Services
- Information Helpline
- Listening Ear
- Patient Support
- Welfare Rights
- Supporting People
- Befriending
- Family Support
- Counselling
- Peer Support
The following services are available to people with serious sight loss, whether they have been registered or not. Not all of our services are available in all areas, please check this.
Information Helpline — 0141 572 0746
Our information helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9.15 a.m. to 1.15 p.m.. Our staff provide information to people with sight loss, their families and friends, students and professionals. We appreciate the difficulties of knowing what services, aids and equipment, etc. are available and who to contact, so our friendly staff will listen, advise you of your options and give you the contact details. We cannot supply the services or equipment ourselves, but can easily point you in the right direction.
We can send out information in a range of formats - Braille, large print, tape, computer disc, etc.
Listening Ear
Many people have told Visibility that it is important, from time to time, to have someone to talk to about what they are experiencing and feeling. This may be at the time of diagnosis or a change in circumstances, etc. We will help you look at your options, give you information if you wish or just listen to what you have to say. This confidential service is provided to people by phone, in their own homes or at our offices. If you feel this would be of help, please contact us and we will make arrangements to suit you.
For more information contact 0141 572 0746.
Service available in all areas in the west of Scotland.
Patient Support
This service arose from Visibility's research, which indicated that many people facing serious sight loss would like to talk to someone at the hospital when they are diagnosed.
The project has been set up in the eye department at Gartnavel hospital and anybody attending Gartnavel can ask to be referred to the patient support worker. People can also refer themselves, if they feel they need to talk to someone in confidence.
For more information contact 0141 211 6753.
Service available to anyone attending Gartnavel Ophthalmology Department and Low Vision Service.
Welfare Rights
The Welfare Rights Service provides expert information and advice to assist people with sight loss to access the benefits they are entitled to.
We will assist with the completion of all Department of Working Pension's benefits, disability, pension credit and Social Fund application forms. We can also assist you to complete grant application forms to maximise your income.
The service can be accessed by contacting the number below and making an appointment to meet a Welfare Rights Officer at the office or in your home. There is also a drop in benefit surgery at the Centre for Sensory Impairment, Gullane Street, Glasgow on Wednesdays between 10.00 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.
For more information contact 0141 572 0748.
Service available to people living in Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire
Supporting People
The Supporting People service is committed to ensuring that people with sight loss have the opportunity and support they need to live independently. The service provides staff to assist with food shopping, reading mail, completing forms and various day to day household tasks.
As this is funded by the Government, it is only available to people who live in rented accommodation, are eligible for Housing Benefit and are assessed by their local authority Supporting People team.
For more information contact 0141 572 0747.
Service available in North and South Lanarkshire, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire.
Befriending
Visibility's group of volunteers provide a befriending service to people living in the west of Scotland. In some cases, this can be visiting housebound people to chat and share experiences with and in other cases it can involve supporting people to get out and about. This is a very popular service and one which is always in great demand. There is a waiting list for befrienders. If you are are interested in being a volunteer befriender, please visit the volunteering opportunities page.
For more information contact 0141 332 4632.
Service available in west of Scotland, however there is a long waiting list in all areas.
Family Support
The Family Support Service is available to any families living in North and South Lanarkshire, in which there is a child or a parent who has a visual impairment. This project aims to provide families with the opportunity to talk through some of the issues around visual impairment in either a one-to-one or group setting.
There are often frustrations and anxieties associated with being either a visually impaired parent — or the parent of a visually impaired child — and these sessions aim to address some of these issues in a supportive setting through peer advice and practical suggestions.
For more information contact 0141 572 0746.
Service available in North and South Lanarkshire.
Counselling:
To build on our information and emotional support services which operate throughout the west of Scotland, Visibility also offer a Counselling Service. This service is for people who are visually impaired and are having difficulties in their lives and feel that they would benefit from the opportunity to talk this through with someone who is trained in supporting them to do this. It is also available to parents of children with a visual impairment. If you are interested in Counselling, please contact 0141 572 0746.