Society News

Welcome to Autumn, we’re on the slide now to the end of year, but hopefully we’ll enjoy a few more warm days before the cold weather sets in. I’m pleased to have all my staff back from sickness, although we do have one on holiday at the moment.

However the staff shortage has allowed us to experiment with closing the Centre on a Friday, and as a result it has been decided to continue to close on Fridays at least until next Spring. Funding is becoming more difficult to access as disability is not one of the causes currently “in vogue”, so in this time of recession we need to look at ways of saving money. The good news for those of you enjoying the monthly coffee mornings is that we are still holding them, and the centre will open on the first Friday of each month for this purpose.

On this subject I’d like to thank our willing volunteers who run the coffee mornings, Betti, Brenda, Eileen, Sue and Pauline and, last but not least, our Chairman Brian without whom the washing up would never get done. We couldn’t run them without your invaluable help.

Viv

Carry the card from your local library

If you’re one of the thousands of people who have a library card at home but haven’t used it for years, now is the time to rediscover your library and see what it offers for visually impaired people.

This summer has seen the launch of colourful new library cards that reward regular borrowers by entering them into a prize draw. Everyone who borrows five or more books during each calendar month will be entered into the draw to win £50 of high street shopping vouchers.

The library service is aware that many people have old library cards they don’t use, and wants to attract these people back to their library. So, if you’ve still got an old library card why not pop into your local library before 30th September and pick up one of the new collectable cards. As an added incentive, the person changing the oldest library card for a new one by the end of September will receive shopping vouchers to the value of £25.

There are six new designs of cards, four of which have been designed by children who attend Crazy Creators at Colburn Library, the others feature a teddy bear and Kipper the dog, the creation of author Mick Inkpen.

The new cards come with a keyfob version, so once it’s attached to your keys you’ll always have your card with you, so there’s no excuse not to pop in next time you’re passing your library, or when the mobile library visits. Nowadays you’re not just restricted to books in print, you can also borrow audio books, books on cd, as well as music CDs and DVDs and you can use one of their computers if you don’t have one of your own.

Joining the library or exchanging your old card is free, and if you want to collect all the cards they are being sold at 50p each, with further additions likely to be produced in the future.

Self service borrowing is to be introduced at many libraries in the coming months when you will be able to check out the books yourself, although staff will be available to do this for you if you can’t operate the machine, which is similar to the hole-in-the-wall cash machines. In this area the libraries are Filey, Pickering, Scarborough and Whitby.

Mobile Library vehicles call at over 800 hamlets, villages and towns in North Yorkshire, usually with a number of different stops at each place. This service is repeated on a three-weekly cycle, amounting to over 2500 scheduled visits per year.

Details of all the places visited, the location of stops, and times and dates of visits throughout the year, can be found on the website www.northyorks.gov.uk/libraries/mobiles/, or by ringing your nearest library.

Don’t forget, if you find it difficult to get to either the local library or the mobile one, they also offer a home delivery service, full details are available from your local library.

AMD – a potential breakthrough?

A ground-breaking laser treatment developed by Professor John Marshall of the Rayne Institute at King’s College, London could help stop the onset of age related macular degeneration, the commonest cause of blindness in the UK. If further clinical trials are successful, the technique may be available within two to five years.

The new technique involves ‘cleaning’ eye debris which accumulates as the ‘waste disposal system’ weakens with age, and involves using a short pulse laser which boosts the release of enzymes to clean away waste.

The long-term aim is to prevent the condition from developing in people with a family history of the disease, but the treatment may also be used to stop the disease getting worse in existing patients. Professor Marshall is delighted with this exciting news, saying that it won’t bring back damaged eyesight but it may prevent AMD, including dry AMD for which there is currently no treatment.

Early tests have proved promising in around 50 people with diabetic eye disease, chosen as a model because the problems develop faster than in AMD, and studies are planned with patients suffering from AMD in one eye, with the aim of preventing the sight loss which usually develops in the better eye for as long as possible.

Can Saffron help?

A clinical trial with patients in Italy has established that the culinary herb saffron not only protects vision cells from damage but may also reverse the course of diseases such as age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Saffron is a well-known herb derived from the crocus flower, and is an anti-oxidant which may also possess other properties protective to vision.

The report says that it seems to affect genes which regulate the fatty acid content of the cell membrane, and this makes the vision cells tougher and more resilient.

