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Listening and responding to people affected by sight loss in the west of Scotland

News Archive 2005

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Brushing Up On Your Literacy Skills

Visibility received some funding from Glasgow City Council’s Adult Literacy Network to run a small pilot literacy project for 6 months.  We have been told by many that they would like to build up their literacy and numeracy skills but find that mainstream classes are not equipped to deal with people with sight loss.  The feedback from the people who have taken part in the pilot scheme has been very promising.  They have enjoyed the lessons and see their skills improving.  We have submitted an application for further funding to continue this and open it up to more people, if we are successful.

Medical Students Put Through Their Paces

Visibility was asked to take part in a training day on disabilities, organised for medical students.  We provided a series of workshops to over 100 students, increasing their knowledge on visual impairment by setting them a quiz and getting them to try simple, practical tasks whilst wearing simulation specs.  These are the doctors we will come into contact in the future and we hope by taking part in these activities, they will be aware of some of the issues experienced by people with sight loss. 

Visibility has also been involved with awareness raising and training in a variety of places in recent months from care homes to local authority staff.  If you are interested in Visibility’s visual awareness raising training , please call Andrea Vanlandschoot on 0141 332 4632 or email andrea@visibility.org.uk

Sponsored Abseil

14 brave people undertook a sponsored 175 foot abseil off Finnieston Crane on 18 September raising between them just over £2,400.

Alex Campbell who took part and is visually impaired said, “Stepping over the edge was really scary but once I started going down I really enjoyed it. I am keen to prove that blindness needn’t be a barrier to do things you would like to do whether it’s doing something like an abseil or simply going down to the shops.” For all events that people undertake for Visibility we are grateful for the effort that goes into training, taking part and for what can seem hardest of all, the collecting of sponsorship.  All funds raised are much appreciated and help us develop and sustain our vital services.

Counselling Service Starts in North and South Lanarkshire

Following on from funding from the Big Lottery, Visibility is setting up a counselling service in North and South Lanarkshire.  The service will be available to adults (over 18) who are visually impaired and to parents of children with a visual impairment.  Our Counsellors Judith Shaw and Kerrie Brown have various places throughout Lanarkshire where they can provide counselling, therefore, hopefully people will not need to travel to far.

For those who feel that counselling is not something for them, our Community Liaison team will be happy to provide information through our helpline (0141 572 0746) and visit people in their homes to provide a listening ear.  For further information, call the helpline number.

(November 2005)

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Visibility Receives Investors In People Award

On 1st November, 2005, Fiona Sandford (Chief Executive Officer) and Anne Robertson (Director of Human Resources) attended an award ceremony to receive the Investors In People award.   Visibility currently employs 37 staff and has 49 volunteers.  “We are delighted to receive this award in recognition of the excellent staff and volunteers.  The enthusiasm and commitment of our staff and volunteers was highlighted as a strength of Visibility.  We aim to provide excellent services and an strong staff and volunteer group helps Visibility to achieve this aim,” said Fiona Sandford.

Investors in People logo

IIP Casestudy

(November 2005)

Go! Develops Some New Areas

The Go! user committee have been gathering a range of ideas from all Go! participants which has resulted in a range of new developments.  After the success of the drop in days in the summer, these will continue on the first Monday of the month with the police coming to give a talk on personal safety and the Fire Brigade giving a talk on fire safety.

The new keyboard class will start in October and the Creative Writing Group have organised a book club once a month.  The other groups started back after the summer and continue from strength to strength.  If anyone is interested in finding out more, the list of activities can be found in the Go! section under Activities or phone Gavin Morgan on 0141 332 4632. 

(October 2005)

Radio Scotland features New View

Radio Scotland’s “Medical Matters” programme on 7th September was a special edition, highlighting macular degeneration in Scotland.  In addition to contributions from the medical profession and the Macular Disease group, Visibility was invited to participate to discuss the New View project.  Two of the New View participants were superb advocates both of Visibility and of eccentric reading and one even gave a practical demonstration of her reading skills – not an easy thing to do on the radio!  David Logan, Co-ordinator, then gave a potted history of Eccentric reading and how Visibility has developed the model.

(September 2005)

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The Care Commission inspect Visibility services

Visibility recently experienced its first ever Care Commission inspection.  They visited us in September and spoke to staff and a selection of people who use the Supporting People, Befriending and Welfare Rights services.  They looked closely at the information provided to people, how people exercise their rights, how Visibility recorded details about people’s support and how staff and volunteers were trained. 

The inspectors told us that they people who use the services spoke very highly of the staff and volunteers that support them.  They said that they felt valued and that they were treated with dignity and respect.  Staff and volunteer befrienders were also commended for their commitment, dedicated and enthusiasm. 

On the whole, the inspectors felt that the services met the standards and recommended only a few areas that we need to develop more.  If you would like to read the reports, you can click on the link at the bottom or access them on the Care Commission’s website.  If you would rather have a copy in another format, please contact the office on 0141 332 4632.

Report 1

Report 2

Report 3

(September 2005)

New View Trains Its 100th Learner

In August 2005, the 100th person completed their New View training.  The people who have completed the training over previous years have all found that the development of the use of their peripheral vision has made a big difference to their lives.  Some people use it for reading their correspondence and others for completing crosswords or reading cookery instructions.  David Logan, project Co-ordinator, said “We are training people all over the west of Scotland and are really looking forward to working with the next 100 people.”

