Northumberland County Blind Association Supporting blind and partially sighted people

Issue 103

NoISe Autumn 2018

NoISe (Northumberland Information Service for People with Vision Impairment) is the quarterly newsletter of the Northumberland County Blind Association.

NCBA wins funding to pilot

accessible heating controls

Northumberland County Blind The Energy Redress Scheme is

funded by voluntary payments Association is one of six UK

charities that have been made by energy companies

awarded funding for sustainable following enforcement and

compliance action by Ofgem. energy projects in the first

round of grants from the Energy

Industry Voluntary Redress The overarching aim of the

Energy Redress Scheme is to Scheme.

distribute available funds to

Energy Saving Trust, which was support energy consumers in

vulnerable situations and the appointed by Ofgem to

distribute the Energy Redress development of products or

Scheme monies to eligible services which would provide

charitable organisations, a benefit for certain groups of

announced the first phase of energy consumers.

funding following a rigorous

assessment period. The first round of funding will

www.ncba.org.uk

1 see £40,000 go towards a Anthony Pygram, Director of community heating network in Conduct and Enforcement at Stirlingshire, £75,000 for the Ofgem, said: “We are pleased creation of a one-stop energy to see the first awards to advice service in Rochdale, charities of payments from Tameside and Bury, and nearly energy companies to the £40,000 for the creation of a Voluntary Redress Scheme new programme to help make following Ofgem’s enforcement heating controls accessible for and compliance activity. These visually impaired people in grants will help vulnerable Northumberl and. customers throughout the UK through a number of schemes,

Other successful applications as well as investing in new include £63,000 for a 20-month and innovative products and programme to help 5,000 services for consumers.” vulnerable residents in Wirral, £35,000 for an innovative Sandra Donkin, NCBA’s cooking and lighting energy Organisational Development saving programme on Lewis, Manager said: “The project for and £28,000 to create a Northumberland has been voluntary energy champion designed to pilot four different programme in Wigan. kinds of heating control solutions in the households of Mike Thornton, Group Director people with a visual impairment. of Operations at Energy Saving Trust said: “The first round of The four different solutions will awards for the Energy Redress be evaluated to identify which Scheme demonstrate the ability one provides the most benefit in of charities and their partners to terms of operability in relation to help consumers, especially the level of sight loss of the vulnerable consumers, with their householder; cost and energy bills.” practicality to enable the different interventions to be 2 made available to all. Advice on energy saving and management will also be given Everyone participating in the as part of the pilot.” pilot will be assessed by a specialist in Visual Processing If you would like to be part to determine which system is of this exciting pilot please most likely to be effective and call Sandra on 01670 514316 any other support that they or send an e mail to might need. [email protected] Julie’s journey “I got fed up with being a passenger in my own life” I got tired of being a passenger I asked about the likelihood of in my own life and felt the time the same happening to the was right to accept my sight other eye and was told ‘one in a loss and move forward. million’ and that I’d been ‘unlucky’. Three years ago I lost the sight in my right eye. It happened A year to the month later, I was quite quickly over the course two that unlucky one in a million, days as the result of a detached when the same happened to the retina. Four operations later the left eye. consultants told me nothing further could be done, leaving After another two operations me with no peripheral or lower later, (six now in total), I’d lost vision; they couldn’t remove the the central vision in my left eye oil they’d put in to hold the and also had macular oedema remainder of the retina in place which changes how I see as it would fall away, so the colour. I finally had to accept my small square of vision I still have, sight had almost gone and life is a blur of smudged images. would never be the same again. 3

