VI Talk May 2019 Newsletter
Image description text reads VI Talk Logo in a speech bubble, Newsletter and Sharing Ideas, Information and Support
Hello everyone we hope you are well and welcome to the May 2019 edition of the VI Talk Newsletter. We hope you have had a good month and have been able to enjoy some of the occasional warmer weather. The longer and lighter nights can often make a difference to people’s well-being.
This month has seen the introduction of a new VI Talk group on Facebook. This is called VI Talk In The Kitchen
and is a place for blind and partially sighted people to talk about anything kitchen related; cooking and recipes, equipment and gadgets, hints and tips, whether you’re an experienced cook or just starting out. It is there to help each other to become more creative and confident in the kitchen. You can find this and ask to join here.
This is in addition to all our other groups which are all for sharing ideas, information and support. Two of these groups are our Arts and Crafts group where you could perhaps share and get ideas for gifts, projects and cards for celebrations over the next few months. We also have a Music group, again for sharing ideas and information or to encourage others to take up a new instrument or get involved in other events or review events you’ve been to. Members have also shared information on alternative formats for reading music or following lyrics when they join a choir.
Please follow the links to request to join these groups; we’d love to have you along. We look forward to these groups growing and developing over the coming months to add to the diversity of VI Talk.
Last year we held two successful LINK Days and looking forward, in 2019 we would love to connect with even more of our members. The planning for our 2019 LINK Days is well underway and are open for booking. The details for our next LINK Day are as follows:
VI Talk Link Day Worcester
When – Saturday 1st June 2019
Time – 10am – 4pm
Where – New College Worcester
We will have volunteers on the day to assist and guide to and from the train station and around the venue if required.
Cost – This is a FREE event with refreshments and a buffet lunch included. What you can expect – A great opportunity to meet up with other visually impaired people and hear talks from our guest speakers.
The speakers we have lined up for this event include:
Laura Hughes the founder and General Manager of Moorvision a charity supporting blind and partially sighted children, young people and their families in the South West. Laura is also the Children and Young People Manger for Thomas Pocklington Trust. This will be an informative, interactive talk on services and support available and also a reflection on her own lived experience over the past 18 years.
There will also be a talk from New College Worcester, a specialist college for blind and visually impaired young people and adults on all the facilities, courses and support that they provide throughout the year.
Our third speaker will be a Team GB visually impaired Judo athlete giving an account of his own lived experiences as a young person and his achievements personally and through sport.
There will also be organised activities for children to enjoy and to give parents an opportunity to interact in the day fully and browse the market place as follows.
On the day there will also be a Market place where people attending can gain a wide variety of information, resources and support on many aspects of daily living when experiencing a visual impairment. The exhibitors that we have confirmed to date include:
- Bristol Braille technology and their products
- Guide Dogs UK including their MyGuide and children and young people service.
- Jenny Langley who will be demonstrating the use of Braille and advising on the support available to get you started with learning Braille.
- Macular Society, including their working age support services.
- New College Worcester: providing information on their services.
- Retina UK
- Sean Randell Technology: including demonstrations, information and guidance on how technology can support those with a visual impairment.
- Sensory services: providing information on the support, aids and equipment that is available to assist with daily living and mobility through a rehabilitation service for blind and visually impaired people.
- Sight And Sound showcasing their low vision equipment and resources.
- Tracy Wilson providing information and resources on Counselling and mental health services across the UK for those experiencing visual impairments and their families and how to maintain good mental health and wellbeing.
- Vision Aid: showcasing their technology equipment and services.
How to book your place: please send an email by May 19th to info@vitalk.co.uk stating that you would like to attend this event. We need to know numbers for catering.
Thanks and we look forward to meeting you.
VI Talk is for anyone who is visually impaired, knows someone who is or has connections with.
Our monthly VI Talk Messenger chats on the last Wednesday of each month throughout 2019. Our April chat was on the subject of cooking and here are the notes and information that was shared on this call:
Cookery Messenger Chat
On the call were Adeel, Dawn, Jo, Justine, Katie, Sarah, Sam, Theresa, Graham and Zoe.
