Hello Newsletter – North-East Region
We are a charity that helps people living with sight loss and a
range of other disabilities to achieve their ambitions and go
beyond expectations.
Welcome to the Spring 2016 edition of Henshaws ‘Hello’
Newsletter
We
Happy reading!
Robert Cooper, Director of Community Services
Contents
Page 2
Henshaws News and Updates
Page 4
Fundraising Updates
Page 5
Useful services and information
Page 8
What’s happening at Henshaws Newcastle
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Henshaws News and Updates
Community Services staff strategy day
Henshaws staff recently attended a strategy day with a
difference, the day was interactive and allowed staff to
experience different areas of the services that we offer across
each of our regions. These included our ‘I Can Do It’ children’s
activity sessions, blind-folded exercise, an overview of our ICT
pathway training and an insight into counselling. The day was
finished off with a training session about Dementia delivered by
our very own Sara Deegan, Community Services Co-ordinator
based in Liverpool. The session raised awareness around the
challenges that dementia sufferers and their families face and
means that Henshaws staff are now certified ‘Dementia
Friends’. The day was a great success and staff gave feedback
that the sessions gave them a greater understanding about the
services
Top ten tips for a world designed for Sighted People.
We’re often impressed by the simple ideas people come up with
to make life run smoother when living with sight loss. So we
thought we’d compile a list of the Top Ten Tips, so please let us
know yours.
We’ll publish the top ideas in our next issue, so please let us
know yours by either: emailing [email protected] ,
calling us on 0191 265 3031 or just pop in to our Heaton centre
and tell us in person. The person who provides us with the best
tip will win a box of chocolates!
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Networking day
On Monday 18th April, we held a Networking day for our service
users and invited head office staff and guest speakers along.
25 of our service users attended and the age ranged between 1
and 77! External speakers that attended included:
Job Centre Plus Employer Engagement Manager – Provided an
update on changes to their services and asked for feedback on
how it is to use Job Centres. Our Service users provided insights
and ideas to improve services. The main issues being –
inappropriate communication formats and flaws in the Work
Capability Assessment for VI people. He promised to feed back
the issues and report back to us what they are going to make
improvements
o Francesca Digiorgio – RNIB Campaigns- Spoke about how
RNIB can support people on a local level to become involved in
campaigning for change about an issue that may directly affect
them locally.
• Internal speakers:
o Lisa & Sabine talked about community fundraising
opportunities and the new Lottery and the communications and
marketing and got a chance to mingle with our service users and
talk about their lives, concerns and ideas. Participants that I
spoke to said it was nice to meet other Henshaws staff.
o Philippa consulted on Friendship Matters activities and
asked about the types of things people wanted to do. The
overwhelming choice was to set up a walking group and Fran
from RNIB Campaigns offered to support the group by dealing
with any access issues we come across.
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Children & Families event, ‘Gravity Force’ - Tues 12th April
Kindly Funded by: Nunsmoor Trust
Following consultation with children & parents and having had a
number of previously successful ‘Family Fun Days’ at Walker
Activity Dome funded by Nunsmoor Trust, we decided to offer a
more challenging and exciting opportunity than previous multisport sessions . One of the things that weigh heavily on parents
of children with a disability is that they don’t often get the
chance to take part in activities as a family. We wanted to give
them the chance to have a worry-free new experience that
would put a smile on the faces of the whole family.
Gravity Force is a Trampoline Park that offers a chance to
participate in exhilarating physical activity that is rarely
experienced by children with visual impairments.
75 people took part and having the venue exclusively for their
use meant that the visually impaired children and their siblings
could take part in relative safety without the worry they might
have if they took part with the general public, who would not
be aware they had sight loss.
The event was a real success and because of the thorough
safety briefing and other measures we put in place, there were
no accidents or incidents….just lots of smiles and squeals of
enjoyment.
Here are some of the things people who attended told us:
Parent: “It was brilliant having the whole place to ourselves and
not constantly having to watch for strangers knocking in to our
children was just a huge relief.”
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Parent -Brenda: “The ‘Spotters’ on the floor where brilliant,
they really helped and guided the children from one trampoline
to another no questions asked.”
Parent- Michelle: “I had been before with my family and it was
OK and I was looking forward to going again, but this time the
staff where totally different, they explained things
differently…better, they led us in to the main area a different
way and talked all the way explaining to the kids about the
ramps and the mats and putting them more at ease”
Parent – Adrian: “It improved my confidence no end in taking
the kids out and about. I took my daughter and her friend, and
we are all severely sight-impaired . The Henshaws staff and all
the staff there where brilliant.”
Parent: Carly: “well what can I say, the staff where amazing my
son is only 7 and I am always frightened that he will hurt
himself, but Henshaws and Gravity force staff took him to one
side at the foam pit and slowly talked and walked him through
what he could do and how he could bounce like the others and
he did it, I was so proud of him and so thank full to both lots of
staff.
Sibling- Demi (age 14 ) It was lovely to have a family trip out
where we could all join in and have fun, brilliant, thank you.
Fundraising Updates
Gung ho
About a dozen people are taking part in Gung ho for Henshaws
in early July, an inflatable 5k obstacle course at Newcastle
Racecourse to raise funds for Henshaws. They’ll bounce over
many obstacles including the largest inflatable slide in Europe
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and some very big bouncy castles! You can sponsor them by
getting in touch with Philippa or Craig in the Newcastle office.
