Local Societies Offering Services for VI Children and Young People
Each society shows:
Name of Society or Group
Geographical location
Contact name
Contact email
Contact phone
Website
Services offered:
South West
Common Sense
Dorset
Sarah Murray
01202 676388
Local trips, Advocacy and Support, Common Sense Children's Cane Bank
i-Sight Cornwall
Cornwall
Kerry Hoskin
01872265474
Assistance to parents of VI chlidren to enable them to have local meetings to share experiences, be put in touch with others with similar eye condition, information and resources. From late 2015
Moorvision
Devon, Plymouth, Torbay
Laura Hughes
07581 566690 or 01752 892058
We organise a number of parent/carer meetings each year plus 8 - 10 family activity days, one or residential trips, a newsletter three times per year. We have an active network of email contact and a members list through which families can contact each. We work closely with Blind Children UK, VICTA, Actionnaires plus numerous local providers enabling families to also benefit from their support.
Plymouth Guild's Hearing and Sight Centre
Plymouth and its environs
Caroline Page, HAS Manager
01752 201899
Provision of specialist help, information and advice to people with sensory impairment and those who support them to facilitate choice and independent living - specifically, this includes; A well stocked Resource Centre that provides demonstrations of assistive technology and offers FREE short term home trials of equipment; A Low Vision Community Liaison (LVCL) Worker based at Derriford Hospital for patients accessing services at the Royal Eye Infirmary; Person-centred IT training; A programme of exhibitions and events to include activities relevant to children and their families.
West
Insight Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Information Officer
01242 221170
Young people’s group for socialising and events.Goal Ball and VI Cricket groups.Computer club/training
Wiltshire Sight
Wiltshire
Maggie Hemmings or Krista Elmes
or
01380 739 113 or 01380 723 682
Zoom club brings together visually impaired children and their families – and families where a parent has sight loss – to provide a support network and activities. As well as trips and activities, the charity will be providing information and advice on assistive technology, independent living skills and advice on help and support.
LOOK Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Julie Hinton
01189 722322
Family trips, parent's night and support, mostly school holiday, aim to do 2 trips a week
Wales
RNIB Cymru
All Wales
Claire Milton - Children and Family Services Manager (All Wales) and Jennifer Collins - Children and Families Support Officer (North Wales)
Claire - 07870 643461 / Jenny - 07776 284068
Services offered: Support for Children, Young People and Families - Early Years, Education, Family Support, Confidence and Resilience building, Peer support. All services are offered on a one to one basis (home visits) and we run day and residential events for children, young people and families across Wales
North Wales Society for the Blind – Cymdeithas Y DeillionGogledd
Cymru
North Wales
01248 353604
UCAN
Wales and other areas
Jane Latham
029 2087 0554or07812 051815
UCAN Productions is an award winning performance and creative arts co-operative for blind and partially sighted children, young people and their friends between the ages of 7 and 25. Based in Cardiff, UCAN (Unique Creative Arts Network) works across the UK and exists to prove that visual impairment is no barrier to success. Programmes help to develop physical and vocal confidence, raise aspirations and promote individual abilities.
South
Berkshire VisionBerkshire
Amanda Barford
0118 987 2803
We arrange a comprehensive timetable of social and educational outings and activities for our members, their carers and immediate family members. We also run a “Get Active” Sports Club for members aged 6 plus. Members have the use of our in-house sensory corner. Members receive our Information Guide. Membership is £10 a year
LOOK Sussex
Sussex
Tara Dutton
01273 677731
We are a very active charity with frequent events going on throughout the year for the whole family, including Farm visits, Camping trips, Swimming, Christmas celebrations etc
Blatchington Court
East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove
Admin
01273 727 222
Blatchington Court Trust is an independent and impartial charity working to promote the educational needs of young vision impaired individuals, under the age of 30, living in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove. Since the Trust was launched in 1995, we've provided a large number of grants to our clients for such things as computer equipment, magnification, sensory equipment and more. We arrange a number of events throughout the year for client's and their families.
Open Sight
Hampshire
Jenny Collins
023 8064 1244
Family Support including: Information, advice, guidance, equipment, leisure opportunities, emotional support, benefits and entitlements.
Sight for Surrey
Surrey
Jane Vincent Manager of Children & Young People’s service.
01372 377701
We work with children and young people who are vision impaired or have a combined sight and hearing loss offering Habilitation and Life skills assessments and training, Recreational activities; we aim to do at least two different types of activities a month, Registration as Severely Sight Impaired or Sight Impaired, plus holding and maintaining the Register on behalf of Surrey County Council. Benefits advice and information.Sight for Surrey also works with adults who have vision impairment or combined sight and hearing loss which enables us to have a flexible “needs led” approach to young people in transition.
Southampton Sight
Southampton
Mandy Swift
(023) 8076 9882
We currently have a Children and Young Peoples Group that is supported by a grant from Children in Need. They meet on the second Saturday each month between 10am and 12noon at our Centre in Southampton. We also run additional activities such as trips and outings.
