Download Mag 14 Text only - Insight Gloucestershire

The Insight Magazine – issue 14
Article List
1. Welcome
2. Equipment and Information Day
3. Thank you
4. New club: Touch to see book club
5. Leaving a gift in your will
6. Thrive in the garden
7. Introducing Lydia!
8. The A-Z of eye condition’s: Iritis
9. Farewell - Susan Gregory retires
10. Residential educational courses - From AddVenture in Learning
11. Roadshow 2016 - Coming to a town near you!
12. Low Vision Centre news
13. SPRING 2016 SALE!
14. Sporting news from around the Shire
15. Useful contacts
16. Meet the team
1. Welcome to the spring issue of Insight.
This magazine is produced twice a year with our Insight Xtra supplement coming to
you in between. I do hope that you find the information contained within interesting.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your views and opinions on the subjects we
cover. Our article featuring AddVenture in Learning was suggested by a client who
enjoys the courses. This year we will be holding an Equipment and Information day
on Tuesday 12th April in Gloucester at the Brunswick Baptist Church, Southgate
Street, Gloucester, GL1 2DR. The doors will be open 10am– 3pm. I do hope you can
come along and see the wide variety of exhibitors that will be joining us. As you will
all know, we are an independent local charity and we receive no funds from Local
Government or the National Charities such as RNIB. So a very special and sincere
Thank You to all of you who have made a donation in the past year. Without your
support we would not be able to continue our work.
Steve Martin
General Manager
2. Equipment and Information Day
To be held on Tuesday 12th April 2016. 10 am – 3pm. The venue is Brunswick
Baptist Church, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2DR. Exhibitors will included:
Dolphin Accessible Computers, Enhanced Vision, PVS, Synapptic, Optelec, Optima,
Village Agents, Sound and Vision, and Humanware.
3. Thank you
Thank you to those of you who have set up a standing order or have given a
donation in response to our appeal at the end of 2015. It costs around £250,000 to
run Insight’s services at our current level each year. All of your contributions help us
to provide services to yourself and others. At the end of last year we were lucky
enough to be awarded a grant of £500 from Starbucks UK through their Red Cup
Cheer promotion. This was mainly down to people sharing our tweets on Twitter. It
may seem like a drop in the ocean but all these amounts add up. Initiatives like this
help to promote what we do, bring in funds without Insight having to commit too
much of our own resources to raise money to keep our doors and Helpline open. We
try and operate as efficiently as possible, but like every other charity, the
environment that we are raising money in is getting tougher as demand grows. We
are keeping a close eye on the changes around fundraising regulation and already
follow the Institute of Fundraising Code of Practice. Are you able to help Insight? In
the coming months, retailers and other organisations will be accepting nominations
for charity of the month / year / green token schemes. Please nominate us for these
schemes as Tesco says, ‘every little helps’. Last year these schemes alone brought in
on average £300 per entry for us. Thank you for supporting Insight, your local
charity for people living with sight loss.
Monica Farthing
Communications Officer
4. New club: Touch to see book club
The group enjoys art activities and explores interesting and fascinating subjects.
Living Paintings is looking for new members to join its new club in Charlton Kings.
This Club will be meeting 10:30am - 12:15pm once a month in Charlton Kings
Library, Church Street, Cheltenham, GL58 8AR. Membership is free and open to
adults of all ages – to find out contact Maria Storesund; T 01635 29 97 71 E.
[email protected]
5. Leaving a gift in your will
Gifts left to Insight in wills are a major proportion of Insight’s income and provide a
valuable boost to Insights funds. Here, Mrs Wearing who is totally blind in one eye
and losing her vision in the other talks about why she is leaving a gift to Insight
once she has passed on. “I feel that they deserve it. Over several years they have
helped me. I am glad there is someone there to talk to, on the phone, and
somewhere to go to look and try any items before I buy them. Each morning I look
at my large print calendar. I use my talking clock and watch throughout the day
along with many other items around my home that allow me to live independently. I
am aware that there are people worse than me and I want to make sure they can
get support when they want it. Until you have gone through losing your own sight
you can’t fully understand its impact.”
For more information about writing a will please speak to your solicitor. If you are
considering leaving a gift in your will please take a look at our website www.insightglos.org.uk for more information and thank you in advance.
6. Thrive in the garden
Thrive is a national charity that has worked with visually impaired gardeners for
more than 30 years. We have during this time collected a wealth of gardening hints,
tips and stories, from blind and partially sighted people.
