need to talk project newsletter issue 01 - rnib · need to talk project newsletter 1 need to talk...
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Need to Talk Project Newsletter 1
Need to Talk Project NewsletterCounselling and confidence building support for people affected by sight loss
If you or a loved one are experiencing sight loss, you may be worried about the future and the changes you are facing. During these times, many people find it helpful to talk through their feelings with someone outside their usual circle of family and friends.
Through the Need to Talk project, sight loss charities RNIB (in Northern Ireland and Scotland) and Fighting Blindness (Republic of Ireland) are working together to support people of all ages, including children and young people from the age of eleven, and their family and friends, to access the emotional and practical support they need to adapt to life with sight loss.
Although the project is working across the three regions, there is a specific focus on providing support to those living in more rural areas of western Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the border region of Ireland, where access to public transport and other support services can be limited.
“ Getting to work, school or to the shops can often become a logistical challenge and sometimes an emotionally distressing one for anyone dealing with sight loss. ”
John Delany, Senior Counselling Manager, Fighting Blindness
In this issue:
• Living With Sight Loss courses• Seeking sessional and
volunteer counsellors• Free e-learning course for
service providers
issue #01
Need to Talk Project Newsletter 2
First Year in Review
Amanda Hawkins, Specialist Lead for Counselling and Emotional Support (RNIB)
“ For anyone affected by sight loss, the impact can be devastating. After receiving the news in January 2017 that we had been successful in securing 1.8 million euros of funding from the EU’s INTERREG VA programme for a five year project helping address the emotional impact of sight loss, many months of planning and recruiting then followed.
All the hard work culminated in our Need to Talk project launch on Thursday 12 October 2017 at Stranmillis College, Belfast.
What better way to acknowledge World Sight Day than by launching a service we hope will have real impact on the quality of life for people affected by sight loss who live in Northern Ireland, the border region of the Republic of Ireland and Western Scotland.
We were delighted to welcome over 50 guests, with representation from health and social care services, sight loss sector professionals, local public representatives, and of course Paul Sheridan from SEUPB who kindly shared a few words on their reasons for supporting the project.
We are so pleased to be delivering this project not only on a partnership but cross-border basis and were glad to have John Delany, Senior Counselling Manager with Fighting Blindness, give a profound insight into the journey faced by many who receive a sight loss diagnosis and struggle to find emotional support when it’s most needed.
Need to Talk Project Newsletter 3
Demonstrating a live Skype call with Dawn Dupree, one of our counsellors based in Scotland, highlighted how simple and effective an online conversation can be.
Bringing the event to a close was Ellie Southwood, new RNIB group Chair. We were privileged that this was Ellie’s first official public engagement as Chair and our thanks goes to Ellie and all our speakers and guests for joining us at the start of this five year journey.
61 people referred for counselling
34 peoplewith sight loss supported through confidence building courses
As of 31 December 2017, we’ve already received 61 referrals for counselling, and 34 people receive confidence building support through our first two Living With Sight Loss courses, which took place in Enniskillen and Derry/Londonderry.
Over the course of 2018 we hope to build relationships with and amongst local organisations across each region to increase knowledge of the services amongst those harder to reach that: If you need to talk, we’re here to listen.”
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“The emotional and mental side of sight loss is huge…”
We have had great support for the Need to Talk project amongst those living with sight loss in our local communities. Many people have told us this additional emotional and practical support is vital in coming to terms with their recent sight loss, as well as in dealing with the feelings of those who have been living with sight loss for many years.
As Ken’s eyesight worsened, he fell into depression. Talking helped him through the grieving process…
Listen to Ken’s story on this special edition of RNIB Northern Ireland’s ‘Craic On’ podcast: https://audioboom.com/posts/6543098-it-s-the-craic-on-podcast-episode-6
Ken shares his highs and lows, from first noticing he was losing his sight to trekking across the mountains of Iceland!
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Richard, Confidence Building Coordinator tells us about the first two ‘Living with Sight Loss’ courses:
To date 34 people with sight loss throughout Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland have taken part in the first two Living With Sight Loss courses, held in Enniskillen and Derry/Londonderry.
The course comprises of a combination of sessions and talks from RNIB and Fighting Blindness staff and external organisations about what help and support is available and how it can be accessed.
A range of different themes are covered each week over a period of six weeks. These include: mobility and daily living, emotional support and wellbeing, assistive technology, eye health, peer support and leisure time.
As well as providing an opportunity for people with sight loss to meet and connect with each other, family and friends are also invited to attend and participate in the course.
“I wasn’t for coming on this course but with the support from the sensory support team and Richard I’m really glad I did. It was also great to have Olivia my friend with me, I wouldn’t have come without her.”– June Keys, Omagh
I remember thinking initially ‘I’m fine I don’t need counselling or anything like that’ but counselling takes lots of different forms. What I really did get out of the Need to Talk course was listening to other people’s stories and their frustrations and how they’re coping”– Des Keaney, from Leitrim
Upcoming Living With Sight Loss courses: Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
Starting Thursday 12 April to Thursday 17 May.
To register interest, please email
[email protected] or give Richard a call on 028 9033 4144.
Need to Talk Project Newsletter 6
Seeking Volunteer andSessional Counsellors
We are currently recruiting for Volunteer Counsellors based in Belfast and Edinburgh. We’d love to hear from you if you are a qualified counsellor or student counsellor in the final stages of training. This rewarding volunteer role will find you providing counselling support to blind or partially sighted people, family, friends or loved ones.
Visit our website to find out more and apply now:
rnib.org.uk/volunteering/find-volunteering-opportunities-near-you/volunteer-counsellor-6
We are also seeking to recruit a panel of Sessional Counsellors to provide counselling support for people living across the six border counties in the Republic of Ireland. For more information please contact us at [email protected]
Free E-learning short course for service providers
The ‘Emotional Support Vision Champions’ programme has been developed to provide staff in health and social care, education, and other service providers in the community, with an understanding of the impact of sight loss and the skills to better support your patients, clients or customers.
The short online course is designed to be completed within two hours, or over a period of time that suits you.
Our hope is to recruit 48 Vision Champions over the next four years.
If you are interested in completing this programme please contact us on [email protected]
Need to Talk Project Newsletter 7
Many thanks to our Partnership Board:
Chair: Amanda Hawkins, RNIB
Kevin Whelan, CEO Fighting Blindness
Campbell Chalmers, Director RNIB Scotland
David Galloway, Area Head RNIB Northern Ireland and Isle of Man
Donal Diffin, Health and Social Care Board Northern Ireland
Eleanor Burke, Founder Aniridia Ireland
Henry Mayne, Beneficiary representative
Iain Kennedy, RNIB Scotland
Joe Martin, Health Services representative ROI
Murray Cochrane, CEO Sight Action
Ray Henry, Cathaoirleach IACP
Steven Davies, RNIB
The Need to Talk project is funded by the EU’s INTERREG VA programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
Get in touchGet in touch with the Need to Talk team in your area via the details below:
Western Scotland and Northern Ireland – RNIB.
Areas covered: Northern Ireland wide.
Western Scotland: Dumfries and Galloway, North, South and East Ayrshire, Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, Argyll and Bute and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles).
0303 123 9999
Republic of Ireland – Fighting Blindness
Areas covered: Counties of Donegal, Louth, Cavan, Sligo, Leitrim and Monaghan
+353 1 674 6496
For more information please visit:
rnib.org.uk/needtotalk
©2018 RNIB registered charity numbers 226227 and SC039316
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