Moreton Insight Day

Monday 12^th April

GCAB are improving and expanding their services to the more rural areas of Gloucestershire. Since June 2009 our Insight Information point has been up and running at the Council offices in Moreton-in-Marsh with great success. Steph who runs it can only bring limited equipment so on Monday 12^th April from 10am – 3pm there will be an open day with a wider range of equipment and information. This will include task lamps, portable video magnifiers, CCTV’s and other low vision aids.

Celia Kelly our Visual Awareness Advisor will be providing information for local care homes. There will be a display of radios available from British Wireless for the Blind and a selection of mobile phones for you to have a look at. More stands to be confirmed. Light refreshments will be available so please RSVP on 01242 22 11 70 so we know to expect you. We look forward to seeing you there!

News

Computer Classes a huge success!

After a postponed start due to the snow, computer classes started on the 18^th January.  Classes are run on a Monday and Wednesday, both mornings and afternoons and are specifically designed to help visually impaired people use computers.

The lessons, run by Sue and Rob from Modern Eyes in conjunction with the County Council Adult Education Department and GCAB, are tailored to the individuals needs and cover all aspects of computing.  The internet, e-mail and word processing are all covered in detail.  Individuals will be able to get further support when the computer suite opens its’ regular ‘drop in day’.  This should be operational in the spring.

Rob commented, ‘The decision was made to move away from the traditional one-to-one method of teaching and to work with small groups instead. The reasons were twofold: to give a greater number of learners the chance to participate and to encourage the opportunity for peer support and encouragement within the groups. Several of the learners have had one-to-one teaching at other venues, and reported finding the experience isolating and feeling excluded from other students. Mobility is another issue: we have found that many VIPs prefer to learn the building layout and be able to move around independently, rather than rely on someone to guide him or her. We wanted to make the learning a positive, social time, so a lot of emphasis has been put on this type of personal development, encouraging and training the learners to do things independently, and encouraging and helping each other.

The tutors have multi-year experience of working with visually impaired adults. In addition to their teaching qualifications, both are manufacturer-accredited trainers in Supernova and Guide’.

If you’re interested in joining the classes then please give Marc at GCAB a call on 01242 221170

Good news for those interested in computers….

We are not only now running the very popular computer classes but will soon be able to offer a ‘drop in day’.  From the spring it is hoped that we will have our computer suite open one day a week for VIPs’ to use on a casual drop in basis.  We will have someone on hand to help if you have problems using the equipment, but we will not ne able to train you.  For that you’ll need to come to our lessons.

Ever wanted to increase your learning by using the internet?

Would you like to be able to access your local library, university or other learning resources from the comfort and safety of your own home? Thunder is free talking software that enables you to hear whatever appears on the computer screen as well as what you type. Webbie is also free and gives you a good experience of the internet, whether you need magnification or the computer speaking to you. Com and enjoy the internet if you are visually impaired or helping a visually impaired person. For more details contact Marc on 01242 22 11 70.

Give as you live!

Every day people log onto the internet and search for a variety of things. Such as holidays, cinema times or the weather forecast. Now you can carry search online and help raise money for GCAB for FREE! Log onto www.everyclick.com and by using their search engine you can help raise money every time you click. Here in the office we have started using everyclick.com and in 6 months we have raised nearly £90! Tell your friends, family and work friends to use everyclick.com and help us raise vital funds.

Sponsored walk in the park running for a second year

We are pleased to announce that Bark in Pittville Park, sponsored dog walk and family fun day out is going ahead for the second year running. And this year is going to be bigger and better!

As well as the 5km walk there will be a fun dog show, ask the vet, bouncy slides, tasty refreshments, Hot air balloon ride and displays from Paws for Thought dog display team and Dance Tech.