According to research with animal models a saffron diet may also protect the eye from the damaging effects of bright light, and a further line of research is investigating the prospect of slowing down the progress of diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.

We’ll keep you posted on new developments as they are published.

Making home improvements count

This is part one of a two part article detailing six steps to safe and easy homes for older and sight impaired people. Part two will be included in the October issue of Society News.

Major upheaval and spiralling costs, these are two of the biggest fears for people who want to adapt their homes to cope with failing eyesight. A new guide has been produced by the Thomas Pocklington Trust which shows what can be done quickly, cheaply and without the need for major refits.

In a cash-strapped world Pocklington looked at what can be done quickly, at low cost and without upheaval, to make homes safe and easy to live in for people with failing sight. Since most of the 13 million people in the UK who are aged over 60 will have some degree of sight loss, that means that almost all housing schemes could benefit from making these changes.

Just the choice of colour, lighting and layout can make homes safer and easier to live in. With an increasing and ageing population such changes will help the majority of people, whether or not they have sight loss, as well as helping people with other sensory loss.

The first principle is to involve people, people know what needs to change in their home but not how to change it. Their input in discussing adaptations is vital if they are to enjoy the home they live in. Researchers found that people generally want to be involved, their priorities may be different from those of housing, support and care staff and taking them into account can avoid costly mistakes. The most important way to involve them is to demonstrate that their views are taken seriously, and to provide clear information on what can be done, why and what will happen.

Each individual needs to have information provided in their preferred format, and support staff needs to play an important role. To be confident that they can help people think about their needs and express their views then housing, care and support staff must have specific knowledge. This includes the impact of sight loss, how homes can be improved to deal with it, where the opportunities are to make such improvements and how they can help people to consider the changes and make their views known.

Contractors also play a major role, whether they are working in people’s homes or in areas shared by many occupants, they also need to understand the impact of sight loss and appreciate the importance of people’s views, priorities and preferences about their homes.

The second principle is to improve lighting. This can dramatically improve people’s vision and should be flexible and adjustable, using dimmer switches, for instance. Task lighting helps to focus on specific activities, for instance lighting underneath wall cupboards will light up the work surface underneath. Lighting inside cupboards and wardrobes makes finding things easier.

The third on the list is the use of colour and contrast. Use contrasting shades of colour to highlight the position of objects. Contrast colour strips used on the edges of doors, bins, appliances and stairs will show where these are and highlight potential hazards. Paint colours that reflect light should be chosen, and contrasting handles and knobs on doors and appliances, and on grab rails or equipment, make it easier to locate and use them.

Editor’s note - We will be making enquiries with local registered social landlords, such as Yorkshire Coast Homes and Sanctuary Housing to find out if they have plans to include any of the principles outlined in this Good Practice Guide. Hopefully we may have some answers for you with the second part of the article next month.

Local News

Coffee Morning

Our next monthly coffee morning is on Friday 2nd October from 10.30am to 12noon. Held on the the first Friday of each month together with a cake stall, we’d be delighted to see you if you’d like to come along.

100 Club Winners

The 100 club winners for the £10 draw in August are: 7th No 71 B. Evans, No 61 M. Thompson, 14th No 22 W. Illingworth, No 90 S. Walton, 21st No 45 J. Welford-Smith, No 5 S. Grant, 28th No 78 D. Scott and No 4 J.Welford-Smith. The £25 winner is No 47 T. Hardy.

This is a very important way of raising funds to keep our services running, however we now have quite a few spare places available for new members and we need your help to keep it going. Each number costs £1 per week, and there are two prizes each week of £10, and one at the end of the month for £25, plus two £100 draws, one at the end of November and the other at the end of May.

We don’t make any charges for our services, and many people think that this is a good way of supporting us, with better chances of winning than in the National Lottery. If you can spare just £1 a week to help us by joining the 100 Club please contact Jackie at the Resource Centre on 01723 354417. Most people pay a few weeks at a time, such as £5, although some do pay for the whole year at a time, but it is entirely up to you, all we need is your support and your £1 a week and you’ll be helping us to keep our services going.

Dates for your Diary

Tuesday 13th October – Focus Day at the Resource Centre from 10.30am to 3pm. Mark Silver be demonstrating the latest technology Optilec has to offer in the field of magnification and cctv readers. Admission is free.

