spring 2015 newsletter

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Winter(NL)CentralLancs.pdf 1 16/09/2014 14:22

Make themost of yourtablet!

Spring 2015

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Galloway’s are proud to announce that we have launched the North West’s first ever Blindfold Run and we are now calling on people to ‘FIND a friend…WEAR a blindfold and RUN 5K’. The Blindfold Run is set to take place along Morecambe Promenade on Sunday 17th May and in addition to raising awareness of the everyday challenges that people living with sight loss face, it is hoped that this quirky new event will help us to raise funds for the vital work that Galloway’s provides across Lancashire and Sefton. As well as the 5k run there will also be a shorter 1 mile family fun run available, making this event ideal for everyone whether they be young, old, seasoned runners, beginners or those who would just prefer to casually stroll the prom!

To sign up online at www.gallowaysblindfoldrun.eventbrite.com or for more information please contact Anna Scott on 01524 414846. We are also looking for marshals and volunteers to help us on race day!

Welcome to the Spring edition of our newsletter and in keeping with the season we are full of fresh ideas and enthusiasm to help us improve our services and reach more people affected by sight loss. At this point before looking ahead to our hopes for the coming year I would like to say a huge ‘Thank you’ to the amazing volunteers and fundraisers who helped us throughout 2014.

In recent months we have seen a significant increase in demand for IT training, particularly on the use of tablets which can be an incredible aid to independence and we hope to be able to deliver more training in this ever expanding area in 2015. Some of our other main goals for the coming year include the development of our Low Vision service so that it is no longer just building based but out in the community and the much needed updating of the Talking Newspaper equipment. We are also spending a great deal of time influencing the thinking about future Health and Social Care services to ensure that visually impaired people are considered in the re-shaping of services. Our ambitions are significant but we are committed to improving our services, trying new things and shouting loud to ensure sight loss is not forgotten. Living with sight loss is undoubtedly challenging which is why we want to be there to support people to face the future with confidence.

Welcome

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Stuart Clayton CEO

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Your loose change can go a long wayCould you house one of our home collection boxes? Over the years, supporters who have homed one of our collection boxes to pop their loose change in have raised thousands of pounds for Galloway’s. We’re currently appealing for more people to take one of our home collection boxes. It’s a simple and easy way of supporting our work and goes a long way to help us raise the £1million we need every year. You simply just pop your loose change in the box and give us a call when it’s full. If you would like a home collection box then please email [email protected].

Local businesses go above and beyond for Galloway’s Over the last few months, we’ve been astonished with the amount of local companies who have gone the extra mile to support us in helping more local blind and partially sighted people.

Chorley Building Society, Moore and Smalley, FWP, Leyland Trucks, Flexcrete Technologies, Specsavers, Arndale Centre Morecambe and Royal Preston Hospital Eye Clinic, to name just a few, all have done various things to help us achieve more. Without continued support like this, we’d simply be unable to continue helping visually impaired people live independently in a sighted world and we wanted to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you from all of us!

Focus onFundraising

Another welcome donationfrom Leyland Trucks

A gift in your will could do so much to support the next generation of local blind and visually impaired people. It’s a daily struggle for us to raise the £1 million of funds we need each year to meet our current level of services. There is so much more we would like to do, but this depends on people who have supported us via a bequest in their will.

A legacy or bequest left to Galloway’s is paid free of tax and lowers the tax threshold on the rest of your estate. You can leave us a specific sum or a share of your estate, once you have provided for your loved ones. You can also leave us any item of value such as stocks and shares or antiques. Your gift can be given to benefit a particular service we provide such as our talking newspapers or the provision of specialist equipment.

Our successful Supported Living scheme was made possible by a bequest from Harriet Walker and another kind gift from Margaret Thomson provided us with the funds to replace our old minibus.

If you would like further information or help please call us in confidence on 01772 744148 or email Peter Taylor on [email protected]

Giving a giftbeyond your time

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“Be My Eyes” New smartphone appHave you ever been in the situation that you needed help or sighted assistance right now and didn’t know where to turn for help? A recently launched smartphone app called “Be my eyes” has been developed to give you access to this assistance!

Volunteers sign up to be the eyes for a blind person in need of help remotely through a live video connection. Through the app blind users can request help from a sighted person and the sighted users will then be called for help. As soon as the first sighted user accepts the request for help a live audio-video connection will be set up between the two and the sighted user can tell the blind person what she sees when the blind user points his phone at something using the rear-facing camera. Some of the challenges that those with a visual impairment could need help with can be anything from knowing the expiry date on the milk to getting help crossing the street.

