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Support

Visibility provides support to people who are visually impaired, their family in friends in a number of different ways. 

Individual Support

Support Groups

Telephone Support

Individual Support:

Visibility has a number of different ways that people can access individual, personalised support.

Buying Your Support:

With the recent development from the Scottish Government, the Social Care (Self Directed Support) ( Scotland ) Bill gives people who are visually impaired an opportunity to have more say in the support that is provided to them.  This is sometimes called personalisation. Visibility has responded to this by giving people an opportunity to purchase a service using Direct Payments or Self Directed Support Budget.  Alternatively you can purchase support direct from Visibility with your own funds. 

All support is discussed and agreed so that it is individualised and unique to each person.  We have listed some examples of what we can provide.  The list is not definitive so please contact us to discuss your specific requirements. 

We know there are many challenges for people with visual impairments, however we believe in providing support for people to do things for themselves, rather than doing things for people.  This ensures that individuals have choice and control over their support and the ability to retain and develop their independence.

Support at home:

Support in the community:

Support finding employment:

Social and recreational:

We have a team of Visual Support Workers who have all been trained and supported by Visibility to provide sighted guiding and appropriate support to ensure your confidence and independence. 

Call Debbie or Scott on 0141 332 4632 to find out more.

Support arranged through Social Work:

Our Supporting People service is committed to ensuring that people with sight loss have the opportunity and support they need to live independently.  This service is available in North Lanarkshire, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire .  As it is funded by the local authority any referrals need to have Social Work input and would depend on whether there was space available in the project.

We have supported younger people to set up their first flat, attend college and find a job and older people to continue cooking home made meals, attend local interest groups and build up their networks of friends.

Call 0141 572 0747 and speak to Debbie for more information.

Support for people who have fallen or are fearful of falling:

Visibility runs a service in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS area for people who have fallen or are frightened of doing so.  We are working with the NHS to look at the link between people’s sight loss and falling which will help inform future services. 

We can also visit people in their own homes, talk through some of the issues and give advice on what might help including the use of lighting and colour contrast in the home as well as provide some assistance with how to move around safely to limit the risk of falling. 

If you would like some more information or to talk to someone, please call 0141 332 4632 and ask for Jamie or Shelagh.

Support Groups:

Some people find it beneficial to meet with others who are in a similar situation and hear how they have dealt with daily challenges.  Visibility provides a number of opportunities for people to do this.  It is amazing what you find out when people get together and talk.

Peer Support:

People tell us that when they get together they learn a lot from the experiences of others. Visibility's peer support sessions give people an opportunity to learn from each other as well as pass on their knowledge of living with sight loss and helpful services. The participants set the topics that are covered which can be anything from transport and technology to health and beauty.

East Dunbartonshire

Milngavie - Milngavie Community Centre, Allander Rd, Milngavie, 1.30 to 3pm

Kirkintilloch – Park Centre, 45 Kerr St , Kirkintilloch, 1.30pm to 3.00pm co-hosted with East Dunbartonshire VIP forum.

Argyll and Bute

Dunoon - Red Cross Building, George St - Meets at 2pm - 4pm on the first Tuesday of the month.

Oban - Kilmore & Oban Church Centre, Oban, 1.30pm to 3.30pm. First Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October and December

Helensburugh - St Andrews West Kirk Cottage - 10.30am - 12.30pm on the second Friday of each month except January

Campbeltown – Campbeltown Library, Aqualibrium, Kinloch Rd.   2pm to 3.30pm on the following dates:  20th September, 11th October, 15th November.

Lanarkshire

Hamilton - St John’shurch Centre, Hamilton, 1.30pm to 3.00pm

Ayrshire

The Garnock Valley VI Persons Group meet on the first Wednesday of every month from 1.30-3.00pm at the Bridgend Community Centre, Kilbirnie.

This is a local support group run by local people with visual impairments which is supported by Visibility.

Dumfries and Galloway

The Newton Stewart group meet on the last Monday of every month in the Cinnamon café, Victoria Street, Newton Stewart at 2pm.

Dumfries VI club meet on the second Tuesday of every month at St George’s Church Hall, George St, Dumfries 1.30-3.30pm

Annandale and Eskdale Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month 2.00pm to 3.30pm at the Queensberry Hotel, High Street, Annan.

Stranraer Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 2pm to 3.30pm at Custom House, North Strand Street in Stranraer.

Dumfries Social Club venue varies contact Andrea Houston tel 01387 263652. Last Friday evening of every month. Time: 7pm to 10pm

These are local support groups run by local people with visual impairments supported by Visibility.

Click here for support group dates

Telephone Support

Mentoring

Some people would prefer to talk to someone on their own rather than as part of the group.  If this is the preferred option, then we run a mentoring service. 

Visibility Mentors are a group of people with visual impairments who have been trained to provide support.  They have all experienced visual impairment at different times of their lives, struggled to come to terms with it and are now in a position where they feel they can help other people.  They can provide regular, confidential support and advice by telephone.

To find out more, call 0141 332 4632 and ask for Anne or Rae.

Telefriends

If you live in Dumfries & Galloway, there is a telefriends service which links a volunteer with an individual and they phone at an agreed time to chat to reduce feelings of isolation.  This is particularly useful for people who are housebound or find it difficult to get out and meet with other people. 

For more information contact Lindsay or Allison on 0345 521 8382.