Issue 8 Winter 19/20 SIGNPOST

In this issue: Top Tips for Children’s Residential Good Eye Health Friendship Group at Deaf do Wild Waters Wakehurst Place Welcome to Sight for ’s Winter 19/20 edition of Signpost Magazine

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How to contact Sight for Surrey: Sight for Surrey, Rentwood, School Lane, , Surrey KT22 9JX. Registered Charity Number 1121949. Voice Line: 01372 377701 Text: 07860 026269 Fax: 01372 360767 Skype: sensory.services FaceTime: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.sightforsurrey.org.uk

2 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 Top Tips for Good Eye Health

Regular check ups - get your Spend time eyes tested every two years outdoors even if you think your vision is - there is fine. emerging evidence that Quit the habit - if you smoke, spending two you have another good reason hours or more a day outdoors to kick the habit. Smoking is can reduce the risk of myopia. directly linked to blindness. Keep fit and healthy - regular Speak to relatives - talk exercise is essential to stay fit to relatives about their eye and healthy and contributes to health as some eye conditions maintaining good eye health. have genetic links such as glaucoma. Eat well - studies have shown that nutrients in Be cool in the sun - protect omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, your eyes when it’s sunny, vitamins C and E may help or when you’re in high glare prevent age-related vision areas such as near snow problems such as cataracts or water. Cumulative UV and macular degeneration. exposure can increase your Foods containing eye-friendly risk of developing cataracts nutrients include green leafy and macular degeneration. vegetables, oily fish, whole Look out for the CE, UV 400 grains, or British Standard marks chicken when buying sunglasses as and citrus they provide a safe level of fruits. protection from the sun’s

damaging UV rays.

For more information visit www.visionmatters.org.uk

Sight for Surrey 3 Community Events 2019

2019 receive visits from the local has seen Mayors at all the events to Sight for raise the profile of the work of Surrey Sight for Surrey and as a result host two were chosen by the Mayor of Sensory Runnymede to be one of his events charities for 2019/2020! (Staines We are grateful to all who and Godalming) and three attended and we will shortly be Living with Sight Loss events planning for our 2020 events. (Cobham, Oxted and Woking). We have been out and about Thanks to the following across Surrey bringing our companies that kindly provided staff and services to local lunch and cakes for these communities. events: Wiltshire Farm foods These events are a great Waitrose (Godalming) opportunity for us to showcase Co-op (Oxted) the latest equipment, Cote (Cobham) information on new technology The Patisserie (Cobham) on the market, help people to Tipsy Pigs at The Lightbox, learn cookery skills as well as Woking advising people on mobility training. This year we took the opportunity to schedule our events to coincide with Deaf Awareness Week, Deafblind week, National Sunglasses Day and National Eye Health Week. We were fortunate to

4 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 ON SALE NOW - Large print calendars and diaries

This year we have a range of three calendars and five diaries. The three wall calendars all have large print for days and the date and a varying size space for you to write in. The diaries come in three Prices range from £5.50 to different sizes: £11.00 1. A4 desk diary 2. Two smaller desk diaries To order, please call our with a week over two pages Helpdesk on 01372 377701 3. Our two pocket diaries have who will take the order and a week over two pages. payment.

Meet your magnifier Magnifiers are commonly although some can be made as used as a means to read mail, telescopic aids. cooking instructions, newsprint, A common request by clients looking at photos, etc. is for a large strong magnifier These can sometimes be which unfortunately cannot provided through a Hospital be made, so the general rule Low Vision Assessment clinic is the larger the magnifier the on a loan basis or can be weaker it is and the smaller the purchased from various outlets. magnifier the stronger it is. Magnifiers are generally a single convex lens that is used to produce an enlarged image

Sight for Surrey 5 Deaf do Wild Waters!

Our Deaf activities group had a fantastic time learning to kayak in the summer. It started with introductions from four kind volunteers from the Wey Kayak Club who led this session, in their own time. Our Deaf Youth Group Firstly they put on lifejackets and learnt how to use a canoe Back on the water and this was paddle before they went to the much harder. With a wobbly boat, edge of the canal where there there was lots of concentration was a bell boat waiting. They all needed for steering, paddling and clambered in, five on each side avoiding crashing into each other, with the volunteers at the front the bank or the water! and back and got into the rhythm Undoubtedly, everyone had a of paddling in time together. Only great time and thanks to The Wey then, were they led to the boat Kayak Club, have another new shed to get some kayaks! skill under their belts!

Our Pride in Sight for Surrey Sight for Surrey is delighted to have played a part in Surrey’s first ever Pride festival which took place in Woking on The organisers wanted to ensure Saturday 10th August 2019. it was an entirely inclusive and The Pride in Surrey celebration welcoming event and we worked featured food, drink, live music with the organisers to support and entertainment from various them with BSL interpreters artists and performers. and general support with communication.