Henshaws Awards
On Thursday 16th June, we’ll be holding our annual Henshaws
awards to celebrate the successes of some of those in the
Henshaws community. Hosted by Tom Walker, a visually
impaired BBC journalist, the awards give us the chance to hear
the stories of those who have gone beyond expectations and
changed their lives. Nominees include Philippa Young, who has
increased her skills in being able to use a keyboard and a mouse
and Jackson Edwardes, a 10 year old who has made friends,
enjoyed sport again and gained confidence. For more
information about the awards, contact Stewart in the
fundraising team on 0161 786 3640
Ambassadors
We’re always on the lookout for new ambassadors to go and tell
others about the difference that Henshaws, and those in our
community, have made to their lives and encourage others to
get involved. Full training is provided along with transport to
get to the talks so, if you’re interested, get in touch with the
Fundraising team on 0161 786 3640.
Useful services and information
Audio Described Events
Anne Hornsby, pioneer of UK Audio Description, launched Mind's
Eye in the early 90s to increase access to arts and cultural
events for blind and visually impaired theatregoers.
Mind’s Eye operates throughout the United Kingdom and
Ireland, to provide audio description, descriptive tours, touch
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tours and handling sessions, audio guides and audio brochures
for Theatres, Galleries, Museums, Conferences, Film Festivals
and other Cultural Institutions. For an up to date list of local
audio described events, please contact Mind's Eye Description
Services Ltd.
Tel: 01204 522481
Mobile: 07889 232438
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: mindseyedescription.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MindsEyeArts
Most theatre performances will include a touch-tour an hour or
more before the performance, which must be booked in
advance. Customers should check with the Box Office or Mind’s
Eye for details. Please reserve your headsets for described
performances in advance.
Calibre Audio Library
People with sight loss who have always been avid readers often
struggle with magnifiers or large print. However, if you need a
bit of respite or would like to try a different way of reading,
Calibre Audio Library is here for you. Our charity has 8,250
fiction and non-fiction books in 60 different categories,
available on MP3CDs, USB memory sticks and via streaming for
people to use on tablets, smart phones and laptops. Calibre
members now can borrow up to 12 books at a time: 8 on
MP3CDs and 4 on USBs.
If people are also using streaming they can put as many books
as they like onto their online wish list. We add over 50 books a
month including the latest bestsellers so you can keep abreast
of reading trends as well as indulge in classic books. Our most
popular fiction category is detective and mystery stories. Such
is the demand, we have added an additional sub-category called
‘Cosy Crime: Gentle Mysteries’ with authors such as Simon
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Brett, Margery Allingham and M.C. Beaton. This is for readers
who prefer an engaging listen but without the associated
violence and strong language often found in more modern crime
fiction.
For a one-off joining fee of £35 you can open the door to a life
time of free books. We also sell a variety of USB players from
£30 to match your listening needs. We also offer a free 12 week
trial where you will receive one book at a time.
Please call our dedicated Membership Services Team who are
here to give you the time to answer your queries and discuss
your book and player options. When you call our number 01296
432 339 you will always get a person, never a confusing menu
directing you to press various numbers. Alternatively email
[email protected]. Our website is www.calibre.org.uk
What’s happening at Henshaws Newcastle
If you’d like to find out more about any of the classes below or
book a place please email: [email protected] or call
0191 265 3031.
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Mondays
Location: Newcastle Resource Centre, Room 25, Heaton
Complex, Trewhitt Road, NE6 5DY
Class: IT entry level
Time:10am - 12pm
Location: Walker Activity Dome, Wharrier St, NE6 3BR
Class: Football Fitness
Time: 1 - 2pm
Class: Fitness
Time: 2 -3.30pm
Tuesdays
Location: Newcastle Resource Centre, Room 25, Heaton
Complex, Trewhitt Road, NE6 5DY
Class: Ipad drop-in,
Time: 10am – 12noon
Location: Walker Activity Dome, Wharrier St, NE6 3BR
Class: Gym
Time: 1- 2pm
Class: Archery
Time: 2 - 3.30pm
Wednesdays
Location: Newcastle Resource Centre, Room 25, Heaton
Complex, Trewhitt Road, NE6 5DY
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Class: iPad
Time: 6- 8pm
Location: Walker Activity Dome, Wharrier St, NE6 3BR
Class: Children’s VI Football,
Class: Children’s Blind football
Time: 5 - 6pm
Time: 6 - 6.30pm
Thursdays
Location: Newcastle Resource Centre, Room 25, Heaton
Complex, Trewhitt Road, NE6 5DY
Class: Maths
Time: 10am – 12pm
Class: English
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Walker Activity Dome, Wharrier St, NE6 3BR
Class: Football FA League Time: 5 - 6pm
Fridays
Location: Newcastle Resource Centre, Room 25, Heaton
Complex, Trewhitt Road, NE6 5DY
Class: IT Level 1
Time: 10 till 12
Support always available for the following:
- New to sight loss
- Help with Benefits
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Coming up
Ten pin bowling and Dance class –contact us for details.
Volunteer with Henshaws and change people’s lives
Contact us on 0161 872 1234 to find out more about our current
volunteering opportunities.
Disclaimer
Although every attempt is made to ensure that the information
contained within this newsletter is timely and accurate,
Henshaws Society cannot be held responsible for any
information herein. This newsletter is provided for information
purposes only and is not intended to be either legally binding or
contractual in nature
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