(August 2005)

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Falls Awareness Day

Visibility’s research team has recently been working on the link between people who fall and sight loss and published a report of their findings.  The Falls report has generated much interest and for Falls Awareness Day on 19th July, Visibility produced a poster for health professionals to raise awareness.  Our research showed that some people with sight loss can fall on several occasions and the impact of their sight loss is rarely considered as a factor.  Visibility would like health professionals to ask people who have fallen about their sight, hopefully ensuring that the appropriate information and support is provided.

(July 2005) 

Busy Time for Visibility Fundraisiers

Glasgow Women's 10k - Sunday 15 May 2005

Twenty intrepid runners took part in the Glasgow Women's 10k for Visibility, including Debbie Hickman, Visibility's Supporting People Co-ordinator, with her friends Lorraine and Cassandra (pictured). Four of the 10k runners have also signed up to run the Great Scottish Run in September. To date almost £1,000 has been raised. Our grateful thanks to everyone who took part.Participants Running in 10K

September is a busy month for Visibility fundraisers.

The Great Scottish Run, Glasgow's half marathon and 10k is taking place on Sunday 4 September. Anyone wishing to sign up and raise funds for Visibility, please contact Fioan Sandford, CEO on 0141 332 4632 or
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for your sponsor pack and Visibility t-shirt.

175 ft Abseil off the Finnieston Crane, If you have ever wanted to try abseiling here is your chance. Visibility are looking for volunteers to make a daring 175ft abseil. This exhilarating event is taking place down the Finnieston Crane on Sunday 18 September and absolutely no experience is required as full training is given.

Contact Visibility for a free information pack on 0141 332 4632.

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Volunteer Evening

A good time was had by all!

In the beautiful setting of Glasgow’s St Mungo Museum a good time was had by all who attended Visibility’s Thank You evening on June 6th in celebration of National Volunteering Week

It was a mild and lovely spring evening, which allowed some relaxation in the garden overlooking Glasgow Cathedral, before settling down to a couple of brief but very informative presentations on Visibility’s services and future developments.  Visibility’s Volunteering Project forms an essential part of Visibility’s service provision and Fiona Sandford extended a heartfelt thank you to all volunteers involved in the Volunteering Project for their crucial contribution to its success.

Next was the Good Practice Quiz.  ‘Master’ of Ceremonies, Rosemary Cameron, produced the brand new, updated Volunteering Good Practice Guide + Policies & Procedures, a fairly hefty volume, which instigated a few initial groans, if not some sagging tables! Nevertheless, the volunteers were soon immersed in answering the questions, diligently researching their essential Good Practice Guide, so much so that they virtually had to be dragged away from it when the delicious buffet was served.

Much mingling and chatting took place whilst enjoying the buffet, although there was one group, which shall remain unnamed, who made it a ‘working buffet’ by continuing to write down answers and keeping the socializing to a minimum!

Rosemary concluded the evening by going over the answers to the Quiz.  Every group had done really well answering the questions, making everyone a winner!    Rosemary emphasised that input and feedback on the Good Practice Guide is sought from all volunteers who should all be receiving it through the post by the end of June. 

Volunteers enjoying their evening Finally, she thanked everyone for attending and making it such an enjoyable evening, also extending her thanks to all the other volunteers who could not be present on this occasion.

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GO! Burns Trip to Ayr

(June 2005)

Go! members on their TripGo! organised a trip to Ayrshire on Saturday 21st May 2005. Forty of us travelled down from Glasgow to the Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway. It rained all the way down, however as if by magic, the sun opened up just as we arrived and the weather stayed beautiful for the rest of the day. We walked around the gardens, visiting The Burns Monument, the Brig 'o' Doon, and spent some time in the Auld Kirk locating Robert Burns father' s grave. We then headed off for a tour of Burns Cottage and the museum, and finished the day off with high tea before returning to Glasgow by bus. Look out for our next trip.

Gavin

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Grant from Abbey Charitable Trust

(May 2005)

Welfare Rights staff pictured with new IT equiptmentVisibility was successful in securing a grant of £5,180 from the Abbey Charitable Trust as part of their Community Programme for Glasgow Charities, enabling us to purchase IT equipment and specialist software for our Welfare Rights Team. We are grateful to the Abbey Charitable Trust for their support of our Welfare Rights Project which provides valuable information, advice and income maximization to people who have sight loss.

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Vision 2005

    London 4-7 April 2005

    Visibility recently had two papers accepted for presentation at this prestigious event. Shelagh Palmer, Health Co-ordinator presented the findings of the evaluation of the Gartnavel Patient Support Project and David Logan, New View Co-ordinator, discussed a community based model for eccentric reading training. Both papers were well received and have generated much interest from a wide variety of vision professionals. The event held in the QE2 conference centre attracted 1200 delegates from 69 countries. Speakers from 55 countries lead 700 discussions, workshops and presentations. The event provided the opportunity for Visibility' s work to be profiled alongside issues of national and international significance Particular highlights of the conference were the opening session from Rosie Winterton, Minister of State at Department of Health, who spoke about Britain' s participation in a world wide movement to challenge visual impairment. And some of the keynote sessions such as Krister Inde who talked about the impact of Rock and Roll on low vision work, Richard Wormald on tackling low vision and rehabilitation- an evidence-based approach, and Doctor Raymond Kurzweill who appeared by Holograph! Reflecting on the conference, Shelagh and David feel attending and participation in Vision 2005 was a worthwhile experience both for themselves as practitioners and for Visibility as an organisation. Both presentations are available to view here

  • Gartnavel Patient Support ServicePowerpoint 1275Kb
  • Community based model for Eccentric Reading trainingPowerpoint 871Kb

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