The charity is the largest in the UK using gardening to bring about positive changes
in the lives of people who are living with disabilities or ill health, or who feel isolated,
disadvantaged or vulnerable. Sharing this knowledge with others is an important
part of the charity’s work, so to help you start or continue gardening at home on
your own, or with family and friends, or in gardening groups and clubs, we publish a
range of leaflets, fact sheets and books which are available on the Thrive website
(details are at the end of this article)
Hints and tips
Here are a few hints and tips to help you in the garden.
• Taking a bit of time to get ready can really make a difference. Some of the
stresses and strains of gardening happen when we begin a job on impulse. Think
about what you want to do and how you will achieve it.
• If you are just starting to garden with sight loss, you might find it useful to get to
know your garden better by walking around it at different times of day, until you are
familiar with it.
• Always manage your part of the garden yourself. If you need some help, ask for it
for that job, then carry on working alone. This way, you’ll become a much more
confident gardener.
• Visually impaired people can sometimes find it difficult to find their way back to
where they were in the garden. One idea is to take a small radio with you and leave
it on while you are working.
• A washing line can also provide a point of reference in the garden and you can use
it as a guide to help you know where you are.
• Think about the job you’re going to do and plan what will make it easier for you. It
might be as simple as making sure you have a kneeler with you, or a stool or seat to
work from or take breaks.
• Get all the tools you’ll need together to save trips back and forth to the shed or
garage. Try to keep your storage area tidy and you’ll be able to find your tools more
easily.
• On cold days it might be worth taking time to warm up first with some simple
bending and stretching exercises to loosen up your muscles and you will be less
likely to strain yourself.
• Stick to one job at a time, and have breaks - with a warm or cold drink according
to the weather.
 Stop work before you get too tired.
Thrive has a lot more information on its Carry on Gardening website for gardening
when you have a visual impairment including details on how to tackle specific jobs
like seed sowing, pruning, watering, growing in containers and tips on garden design
- www.carryongardening.org.uk
7. Introducing Lydia!
Hi everyone! My name is Lydia, I’m 21 and I am the volunteer events co-ordinator
running the Insight Outlook Group. I organise a range of events for the group to be
a part of. I’m from Gloucester and have moved home following my graduation with a
BA Hons History and Politics from Keele University.
We recently held a shopping event run by our own Ines Higgins showing an Aloe
Vera based brand called Forever Living. For our Christmas lunch the group headed
to Prezzo in Cheltenham. The event was well attended and everyone had a good
time with lots of laughter! We are planning lots more exciting events in 2016 so if
you are interested in joining the outlook group and taking part in our wonderful
events, please do get in touch with Marc Gulwell at Insight Gloucestershire to find
out more.
8. The A-Z of eye condition’s: Iritis
What is Iritis
Iritis is the inflammation of the iris, the coloured portion of the eye. It has been
known to cause extreme pain, light sensitivity and sight loss, which is often the
result of a disease in another part of the body. Most cases of iritis are recurring, in
what are small attacks. Once treated, the attack will usually respond to various
medications. However, the condition may become sight threatening when left
untreated. Medication for iritis varies; treatment that works for one will not always
work with another.
What causes iritis
In many cases, iritis is related to a disease or infection in another part of the body.
Diseases such as arthritis, tuberculosis, or syphilis can contribute to the development
of iritis. Infection of some parts of the body (tonsils, sinus, kidney, gallbladder and
teeth) can also cause inflammation of the iris. In other cases, iritis may follow injury
to the eye or accompany an ulcer or foreign body on the cornea. Often, the exact
cause of the disorder remains unknown.
Symptoms
The symptoms of iritis usually appear suddenly and develop rapidly over a few hours
or days. Iritis commonly causes pain, tearing, light sensitivity and blurred vision. A
red eye often occurs as a result of iritis. Some patients may experience floaters,
small specks or dots moving in the field of vision. In addition, the pupil may become
smaller in the eye affected by iritis. How is iritis diagnosed A careful eye exam is
extremely important when the symptoms of iritis occur, as inflammation inside the
eye can affect sight and could lead to blindness. A slit lamp, which illuminates and
magnifies the structures of the eye, is commonly used to detect any signs of
inflammation. A diagnosis is often made on the basis of an eye examination. Since
iritis can be associated with another disease, an evaluation of the patient’s overall
health is sometimes necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment. In some cases
blood tests and other tests may be conducted and additional specialists may be
consulted to determine the cause of the inflammation.