6 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 Sunny sign

The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme is for people with hidden conditions to allow staff to easily and discreetly identify passengers who may need giving clear instructions and extra assistance. ensuring you have a safe and It was first introduced in comfortable journey. Gatwick Airport in 2016 and Anyone can get one via the is now recognised and freely airport you are travelling available in many public areas through for free or you can including Sainsbury’s and purchase here: Argos. This allows staff to assist www.hiddendisabilitiesstore. with providing extra time, letting com/products-10/products/ you stay with your support, lanyard Catch It, Bin It, Kill It Here’s our quick guide to keeping Kill it - Hands can transfer germs well this winter. Cold and flu to every surface you touch. Wash viruses, as well as others, are your hands with soap and water. easily passed on. Three simple steps, Catch It, Bin It, Kill It, can help prevent them from spreading. Catch it - Germs spread easily. Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or For more advice about staying sneeze. safe this winter please go to the Bin it - Germs can live for several People and community section hours on tissues. Dispose of your on the Surrey County Council tissue as soon as possible. website www.surreycc.gov.uk

Sight for Surrey 7 NHS go Spare

Have you got a sight and ‘spare hearing aids are hearing loss? Did you know not part of standard NHS you can ask to have a spare provision EXCEPT where NHS hearing aid? this is justified: eg for people Making sure a hearing aid is who are blind and partially available to use all the time sighted.’ can be difficult if you have Audiologists are now combined sight and hearing required to create individual loss. Replacing the batteries plans for people with can be difficult and if you live hearing loss who have alone, you may have no one been prescribed hearing available to do this for you. aids. If the person also Sometimes it can be difficult has sight loss, this needs to find an aid that can be to be included in the plan taken out overnight. If it has as the reason additional accidently fallen out it might hearing aids are required. be challenging to find when It is essential to ensure the you cannot see. challenges are minimised Practice guidance for NHS when changing batteries or Audiology clinics states finding aids after removal.

8 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 Friendship group enjoy a day at Wakehurst Place.

Julie Barclay, Sight for Surrey Sensory Specialist Worker, has enthusiastically run our friendship group for those who are deafblind for over 16 years, taking our members on outings across Surrey. Julie says: “The group aim is to show there particularly that the people with acquired sight temperature in the vault and hearing loss that life can below was a very chilly -20C, still be lived to the full, just in in order to hold more than a different way. For people 92,500 seeds collected in the with congenital sight and millennium seed bank. hearing loss it is about making The friendship group uses opportunities that society three different communication wouldn’t have previously methods: clear speech, British considered possible for them. Sign Language and hands on. Events like this also show the Members are accompanied by wider public that inclusion is their communication guides possible and important”. including Harry who is pictured The friendship group had a above with Russell. great day at Wakehurst Place where there was an excellent and immersive tour with the opportunity to touch and feel objects in the gardens. The group learnt all about the scientific research conducted

Sight for Surrey 9 Website wonder We are delighted to announce the launch of our new website! It is much easier to navigate and to find the services you require from us. Do look out for regular news items and events in your area. If you would like to receive more regular communications via email please do call the Helpdesk on 01372 377701 or email [email protected] and ask that you receive email communications from us.

Volunteer Awards Evening Sight for Surrey marked National Volunteer Week in style with an awards ceremony recognising all those who go above and beyond. Awards were presented by HM Vice Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Bill Biddell and Cecilia Power, and we were supported locally Chair of Sight for Surrey. by a number of shops and supermarkets with food and The glorious surroundings of drink donations including played Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Marks and host to this wonderful evening Spencer, and ASDA.

10 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 Sayers Croft – Children’s Residential

Jane Vincent, Sight for Surrey’s Head of Children and Young People’s Service, announced: “We are thrilled that we have been able to take 12 families on our first residential trip. We participated in many activities at the Sayers Croft Activity Centre including den building, indoor caving, stream walk, archery, pottery and we had a campfire with marshmallows”. “My favourite part of the It was a fantastic opportunity for weekend was spending quality families with a vision impaired time with my family and lots of child, some with additional other great families and SfS needs, to participate in activities staff too. Watching my son enjoy that a lot of families take for the activities and not have to granted. The activities have apologise for his VI as everyone helped to increase their self- understands that he may bump esteem, their independence and into things or trip. He sang their life skills. The weekend independently round the camp was a great opportunity for fire which was something he has socialisation amongst families never done before and would in similar situations and we are not have done unless he felt already looking at dates for the really content and this brought next residential trip! a tear to my eye, something money can’t buy.”

