Visibility

Port Glasgow Tribute Flower Bed

Inverclyde Council has created a tribute flower bed in honour of Visibility’s 150th Birthday. The display is located by the War Memorial in Port Glasgow and will remain there all summer, so do pop along to see it if you are in the area.

Can you help - Shared Streets Survey

TNS, an Independent Social Research Company, is looking for blind and partially-sighted people to give their views and experiences of shared surface streets and cycle paths. It will involve a 20 minute interview over the telephone at a time convenient to you. The survey is being commisioned in conjuction with Guide Dogs for the Blind's "Say No to Shared Surfaces" Campaign. (http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/sharedstreets/ )

So if you get out and about independently and are happy to give them your views, please email mobilitysurvey@tns-online.com with:

your name;

landline phone number;

whether you live in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland;

and when is a good time for us to give you a call.

A TNS interviewer will then telephone you to arrange a time to interview you in July or August. If you are unable to email, please leave them a voicemail message with the same details on (020) 7160 5619.

Home Money Box scheme

At Visibility we are always looking for new ways for people to support us and, because we know just what a difference every single penny you give makes to the lives of the people we work with, we are launching our Home Money Box scheme.

By saving your loose change in one of our small home money boxes you really can make a huge difference.  It may not seem much but it’s amazing how quickly your box will fill up and, with lots of people saving small amounts, it soon mounts up!

People have come up with all kinds of ways to fill up their boxes, some people save certain coins with 5p coins a particular favourite, other people use them as swear boxes or even telephone cost boxes for teenagers who make lots of phone calls!

We rely on donations to provide many of our services, every penny really does count!   If you have room for a small money box in your home or office please give us a ring on 0141 332 4632 or email info@visibility.org.uk.

Go Project - Summer Activities and Autumn Class Programme

The Go! project have introduced a new weekday class programme for after the summer break. All classes will run for twelve weeks. If you are unable to attend our weekly classes, there is an additional guitar class which runs on Sunday afternoons and Go Active evening and weekend events which cover walks and social activities to complement this programme.

If you wish to join any of the classes, please call the Visibility office on 0141 332 4632 to register your interest.

If you wish to find out more information on any of the classes or events, please get in touch with a member of the Go! team on 0141 332 4632.

Corporate Spy Hunt Challenge 2009

Visibility’s 150th birthday challenge took place on Thursday 18th June. Seven teams met for a meal before their mission started. After an exciting evening of spy activities and initiatives the winners were a team from the North Lanarkshire Low Vision Project. The money raised was a fantastic £3075 and Visibility would like to say a big thank you to all who took part.

New Flower Bed welcomed with a special picnic

Glasgow City Council Parks Department recently installed a specially designed flower bed to mark our 150th year. On Friday 19th June a group of children with visual impairments came along to Kings park, to take part in activities and enjoy a birthday picnic along with a magnificent 150th birthday cake donated by Greggs the Bakers. - read more about this event and see the wonderrful pictures on our 150th Events Page.

Report on Successful Outcomes of New View Training Published

Visibility's New View programme teaches people to read using eccentric reading and records consistently high levels of participant satisfaction and improved reading ability. Over 300 people have now completed this innovative training and data collected from participants has been analysed and brought together in an indepth and informative research report. The report gives an overveiw of the project and details qualitative evidence that the long term benefits felt by participants are not limited to increased reading speed or the ability to read smaller print, but that the restoration of hope, lost skills and confidence encourages independence and makes a real and positive difference to their lives.

• Eccentric Reading: What is Success? Download PDF (584K)

Visibility Nominated for National Award

Visibility has been nominated for a major national prize at The Charity Awards 2009, the UK charity sector’s most prestigious award scheme which celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year.

Chosen from a long list of entries, Visibility has been shortlisted in the Disability category.   The Charity Award judges recognised Visibility for introducing the eccentric reading technique to Scotland – a pioneering technique which allows people suffering from impaired central vision to read again and, in doing so, helps them to live more enjoyable, independent lives. 

David Logan and Valerie Breck will attend the star-studded awards ceremony in London on 11th June hosted by the BBC’s Jeremy Vine and attended by celebrities including Emma Forbes, Hermione Norris, Ken Livingstone, Mel Geidroyc, Richard Wilson and Lauren Laverne

The annual Charity Awards ceremony, sponsored by the Charities Aid Foundation, The Leadership Trust and The Times, is the most high-profile event in the charity calendar.  Since launching ten years ago, the awards have honoured hundreds of charities, large and small, from across the UK , acknowledging their outstanding work and achievements and the tireless commitment of the people behind them.  The charities are selected for specific initiatives which have improved the delivery of their charitable objectives and which demonstrate an outstanding example of innovation and best practice from which other charities can learn.

