Vision Impairment Network for Counselling and Emotional Support

Vision Impairment Network for Counselling and Emotional Support.

As reported in NB December 2007, VINCE is a network that was launched in October 2007, which aims to:

- Develop collaborative working between counsellors and emotional support service providers - Share good practice, service developments, evaluation and research outcomes - Influence the development of counselling and emotional support services for adults, children and families affected by sight loss

Since the very successful launch in Birmingham in October 2007, and with support from Vision2020, the Steering Group has concentrated on getting a microsite up and running as an effective way of developing the network and sharing information.

VINCE members can read or post information about services and projects that are providing emotional support or counselling. For example the library section of the website currently includes:  Genetic Counselling an overview of genetic counselling in the UK  Are Children’s standards slipping? – a report from the National Children’s Conference 2008  Different Horizons- an informative document for counsellors working with clients who are experiencing sight loss.

As well as a source of information, the microsite offers members the facility to share/access member contact details to enable informal networking. Interest has continued to grow and VINCE now has 80 members from across the sector including representatives from local societies, the NHS, Sensory Support Services, independent practitioners as well as from service providers in the main sight loss charities.

In addition to developing the microsite, the steering group (which meets four times a year), has been involved in a number of activities to raise awareness and development of the network. These include:

 Taking steps to become a standing committee of Vision2020. This will be an exciting step forward and will provide a framework from which to develop VINCE.  Drafting a business plan, which includes exploring funding options for a part time coordinator post to enable more proactive development of the network.

 Planning for a second conference to enable members to meet in 2009. Members have been invited to offer ideas about areas of particular interest for this event. Initial responses suggest that areas of interest include a review of peer support versus emotional support/counselling; sharing evaluation and research findings ; meeting UK Vision Strategy recommendations

 VINCE was represented by Dennis Lewis, Chair of the Steering group, at the launch of the UK Vision Strategy, which has identified the development of emotional support and counselling across all age groups as a key issue.

The VINCE microsite can be found at the Vision2020 website, listed under Special Interest Groups. http://www.vision2020uk.org.uk/

* First published in NB magazine, RNIB, January 2009 - www.rnib.org.uk/nbmagazine