Treatment
Treatment of iritis is often directed at finding and removing the cause of the
inflammation. In addition, eye drops and ointments are used to relieve pain, quiet
the inflammation, dilate the pupil, and reduce any scarring which may occur. Both
steroids and antibiotics may be used. The application of hot packs may also provide
relief from the symptoms of iritis. In severe cases, oral medications and injections
may be necessary to treat the condition. A case of iritis usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks.
During this time, the patient must be observed carefully to monitor potential side
effects from medications and any complications which may occur. Cataracts,
glaucoma, corneal changes, and secondary inflammation of the retina may occur as
a result of iritis and the medications used to treat the disorder.
Acknowledgment: Information from the Eyecare Trust.
9. Farewell - Susan Gregory retires
After 5 years of working at Insight Susan has retired from her role as Volunteer Coordinator. During her time with us she has upgraded our systems, dealt with
changes in legislation as well as making the recruiting and matching process
smoother for all.
We wish her well in her retirement and hope she remembers to put her feet up
occasionally.
If any current volunteers have any queries or concerns they can contact Steve
Martin on 01242 22 11 70 or email him, [email protected].
For people wishing to have a befriending volunteer or wanting to volunteer in this
worthwhile role, please get in touch with Friends for You, a countywide scheme that
is being led by the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council. Contact Sue on 07810
63 01 67 or email, [email protected]
10. Residential educational courses - From AddVenture in Learning
AddVenture in Learning is a registered charity which organises residential courses for
sight impaired adults. The courses are usually, but not always, led by a professional
tutor and held in different parts of the country.
Each sight-impaired person is assisted by a sighted guide and guide dogs are always
welcome. Accommodation varies from hotels to outdoor educational centres or even
university halls of residence. Participants must make their own way to the venue but
these are not usually far from a railway station. Courses are not just lectures but
include outings and the chance to socialise. The price varies according to the course.
Plans for 2016 are; an Ecology course in Pembrokeshire 2nd - 6th May, Cheltenham
Science Festival and nearby places of interest 6th - 10th June, and Social history in
Derbyshire 8th - 12th August.
If you are interested in joining any courses as a sight impaired person or a volunteer
guide, please do look at the website www.add-ventureinlearning.org.uk for more
details.
You can also ring Isobell (course administrator) on 07731 86 79 31 or Barbara
(publicity) on 01460 28 12 26. We would love to hear from you but please
remember that the committee are all volunteers and not always readily available.
11. Roadshow 2016 - Coming to a town near you!
Following the success of working with the International Glaucoma Association and
Gloucestershire Clinical Commission Group (GCCG) last year we are going to trial
taking our outreach service around the county on a mobile stand. Please keep an
eye on our website for further dates and locations to be announced, as we continue
to confirm other stops along the bus’s countywide journey.
Friday 11th March The Cross, Gloucester
Tuesday 10th May King Street, Stroud
Those manning the bus will have a small selection of equipment with them, as they
would at any of our outreach offices. They will be able to help you with a wide range
of information and advice. So if you are in town, please pop in and say hello to us.
By using the bus we are hoping to let more people know we are here to help people
living with sight loss, and raise more awareness of what we offer.
Many of you already share your copy of the magazine and let others know that
Insight is here to help. Please keep doing this, and thank you for your efforts.
12. Low Vision Centre news
New products
MAGnificent floor table lamp
Code: 436 Price: £60
The MAGnificent lamp is ideal for all types of detailed work. This lamp is cleverly
designed to be used in 3 different positions to suit your working environment. The
daylight LEDs provide high contrast, making it easier and less tiring to read, work
and see detail clearly, and they never need replacing.
Mighty Mug
Code: 425 Price: £15
The Mighty Mug has a suction base, making it difficult to tip over if knocked by
accident. Use on all flat and nonporous surfaces, such as desks or tables, knowing
that the clever grip pad at the base will help reduce spillage. The product comes
with a removable lid.
Big print watches
Code: 431/432 Price: £18
In our last Insight magazine we had a sale on the Lifemax large print watches.
These watches were so popular we decided to stock them on a permanent basis.
They have large clear black numbers on a white watch face with large black hands,
making them easier to read. Available in large or small, they are fitted with a leather
strap.
10x illuminated magnifying mirror
Code: 439 Price: £45
A satin nickel, illuminated mirror, with 1x and 10x magnification. Ideal for applying
makeup.