The distinguished panel of judges includes John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, Maeve Sherlock OBE, former chief executive of the Refugee Council,Dame Jo Williams, former chief executive of Mencap, Paul Winter, chief executive of The Leadership Trust, and Venu Dhupa, former arts director of the British Council and patron of the Asha Foundation and the Minorities of Europe.

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Visibility receives donation from Hospital Saturday Fund 

Visibility was one of 24 Scottish-based causes to receive a donation from the Hospital Saturday Fund at an event at Glasgow’s City Chambers on 24 February 2009.  Chief Executive Officer, Fiona Sandford, took to the stage to accept the £1000 donation.

Popular television presenter Carol Smillie also accepted a donation on behalf of Yorkhill Children’s Foundation. She spoke of her delight at supporting the event, where £32,000 was donated to 24 Scotland-based medical charities, hospices and hospitals.

The Hospital Saturday Fund is a registered charity, with HSF health plan as the trading subsidiary.  It is celebrating 60 years of operating in Scotland this year,

Chief Executive of the Hospital Saturday Fund, Keith Bradley, says: “We’re delighted to put money back into the communities around Scotland that have given HSF health plan their support over the last 60 years.”

Patient Support, highly successful service extends to further hospitals

The Patient support service at Gartnavel hospital has been running now for over six years, and the service has very much become an integral part of the Eye Department. 

In addition to offering advice and support to patients and their families, the patient support workers are often called upon to meet with student nurses and other hospital staff to give an overview of the importance of referring to the service and the value that this has for patients.  The fact that this is encouraged and put in place by the Consultants is a real testament to the value the Eye Department places on the service.

The service has been extended to include Glasgow Royal Infirmary Eye department on either a Tuesday or Thursday each week and the workers will also be visiting Inverclyde Hospital on April 30^th to offer an information stand /open day.

Please contact Celia Traynoror  Heather Campbell  on 0141 211 6753  for further information on the service and its operating times.

Awareness raising talks

It may be Visibility’s best kept secret that we have a team of dedicated volunteer speakers who deliver short talks about Visibility’s services free of charge.  It is a great way of spreading the word and reaching people who may otherwise never know about services available to visually impaired people.

On average the team delivers between 20 and 30 talks every year to a wide variety of organisations, ranging from Church groups to Rotary clubs, voluntary organisations, colleges, charities, etc.  The feedback we receive is always very positive if you are aware of any group or organisations, who may be interested please contact Andrea Vanlanschooton 0141 332 4632.

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Civic Reception

On Friday 20^th March Bailie George Matheson welcomed 180 Visibility staff and guests to the City Chambers in Glasgow, for a Civic Dinner in celebration of our 150^th year. 

The Para Olympian cyclist Aileen McGlynn was our guest of honour and she brought along her two gold medals from Beijing for us all to admire. We were also delighted that Ann McKechin the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Scotland Office, and Patricia Ferguson, MSP, were able to join us.

Liz Anderton, Chair of Visibility, gave a stirring speech looking back over the charity’s achievements to date and looking forward to our plans and ambitions for the future.

For many guests it was the first time they had been inside the City Chambers and had a chance to experience the magnificent  grandeur of the marble staircases, floors and walls and the dazzling banqueting hall with its chandeliers and ornate ceiling. A spectacular setting for a very special evening.

Photos from the evening can be viewed here

Happy Birthday to Us!

2009 is a very exciting year for all of us at Visibility as the charity is celebrating its 150^th year.

In 1859 a group of 32 Glaswegians funded the establishment of the ‘Society for Promoting Reading Among the Blind’, with the objective of visiting  blind people, reading to them and teaching Braille.

We have changed our name many times since then but our values and pioneering approach remain the same. Our success is largely due to the generosity of our supporters and we continue to depend on the goodwill  of our supporters to help transform lives.

Read More of our History
Read about the events we have planned to celebrate our 150th year
Read about our 150th Birthday Appeal

Thistle and Clover Cycle Challenge

The Thistle and Clover Cycle Challenge takes in some of Scotland and Ireland ’s most breathtaking scenery, including the two capital cities.  Taking place over the weekend of 17^th – 20^th September, the challenge starts off in Edinburgh and ends in Dublin with an evening celebration and overnight stay.  Covering over 200 miles in 3 days, you will never forget the great sense of achievement as you reach the electric atmosphere of the Republic’s capital city.  So if you love cycling, good company and beautiful countryside, and want to raise funds to help people living with sight loss, this is the event for you!