Sight for Surrey 11 Assessment and Rehabilitation

At Sight for Surrey we How we help have a team of skilled Is your sight loss causing you professionals who work difficulty with: with people with a vision impairment or combined Reading, pouring liquids, sight and hearing loss, preparing meals or providing them with performing other activities assessment, rehabilitation in the kitchen, crossing and life skills. the road, communicating with others, accessing The aim of our service information, accessing the is to empower people community? to have choice and control over their lives We can help with: and, if desired, to live as • Information and advice independently as possible. • An opportunity to talk through the effects of sight loss and combined sight and hearing loss with highly trained staff • Professional assessment of your needs • Everyday living skills advice • Equipment to help you to manage at home • Mobility training to help you get about safely • Communication skills training.

12 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 Meet Julie and other people’s encouragement Julie is 55, she helped me a lot. While was severely the symbol cane had sight impaired 10 its uses, I realised years ago, and is that it didn’t send a now completely clear message that blind. Sight for I’m blind to sighted Surrey explained people around me the options of however the long cane how she could be sent a much clearer supported and message.” one of the ideas “I have questioned whether was long cane training which I can find true independence initially she did not think was being completely blind and I for her. now know my ability to use For a while she continued my long cane is the next best being sight guided but also with thing. The choices of how you a symbol cane. After a period can help yourself as a person of time she became aware with visual impairments is down that this was not giving her the to the individual. The support level of independence that she that I have received from wanted. She met with Tom from Tom and Sight for Surrey has Sight for Surrey who provides made a big difference to my long cane training, and after a life as a person without sight. detailed discussion about what Whilst the learning process long cane training would entail, is far from over and there are she decided to give it a try. many challenges ahead on my She has now spent the last few journey I feel that by embracing months long cane training with my long cane training it has Tom. taken me from not being able to step off a curb to being able Julie says: “It hasn’t been to cross the road independently easy and at times I wondered and so much more.” why I was doing this. Tom

Sight for Surrey 13 A para athlete sets targets for Paris 2024

Sight for Surrey’s Children’s and Young People’s team have been supporting Olivia Gallagher with habilitation and independent life three metres with my left. After skills. Read below her amazing spending five and half months account of how she has in hospital I was allowed home overcome so many challenges and was on oxygen for a year, from birth. a world of challenges awaited My name is Olivia Gallagher from that moment onwards. and I’m a T33 wheelchair racer. From an early age I’ve always I was born at just 24 weeks, wanted to do things that weighing 1lb 11 oz, and was everyone else would do and be the only surviving triplet. Due to a normal child having fun and a very early birth and a bleed enjoying life. My teenage years on the brain I have cerebral were challenging and my family palsy affecting all four limbs, didn’t know what to do or how to profound hearing impairment support me best. I didn’t know and a severe sight loss meaning where I belonged; it felt like I I’m completely blind in my right was at breaking point. eye and can only see up to After feeling inspired at London 2012 I knew there would be something out there for me. So in 2014 that all changed as I found a sport that I wanted to try. I joined the Weir Archer Academy. They have helped me grow in confidence, self- belief and independence but most importantly helped me fit in somewhere and provide

Photo courtesy of Pride of Sport Awards 14 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 UK and world rankings. This year I’m currently ranked No.1 in the UK and within the top four in the world across 100m-1500m. This year I got the opportunity to race at the Muller Anniversary games in the Olympic stadium. I was pleased to come away with a PB, 4th place but most importantly be the first T33. In January I underwent life changing surgery to have bilateral cochlear implants. friendships with others who Since having the surgery it also have a disability. People has opened up many exciting have sometimes said Olivia “I opportunities in and outside of don’t think you can do this”, my sport. response from an early age was “yes I can and I’ll prove you Wheelchair racing has given wrong”. me a chance to prove I’m good at something and that disability After getting classified in 2015 isn’t a barrier to not achieving I was ready to take on this what you want to achieve; exciting journey. In 2018 I was anything is possible with selected to represent determination and strength. No at the CPISRA World Games mountain is ever too high. where I won a silver and a bronze medal. In December 2018 I was awarded Pride Of Sport Young Sportsperson of the year 2018. I was nominated by my incredible coach Jenny Archer MBE who has believed in me and supported me right from the beginning of this journey. Each year I have climbed the

Sight for Surrey 15 Let’s hear it for the boys…and girls!

Riders Five enthusiastic cyclists raised money for Sight for Surrey at this year’s RideLondon 100 mile challenge through the closed roads of London and Surrey, whilst taking in the sights of raised to help us to support the capital and the stunning people in Surrey who are Surrey countryside. blind or partially sighted, Deaf, An amazing £3,807 was deafblind or hard of hearing.

Would you like to take part in RideLondon 2020? Please contact the fundraising team on [email protected]

… and flowers We held successful awareness days with the Surrey Coalition for Disabled People and raised over £3,061 from bucket collections at Hampton Court Garden Festival and Wisley Gardens in the summer, as well as handing out thousands… and thousands, of sunflower seeds!