Actionnaires Sports Club

The visually impaired children’s sports club meets at Yorkshire Coast College Sports Hall on the first and third Saturdays of the month at 1pm. On 19th September they travelled to the Athletics Inter-club Competition at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. Contact Anthony Hall on 07595 090862 for more details.

Guide Dog Owners

Guide Dog Owners meet at the Centre on the first Wednesday of each month, when trainers from the Middlesbrough GDBA Centre are on hand to catch up with everyone. All guide dog owners and their dogs are welcome, as are any members who may be thinking about applying for a guide dog. This is a very friendly and sociable group which is growing all the time.

Macular Support Group

This group meets every two months at Scarborough Library, contact the Centre for further details on 01723 354417.

Social and Activity Groups

we have some vacancies in our social and activity groups which we hold at the Centre. On Mondays it is available to people in the Eastfield/Osgodby and South Cliff areas, on Wednesday to those living in the Burniston Road, Scalby village and Burniston areas and on Thursday to those in the Ramshill, Sandybed and Town areas. We can only accept people who are registered as visually impaired and who are able to get on and off our mini-bus with some assistance.

Contact the Centre on 01723 354417 if you’re interested.

Christmas Lunch

This year our Christmas Lunch will again be at the Delmont Hotel, the date is Friday 18th December. This is our most popular event of the year and as usual the numbers are limited. Places are booked on a first-come first-paid basis and cost for the 3 course Christmas lunch is £17.50 per person. Contact the Resource Centre on 01723 354417 to book your place.

Christmas Draw

Yes, once again we’re asking for your help to sell our Christmas Draw tickets. The tickets are £1 for a book of five, with many excellent prizes with the draw being made at the Christmas Lunch. Please contact the Centre on 01723 354417 if you would like some tickets, or if you have any prizes or unwanted gifts which you may like to donate.

Centre to close on Fridays

Following the trial period of closing the Centre on a Friday it has been decided to continue this for the foreseeable future. However, we will be continuing to hold the Coffee Mornings on the first Friday of each month, using one member of staff and volunteers. This will help us to save money on heating and lighting, particularly during the winter months as well as reducing staff and National Insurance costs.

Losing Patients

Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB) and RNIB joined forces to launch ‘Losing Patients’ on Friday 17 July. Eighty blind and partially sighted people, NHS representatives and stakeholders packed SRSB's new premises in the city.

This is very interesting as it’s an issue we have been raising locally for many years and continue to do so. Viv has already made contact with the York and North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust with a view to arranging a meeting between the PCT and sight impaired people. If you would be interested in taking part please let Viv know on 01723 354417.

Now back to the RNIB’s campaign launch.

In a written statement, Sheffield MP and Vice President of RNIB, Rt Hon David Blunkett MP said "I support RNIB’s Losing Patients campaign because I believe visual impairment isn't the problem, the problem is the culture of giving ordinary print to people who cannot read it. No patient should feel it's too much trouble to ask for accessible information or that a special effort is needed to secure their right to read. No patient should be forced to ask someone else to read their private test results out loud to them or be left with no choice but to take prescribed medicines without being supplied with an accessible label."

Steve Winyard, Head of Campaigns and Policy at RNIB said "RNIB’s research found both a lack of knowledge and understanding of the issue. NHS commissioners and managers must develop clear policies to meet the health information needs of blind and partially sighted people, and contractually oblige service providers to meet these. While frontline staff need training and clear processes in place to assess people’s reading needs and then meet them."

Sheffield resident Sarah Bryan opened the proceedings with an impassioned testimony of her own experiences in trying to get accessible information from her local NHS. She asked "Why can't I get my personal health information with the same independence and confidentiality as a sighted patient?". She went on to say "I was particularly offended by the assumption that I had a carer or someone to read my letter for me. It isn't the first time I've encountered difficulties. Three separate departments within the Sheffield health service have all been unable to provide me with letters that I can read".

Local politicians Nick Clegg and Richard Cabourn followed Sarah with powerful speeches of support.

The Lord Mayor of Sheffield drew proceedings to a close expressing his shock that blind people were still not being given information they could read.

Aided by a roving microphone, people from the floor challenged their local NHS representatives to explain why they were still being given information in print they could not read. Disability lead from NHS Sheffield Heather Burns said "progress has been made but more is needed".