For more information please call the Fundraising Team on 0141 332 4632 or visit www.globaladventurechallenges.com..  Numbers are limited and bookings will be on a first come, first served basis so if you are interested get in touch as soon as you can.

London to Paris Cycle

Visibility’s very own Paul McArthur and Kerrie Brown are undertaking a phenomenal cycling challenge on behalf of Visibility in September.  The daring duo are raising funds by cycling the 300 km from London to Paris over four days on a tandem.  Paul, who is a member of our Community Support Team and Kerrie our counsellor who has been blind since childhood, are both really looking forward to the event and are training hard around the Glasgow area.  If you would like to sponsor them online you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/paulandkerrie/

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Alan Bennett at Aye Write

Novelist Alan Bennett appeared at the Aye Write Festival in Glasgow on Friday 6^th March 2009 to talk about his life and work to an audience of 400 people. The event, a sell out, was in partnership with Visibility thanks to one of our ex-Board members Ronnie Anderson, who is an old friend of Alan’s.

Prior to taking to the stage, Alan Bennett met some of Visibility’s supporters and friends at a small drinks reception. Among them were Isabel Haddow, Ann Stewart and Chris McCafferty, members of Visibility’s Go! Writers Group. Chris, who is in her seventies and was diagnosed with macular degeneration ten years ago has recently published her first book “When Sings My Soul”.  The sequel “In Blossom’s Shade” is expected in 2010.

Representatives from the Bank of Scotland, one of the Aye Write Festival sponsors, also attended the reception and handed over a cheque for £500 in support of Visibility’s work. 

Photo gallery for the event
Read about the other events we have planned to celebrate our 150th year

Our Spring Newsletter

Our Spring 2009 newsletter is now available, you can download it from these pages or if you would prefer to receive a copy through the post please contact us on 0141 332 4632 or email info@visibility.org.uk and we will add you to the mailing list. The newsletter is available in Large Print (16 or 22 point), Audio Tape, Braille Formats or as a word or text document on floppy disc or CD or as an Audio CD

Download PDF version 2MB

Download MS Word version 284K

MP3 9.5MB

Echolocation: Helping children move towards independence

Visibility’s echolocation project has been gaining momentum since its inception just over a year ago. Most of the pilot group of children and young people have completed their training to a standard that their parents, teachers and they themselves are happy with. They can now make the choice to use this skill in every day activities. We have also begun work with some even younger echolocators who range in age from 18 months to 4 years.

The theory behind our work with pre school children is that developing confident self-directed discovery is central to learning, and is one of the most important areas of development in infants and young children. Sighted children are automatically attracted to explore their environment as they will move towards what they can see. Children who are blind can sometimes miss out on this crucial aspect of learning if they are not encouraged to explore beyond what they can immediately reach out and touch. Visibility's project is about much more than teaching the basic principles of echolocation, it also fosters and encourages a sense of enquiry that can only be satisfied through exploration.

Within schools we are continuing to work with children from Knowetop Primary, with whom we began echolocation instruction in 2007. The children at Knowetop are making fantastic progress and are mastering echolocation at a level that will significantly increase their independent travel skills. We have had positive feedback from teachers, parents, and most importantly the children themselves. For more information on echolocation please call Alex Campbell on 0141 332 4632.

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Visible Communities: Information sessions and free visual impairment awareness training

Visibility's Community Support Team have made real progress in taking forward the new Visible Communities work in both West Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute and have received support and help Sensory Impairment Teams in both areas.

To date we have held 4 information sessions for Visually Impaired People, family and friends which have offered a range of information and advice about local support and services and provided a range of daily living aids and equipment for people to try out.
Upcoming information sessions are detailed below:

2 – 3rd March
Hilton Hotel, Glasgow - Sight Village - Visibility will be in attendance

12th March 2009
The Arrochar Hotel, Arrochar - Information session – please call for further information

19th March 2009
Queens Halls, Dunoon - Information session – please call for further information

26th March 2009
Peer Support information session, Carers Link, Milngavie – please call for further information

23rd April 2009
Alexandria Community Centre , 1pm to 3pm -Information Session – please call for further information

May / June
Sessions planned for Campbeltown and Oban - .please call for further information

Visibility's community support team are also offering free visual impairment training to community representatives, professionals and organisations. Currently planned sessions include:

10th Feb 2009
Denny Civic Theatre, Dumbarton, 1pm – 3pm
Fully booked

12th March 2009
The Arrochar Hotel, Arrochar - Spaces available

19th March 2009
The Queens Halls, Dunoon - Spaces available

31st March 2009
The Carrochan Building, Balloch, 1pm to 3pm - Spaces available

If you would like more information on any of the above events then please contact Visibility's Community Support Team on 0141 332 4632.

