish list of areas for consideration and change to enhance Peterborough City Centre.
Peterborough has a fantastic rail link to the South and from the North enabling many visitors and tourists to visit. We want Peterborough to be a place for all -regardless of age or ability.
The population is ageing. Research highlights that 1:12 at the age of 60 start to incur an un-correctable sight loss, increasing to 1:5 at the age of 70. Only 4% of people who are registered severely sight impaired are totally blind.
A list has been compiled to discuss with Cllr Cereste at the beginning of December. The list could never be exhaustive but it has been drawn up by a representative group of organisations (including PAB) and individuals who are blind and partially sighted for consideration by Peterborough City Council.
The main points raised are the need to increase awareness of the needs of blind and partially sighted people amongst council staff, contractors for council work, and taxi and bus drivers, meaningful consultation when new projects are planned and enforcement of existing byelaws to reduce the dangers of street clutter, and cycling or parking on pavements.
Cambridgeshire Police Enhanced Access Line (PEAL)
Cambridgeshire Constabulary have launched a service for people who have difficulties with communication and who may benefit from additional support when contacting the police. This service provides pre-registered citizens direct access to a highly trained police call taker if they ever need to contact Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
How to use it
People who have difficulties using the telephone can register to use the service. Once registered, they are issued with a special telephone number to use when contacting the police for general, non-emergency queries. Once registered, anyone calling the number will be connected directly to a specially trained police call taker. This can reduce the time they spend waiting to speak to an operator, and helps minimise any pain or discomfort they may have when holding a telephone.
Using this service may also reduce their confusion or agitation, enabling them to communicate more effectively. And because they are using the dedicated telephone number, and have already registered their details, the police operator will be aware that the caller suffers from a disability or illness. The supporting information held about registered users, such as details of next of kin, may be useful in other circumstances. For example, if there is concern for the welfare of that person, the police may use the information to contact a relative on their behalf.
When is it available?
The Police Enhanced Access Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The line is for non-emergency use only, with the aim that calls are answered promptly. For emergency calls, always dial 999.
Who is eligible?
- People who have a disability or illness that affects their ability to hold a telephone for long periods of time, such as arthritis.
- People who have a condition that affects their behaviour or memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- People who become easily confused or agitated due to their illness, which sometimes can be aggravated by stressful or pro-longed situations, such as Parkinson’s disease.
- People whose ability to communicate effectively is hindered by the symptoms of a medical condition or as a result of an injury, such as a stroke or brain injury.
People can register via the website at or at any Cambridgeshire Police Station. The stations have registration forms that can be completed then and there, or taken away to be completed at a later date. Any officer or PCSO can take details and will pass them on to the relevant department.
Cambridgeshire Police Text Service for the Deaf
Cambridgeshire Constabulary have also developed a text service for the deaf or hard of hearing. This text service will make it easier for people to contact police for non-emergency incidents. You will need to register your details with them before you can use the service. This will ensure that when a text is received, they know immediately who it is from and where you live. Texts will be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the police will be able to respond by text or by sending out a police response as appropriate. The service will be charged at your standard network rate for a text message. Let your thumb do the talking.
What to do now?
If you are deaf or hard of hearing please register with Cambridgeshire Constabulary to use this text service. Fill in the registration form on the website and they will send you details on how to use the service.
When to use the service
The text number can be used for non-emergency incidents only. You need to register before you can use the service so that the police have all of your details such as name, address and emergency contacts details. Just remember when you text to tell them:
- Where you are
- What the problem is
They will then asses the problem and take action accordingly. They will also text you back, so make sure you keep your phone with you.
Remember, in an emergency always dial 999.
Disclaimer – Cambridgeshire Constabulary cannot guarantee the reliability of mobile phone networks.
2015 PAB Coffee Mornings
Coffee mornings take place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at St. Peter & All Souls Church Hall, Fitzwilliam Street, Peterborough, 10.30 am - 12.00 noon. Here are the New Year dates for your diary:
Wed 14 January
Wed 28 January
Wed 11 February
Wed 25 February
Wed 11 March
Wed 25 March
Do you live in Yaxley?
The "Impaired Senses" group meets every third Saturday in the month at St B's Hall, Main Street Yaxley PE7 3LZ from 2pm-4pm. This is a community group, run for anyone who lives in Yaxley or the surrounding areas, who finds it hard to see or hear. Come along and meet new friends, and join in with games, raffle and refreshments.
For more information please call 01733 746538.
Think Safe – Be Safe Advice from the Police
Officers are asking residents to be cautious when dealing with unsolicited sales calls after being contacted by residents that have been cold-called by a company selling therapeutic aids. The company is targeting older residents in the county, falsely claims to have received a referral from the local GP surgery and arranges an appointment to attend the home address.
The organisations which make these calls or supply these mailings often obtain householder information from commercial data companies which sell contact lists.
Consumers can register with a number of preference services to assist householders to stop some direct marketing companies making such contact; these include:
Telephone preference service: to reduce/stop unsolicited sales or marketing calls. Registration Line 0845 070 0707. DMA House,70 Margaret Street, London, W1W 8SS Website
Mailing Preference Service: to reduce/stop addressed direct marketing mail
Tel: 0845 703 4599 Freepost 29 LON20771, London, W1E 0ZT
Royal Mail Door to door opt outs: to reduce/stop unaddressed (i.e to the occupier/householder) mail and leaflets delivered by Royal Mail Tel: 01793 483853
Freepost RRBT-ZBXB-TTTS, Door-to-door opt-outs, Royal Mail, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, OXFORD, OX1 Email: visitJunk buster
Police offer the following safety advice:
Lock: secure all your other outer doors. The person at the door may intend to distract you while an accomplice gets in through a back door.
Stop: think about whether you’re expecting anyone.
Chain: put the door chain on, or look through the window or spy-hole to see who’s there.
Check: ask for an identity card and examine it carefully. You can always tell the caller to come back another time when someone will be with you.
Don’t agree to sign a contract or hand over any money until you have talked to someone you trust.
Never disclose your personal identification number (PIN) or let anyone persuade you to hand over your bank card or go to the bank to withdraw cash for a payment.
Don’t be afraid to ask a salesperson to leave. If they refuse, call the police.
200+ Club
We're delighted to congratulate the winners of our 200+ Club:
10 SeptemberMrs J Wren£50
Tracey Plant£30
Richard Cosham£20
8 OctoberMr Alan Joyce£50
Jean Smith£30
Margaret Preston£20
12 NovemberMandy Thompson£50
E B Kisby£30
Mrs Sue Beasley£20
If you'd like a chance to be a winner, or would like to buy additional shares, you can obtain application forms at the PAB coffee morning or from the office.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from the PAB Committee
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Peterborough Association for the Blind
Centre 68, 68b Westgate, Peterborough, PE1 1RG
Tel: 01733 344 844