This event marks the start of RNIB working with local associations not only in Sheffield but across the country, to support blind and partially sighted people to find out about their legal rights in this area and to feel empowered to ask for information in a format they can read.

Ensure you have your say - get on the register!

Borough residents are urged to make sure they are on the electoral register – or risk missing out in the Parliamentary election which has to take place by June 2010.

Pre-printed forms have been delivered to every residential property in the Borough for residents to check their electoral register details. The Council has to carry out an annual canvass each year and it is a legal requirement for residents to provide the information requested. If residents do not return their forms or confirm their registration electronically they may find that their names have been removed from the register. If your name is not on the register of electors you may also experience difficulties obtaining credit or opening a bank account.

If the information is correct, residents can simply confirm their details, free of charge, over the phone or by using the internet, without having to send the form back in. There is also an opportunity for people to confirm their entry is correct by SMS text messaging.

The register is updated each year to ensure that everyone who is eligible is on the register and can cast their vote at parish, borough, county and general elections.

People who want to change details on the register – by adding or deleting names – will still have to fill in the form and return it.

Those who are merely confirming details can either text, call the freephone number, which will be printed on the canvass form, or use the internet and, using their security codes number, complete the process by telephone or the internet.

Residents will also be asked if they mind their details on the register being passed on to people who use the list for commercial purposes. Residents who do not want their details being passed on to third parties should tick the “opt out” box on the form. People using the internet or telephone response service will also be able to “opt out”. A copy of the full register will still be used by electoral services and by credit checking agencies. Anyone who wants to change their details – e.g.: deleting the names of people who no longer live in the property or adding the names of people who are now eligible to vote, will need to cross the pre-printed names out, add their own details, sign and date the form and send it back in the pre-paid envelope. Residents should remember to add the names of any 16 or 17 year olds so that they are eligible to vote as soon as they become 18. Young adults whose names are on the register of electors will receive a birthday card and information booklet encouraging them to take part in the democratic process when they become 18.

The Council’s Elections Officer, Sue Bedford said the Council was keen to encourage residents to use the SMS text messaging service, freephone number and the internet. “Not only is it quick, simple and free for residents, it also helps us to cut down on administration here at the Council – saving time and money. Providing all their details are unchanged, people can use text messaging, the telephone response service or internet to confirm their details any time of the day or evening, free of charge. We hope people will take advantage of the service ” she added. She urges residents to deal with their form as soon as it arrives. “The more people that deal with their form quickly, the fewer reminder letters we have to send out and it will also mean that we will not have to employ as many canvassers to chase up outstanding forms. If you are not sure if you have confirmed your registration or have just moved into the area or moved house and have not had a form contact Electoral Services. In the event of a ‘snap’ parliamentary election, it could be too late to register and you will lose the chance to have your say on how the country is run or, if there are any by-elections, how services are provided in your area.” Full details of how to fill in the electoral registration form, including opting out of the edited version which is used for commercial purposes, will be included with the form.

If anyone requires any assistance or advice when completing their form they should contact the Elections Office Help Line Mondays to Fridays between normal office hours (8:30 to 5:00) Telephone numbers 01723 232309, 383545 or 232307.

Recipe

Viv’s Fruit Scones (as sold at our coffee mornings)Makes 8

8oz (225gm) self raising flour

2oz (50gm) margarine

1oz (25gm) caster sugar

pinch of salt

2oz (50gm) currants or sultanas

1 medium egg beaten with milk to make ¼ pint (150ml)

1 tablespoon baking powder

1. Heat oven to 220C, 425F or gas mark 7, and grease a baking tray.

2. Mix flour, and salt, rub in margarine and stir in sugar and fruit.

3. Add egg mixture and milk reserving a little for brushing the tops.

4. Knead lightly on a floured surface and roll out to ½ inch (1cm) in thickness and cut into 2½ inch (6.5 cm) rounds.

5. Re-roll the trimmings and cut more rounds.

6. Brush the tops with egg and milk and bake for about 10 minutes.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this newsletter. However, Scarborough Blind Society can accept no liability whatsoever for any matters arising from or connected with the use of this information. No recommendation is implied by the insertion of such information.

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© Scarborough Blind & Partially Sighted Society Including Whitby & Ryedale. Reg Charity No: 224245