Justine and her partner Sarah take it in turns to cook.
Justine said if your kitchen is small or cluttered it can be harder.
Katie and her partner have a rice cooker. To start it you just press a button 3 times. She thinks it is Breville.
Justine and Sarah have an Opti grill and it is quite accessible. It has button controls and works a bit like a George Forman grill.
Katie asked if the grill spits a lot and Justine said it didn’t.
Theresa’s partner Graham cooked tonight. He pan fried pork with tomato sauce and peppers. He made his own sauce.
Jo asked if anyone was good at cooking rice. Some use microwave packs.
Justine said Theresa is good at cooking Lasagne.
Justine mentioned Slimming World and it was thought that the app was quite accessible.
Adeel has cooked Victoria Sponge.Jo used to bake with her daughter when she was young. She used to enjoy baking bread from scratch.
Sam enjoys baking.
Both Theresa and Zoe struggle with sense of smell which can make cooking and baking more difficult.
Katie is a member of a social group and was supposed to be doing some baking but the person supposed to help has left.
Theresa uses VI gadgets but also uses mainstream including a blender with different attachments. These include a greater.
People tell Justine that she makes a good stew.
Sarah cooks a good roast chicken.
Jo likes her slow cooker and mentioned an app called slow cooker and crock pot recipes.
Zoe would like to learn how to fry an egg. Sarah said she had a cook master which helps you to cook omelettes etc but not sure if it is still available.
Dawn has a Halogen device which is countertop and similar to the Actifry. You can do eggs in that and much more and is very safe.
Adeel has a talking induction cooker from Cobolt.
Some people prefer cooking with gas and others don’t.
Sam is moving house and will have to learn how to use an Aga.
Some people don’t like dishing up but Justine does it for herself and Sarah. For things like casseroles Justine uses a ladle.
Katie’s rehab worker told her to use a mug instead of a ladle. Dawn suggested using a small jug Sarah uses tongs to serve up dry food but Justine doesn’t like these as much.
Zoe got a Morphy Richards soup maker which she finds quite accessible.
Adeel mentioned different vegetable peelers. Jo and Justine and Sarah have a peeler that fits in the palm of your hand and has a flexible blade.
Jo has a talking microwave but wouldn’t buy one again. They are quite expensive Most people use Alexa or Google home for timing meals.
Theresa has a bread maker which she mainly uses for pizza dough. It does take memory to use it properly.
Some people like the one cup for making hot drinks.
Justine and Sarah have a Virgin water filter. You pay so much a month for it and can press a button for either hot or cold water.
Some people had burnt themselves particularly when the oven door had swung shut on them.
Dawn uses silicon oven gloves which allow more feeling because they fit more closely.
Katie is having some help with cooking from her rehab worker at the moment.
Justine asked about support workers helping with cooking etc. Theresa said she would get one to read recipes for her.
Finally we talked about our dream meal to cook.
Adeel and Dawn said curry with accompaniments.
Zoe and Justine want to cook Lasagne
Sarah wants to cook pancakes
Theresa pancakes or omelettes
Sam roast dinner in her Aga.
Katie wants confidence to cook.
Jo said omelette.
Zoe would like to make cheese straws and Sarah wants to make French toast.
End of notes
The details of our 2019 schedule of monthly chats and topics are as follows:
29 May Travel
26 June Sight Loss
31 July Books
28 August Benefits
25 September Employment
30 October Music
27 November Relationships
18 December General chat
On each call there will be someone taking notes so that a transcript of the conversations can be provided to those who are not able to access audio or unable to attend. You will need to sign up for each chat to be able to be added to the call. You can do this by clicking on the event posted on our Facebook page or by sending a message to one of the admins / Trustees who are Jo Fishwick, Samantha Culpan, Dawn Bridgehouse or Katie Rogers or send an email to info@vitalk.co.uk for more details. You can access Messenger on a mobile device or on a desktop computer (with a microphone enabled)
We look forward to reaching out to and talking to lots of members over the coming year.