At the moment “Be My Eyes” is only available for use on ipad and Iphone. The app is free and can be downloaded from the itunes app store. It is hoped a version that can be used on Android devices will be developed soon. With the use of smartphones and tablets becoming ever more common in the lives of those living with sight loss more and more apps are being developed. If you have found something especially helpful, why not email us at [email protected] to tell us about it so that we can share your experience with other users.

TechnologyNews & Update

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At Galloway’s we try to be at the cutting edge of introducing the benefits of new technology and developments in IT to our service users. Take the case of Maureen, who is 66, lives in Lancaster and has Macular Degeneration. Recently, Maureen’s sight has deteriorated and Maureen felt that her independence and confidence were decreasing as her sight worsened. In January this year Maureen attended the Finding Your Feet programme, a residential two day course providing information and guidance for those living with sight loss. Maureen particularly found the Technology session very interesting and after the program she came to see Nia at the Morecambe Centre for a technology training session. During this session Maureen learnt about the technology available such as Synapptic and Apple software and how it can be used to help live an independent life.

Since the session Maureen has now bought a tablet and is also attending our Tablet Course. Maureen said “it has changed my life, I can talk to my friends on Facebook and I have downloaded films and music”.

Technology is a great resource for visually impaired people of all ages. If you are interested in learning more about assistive technology and would like a training session please call your local centre.

Tablets are thebest medicine!

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We love our volunteers! - here at Galloway’s we see all our amazing volunteers as an essential part of the team who work alongside our regular staff to help deliver our services and improve the lives of thousands of local blind and partially sighted people.

Our new Volunteer Coordinator Ann Gill said “People choose to volunteer for Galloway’s for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. Regardless of the motivation, what unites them all is that they find it both challenging and rewarding. Many of our volunteers have very full and busy lives and still manage to find time to help”.

Marion Oates gives several hours a week to help pick up and count the money from our collection tins. She said “I honestly think I get far more back than I give. Galloway‘s is a place full of warmth and friendliness. It’s a great opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and I feel privileged to be part of the team.”

Could you spare some time to volunteer? Even if you can only give a small amount of time you would be making a big difference to the lives of others. Please contact Ann on 01772 744148 for more information.

Volunteering - it’sa work of heart!

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Everyone needs a friend from time to time, and here at Galloway’s we know that some of our members who are isolated would really benefit from a chat to reduce feelings of loneliness and help to brighten their day. To help with this we have recently launched a telephone befriending service. Once registered you will receive a call once a week from one of our volunteers at a regular time for a friendly chat. If you would like to register, need more information or know someone who would benefit from the service then please call Nia or Helen on 01524 414846. This service is run by volunteers so if you would like to help please call the number above for a chat about how you could become involved and help to bring some happiness into the life of a local blind or partially sighted person.

You’ve got a friend

About Galloway’s

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We’re pleased to announce that our famous Morecambe Bay Walk returns this year and will take place on the 25th and 26th July. The legendary Queen’s Guide to the Sands, Cedric Robinson MBE, will lead us from Arnside across approximately 8 miles of sands, until we reach Kents Bank and we’d love you to join us for an unforgettable experience.

Transport is also available (to be booked in advance). The registration fee for this year is £10 per person or £5 for under 16's. This includes a free event T-Shirt.

Last year the walk raised over £30,000 and we have spent this money on a range of services for local blind and partially sighted people including specialist equipment that aims to make people's lives a little easier when living with the challenges that sight loss can bring.

Events like the Morecambe Bay Walk are vital in making sure that we can continue to offer a wide range of services for people throughout Lancashire and Sefton. A great experience is promised again this year. If you require more information or printed registration forms, please email [email protected] or telephone 01772 753704

Take a walk on the wild side!

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Take part in an Assistive Technology Workshop provided by an Apple Genius. Places are limited. To book please call Nia Coleman on 01524 414846

Wednesday April 15thAPPLE STORE TRIP

Hitch a ride on a Superbike, take a driving lesson or ride in a classic car! Our driving days are not to be missed. Call Terry Myles on 01257 275160

Monday April 20thTHREE SISTERS DRIVING DAY

Live life to the max on our waterpark adventure! Ghyll scrambling, Sailing, Canoeing and more!. For details call Terry Myles on 01257 275160

7th-12th AprilWATERPARK RESIDENTIAL

A chance to get advice, support and practical help from our team of professionals. For details call Adrian or Carl on 01704 534555

31 March ( 6week course)LIVING WITH SIGHT LOSS - SEFTON AREA

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01772 744148

spring 2015 newsletter

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