Tuesday 11th February
The Swimming Group are swimming at the Waterside Pool in Ryde from 8.00pm till 8.45pm. The pool is closed to the public whilst the group swims. There are male and female volunteers to help you get in and out of the pool as well as Lifeguards to ensure your safety. To join the Swimming Group, please call Sight for Wight first to notify us of your swimming ability. You need to register with the office at Millbrooke House first to be able to swim with the group.
Wednesday 12th February
The weekly coffee morning will be held at Millbrooke House from 10.00am till 11.30am.
There will also be our Low Vision drop in between 10.00 am and 11.30am. This is a weekly event to allow you to view and try the Low Vision equipment we have at Sight for Wight without the need for an appointment. On the first Wednesday of each month we are joined by representatives from the Macular Society
The book group will be meeting at Lord Louis Library on between 2.00pm and 3.00pm. We discuss the last month’s book over tea and coffee, and hand out the book for the next month. The books are available on CD or USB. Please contact Laura Jasper on 522205 for more information or email members@iwsb.org.uk
Thursday 13th February
The Thursday Social Group are meeting at Millbrooke House. The group meets from 10.30am till 2.00pm. Most Thursdays with the help of volunteers, the group enjoy a number of activities, crosswords, catching up on news and trivia, knitting and crochet. They are currently making pompoms for the rug. This very friendly, mixed group also love to chat and enjoy lunch together. Later in the afternoon volunteers come in and read to the group on different topics. If you would like to join the group then please contact the Charity on 52220
Any Other News
Stakeholder Consultation Meeting is being held on Tuesday 11th February 10am -1.00pm. Please note that Millbrooke House will be closed until 2pm to enable all staff member to attend this important meeting
Touch Tours
Jo Bressloff is a freelance artist educator who is very passionate about making arts and heritage venues accessible for everyone. She organises Touch Tours which are friendly and informal opportunities for visually impaired people to have a ‘hands on’ experience, whenever possible, of some of the arts and heritage exhibitions and collections in both Southampton and Portsmouth.
There will be a Touch Tour at Southampton City Art Gallery on Friday 28th February 2020 from 10.30am-12.30pm.These events are both free but places do need to be booked. To book a place call Jo Bressloff on 07443224341
Macular Society Meeting in Southampton The macular society holds a meeting for working age people who are living with a macular condition in the local area and our nearest one is in Southampton. The group meets at the Standing Order pub in Southampton, and the next get together is on Saturday 15th February from 11am to 1pm. Our Trustee, Ruth, will be travelling over with her guide dog via the red jet and walking up to the venue, which is about a 10 minute walk. If anyone would like to join her then please leave your details with Laura on 522205 and she will then get in touch to arrange a time to meet at the red jet terminal in Cowes. Please be aware that Sight for Wight is not organising this event, and therefore no sighted guide support will be provided.
Pre-owned equipment for sale
We have been asked to advertise on behalf of a member a pre-loved BraillePen 12 Touch. This is a Bluetooth Braille keyboard with Braille display designed for use by individuals who are blind or have low vision. This keyboard connects to a phone, netbook, PC or tablet. It allows the user to navigate an external device with a joystick, write SMS, browse the Internet, complete 6-key entry into a Braille translator or simply type. The user can also switch between 6-dot and 8-dot Braille entries. The asking price is £100. If you are interested in purchasing this item or require more information, please call 01983 522205 and ask for Laura.
RNIB Living with Sight Loss Course- Have you or a family member been diagnosed with sight loss? Share experiences with others in similar situations and find out about services available to you. These free informal, community –based courses provide information, advice, support and practical solutions for people with sight loss and those close to them, helping them to adjust to a sight loss condition, increase independence and boost confidence.
This course will be running on Thursday `13th February and Thursday 20th February, 10am -3pm at Falcon Cross Hall, Shanklin. PO37 7LA
To book your place please call the RNIB on 0300 123 3933 or email at lwslenquiries@rnib.org.uk
More information can be found at www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss
Accessible Activities and Services Day will be held at West Wight Sports and Community Centre on Saturday March 14th, 10.30am – 3.30pm. All welcome, admission free of charge. For further details phone 01983 752168 or email info@westwight.org.uk
This weeks In Touch:
Red Button Reprieve and Working Overseas When You’re Blind
The BBC is pausing its plan to shut down the Red Button text service after protests from blind users. But can it be saved long term?
How safe are blind children as they go online?
And the opportunities on offer for blind 18-35 year olds to volunteer to work abroad.
PRESENTER: Peter White
PRODUCER: Mike Young
You can listen to this week’s In Touch by clicking HERE