Back to the VI Talk Team Ian continues his series of blogs and you can catch up with these here . The audio versions of the blogs are also available on our Audioboom Channel. Ian is always happy to have guest bloggers or support people to get started with writing a blog for VI Talk. Email blogs@vitalk.co.uk for more details.
When thinking about going on or booking a holiday! If you would like some suggestions of good accessible places to visit, why not join our Travel group or write a blog! With this in mind or for your regular online shopping throughout the year, why not help VI Talk at the same time by shopping through the Easy Fundraising website with no extra cost to yourself but a donation is made to VI Talk to help us continue and develop the Charity further and reach and support even more people both online and face to face.
Another of our fundraising ideas include a challenge for 2019:
We have an ongoing fundraising challenge that we would like people to get involved with.
If you would like to take part in the challenge get in touch. We were given a donation and asked to use it to raise further funds. The idea is that we give you £10 and you hold a fundraiser to raise more money for VI Talk. If you decide to take up the challenge, you will need to read and sign an agreement. You could hold a coffee morning for example. For more information email info@vitalk.co.uk
If you have any alternative ideas on how you could fundraise for us please do get in touch.
The VI Talk Book Club has been growing steadily, with new and existing members sharing recommendations and there have been lots of reviews of books they’ve read and discussions and other recommendations for books and authors and where people could find these books in suitable formats for those with a visual impairment. Come and join the Book Club and meet and chat to other likeminded people.
The VI Talk Sports Group continues to grow and is a great resource for sharing ideas and events. As summer draws on there are many options that people can get involved with and get active and explore a whole range of sports and activities. The group is also a great resource for advice if you are considering a new fitness challenge or hobby. It is also a place for sporting events to be publicised. You can join here if you would like to learn more.
We work hard at VI Talk to make the community as interactive as possible and listen to the feedback of our members and how they can become more involved in the work we do. Here is an update on the joint work we are doing with InfoSound and how you can get involved:
Infosound is an independent charity that broadcasts information for blind and partially-sighted people across Great Britain and beyond. The broadcast also has an associated on-demand service, “Infosound Select”, enabling listeners to choose the individual audio items they want to hear. Both services can be heard over any phone, online, as a podcast, on Alexa smart speakers and on various specialist audio platers, including BWBF’s Bumblebee tablet and “In Your Pocket”.
They broadcast a mix of audio features on just about any topic related to living with sight loss, including products, services, leisure, mobility and VI-related issues. They also produce local and regional news items about events and services. And, also in the mix is their Audio Noticeboard, which features phoned-in listeners’ short comments, hints, tips, observations and news of events and items to buy or sell.
Going forward we are looking at working together in some way and here’s where you come in...if you post information in any of our groups and feel that it would be useful or interesting to a wider audience, you can call 03000111555 and record a short piece for the audio notice board. Ideally it would be great if lots of different people used the notice board - more information here.
Www.infosound.org.uk/audionoticeboard
There is also a possibility of taking this one step further and for two blind or partially sighted people to record a 10 to 15 minute chat about something that has been posted in any of the groups. It could be a piece of equipment or an upcoming event. Anything really but it would need to be on a regular basis. If you are interested in getting involved email info@vitalk.co.uk or just start recording your clips on the audio notice board straight away.
At VI Talk we love to share stories and experiences of those living with sight loss as a way of supporting and reassuring members. Please do get in touch if you would like to share your story to help others that maybe new to losing their sight.
Here is an article from London Vision which was written by one of their members James Murray.
It was three and a half years ago when James Murray woke up unable to see out of his right eye. At first the former Royal Bank of Scotland postal clerk from Bow put it down to tiredness, but after three days he went to Moorfields Eye Hospital.
The medics explained to him that his sight loss had resulted from the equivalent of having a heart attack, only in his eye. It was fuelled by James's diabetes which he has had for 38 years.
A year later his left eye started playing up, leaving him with half vision. Finding it impossible to do his job, James took redundancy.