South East
Kent Association for the Blind
Kent, Medway, and Bromley
Karen Osborn CEO
01622 691357
Registration, habilitation, mobility, equipment, support/info/advice for parents and carers, training for professionals like TAs, environmental audits, and a range of leisure and sports activities in school holidays. This is for children and young people aged 0 to adulthood.
London
Visually Impaired Children
London borough of Hounslow and surrounding areas plus others welcome
Tracey Monk
07940965548
Fun days and outings for families with visually impaired children
MertonVision
Merton
Fran Hibbert CEO
020 8540 5446
Mobility training, habilitation, access audits (in particular for schools), registration, counselling, monthly group activities – a variety offered to accommodate those with additional needs. Activities include trips out, canoeing, circus skills, art therapy, Zumba, rock climbing, ten pin bowling, cooking etc.
Metro Blind Sport
Greater London and surroundings
Roy Smith
0208 090 9271
Metro Blind Sport offer a range of activities for all ages including children and young people. Also run the Metro Athletics Championships
Royal London Society for the Blind
Greater London and the South East
Dulal Ahmed
0207 808 6170
Parent & Toddler Groups – term time groups delivered in partnership with Local Authority Vision Impairment teams, families will meet, share experiences, support each other whilst receiving expert advice and guidance on how to support their child. Meanwhile, toddlers enjoy structured and free playtime with sensory toys, which will encourage the improvement of their communication skills, ease of movement and mobility, confidence and creativity.
Sports without Limits Weekend Clubs - Run by coaches who are experienced in adapting sports activities for blind and partially sighted children and young people, our activity days are open to everyone aged 12-25 with any level of experience. Here participants will have the opportunity to not only take part in a wide range of different sports but will also be able to make new friends, gain confidence and challenge themselves.
Social & Peer Groups - a great way of vision impaired young people to explore London, make new friends and share unforgettable experiences. This is a great chance for young people to explore the capital, make new friends and take on the world doing things they want to do. We will be running regular social groups for vision impaired young people across London. All of this is completely free to young people.
Employability- Getting a job can be tough and our team want to be there to help with our popular employment programme, which aims to get young people aged 18-25 into work. The programme offers complete careers advice, job interview workshops, CV writing sessions and training on basic employability skills as well as much more. We’ll partner participants with a leading organisation for a work placement. It’s the ultimate programme to get young people ready for work.
East
Camsight
Cambridgeshire
Paula Bird
01223 420 033
Cam Sight has two Rehabilitation Specialists who are also specialists in Habilitation. They run two groups for pre-school children with a visual impairment and their siblings. Adults have the opportunity to talk to other parents, carers and professionals in a supportive, relaxed environment. They also run a group for young people with a visual impairment. The group gives teenagers a chance to meet, share day to day experiences and take part in new activities.
Lincoln & Lindsey Blind Society
Lincolnshire
Mandy Johnson CEO
01507 605604
Goalball and activity days/weekends
Look Essex
Essex
Hazel Mason
07951 737321
Look Essex is the voluntary organisation dedicated to raising awareness, and providing information and services for children and young people with visual impairment, their carers and their families in Essex. Look Essex offers Family Support, Befriending, Advice, Referral and Representation (BARR), Advice and signposting to other agencies, organisations and partners. Activities: A varied programme of inclusive fun events are provided, for a diverse range of needs, including respite breaks, soft play for young children; dry slope skiing; outdoor and water based activities and theatre visits. Infant Massage Service.
The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB)
Norfolk
Mrs Dorothy Bowen -YoungEyes Coordinator
01603 629558
YoungEyes - offering advice, support and social events to families/carers with children and young people who are vision-impaired, working very closely with the Specialist Education Service in Norfolk and also with Social Care and other local and national groups for children who are vision-impaired
Central
Social Eyes Children and Young Persons' Initiative
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire
Steve Jones
07952 734723
Information, advice, social events
Sight Concern
LutonMark Chapman
01582 655554
Support for Children with Sight Loss and their Families Group in Luton, Bedfordshire on the FIRST Saturday of the month 10 till 12. Meet other families and children *Benefits Advice *Aids *Computers *Services *Sports *Games *Toys
Midlands
Beacon Centre For The Blind
Wolverhampton, Dudley and Surrounding areas
Hayley Millard
01902 880111
Youth club on Wednesdays from 6-8pm this has 2 age groups 5-11 and 12-16 and starting in March we have sessions running on Monday 6-8pm which is sports club for 11-16 year olds and Fridays 6-8pm which is project club for 14-19 year olds, we also have job club on Thursdays 10.30-12.30 for 16 plus, supporting NEET groups into employment or training.
Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind
Birmingham / West Midlands
Alison Lydon
0121 428 5055
Signposting, Provision of services through supported charities (Focus and QAC). Grant provision for specific organisational activity.
Focus Birmingham
Birmingham
Andrew Miller
0121 478 5252
Low Vision Assessment (free long term loan of optical aids); Resource Shop for daily living aids; Advice and Information; Accessible IT equipment grant (By referral only); Counselling (BACP counsellors) Parents and Children (By referral only)
My Sight Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Emma Cruickshank Services Manager
M: 07791 057060 T: 0115 970 6806
Supporting Nottinghamshire's blind and partially sighted people to enjoy the same life opportunities as everyone else. Several of our trips are specifically for children and their families, giving our younger service users the chance to meet their peers. The service is also open to visually impaired parents and siblings with or without eye conditions.