Large print & tactile measuring jug
Code: 426 Price: £15
This large clear jug with easy grip handle has a tactile gauge which measures in fluid
ounces, or millilitres. The gauge clips inside the jug, so you can feel when the
ingredients reach the desired level. The printed measurements on the jug are also in
large print and in good colour contrast, making them easier to read. Large enough
to use as a mixing bowl.
Cane tips Price: From £6
If you use a long cane you will know the importance of having a good tip on it. If
the tip is worn out it can get stuck in the cracks of pavements. There are many
different types of tips available and usually they are quite simple to replace. We
stock a number of different cane tips and if purchased from us we are able to
replace your tip for you. If you need to replace yours call us on 01242 22 11 70.
Talking Button Clock
Code: 437 Price: £15
This clock simply features a single button on top which when pressed will announce
the time and the date in a clear male English voice. The clock also has an alarm.
Portable electronic magnifiers
Portable electronic magnifiers are a great way to read if you have low vision, when
you are out and about. They are small devices that you can carry in a bag or in a
pocket. As well as magnifying text you can view in a range of false colours or in full
colour modes. They all have varying levels of magnification to suit most needs, and
you can use an image capture facility to take a snapshot of some print and bring it
closer to you to read. This feature is good for the times when you are trying to read
a price on a shelf when shopping.
All of the portable magnifiers we recommend are great for when you are in a
restaurant and can’t read the print on the menu. All you need do is place the
magnifier on the menu and change the magnification and the colours to suit your
needs. These types of magnifiers come in various sizes and with varying capabilities.
We have 6 different portable electronic magnifiers to view in our Low Vision Centre.
Please come along and take a look and see if we have something that may help you.
Text To Speech Readers or TTS readers are devices that will take a photograph of
any printed text and turn that text into speech. There are various different versions
available and we have several on display at our Low Vision Centre which you can
come and try out for yourself.
The SmartReader has proven to be very popular, due to its effectiveness and ease of
use. All you have to do with the SmartReader is place your document under the
machine’s camera. Press one button and then the text is processed and read aloud
to you within seconds, in a very clear synthetic voice.
You may have also heard about our range of Synapptic devices. These include smart
phones and tablet computers that have great accessibility features built in that allow
you to use a smart phone or tablet with ease, keeping you even more independent.
Synapptic devices also have a very good feature which will take a photograph of
printed text and translate it into speech and clear text on the device’s screen. As
these devices are portable, they are a great way of reading difficult print on the go.
This feature is in addition to all of the other brilliant features that are built into
Synapptic smart devices.
TTS Readers really are an excellent way to ensure you can still stay independent
with print whether at home or on the go. If you would like to see one in action,
come along to our Low Vision Centre for a demo.
13. SPRING 2016 SALE!
Grab yourself a bargain with these 3 fantastic spring offers.
Kitchen bundle sale
Our kitchen bundle offer is a great way to carry on cooking all the things you love
whilst remaining independent. The bundle includes – 1 Liquid Level Indicator, 10
Orange Bump Ons, 1 MagiCan Can Opener, 1 Topster and 1 Non Slip Mat. The
individual retail price for these items is £32! With our very special offer, the bundle is
yours for just £22! A massive £10 saving!
Writing bundle offer - Do you love to write but need a helping hand?
Look no further. Our writing bundle is just what you need. The bundle contains 1
book of A4 wide lined writing paper, 1 A4 & 1 A5 Writing Frame, 2 thick or thin black
pens, and 1 Address guide. The retail price individually for these products is £21.
Our bundle sale price is JUST £10. That’s less than half price!
UV shield offer
It’s that time of year again when the sun is going to be at its most harmful to our
eyes. With that in mind we have a special offer to help alleviate the issue of glare,
both when you are out and about walking, or trying to read in the garden. If you
purchase one of our NoIR Comfort UV Shields you get one of our Classic UV shields
absolutely free. So you pay £30 for 2 pairs of our anti-glare UV shields available in a
range of different colours and sizes.
Please note these offers are while stocks last and for a limited time only so be quick.
14. Sporting news from around the Shire
Goalball team update
Worcester tournament - The Insight Goalball Team have won their first silverware!
Insight’s Goalball team is really starting to take shape. We are holding training
sessions on a regular basis in the Sports Hall at the Oxstalls University Campus in
Longlevens, Gloucester. We were happy with our first tournament of the season in
Birmingham but by the end of the second we were delighted. We were medallists for
the very first time. After only playing in two previous tournaments you will forgive us
for not expecting to reach the finals. After all, we were playing against some teams
and players with a lot more experience than us.