"It was a bit of a shock. After working for 42 years all of a sudden I wasn't. I could do this and that, but then I started getting depressed with nothing to do” James said. But then someone from Tower Hamlets Council popped round and recommended James get in touch with Beyond Sight Loss in Bethnal Green.
"It's the best thing I've ever done," James said. "It's better than any pill a doctor could give you. Out of a negative came a positive."
Now the 64-year-old finds himself going out more than he did when he was working after meeting and making friends. "I don't know what I would have done without that group," he said.
With the group James goes ten pin bowling, visits museums and galleries. He is learning to cook, swim and cycles around Victoria Park and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on a tricycle as part of his fitness regime.
But although life has improved compared to when he first lost his sight, there are still challenges and obstacles to overcome, especially at night.
"When it gets dark my eyesight seems to be closing in. I feel more vulnerable outside. And if it rains it's hard to see. The lights seem to sparkle. It doesn't stop me going out, but it makes you more alert," James said.
Living near Roman Road market also has its problems with boxes, crates and clothing rails left on pavements creating an obstacle course.
And one other bugbear and one which James might not be the only person to get frustrated by this is wheeled suitcases. "I can't see downwards very well so when people pulling them cross in front of me, I can sometimes fall," he said.
What would help is for fellow pedestrians to give blind and partially sighted people a bit of space. And not just physically. "That's important. Each person has some level of sight. Even someone with a guide dog. Most people are very helpful, but you always get the odd one or two.
"But people tend to be more sympathetic. But they can be too helpful sometimes. You can do something, but it might take longer (than someone not visually impaired). "I know they are only being kind. But it's better to be given a choice. They have your best interest at heart though," James said.
Clearly not one to feel sorry for himself, James has an infectious enthusiasm for life.
"I can't complain. I had 60 years of good sight. You just have to get on with it. You can have bucket-loads of sympathy but the bottom line is you have to get on," he said.
It's clear that Beyond Sight Loss has made a huge difference in James's life, but what concerns James is that younger people with visual impairments don't always take advantage of the support on offer.
And according to Masuma Ali from the sight loss charity London Vision the quality of help blind and partially sighted people get can be patchy across the capital because the fund, demand and capacity can vary between groups and boroughs.
Masuma said. "We will be running events and activities across Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Redbridge, Havering and Tower Hamlets to reduce the postcode lottery."
(James Murray)
We are also keen to work with and promote the work of other organisations or community groups that support visually impaired people and their families. We are adding to our Directory of sensory services, clubs and groups that support visually impaired people. If you wish your organisation to be added please send an email to Dawn@vitalk.co.uk with the following information - Name of organisation Address of organisation Contact telephone number of organisation Email address of organisation Website address of organisation Brief details of the organisation
The Directory can be found on our user friendly website. Please take a look here
You can also make use of our Resources Group to promote you events or if you have items to sell that are suitable for blind and partially sighted people. You can also connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, just search for @vitalkpodcast and we are more than happy to share information, events and resources relating to visual impairment to our growing community on these platforms.
This month we are sharing the work of Traveleyes and their recent announcement.
Award-winning tour operator Traveleyes, now in its 15th year, is the world’s leading provider of inclusive, multi-sensory, worldwide adventures for blind and sighted travellers and is now bringing the chance to travel to a younger visually impaired and sighted audience.
Traveleyes was founded in 2004 by award-winning entrepreneur and television presenter, Amar Latif (BBC Two’s Travelling Blind & River Walks, Channel 4’s How To Get Fit Fast, Thrifty Ways To Summer Holiday & The Last Leg Goes Down Under) who by the age of 18 had lost 95% of his sight. After being rejected by mainstream travel companies as a solo blind traveller, Amar established Traveleyes to allow blind and visually impaired (VI) people from all over the globe to explore the world with freedom and independence. With dedicated in-house products, business development, marketing, operations and customer departments, Traveleyes has grown to offer around 65 trips a year, with full city breaks, sun, sea and sand holidays, discovery, and activity holiday programmes all available.