Northamptonshire Association for the Blind
Northamptonshire
Hugh Spence
01604 719 193
Specifically for children, we do home visits, offer mentoring for VI children, training in technology, we run social events for families, and we do awareness training talks in schools.
Sight Support Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Kevin Gregory
01332292262
Sight Support Derbyshire Children’s Services Provide two Youth Groups One in Derby City Monthly and one in Chesterfield run Fortnightly on a Tuesday evening @ 5.45pm to 7.45pm Ages for both Groups 8 to 18yrs Activities involve Cookery, Quizzes Sport plus Holiday Activities during School Holidays to Theme Parks Art & craft days
Vista Leicester
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
0116 249 8847
Vista provides year round services, activities and an annual residential holiday for children and young people with sight loss in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Activities include: Half Term, Summer and Christmas activities; Life skills courses, including cookery classes; Music therapy sessions for children with complex needs; Transitional support for young people changing school, moving into work or higher education; Advice, information and support groups for parents or carers. This is operated at the Children's Eye Clinic at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
North
Barnsley Blind & Partially Sighted Association
Barnsley
Carol Green, Chair
01226 200618
We provide all areas of welfare and social activities for these children and their families.
Henshaws Society for Blind People
Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Newcastle
Fiona McMullen
0161 972 1234
Manchester and Merseyside: Through our ‘Pathway to Independence’ people of all ages living with sight loss can access Information, Advice and Guidance and a Personal Plan to help identify their needs. Through this plan we then signpost and refer them into both internal and external services. Within our services for Children and Young People we have various offers. We offer a weekly Parent and Toddler group both for children and parents with a visual impairment. We also offer activities during school holidays such as family fun days, cookery sessions, swimming, horseriding and many other fun and interesting activities which enable children and families to meet up and try new things. Our newest offer is our Independence Matters for Children and Young People (IMCYP) course, funded by BBC Children in Need (currently Manchester only). IMCYP is for CYP age 8-18 to develop their skills, independence and confidence to help prepare them for adulthood. Newcastle: In Newcastle we currently offer a weekly Junior Blind Football Team. We are hoping to develop our services for CYP in the future.
Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB)
City of Sheffield
Joanne Ardern
0114 272 2757
Services offered: Advice for families with VI children of all ages, including applying for benefits; “Little Sparklers” pre-school play group from 0 to 4 years of age; social/leisure activities for children of all ages; support and part funding for Sheffield Actionnaires a multi sports group for 4 to 16 year olds which meets every Sunday; Youth Club which meets weekly for 11 to 19 year olds. We do not provide mobility or habilitation services as there is excellent provision by education in Sheffield. If parents can arrange transport to Sheffield we do support families from neighbouring areas, outside Sheffield.
The Vision Foundation Barnsley
Barnsley - Yorkshire
Joanne Mason
07949106061
Enable children, teenagers and young adults (0-25) with a visual impairment to develop independent lifestyles. Provide information, advice and support. Social clubs, coffee mornings, playgroups. Improve knowledge and understanding of visual impairment by raising awareness. Share information, ideas and resources. Encourage greater social inclusion. Promote an ‘holistic wellbeing’ for all concerned.
North East
Gateshead and South Tyneside Sight Service.
Both Gatesheadand South Tyneside local authority areas
Sue Taylor, CEO
Gateshead: 0191 478 5959
South Shields 0191 456 0546
Rehabilitation and mobility training.Benefits advice and support to tribunal level.Display and sale of special equipment.An optometrists led low vision service. An employability and volunteering service. A Young Peoples Peer Support Group.Signposting to other support agencies. We work out of two fully equipped resource centres. Sight Service. The Bradbury Centre, Bensham Hospital, Saltwell Rd, Gateshead NE8 4YL. Sight Service, 10 Gordon Street, South Shields.
Useful Vision
North East of England (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley)
Eilish Thompson
08456048491
Useful Vision helps families with blind or sight impaired children with activities and specialist skills works across the region for children and young people 0-19yrs. All activities are free.
North West
Barrow and Districts Society for the Blind
Barrow and District, Cumbria
Maggie Nelson Welfare Team Manager
01229 820698
We complete benefit forms, make referrals and provide equipment for children but we are very keen to do more.
Sight Support Oldham
Oldham and the close surrounding area
Kay Wrench
0161 770 3110
Financial support towards group social activities for children and young people with a visual impairment and their families – parties and trips. Braille class and equipment drop in for families (delivered in partnership with the LA) Social activities for young people aged over 18. Links with other local charities, volunteer activities and statutory services
Sight Advice South Lakes
Most of South Lakes Area, Cumbria
Jan Quinn
01539 742633
Trips out and challenging activities, face to face or telephone information, advice and support about the needs of visually impaired children and young people and about support available, access to resource centre, technology advice, buddy support scheme, liaison with schools. Project covers young people up to the age of 18.