16 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 Your last word Leaving a gift in your will, can we count on you? We recently received a legacy of £20,000 from a client who died this year. This will ensure we can continue to provide essential services to Surrey residents with a sensory impairment. After you’ve made provisions for your loved ones, can you leave Sight for Surrey a gift in your will? Please contact [email protected] to receive a Legacy pack.

SIGHT FOR SURREY Registered Charity Number: SIGHT FOR SURREY Promoter: 1121949 Fetcham KT22Sight 9JX for Surrey, School Lane, Raffle prizes Christmas Prize Draw 1st Prize: £250 Cash We have some fabulous prizes for our 2nd Prize: 2 tickets to the Premier Enclosure at Sandown Racecourse 3rd Prize: Afternoon tea for two at Burford Bridge Hotel Christmas Raffle this year! Plus many more exciting prizes-see the Sight for Surrey Facebook page Cash and counterfoils should be Draw will take place on Wednesday 15th January 2020 returned to the promoter - Sight for Surrey by Monday 13th January 2020. Registration details: Registered under The Gambling Act 2005 Please do not return unsold tickets. with District Council, Licence No: 051159 TICKETS QuickP rint(UK ) Ltd, 23 P rince W illiam Road, Belt £1 on P ark, Loughborough, EACH Leicestershire. LE11 5 GU Tel: 01509 236987 www 1st prize - £250 .quickprint uk.com 2nd prize - Tickets to Sandown Park Racecourse for two people in the Premier Enclosure 3rd prize – Afternoon Tea for two at The Burford Bridge Hotel, Other prizes include Gift cards for Pizza Express, Oliver Bonas, a round of golf for four people at Reigate Heath Golf Club and many more exciting prizes! Please call 01372 377701 if you would like to buy more tickets.

Amazon Smile When you shop on smile.amazon.co.uk and choose Sight for Surrey as your nominated charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of all eligible purchases to us at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Sight for Surrey!

Sight for Surrey 17 A Big Thank you to…

Sight for Surrey is very grateful for the support it receives from a wide range of grant funders. Over the last six months we have gained funding from the following: The Sobell Foundation has granted us £10,000 a year for the next three years which will help fund our Eye Clinic Liaison Officers at hospitals across Surrey. National Lottery Community Fund for a grant of £10,000 to enable us to produce BSL interpretation films on our website. Tesco Bags of Help Horsham gave £2,000 to support the Children & Young People’s Residential weekend at Sayers Croft. Godalming Town Council gave £500 to support one of our Sensory events bringing our staff and services to local communities. Thanks also to: The Lynn Foundation, The James Wise Charitable Trust, Blakemore Foundation, The Alchemy Foundation, Douglas Arter Foundation, John Ackroyd Charitable Trust, The Bellasis Trust, Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, The Sydney Black Charitable Trust, The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust, The R S Brownless Charitable Trust.

Do you know a company, school or community group who raise funds for charities or would like a talk on our work? Please do nominate Sight for Surrey and help us support more people in Surrey who need us.

18 Signpost | Winter 19/20 | Issue 8 Emotional Support and Sight Loss

People who are newly diagnosed with sight loss, living with sudden total sight loss, or a deteriorating condition often find it distressing. Eye Clinic Liaison Officers are funded by Sight for Surrey to work in the hospital eye clinics, and specialist Rehabilitation Workers often meet people who are upset or have become depressed because of this life changing experience. They are trained to support people in this situation and to recognise when people need professional emotional support and medical intervention. If it is clear people need professional emotional support we will support the person to contact their GP who can refer directly to specialist services and determine if other medical intervention is required. We also make people aware of the RNIB sight loss counselling service. Available via telephone and online, this team of professionals can help with one to one telephone counselling; giving the time for individuals to talk through their situation and feelings. They also facilitate small support groups. For more information about the RNIB online and telephone counselling service contact the RNIB Helpline 0300 123 9999 Monday – Friday from 8am – 8pm and on Saturday 9am – 1pm.

Christmas opening hours at Sight for Surrey 27th December: 9am - 5pm Christmas Eve: 9am - 5pm 30th December: 9am - 5pm Christmas Day: CLOSED 31st December: 9am - 5pm Boxing Day: CLOSED New Year’s Day: CLOSED

Sight for Surrey 19 Traveller HD Improve your reading fluency with this portable video magnifier

Features: 2.4x to 30x Magnification 13.3” tilting/folding screen Weighs less than 2kg Snapshot/Archive up to 1000 images 3 hour rechargeable battery Large tactile buttons Reading/False horizontal line Optional writing stand available Unit weight less than 2Kg Carry case included For a FREE no obligation home demo, call 080 8090 8090 www.enhancedvision.co.uk