Your local charity promoting the health and wellbeing of blind & partially sighted people. ISSUE 58 OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2018 Editor: Jo Wood

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1 Your local charity promoting the health and wellbeing of blind & partially sighted people ISSUE 58 OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2018 Editor: Jo Wood How s That?! Bournemouth Blind Society staff, together with some of their families and friends had an amazing time on Sunday 19th August when they played a Friendly T20 match against the Dorset Dolphins VI Cricket Team at Poole Park. Following their efforts at fielding and enjoying a delicious tea, our team attempted to bat whilst wearing simulation spectacles of the various common eye conditions, such as Macular Degeneration, (continued on page 2)

2 Tunnel Vision and Glaucoma, in order to appreciate the challenges that sight impaired players face. Some of our team even had a go at batting whilst wearing blindfolds. The entire experience gave our players a sense of renewed respect and admiration for all blind and partially sighted people who participate in sports, including the fantastic members of Dorset Dolphins VI Cricket Team. The whole afternoon was a great success; we thank the Dolphins for their hospitality and hope to stage another match next year, perhaps even making this an annual event. Marathon Man Dorset Dolphins VI Cricket Team player and local English schoolteacher Stephen James will be running his first ever Marathon in Bournemouth on October 7th. Stephen is kindly raising sponsorship money from this adventure for our Society. If you would like to read his story and support him, please follow this link: fundraisers/stephenjames2 Thank you Stephen and Good Luck for your run! Trustee News Ted Stevens, Chair of the Society s Board of Trustees for the past 14 years, has decided it is time to retire. During his time here Ted has overseen many changes and has also been instrumental in helping develop new services. We thank him for his hard work and dedication, wishing him well in his retirement. Ted s successor is Joyce Vousden, who had many years association with the charity in her previous job as the Head of Vision Support Services in Dorset. Joyce was appointed as a Trustee of the Society in 2016 and takes over as Chair with immediate effect. We congratulate her and offer best wishes as she takes up her new post. We are pleased to announce that two new trustees have also joined the Board: Rod Cooper is an ex- Councillor and past Mayor of Bournemouth. Martin Goldman works as a dispensing Optician. We welcome them both to Bournemouth Blind Society and wish them every success in their futures with us. 2

3 Summer Outings As we approach the end of what has been a marvellous summer, we share news of our two most recent outings: In mid-august a group went on a trip around Poole Harbour on the Dolphin III boat, operated by The Friends of Dolphin (a non-profit making charity run totally by volunteers). The main purpose of the Charity is to provide free trips for disabled people of all ages and disabilities. Our group enjoyed a lovely trip before indulging in a meal at The Quay. We thank the Dolphin III s crew for their assistance and hospitality. before ice-cream time! Thank you to all the volunteers who help make these outings possible and so special for our members. Centre Closure Unfortunately the Centre will be closed for daily social activities from Monday 1st - Wednesday 10th October. Our minibus is going into the workshop for a replacement side door and panel. We are also taking this opportunity to have the Café kitchen refitted. We enjoyed another super day of warm weather on our visit to Branksome Dene Community Beach Hut earlier this month. After a delicious lunch, some members sat on the patio chatting whilst others went for strolls along the promenade We hope to re-open for activities/business as usual on Thursday 11th October. The Resource Centre and AT Suite will remain open during this time period. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. 3

4 Sight and Hearing Resource Centre Open from 10am - 1pm Monday - Friday The Resource Centre contains a wide range of equipment designed to assist those with both sight and/or hearing loss. Please visit for demonstrations and advice. Walking Group Our end of August walk in the New Forest was considered a great success. The group managed to walk over 2.5 miles at Wilverley Inclosure before enjoying an appetising picnic, watched by a large group of New Forest ponies! Bournemouth Blind Society 2019 Large print Calendars are now available to purchase, together with several desk and pocket diaries. Planning ahead, signature guides and broad tip pens may help when you start writing your Christmas cards. You may also like to advise your family that items such as talking clocks, watches and large print stationary could be good Christmas present ideas! Exhibition There will be an exhibition of equipment especially designed for visually impaired people on Thursday 22nd November (10am- 2pm) in Rooper Hall. All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be available to purchase. We apologise that the end of September walk has been cancelled due to the minibus repairs. However, we will plan to do a walk on Friday 26th October along the seafront ( 5 minibus fare). We hope to start the Walking Group s adventures slightly earlier in 2019 due to popular demand - perhaps in February, weather dependent! Thank you once again to our Walking Group volunteers for all your enthusiasm and dedication; our walkers really appreciate your reliability and cheerful guiding! 4