You can register to enter the walk now by calling our special Bark in Pittville Park hotline on 01242 246110 or emailing barkinpittvillepark@glos-blind.co.uk

Care Homes

GCAB is starting a new service for all care homes in the county. Celia has been appointed as Visual Awareness Advisor and would like to meet residents and staff – for just a chat or to offer help, advice and support. A visual awareness training workshop is also available.

If you are a member of staff at a home, or a resident and would like to talk to Celia please contact her on 01242 22 11 70 or e-mail celia.kelly@glos-blind.co.uk

Resource Centre update by Marc Gulwell

There have not been many changes this month in the resource room just a couple of new additions to our range. The Boom Box is a set of portable speakers that uses a memory stick to play talking books. These are mainly going to be used by Calibre Talking Book service. All you will have to do is purchase the Boom Box which is £28.00 and then subscribe to Calibre talking book service which is free. The talking books will be sent to you through the post on a memory stick and away you go. The daylight portable twist lamp is the same as the previous portable lamp but you are able to twist the lampshade to angle the light to your preferred direction.

Items that are no longer available are the Mini Tap Lights which have not sold and the white Portable Daylight Lamp which has been discontinued by the suppliers. Also we are no longer stocking the Mano as the demand has been poor. If you would like a demonstration on any of the new or current items then please drop in the centre or call Me on 01242 221170 to arrange an appointment.

We have reduced several prices this month as listed below

Radio controlled Talking Watch was £40 now £35

Atomic Ladies Talking Watch was £35 now £32

Small and Large Easy to see Watches were £14 now £11

All Diaries have also been reduced.

We currently have 2 second hand Aladdin CCTV’s for sale. One is black and white and is roughly 6-8 years old and a colour Aladdin which is roughly 4-6 years old. They are both available for a donation of £150.00 each. There is also a second hand Mono Mouse video magnifier which simply plugs into your television to give you instant magnification in black and white. This is available for £50.00.

Outlook by Marc Gulwell

Outlook is still running for young and young at heart VIP’s. Last year we went rock climbing, ten pin bowling and played Archery amongst other activities. We now have 9 members but as always we would really like to get more people involved.

To start off the year the group visited Stroud bowling alley and 5 of us had a game of bowling followed by a bite to eat. I am pleased to say that 4 VIP’s attended and once again there were some very impressive scores. I was the winner this time scoring a whopping 139. The group want me to arrange Go-Karting for our next meeting so if you are interested then call me on 01242 221170.

I would like to extend an invitation to anyone with or without a visual impairment who would like to challenge Outlook to compete in sport of your choice. To challenge the group then e-mail your ideas to marc.gulwell@glos-blind.co.uk or call me on 01242 221170.

Insight News

We have decided to change the location of our Gloucester Insight Information Point, as we felt that the Age Concern office was slightly off the beaten track for some of our clients. We will now be using the premises on the ground floor of St. Michael’s Tower, The Cross, Gloucester, every Wednesday from 10am – 1pm, starting from 24^th February. Gloucester Civic Trust has undertaken a huge amount of refurbishment of St. Michael’s Tower and the facilities are very light and airy and have excellent disabled access. There is also a little kitchen area, so I can make you a cup of coffee if you pop in to see me! If you have any queries on benefits or need some information on holidays, talking books or easy to use mobile phones, come along and I will advise you. I also bring along a small selection of equipment from our resource centre for you to try. We are  keen to make Gloucester Insight a great success so I am hope our new premises will encourage many more of you to come in and see me in the next few months.

Volunteer News

We are looking for volunteers to help with the Moreton Insight day on Monday 12^th April. Jobs will include help serve the teas and coffees throughout the day and greeting people and guiding them. If you are available to help please contact Lucy our Volunteer Coordinator on 01242 22 11 70.  Travel expenses will be paid for.