I had to give up driving and independence. leave my job, both of which I loved. I felt myself go inward, Long cane training gave me the but I didn’t cry, get angry or confidence to get out and about even grieve for the loss of my and attending the Living with sight. I comforted myself by Sight Loss Course gave me so saying ‘this is life changing not much more! It gave me a feeling life threatening’ and by thinking of enablement, things I once I’d been dealt the better hand, thought impossible were now I accepted it. My spirit inside possible. It was great to meet however, flat lined, life seemed others in a similar position as too difficult to do alone. My myself and a relief to hear husband Ian offered me great stories and share hints and tips support. He became my eyes on how to cope with everyday (and sometimes my voice), I situations. Hearing about the became a passenger in my range of support and benefits own life. available has been life changing and I’ll always thank my lucky So what changed and how stars that we signed up for the did I get to where I am now? course. There were even sim specs that partners could try After moving to Northumberland on to simulate sight loss, I met with the local rehab team, something that has stayed with who offered me long cane Ian even now, giving him an training. Ian and I both signed even deeper understanding of up for a Living with Sight Loss my experiences. Course with NCBA. These two things marked the turning point Following on from the mobility of my journey. My life was session Ian and I signed up for nudged out of ‘stale mate’ and I ‘friends and family sighted realised I had to learn to do guiding training’, and I’ve since things differently to move undertaken further mobility forward and regain my training which has given me the 4 confidence to do things I once there alone, hoping I’d get the thought were impossible. right buses and then be able to find my way to the office when I I wanted the confidence to got off the other end. I can’t reach four goals, one, walk to begin to put into words the the local shop. Two, to walk sense of achievement and pride to the hairdressers. Three, to arriving at NCBA gave me. The get to the supermarket and staff were so welcoming and four, to get to the NCBAs took a photo of me in the garden offices in Morpeth which to prove to my guide that I had entailed two buses! With the made it! I later found out she help and support I’ve received had been ill and was unable to I’m proud to say all of these make this trip with me. have now been accomplished, although it wasn’t all plain I feel like a new chapter in my sailing. life is just beginning. I’m starting to feel like me again and am My mobility training had been regaining some of the me that’s building me up to the biggest been lost these last three years. and longest journey, to I’m also getting up to date with NCBA’s office in Morpeth, this some of the technology that was involved a bus change in mentioned in the Living with Ashington. Sight Loss course which is proving challenging but with On the day of my planned trip I their support I will conquer it. was due to meet my guide at the bus changeover. After Going forward I’d like to be more waiting half an hour I realised involved in some of the support she wasn’t coming and had no and social groups run by NCBA. means of contacting her. I was There are so many to choose left with two choices, go home from, which is why I wanted one or continue alone. As scary as of my first routes to be how to it was I decided to try to get get there! I’m particularly 5 interested in yoga and Confidence Building course to meditation but there’s craft, share my story, along with the gardening, days out, book coping strategies I’ve clubs and much more. developed, with a new group of participants and I enjoyed it so Ian and I now have a much I will be returning as a motorhome and we are keen facilitator - watch this space! to get out and about as much as possible, and although I To anyone who is thinking can’t see the detail as I once about joining a course but isn’t did, I can still tell, feel and quite sure if it’s for you, my breathe the beauty in the advice is just do it. You’ve peace and tranquillity of the everything to gain and nothing places we visit. to lose. For me it’s been life changing. Hope to see you I was invited back to the next soon! Living with Sight Loss –

Photograph with Julie standing in the garden at NCBA’s office in Morpeth.

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Fontburn Fishing Competition 2018 by Karen Stuart, NCBA Volunteer Co-ordinator It was an early start for staff setting up their equipment, and volunteers of NCBA on everyone anticipating a Friday 27th July. Thankfully the productive day. Rangers were on day dawned bright and there the prowl, making sure no-one was no sign of the forecast rain was trying to get an early start and thunder on the horizon. before the 8am kick off. Last When Sheila, Susan, Susan’s minute arrivals were registered, son Carl and myself arrived the hooter was sounded, then all around 6am, the rangers were around the lake’s banks lines already there and were able to were cast and the day’s fishing help us get set up quickly and began. give valuable advice to the newbies. When the competitors After the competition had started started arriving, we were and the pressure was off, it was prepared and the queue formed time for a cup of coffee for staff quickly. Many of the regulars and volunteers. Once fortified, had turned up and were raring we set out two at a time to go to go, but were happy to stop around the lake to have a chat and buy raffle tickets for the with the contestants and see fishing rods, whisky and other how they were doing. Due to the great prizes, so much so that hot weather we’ve had, most of we ran out of tickets in one those taking part were worried book and had to rely on the two that the fish wouldn’t come to the remaining books of raffle tickets surface and stay in the depths of to satisfy demand. the lake instead. Quite a few hoped that the dark clouds Once registered, we could see hovering on the horizon would the contestants making their come closer and give a huge way around the lake to their downpour, however apart from a preferred vantage points and few odd rumbles of thunder and 8

some spots of rain, the weather First Prize in the Junior stayed on the dry side. competition with a combined weight of 10lb 3oz. Peter, our volunteer photographer, arrived about an hour into the competition, and once permission for photos had been agreed, he started taking pictures of the contestants and the action.

Picture of one of the competitors

Reports of fish being landed started drifting around the lake, Picture with Kayla Carr showing and a lot of the activity was her winning catch being reported on the side of the lake closest to the lodges. The hooter soon sounded to end the competition at 3pm, and Kayla Carr, one of our young everyone made their way back competitors, got off to a great from around the lake to the start and showed everyone else lodge, ready for the weigh-in. how to do it by landing six decent sized trout in quick First place went to Brian succession! She went on to bag Bickerton for his seven fish with 9 a combined weight of 12lb and 7lb. Heaviest fish and winner of 4oz the Greg Robinson Memorial Trophy went to James Neave, with a weight of 2lb.

Finally, the Golden Ticket winner was Mr G. Bamford, who won seven days free fishing at Fontburn and we also had some satisfied winners of the NCBA on-the-day raffle.

Once everyone had chatted, passed on the day’s news and competitors headed home, the NCBA Fontburn Fishing Competition was over for another Picture with Brian Bickerton, year. Staff and volunteers, aided the winner by the rangers, packed away our equipment and got ready to head Joint second place went to John off ourselves, thankful that the Dunn and Robert Stone. threatened rain had held off most of the day. However little did we Heaviest fish went to Shean know it was waiting for us when Langley with a single fish weight we got back to the coast! of 3lb 14½oz. In all, the day raised £673.94 to The Junior competition was help fund NCBA’s vital services equally well represented. After across Northumberland. A huge Kayla took the first place, she thank you to all our competitors was closely followed by Olivia and to Fontburn Rangers Will, Appleby, who submitted four Stephen and Steve. Well done fish with a combined weight of everyone!!! 10

Karen Ogle, Charity Swimmer Raises a massive £1014.17 for NCBA!! Karen Ogle, a physiotherapist and appreciation. from Rennington near Alnwick decided to take up the challenge of a 5k swim across Lake Windermere in June to raise funds for the blind and partially sighted of

Northumberland – a cause close to her heart after her uncle became blind at the age of 5.

Karen took up swimming when she was 34 after major back surgery and, after turning 50 decided to begin competing in open water swimming challenges across Photo with Karen Ogle at the Derwentwater, Conniston and swimming competition Lake Windermere to raise funds for charities such as If you wish to fundraise for MacMillan and Cancer Northumberland County Blind Association and support the Research. delivery of vital services to NCBA would like to thank blind and partially sighted Karen for a fantastic swim people across and fundraising effort – your Northumberland, please call support is invaluable and we Karen Stuart on send our heartfelt gratitude 01670 514316 or e-mail [email protected] 11

Information and Equipment Day Event

on Thursday 6th September 2018 from 10:30 to 14:30 at the Scout Hut, Staithes Lane, Morpeth, NE61 1TD

Come along and try the latest equipment from some of the national leading suppliers of low vision aids and solutions for blind and partially sighted people Associated Optical Enhanced Vision HumanWare Optelec Orcam Pamtrad Free information and advice will be available from the following sight loss organisations Northumberland County Blind Association British Wireless For The Blind Macular Society Guide Dogs For The Blind Blind Veterans UK

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The family of Ms Irene Bruce magnifier told us “since being who sadly passed away recently diagnosed with sight loss my has carried out one of her wife and I have been looking for wishes and kindly donated her ways to improve our lives. Audio ClearView C desktop Video books are great, but we liked to Magnifier to Northumberland read ourselves and many of the County Blind Association so devices that would help us to do that it could be sold to help us this are very expensive and out raise vital funds to support the of our price range. Having the work of our charity. opportunity to purchase a piece of equipment that had been Due their generosity at this bequeathed to NCBA at an difficult time we were able to affordable price is just fantastic, sell the video magnifier and to it will make a big difference to raise £300. Mr Wilkinson who our lives.” purchased the video

If you would like to make a donation to NCBA on behalf of a loved one please call Ruth Speirs on 01670 514316. Alternatively cheques can be made payable to: Northumberland County Blind Association and posted to: Northumberland County Blind Association, Reiver House, Staithes Lane, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1TD

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Thank you for Supporting us! Northumberland County Blind - Joicey Trust (£4,000) Association would like to thank - Rothley Trust (£1,000) the following three grant giving Their valuable contributions will organisations for their generous enable us to continue to provide donations over the last few services that support blind and months: partially sighted people living in - Royal Victoria Trust (£2,000) Northumberland.

Volunteer Thank You At Reiver House

13th June 2018 We just want to say thank you -“Thank you for a super to everyone who came along Volunteers Event yesterday! to our Volunteer Thank You Well done.” From Kath event here at Reiver House in -“Thank you for a very pleasant June. It was a wonderful day afternoon – the rooms were so and it was fantastic to see so full of colour; that certainly many people turn out for it, enticed me to eat the goodies!” some travelling quite a distance From Doris to attend. Here are some of the quotes from the beautiful cards We hold our Volunteer Thank we received afterwards: You events in June and in -“Thank you for a fantastic winter, just before Christmas. If Volunteers Appreciation Day, you have never been to one of I enjoyed it very much.” From Liz our events before, try to make it -“It was really lovely to meet along to our next one. Come you all and to meet some of the along and meet us all and enjoy other volunteers. Mum the food and company. It’s a day thoroughly enjoyed meeting where we get to spoil you as people and being out and about.” much as possible, watch out for Fran and her mum Evelyn your invitation in the post - you really don’t want to miss it! 14

Photograph with volunteers enjoying afternoon tea at the Volunteer Thank You event in June

In Recognition & Appreciation of our Longest Serving Volunteer Edna Charlton, Chair of Blyth Social Club “You make a living by what you Alongside a dedicated team of get, but you make a life by what volunteers (including her late you give” ~ Winston Churchill mother), Edna has worked

tirelessly - week in, week out to

Edna Charlton, NCBA’s longest organise a variety of activities serving volunteer has certainly for Blind Club members made a life by giving. She including tournaments, trips began her volunteering career away, gardening and meals out with Blyth Blind Club just after as well as keeping the club the 2nd World War and ever afloat with various fundraising since has devoted her time and events & activities for over 70 compassion to a Cause she years. holds dear.

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Edna you are an inspiration to us all and on behalf of NCBA and in particular, Blyth Social Club members, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your years of service and devotion to the Club.

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains, and is, immortal. “ ~Albert Pike

Photograph with Edna celebrating her birthday

Congratulations to our 100 Club Prize Winners

100 Club 1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize

May Mrs S Johnson Ms K Yule Mrs M Hart

Mrs B June Mrs D Bassam Mrs M Tiffin Swarbrick

Ms M E July Mr D Loader Mr A Spiers Campbell

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Alnwick Talking Newspaper Alnwick LIONS Club prepares The audio newspaper is also and issues a talking newspaper circulated to the local hospital for blind and visually impaired radio which broadcasts to most people of the North East of the hospitals throughout