5 Abstract Tile Workshop Artist Keith Rogers held a Workshop here in August, attended by six members. Keith explains, The group consisted of two who had become totally blind and those with varying degrees of visual impairment. The topic was transitions and the pause between moments in time. We talked about working in an abstract way to reflect emotions. I asked the group to create two tiles, one reflecting the chaotic mind and the other a mind at peace. Each participant was given a wooden frame in which lay a soft tile of clay. This was accompanied by a selection of everyday objects to make marks in the clay. They soon created mini masterpieces. Keith concluded, Exploring abstract tactile experiences was very positive for all of the participants and there are plans to do more workshops in the New Year. Working with the group was a fabulous experience. I was amazed at what they had achieved. Keith has offered to exhibit the work in his new exhibition From Here to There And In Between at the Forest Arts Centre (November 15th - the New Year.) Thank you Keith for your time and patience. 5

6 Fundraising Thanks We thank the Wessex Chorus for the 500 they donated from their 10th Anniversary Summer Gala, held at the Hamworthy Club in August. We look forward to welcoming them back for their Christmas Carol Concert on Tuesday 4th December at 7.30pm. Manager Geraldine. Thank you to Stewart and to all those who sponsored him - he managed to raise over 340 for the Society. We were grateful to receive: 100 from the In2Ballroom Dance Weekend Raffle; 70 from CADArts and 180 from Waterside Church. Pink Elephant collection pots (placed in local businesses) have raised 530 since 1st April - please let us know if any of your contacts would like to look after one of our Nellies and feed them up! Winners in the 17th Draw (30th August) of the Balls Eye Club were: J.Rayer; Anonymous; T. Wood. If you would like to join this Club to help raise funds for us, please enquire in the office. Member Stewart Hinton completed his Brave the Shave at the Centre at the end of August, ably assisted by our Community Support Trudi Powell, member Pat Broad s daughter completed a Tandem Parachute Jump from 15,000 ft, with 60 seconds free fall, a few weeks ago. Trudi explained her motivation for her leap of faith : Mum now has a reason to get up, laughs lots and has lots of fun doing various activities! I hope that I can raise as much money as possible for such a wonderful charity. They give friendship, encouragement and guidance to those whose lives have been affected by their loss of vision. Trudi has already raised 625. If you wish to add to this, please fill in the sponsor form in the office or follow this link: fundraisers/trudipowell1 6

7 In the Community Community Support Manager Geraldine is attending the Dorset Eye Health Stakeholder event run by the NHS on 27th September. Emotional Support Counsellor Marie Evans will be attending the Macular Forum at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit on Saturday 29th September from 11am - 1pm. Chief Executive Philip is talking about sight loss to the 21st Bournemouth Cubs on 4th October as part of their Disability Awareness Badge. He is also giving a talk about hearing impairment to the Forget Me Not group at the West Cliff Baptist Church on Saturday 13th October from 10.30am - 1pm. Informing the community about sight loss and the challenges it poses for people is a really important part of our charity s work. If you are aware of any businesses or social groups who would appreciate talks or any sight awareness training sessions, please contact Philip on or philip.tarrant@ bournemouthblindsociety.uk Christmas Plans Oh no, not already, it s way too early I hear you cry! The dreaded C word has been uttered and here in the office we are already busy booking activities for your enjoyment over the festive period. For your diary: Wessex Chorus Christmas Carol Concert is on Tuesday 4th December (7.30pm). Tickets are 5. Licensed Bar & Refreshments for Sale. The annual Members v Staff Cards Tournament will be on Wednesday 19th December. The Christmas Lunch (with Musical Entertainment by Paul Hammond) will be on Thursday 20th December. Further details about the lunch will be sent out in early November, together with a book of 5 Raffle tickets. Christmas gives us a great fundraising opportunity; our Raffle last year raised almost 900 and we would love to beat our 1,000 target for We hope you will support us and thank you once again for your generosity. 7

8 Events coming up in the Rooper Hall Bingo Saturday 13th October (7.30pm) Quiz Saturday 24th November (7.30pm) Tickets: 10 (includes 2 course Supper) Licensed Bar and Raffle Call to reserve seats Enjoy FUN nights out whilst raising funds for your local sight loss charity Bournemouth Blind Society 5 Victoria Park Road Bournemouth BH9 2RB Tel Supporting blind and partially sighted people to remain independent and part of the community Company No: Charity No: