Tuesday 3rd March
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 4th March
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.
We will be attending the Independent Arts SingAbout session at St Marks Church Hall, Wootton. The session runs from 2.00pm till 4.00pm. It is free to attend and refreshments are provided. However, voluntary donations to Independent Arts are appreciated. Minibus transport may be available depending on location and costs £2.00. If you would like to join the SingAbout group then please us on 522205.
Thursday 5th March
There will be a coffee morning at The Old Smithy Coffee Shop in Godshill between 10.30am and 11.45am. Our coffee mornings are run by staff and volunteers from Sight for Wight and are open to all. Refreshments including delicious fresh cakes are available to purchase direct from the coffee shop.
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 us on 522205
Any Other News
Dress For Less is looking for an Assistant Manager, Saturdays Only (6.5 hours/week) £8.72 per hour at our Dress Agency Boutique, St James Street, Newport
Dress for Less is a 50/50 Dress Agency & Boutique specialising in high-end ladies fashion and occasion wear.
Do you have the passion and personality to lead our team of Saturday volunteers? Your hard work and dedication will directly help the people Sight for Wight (Isle of Wight Society for the Blind) was established to support every day.
For an informal chat prior to applying please contact Retail Manager Debbie at Dress for Less, St James Street, Newport – 01983 523197.
Job Description and application forms are available from our website www.iwsb.org.uk or from the boutique. Please note CV’s will not be accepted.
Post or email applications to Miriam Tong, CEO, Sight for Wight, Millbrooke House, 137 Carisbrooke Road, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1DD ceo@iwsb.org.uk.
Closing date: 16th March 2020. Interviews the afternoon of Saturday 21st March 2020
Southern Vectis visit – on March 11th Richard Tyldsley, general manager at Southern Vectis, will be joining us at the Wednesday Coffee Morning at Millbrooke House to speak to us about the Southern Vectis service and to answer any questions members may have. This will be from 10.00am. For further details please contact us on 522205 or email members@iwsb.org.uk
OXSIGHT produces patented, smart glasses that address visual impairment and will be at Landguard Manor, Landguard Manor Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 7JB on Monday 9th March from 12pm – 4pm and Tuesday 10th March from 9am – 4pm
They say ‘Do you have tunnel vision? Then come and see us. Yes, actually come and see us.
We understand everyone’s eye condition is different but if our glasses suit your eyes then the experience will be… well, an eye opener. With OXSIGHT glasses you’ll be able to see much more of the world around you, so you can enjoy social situations, exhibitions, read books, watch cinema, TV… If we can see you, we’ll help you to see us.’ The event is free so call 01865 580255 or email care@oxsight.co.uk to book a demonstration!
Sight for Wight is holding a Low Vision Exhibition at Newclose Cricket Ground, Blackwater Road, Newport, on Saturday 21st March, 10.30am till 2.30pm. This is a free event, with a large car park, disabled access and facilities, and refreshments available to purchase from the bar. Join us to meet with exhibitors and support services including Laura Gooljar St Marys ECLO, Associated Optical, Dolphin Speech Software, Humanware, the Macular Society, Optelec, Professional Vision Services, Sight and Sound Technology, Touchpoint Vision, The Sensory Support team, and the Windemere Manor Hotels. We will also be joined by Terry from the RNIB Tech Squad. He will be able to answer your tech related questions, help set up your own devices and will be demonstrating the Amazon ‘Alexa’ speech recognition devices. Southern Vectis routes 2 and 3 stop just outside the venue. However, as the road is a busy main road, we are offering a shuttle minibus service to and from Newport bus station. This will run at set times throughout the day. Please ring 522205 for more information and to book a space.
Coronavirus
Whilst there have been no cases of the coronavirus identified on the Isle of Wight at present, with the steady spread of the coronavirus infection across Europe and with a number of isolated reports in the UK involving those who have recently travelled to places where cases have been confirmed, it seems timely to refer to the NHS and Public Health England (PHE) advice on how to limit the spread not just of the coronavirus, but common flu viruses and the common cold.
Like the common cold and flu, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with an infected person via coughs and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
The risk of being in close contact with a person with coronavirus or contaminated surfaces is very low at the current time with those suspected of carrying the virus being kept in isolation. However, to protect yourself and others from the common cold, flu or coronavirus you are advised to:
Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
At Millbrooke House, at Dress for Less, on our minibus and at outreach events we are attending, as a matter of routine hygienic practice, sanitisers and hand gel will be readily available for use. You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England at www.gov.uk/coronavirus
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 522205 and ask for Laura.
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:
Accessible transport, macular disease and would you want your sight restored?
Investment to make transport accessible and a new BBC TV drama explores what it would be like to have your sight restored.
The government has launched its plans to make the UK a world leader in accessible travel. Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, tells us what the investment will achieve.
We hear from Professor Paul Bishop from the University of Manchester about new developments that may help people with macular disease, which is the biggest cause of blindness in the UK.
And, what would it be like to have your sight restored? Blind playwright Mandy Redvers Rowe talks about her new BBC drama, ‘Second Sight’.
You can listen to this week’s In Touch HERE
