Tuesday 17th December
Laura will be at the Our Place Community Drop-In session at the West Wight Community Centre in Moa Place, Freshwater. Come along to say hello between 10.15am and 12 noon, and enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee.
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 18th December
The weekly coffee morning will be held at Millbrooke House this week from 10.00am till 11.30am.
There will also be our Low Vision drop in between 10.00 am and 12 noon. 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.
Thursday 19th December
The Thursday Social Group will be going out for their Christmas Lunch, this is a pre booked event, but if you would like to join the Thursday Social Group in the New Year please contact the Charity on 522205.
Any Other News
Members Christmas Lunch – will be on Thursday 19th November, this is a pre-arranged event, so if you have booked to join us for the lunch we’ll see you on Thursday.
Christmas arrangements for the Talking News:
Friday December 20th as usual
Friday December 27th will be recorded as usual but NOT circulated
Friday January 3rd as usual but with news from Friday 27th also included.
Please return your memory sticks as promptly as possible to minimise the effects of the seasonal postal delays.
Royal Mail and The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam.
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 661 1911 (a Premium rate number)
If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud o 020 7239 6655.
For more information see the Crime Stoppers website:
http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/crime-prevention/helping-prevent-crime/scams/postal-delivery-scam
Please be aware that the premium rate number may change but nevertheless please do not call any number stated on card from PDS.
Scam Messages – Beware of text, emails and Social Media messages purporting to be from Argos. The message will be asking you to click on a link which will take you to a website controlled by criminals to steal your personal and financial information.
If in doubt do a web search for Argos, and look on the official website for the gift card offer. Do not use the link within the message.
Do you care for a vulnerable adult, have you heard about the Herbert Protocol-Safe and Sound?
The Herbert Protocol is a form that carers, family or friends of a vulnerable person can fill in. It contains a list of information to help the police if the person goes missing, including: medication required; mobile numbers; places previously located; a recent photograph. Recording this information ahead of time and keeping it regularly updated will greatly reduce stress associated with trying to recall detailed information in an emergency situation. This form can be downloaded at www.met.police.uk/herbertprotocol
We will be visiting the Isle of Wight Pearl on Monday 10th February. On this visit we will join the Pearl Masterclass; a free informative talk about pearls. The talk lasts about 30 minutes and there will also be an opportunity to look around the centre, or have refreshments in the café. There is no charge for the talk, but minibus may be available depending on location for a donation of £2.00. Closing date for applications is Monday 20th January. For further information or to book your place please contact the charity on 522205 or email members@iwsb.org.uk Please note that all activities are subject to demand and availability of volunteers for driving and supporting as a sighted escort guides.
You can listen to Chris Cane, Marketing, Communications & Fundraising Manager, as the guest of Maggie and Kelvin Currie from Vectis Radio talking about this year’s Short Story Writing Competition Award Ceremony, later in the programme.
This weeks In Touch: This programme was first broadcast on Radio 4 on Tuesday December 10th before the election
Voting Advice, DJ Lucy Edwards and Doping
A High Court referred to the voting system endured by blind and visually impaired people as “a parody of the electoral process”. We analyse what to expect in the polling booth.
In May the High Court ruled that the use of Tactile Voting Devices was unlawful. Blind and VI people are regularly confronted with polling staff who do not seem to realise the rules, so ahead of the General Election we discuss what you’re entitled to with Ailsa Irvine from the Electoral Commission. We also hear from Rachael Andrews who brought the case on the basis that her vote as a blind person was not secret and independent.
Lucy Edwards is no stranger to In Touch, she’s a You Tuber, a reporter and now – Radio One’s first blind DJ. She tells us about making a piece of radio history as experienced music DJ Jill Barkley gives her a few tips about navigating the wheels of steel without sight.
And as a ban on Russian athletes competing in world sport is renewed, Mani Djazmi guides us through the world of drugs in disabled sport – and the thorny question of whether unscrupulous coaches can sometimes make blind sportsmen and women unwittingly cheat.
Presented by Peter White
Produced by Kevin Core
You can listen to the latest In Touch by clicking HERE