EasyFundraising - help us when shopping online

By doing your online shopping through www.Easyfundraising.org.uk you will be raising much needed funds, at no cost to you or to Visibility. All the major retailers are there, Amazon, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Argos , Ebay etc. Visibility receives a donation for each order placed so you can do all your Christmas shopping, and raise much needed funds to help us continue our work, all in the comfort of your own home!

Charity Flowers

Everyone loves to receive flowers, and now you can generate extra good feeling by ordering through Charity Flowers.

Whether it is for a birthday, anniversary to say thank you or even sorry.  Simply quote  “ VIS ”  as the source code on your order, and 15 per cent of the purchase price will be donated to Visibility.  You can choose your flowers or chocolates at www.charityflowers.co.uk or call Charity Flowers Direct on 08705 30 06 00

Charity Flowers are the UK's only flowers-by-post service wholly owned by a charity and where all the profits are donated to charitable causes. All the bouquets are packed in a presentation box together with a cut flower care leaflet and your own personalised message. The flowers are then sent by first class post.

Review of Community Eye Care Adult Services in Ayrshire and Arran

Drop In Event

McDonald Education Centre, Hospital ,Dalmellington Road , Ayr

Friday 20th March 2009

This event will tell people about the Ayrshire and Arran adult eye care services project. This project has been running for the past year with funding from the Scottish Government.

It is intended to help streamline and improve community eye care services for adults and for staff. The event will inform and involve delegates around visual impairment issues. Anyone with an interest in visual impairment issues is welcome to attend. If you are interested in attending the event, please complete the booking form by Monday 2nd March or register by contacting:

Joanne Robertson, Project Co-ordinator - Public Health Department

NHS Ayrshire & Arran , Afton House, Ailsa Hospital Campus, Ayr , KA6 6AB

Tel: 01292 885949

Email: Joanne.robertson@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

There is no charge for attending this course

January Classes Programme and Spring Activities

The Go! project have introduced a new weekday class programme for the spring term. All classes will run in twelve week blocks. There is now an additional guitar class run on Sundays for those who are unable to make the Tuesday daytime session.

This session, the team have also organised new Go Active evening and weekend events to complement this programme.

If you wish to join any of the classes, please call the Visibility office on 0141 332 4632 to register your interest.

If you wish to find out more information on any of the classes or events , please get in touch with a member of the Go! team on 0141 332 4632.

Everyclick -help us by surfing the internet

By making www.everyclick.com/visibility your homepage and using it for all your online searches and shopping, you can generate funds for Visibility at no cost and little effort. Everyclick is so easy to use and every time you search the web you will be raising money for our work and it is amazing how the money quickly mounts up. Even if you prefer to use another search engine like Google, if you go there through www.everyclick.com/visibility you will still be raising money for us.

Our Winter Newsletter

Our Winter 2008 newsletter is now available, you can download it from these pages or if you would prefer to recieve a copy through the post please contact us on 0141 332 4632 or email info@visibility.org.uk and we will add you to the mailing list. The newsletter is available in Large Print (16 or 22 point), Audio Tape, Braille Formats or as a word or text document on floppy disc or CD or as an Audio CD

Download PDF version 431K

Download MS Word version 442K

Download MP3 25MB

Information Event, Clydebank Town Hall

Friday 30^th January 2009

The Community Support Team are delighted to offer a Drop-in Day at The Clydebank Town Hall, Lesser Hall on Friday 30^th January 2009 from 11am till 3pm. 

If you are a visually impaired person, a carer or would like to learn more about visual impairment, you would be most welcome at the event. 

There will be the opportunity to explore the social activities, benefits advice and low vision services provided by Visibility.  Learn about the latest equipment to support independent living and meet with local representatives from support and recreational services based within the Clydebank area. 

If you would like to find out more about this event, please contact the Community Support Team on: 0141 332 4632

Corporate Challenge

Visibility’s second annual corporate challenge held on Friday 12th September at Lomond Shores was a fantastic day, with teams from Dawn Construction, Greggs, Morrison Spotiswood, Polaroid, City Building, Vision Call, Virgin Media and the winners of the day - Barclays Wealth.

The view from our base camp at the Maid of the Loch was breath taking and we were lucky with the weather as it was sunny and dry. At lunchtime everyones spirits were lifted by the wonderful sound of pipes and drums played by Clan an Drumma. After a satisfying lunch on the Maid it was off for the second part of the day.

At Visibility everyone is a winner and all participants received a Visibility medal. Reigning champions, Dawn Construction managed to retain second place for their efforts while Barclays Wealth clinched first place by two points. New comers City Building were third with Virgin Media not far behind.

We finished the day with exciting news about Visibility’s 150th anniversary and our next corporate challenge which is an exciting new mission! If you would be interested taking part in next years challenge please call Audrey Ward on 0141 332 4632 for further details .

Well done to our teams this year and a very big thanks for supporting Visibility.

Vision 2008

Our Chief Executive Fiona Sandford recently presented two papers at the Vision 2008, the 9th International Conference on Low Vision which was held in Montreal at the beginning of July.

The theme of the conference was Research-Rehabilitation Partnerships and Visibility presented papers on our pioneering low vision work in Echolocation and our Sealladh project. More than 2,000 researchers and clinicians as well as other professionals working in Low Vision Rehabilitation were in attendance.

The conference gave Visibility the opportunity to share our research with the international visual impairment community, showcase the value of this work and also to gain valuable information from other organisations.

Go Walks

Go! Active have undertaken a number of walks over the past few months. The groups are made up of visually impaired people their friends and family and a few guide dogs too!

The walks are intended for all abilities and offer people a chance to mix with other people in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere whilst getting fitter and enjoying the fresh air and countryside.

Previous walks have taken in the gardens of Rouken glen Park, the beauty of the falls of Clyde and the mud of part of the West Highland Way. Future walks are going to be more further a field to take in more of the great Scottish coast and countryside.

If you are interested in coming along or would like more information, please contact the Go! Team on 0141 572 0743

Go Gets out and about

10 young people from Visibility’s GO project recently got away from it all for a weekend of outdoor activities at Lochgoilhead.

Lochgoilhead Centre was a superb venue. Great staff, good facilities and excellent activities. The activities included, Kayaking, Abseiling, a night walk, sailing, speed boat driving and climbing a outdoor 50ft ladder with ropes. The children were encouraged to take part in the widest possible range of activities over the weekend, choosing those activities which appealed to them most.

All the activities were a huge hit with the kids and the weekend a huge success, with the children having great fun, making friends and overcoming personal challenges, all of which has given them increased confidence and reduced the feeling of isolation often caused by having significant sight loss.

Sealladh

Visibility’s, new Sealladh project is for ex-service men and women who have acquired a brain injury and may be experiencing visual difficulties as a result. Research suggests there is a common link between sight loss and head injury.

Sealladh uses pioneering Neuro Vision Technology developed in Australia to assess the person’s visual abilities using a non-invasive training package, we will then work with the person to develop a training rehabilitation programme teaching systematic static scanning techniques.

This innovative and creative service is a unique opportunity for ex- service people to access a service that will support them to achieve their desired level of independence. Sealladh has been funded by the Scottish National Institution for the War Blinded and covers the West of Scotland.

For More Information on Sealladh please call Laura Campbell on 0141 332 4632.

First Bus Drivers' Fundraising Walk

Three Glasgow First Bus Drivers, Leo Marsh, John Ramage and Ray Hamilton are getting out their walking boots in aid of Visibility.   The Members of First Scotstoun Walking Club are planning to walk the Speyside way, they are hoping to cover the 73 miles from Buckie to Aviemore between the 4th and 9th of May 2008.  If you would like to sponsor them on-line please go to www.justgiving.com/speywalk

Go! Project – Volunteer Recruitment

Go! Youth and Teens are recruiting NOW!  We need active, responsive people who are ready and willing to participate in our diverse activities.  You might find yourself at a theme park with our 8-14 year Youth programme, or you might end up on a boat sailing round the West coast of Scotland, the opportunities, like the rewards, are endless.

There are 24 Teens and 12 Youth events every year, all of which require the commitment and support of our volunteers who provide essential assistance to our blind and visually impaired service users.  Volunteers assist by acting as sighted guides, reading menus, describing locations and providing cues to encourage the group to interact and get the most out of the event.

If you feel this is the right opportunity for you and you can bring us some unique skills, then please contact

Volunteer Coordinator

You can also contact us at the Visibility office on 0141 332 4632.

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