Worcester’s tournament was our finest so far in our team’s short history. We went
into the day hoping to do better than the 5th place achieved last time out. We
played Beacon Bullets B in the first game and were almost shocked when we ended
up going 7–0 ahead. The game ended 10–3 and this was the start of our unbeaten
run in the group section of the tournament. We went on to beat Worcester and RNC
Academy. After a brilliant run in which we won our group, we went on to the final.
Sitting around for nearly 2 hours whilst all of the other games were being finished it
was safe to say that one or two nerves had crept in to our players. But we had a
plan. Unfortunately despite our best efforts we lost the final 3–2 against RNC
Hereford. Well done to Joe Bentley, Laura Brooks and Joe Keeble who were silver
medallists at the Worcester novice tournament 2015.
Group games
Insight Glos 10–3 Beacon Bullets
Insight Glos 6–4 New College Worcester
Insight Glos 4–3 RNC Hereford
1st and 2nd place playoff game
Insight Glos 2–3 RNC Academy
Insight Glos finish in second place and received silver medals.
Editor’s note: Congratulations team! Report by player/coach Marc Gulwell
Birmingham tournament
In September of last year we took part in the first tournament of the 2015–16
season and finished a respectable fifth place. The tournament saw us winning our
first competitive games. The results were as follows.
Insight Glos 3–4 Winchester
Insight Glos 3–6 Beacon Bullets
Insight Glos 7–5 New College Worcester
Insight Glos 2–5 Cambridge Dons
Insight Glos 4–3 Croysutt Warriors
Insight Glos 1–3 RNC Hereford
Insight finished in 5th place overall.
Report by player/coach Marc Gulwell
Gloucestershire Growlers VI wake up for the season ahead
After hibernating all winter, the team is looking forward to getting started with the
2016 cricket season. By the time this reaches you we will have gone through our
indoor training sessions and getting ready for our pre-season friendly against the
team from Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club. This season we are playing home
and away fixtures against Hereford, Staffordshire and Lancashire as well as our
various cup competitions.
15. Useful contacts
Insight information offices - Open every week: 10am - 1pm
Monday – Moreton-in-Marsh, Council Offices / Tourist Information Centre,
High Street, GL56 0AZ
Wednesday – Gloucester, Brunswick Baptist Church, Southgate Street, GL1 2DR
Head office and Low Vision Centre
Insight Gloucestershire
81 Albion Street,
Cheltenham, GL52 2RZ
Helpline Tel: 01242 22 11 70
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.insight-glos.org.uk
Monday - Friday: 9am - 1pm
Attendance Allowance Helpline
Tel: 0345 605 6055
Textphone: 0345 604 5312
Personal Independence Payment
claims
Tel: 0800 917 2222
Textphone: 0800 917 7777
Calibre Audio Library
New Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 5XQ.
Tel: 01296 43 23 39
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.calibre.org.uk
Talking Newspapers
Contact Insight for your nearest one or visit the Talking Newspaper Federation
website.
Web: www.tnf.org.uk
Gloucestershire Deaf Association
Colin Road, Barnwood, Gloucester GL4 7JN
Tel: 01452 37 29 99
Minicom: 01452 37 26 00
Fax: 01452 37 22 88
Web: www.glosdeaf.org.uk
RNIB
Tel: 0303 123 99 99
Web: www.rnib.org.uk
Gloucestershire County Council
Adult Helpdesk: 01452 42 68 68
Web: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Tel: 0845 372 7499
Web: www.guidedogs.org.uk
Blind Children UK
Helpline: 0800 781 1444
Web: www.blindchildrenuk.org
Sense – for Deafblind people
Tel: 0300 330 9256
Textphone: 0300 330 9256
Fax: 0300 330 9251
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.sense.org.uk
Village Agents
Tel: 01452 52 84 91
Web: www.villageagents.org.uk
Age UK Gloucestershire
Tel: 01452 42 26 60
Web: www.ageuk.org.uk/
gloucestershire/
Blind Veterans
Tel: 020 77 23 50 21
Web: www.blindveterans.org
NHS 111
When it’s less urgent than 999
Web: www.nhs.uk
16. Meet the team
Steve Martin
General Manager
[email protected]
Chrissie Dutson
PA to the General Manager
[email protected]
Stephanie McKeever
Sight Loss Advisor
[email protected]
John Balfry
Sight Loss Advisor
[email protected]
Mark Bailey
Sight Loss Advisor
[email protected]
Marc Gulwell
Low Vision Technology Advisor
[email protected]
Monica Farthing
Communications Officer
[email protected]