For 2019, Amar and the team at Traveleyes wanted to encourage more younger VI and sighted travellers to explore the world together and have launched their first ever 18-30s holiday. After a lot of market research, Traveleyes discovered that the younger traveller is looking for a destination with culture, diversity, a bit of night life but something off-the-beaten-track. The team at Traveleyes looked at what destination could offer all those things and more and announced their first 18-30s trip to Thailand which departs in November 2019!
Now offering the first ever trip where 18-30 year old sighted travellers will guide and describe the world to 18-30 year old VI travellers, this ground breaking trip will build confidence, create friendships, and help both sighted and VI travellers to see the world!
Commenting on Traveleyes’ new trip concept, Amar Latif said:
“We are so excited to be able to offer younger people the chance to experience the Traveleyes concept with their own peer group. The benefit of travel for young VIs is out of this world but for a sighted traveller to experience the world along side a VI traveller is so different to how they would normally travel…it’s mind blowing.
“Sighted travellers will experience the world like never before, they will be encouraged to get hands on, speak to more people and really look and evaluate what is around them, because this is how the partnership between a sighted and VI traveller works”
● Information on Traveleyes, and the itinerary for the 18-30 trip can be found online at https://www.traveleyes-international.com/holidays/thailand-2/
● Tours vary in length from 4-day UK breaks (£549 Blind/£349 Sighted) to 16-day adventures to Peru (£3999 Blind/£2999 Sighted).
● The range of holidays offer various levels of activity and excursions, from walking tours in Portugal and Bulgaria, to relaxing beach breaks in Corfu, cultural immersion in Peru & Uzbekistan, and off the beaten track adventures in Nepal and Burma.
● Tour prices include return flights from the UK, accommodation, excursions and some meals.
General Enquiries:
If you would like to speak to Traveleyes customer services, please call: 0113 834 6094
Please send all email enquiries to: info@traveleyes-international.com
Here are a few upcoming events with other organisations within the Sight Loss sector
Firstly
Summer Activity Break, 23 – 25 July
Looking for something to do over the Summer holidays? Book on to our fun residential break for 11 - 16 year olds and take part in a range of activities and sports using the facilities and grounds at NCW!
To book on to any of our events, visit www.ncw.co.uk/events
The next event to share is from LOOK
Tickets for LOOKFest are now on sale - LOOK's first-ever accessible festival.
Join us and enjoy live music, a Ceilidh, comedy, circus skills workshops, a mud kitchen and den building for younger children and much more.
It's happening from Friday the 26 to Monday 29 July, in Kentchurch, Herefordshire, so save the date!
Tickets
£55 Parent/ Carer ticket
£35.00 Child ticket (3-18 yrs)
Under 2s go FREE!
You can find out more and buy your tickets from www.lookfest.org/book
Accommodation
Tent or campervan pitch, just £10 for the weekend Glamping tent 4 bed £55/ 6 bed £65 for the full weekend Add a touch of luxury to your LOOKfest experience by booking one of our pre-erected and fully-furnished bell tents
Volunteer
We are also looking for volunteers, both sighted and visually impaired, to help make our first summer LOOKFest a success.
www.lookfest.org
Finally some general information about Audio description - what is Audio Described theatre all about?
Read Claire Amoroso's piece about her experience of the AD performance of Alys, Always at the Bridge Theatre, London.
Don't miss a packed season of #AudioDescribed theatre and arts events up and down the UK. Have a look at what's on near you in coming weeks: https://vocaleyes.co.uk/whats-on/?eventType=any®ion=any&when=upcoming&search=
Finally
If you attend an event and would like to share your experience please do get in touch and we will be happy to share your reviews with our readers, members and followers across VI Talk.
Well that brings us to the end of another newsletter. We hope you’ve found something to interest you. If you’d like to get in touch, all the contact details are below.
Until our June newsletter, take care!
Best wishes
The VI Talk Team
VI Talk
Registered charity in England and Wales 1165629
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Email info@vitalk.co.uk
For blog enquiries blogs@vitalk.co.uk
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Phone / Text 07512772770
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