Theatre News

We have two outings to the Everyman in Cheltenham coming up soon.  There are 36 seats reserved for us in the front stalls to see Alison Steadman and David Troughton, together with a large cast, in Alan Bennett's 2009 play 'Enjoy'.  This is described as being 'explosively funny'.  Wilf and Connie live in Leeds in the city's last back-to-back and are soon to be re-housed in a maisonette with a waste disposal unit and non-slip vinyl flooring.  A sociologist arrives to observe them in their daily life......

Tickets for this audio-described matinee performance on Thursday 1st April are £16 each.  Please call GCAB to book by Thursday 11th March.

Some of you will remember that we went to see a 'Hits from the Blitz' show called 'We'll Meet Again' in June 2008.  These very jolly ENSA artistes are back at the Everyman for another single matinee performance on Wednesday 21st April.  GCAB has tickets at £11 each in the first four rows of the stalls.   Please call the GCAB office to book if you'd like to see this very slick, well-produced show.  Bookings, please, by Wednesday 31st March.

Sadly, there are no musicals in the current programme - perhaps there'll be something coming along in the summer or autumn.  In the meantime, do let us know the sort of thing you'd like to go to see - and we'll do our best to get you there!

Club News

The weather hasn’t given the clubs a good start to 2010. Most of the meetings for the early part of January had to be cancelled because of the snow. So, we’re hoping for a much improved February.

The Stroud club – meeting in Stonehouse on the second Tuesday of the month – are looking forward to a varied programme of activities, ranging from the musical to a sharing of memories and a visit from the Stroud Museum in the Park. We were extremely fortunate during 2009 to receive 2 grants, one of £200 from Cainscross Council and £500 from the South West Foundation. These have helped towards the cost of our Christmas lunch, the monthly transport bill with some left over to pay for entertainment. Very many thanks.

Wotton and Dursley club had their usual superb Christmas lunch at the Tudor Arms and are looking forward to 2010. We’re planning a trip and afternoon tea to a garden centre in addition to a wide range of entertainment – meeting new and old friends. 

Membership of both clubs is growing, but new people are always welcome and we may be able to provide transport. Ring Celia at GCAB if you’d like to join.

Don’t forget if other clubs wish to tell readers of our newsletter about their clubs please send information to Lu at GCAB.

Fundraising News

By Lucy Gooding

What a great start to the year we have had so far. Firstly I would like to thank everyone who supported me in doing the sponsored shark dive. I am pleased to say I came back in one piece and in total I raised a fantastic £1,200. I got to the aquarium and our training started at 2pm. I was very nervous but I had 3 fully qualified trainers with me so I knew I was in good hands. I had 2 hours training and then I was in the water with the sharks for 30 minutes. I had my sister and best friend watching the whole time taking photos and filming me. The sharks did get quite close mainly swimming over the top of my head. The fish in the tank were more inquisitive and even started to clean my air tank! There are more photos and videos of me on our website www.glos-blind.co.uk which you can look at now. I was interviewed on BBC Radio Gloucestershire and one man heard the interview and it has inspired him to do a sponsored event on behalf of GCAB. So as well as the great amount of money raised, GCAB’s profile has been raised as well.

Are you up for a challenge?

I am looking to help arrange for visually impaired people to take on a sponsored challenge to help raise funds for GCAB. It could be a shark dive or white water rafting. If you are not keen on water then a 10,000 foot skydive or abseiling down a building might be more your thing. If you are up for a challenge then please contact me on 01242 221170 to help you arrange it.

Just before Christmas we had some of the members of Cheltenham Hindu youth group came along to present us with a cheque for over £1,500. They raised the money by writing and performing a play called Bombay Blindness. Thank you to everyone involved for raising the money which is going towards the running of our brand new computer suite

Charity Race Night

For the first time GCAB are hosting a race night in aid to raise money. The race night takes place on Saturday 6^th March at the King’s Head pub in Bishops Cleeve from 7pm. There will be 8 races, 6 horses and 2 dogs with all bets being just £1 each! There will also be a raffle held on the night. For more information please contact Lucy on 01242 22 11 70.

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