Northumberland area based Northumberland. around Alnwick. This is roughly from about Seahouses, Belford, The newspaper was originally Wooler in the North to Morpeth issued on magnetic tape but over and Felton area in the South. the years quality did not keep up with advancing technology so We currently have around forty we decided to upgrade to a digital recipients of the audio paper to version in 2017 which whom we supply an electronic necessitated an outlay of many player to listen to the USB thousands of pounds on new sticks, that we send out weekly equipment. This amenity is to them. entirely free to the blind or visually impaired listeners as Alnwick The USB sticks contain articles LIONS Club covers all equipment, from the weekly edition of the postage and maintenance costs Northumberland Gazette that etc. No IT skill is required to listen are selected and read by a to the newspaper as the players group of volunteers from within are designed for the visually the community and prepared on impaired. the same morning that the newspaper comes out in print. Anyone interested in either receiving this amenity or knows of This ensures that those who someone who would benefit from it receive it are kept up to date in the area should contact Richard with local news at around the Hall on (01665 603729) or email same time as those using the [email protected] for paper version. further information. 18

Photograph with the Alnwick Talking Newspaper’s volunteers and guests, around a table in the recording room. From left to right: Lorna Ternent, Mick Keane, Alan Symmonds Mayor of Alnwick, Sandra Shepherd (LIONS Technician), Grant Welsh of Specsavers, Brian Gardiner and Gillie Stapleton.

Morpeth Talking Newspaper

Morpeth Talking Newspaper We have eight different local produces a FREE fortnightly reading groups and we like to newspaper magazine that is think that each group has its own distributed to sight impaired style and character that it brings local residents by a team of to its own edition. volunteers.

Our editions are based mainly

The newspaper was started in on the Morpeth Herald, but also

1990 by Morpeth’s schoolgirl introduce articles from ‘Inside

Jenny Resigno as part of her Morpeth’, a ‘Dates for your Diary’

Duke of Edinburgh Award and section and other local news. has been produced ever since! The Newspaper is If you would like to receive regular produced at the premises of audio files or know someone who

CONTACT in Morpeth. would, please get in touch with

Barbara Ross, on 0771 898 9566. 19

Picture with two volunteers at a table recording the Morpeth Talking Newspaper

Conference and meeting room hire

at NCBA, Reiver House, Morpeth

Meeting Room Hire

A 520sq ft. room seating up to 25 people with kitchenette

including tea and coffee making facilities. £80 for a full day

or £15 per hour (or part there of).

Recording Studio Hire

This room can be used as office space for two people or as a small recording studio with free equipment hire, 102sq ft. £40 per day or £10 per hour.

For further details call 01670 514316 or e-mail: [email protected] .uk

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Make a difference – support our services The Northumberland County Blind Association is a registered charity and depends on outside help for many of its activities. We are greatly helped by our team of volunteers as well as many people that support us financially. If you would like to help by: volunteering, fundraising, making a donation, being actively involved with one of our committees, making a bequest, joining our 100 club, please contact us on 01670 514316.

If you pay income tax, your donation can be worth 25% more to us just by completing and enclosing the slip below with your donation:

“I want to Gift Aid my donation of £______to NCBA. I am a UK tax payer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference.”

Name: __

Address: __

______Postcode:______

Signature __ Date:______

Please call 01670 514316 or email [email protected] if you would like to contribute an article or make a comment on anything you have read in this newsletter.

NoISe stands for “Northumberland Information Service for people with vision impairment”. NoISe is a free publication that is produced in large-print, Braille, audio and via email. We aim to give you news about NCBA and useful general information. To the best of our knowledge all articles are correct at the time of going to print. If you know someone who would be interested in receiving NoISe or if this newsletter is inappropriately addressed please let us know.

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Leave a legacy gift in your Will

Leaving us a gift in your Will, however large or small, will help to provide a range of support services to people who are registered blind and partially sighted living in Northumberland. By remembering us in your Will you can help to ensure that our services continue into the future.

We recommend that you seek professional advice when drawing up your Will. We do not provide financial or legal advice. If you wish to find a solicitor please visit the following website: www.lawsociety.org.uk or telephone 0870 606 2555. For further information on how to set up a personal legacy account, visit the following website: www.cafonline.org/my-personal- giving. The Will site provides a complete online service for writing a Will at www.thewillsite.co.uk

Address Reiver House Staithes Lane Morpeth Northumberland NE61 1TD

Contact Us Telephone: 01670 514316 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ncba.org.uk

@ncba_volunteer

www.facebook.com/NcbaReiverhouse

Registered Charity Number: 1102386

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