Berkshire Vision

InFocus July 2018

Inside – CEO update – Goodbye – Home Visits – Fundraising – Pushing the Boundaries – Volunteer Focus – Corporate Support – Leaving a Gift for Sight – Get Involved

It’s July already!

How the time has flown since we last wrote to you. A lot has happened!

You’ll see as you read through InFocus that there have been some changes at Berkshire Vision. We now have a new CEO so please read her update. We’ve also had some staff changes so we hope to introduce you to more new people over the coming months.

We had a very successful corporate event in April where we entertained a number of sponsors that took part in a fabulous clay pigeon shoot. We’d like to thank Instalcom, Arcadis UK, International Copiers, Crowe Clark Whitehill, DLL and Brewin Dolphin for supporting us. We have already booked the date for next year, Friday 14th June 2019.

We were delighted to deliver a fabulous volunteer recruitment evening in Burnham in June which was well attended and we have now welcomed some more volunteers into our team. If you would like to know more about any further recruitment events in your area please get in touch.

Please enjoy this edition of InFocus. We always like feedback so do get in touch if you have any ideas or if there are areas that you think we should be focusing on.

Contact us Midleton House 5 Erleigh Road Reading Berkshire RG1 5LR T 0118 987 2803 E info@berkshirevision.org.uk www.berkshirevision.org.uk @berkshirevision facebook.com/berkshirevision instagram.com/berkshirevision

Berkshire Vision is the working name of Berkshire County Blind Society which is a charitable company limited by guarantee no. 07977903, registered in England and Wales. Registered charity no. 1146413.

Established in 1910.

Who we are Berkshire Vision is a local registered Charity with over 100 years of experience supporting blind and partially sighted people

CEO’s update I am excited to introduce myself as Berkshire Vision’s new Chief Executive Officer. I joined Berkshire Vision on the 16th of April 2018, having previously worked for a Housing Association, having the strategic oversight for over 1,000 specialist housing services across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

Previous to that I was the deputy CEO of a local homelessness charity in Reading, specialising in the development and delivery of support services in the area. I have worked within the charity sector for over 18 years, all of my roles focusing on the provision of specialist support services for vulnerable adults and children, and the development of services, which promote inclusion and well-being for those with complex needs and disabilities. I have a Masters in management and leadership, specialising within the charity sector.

I am a keen sports woman, as a player and captain for one of Sonning Hockey club’s womens team, some would say I have a competitive streak. I am actively engaged in a number of other sports and regularly compete in competitions and challenges. I have my own allotment and love to spend time hiking with my dogs, exploring new places and enjoying the beautiful British countryside.

I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to lead Berkshire Vision in a time of great change. The charity not only provides valuable services to those who are visually impaired, it also provides a range of opportunities for them to be involved in their communities, access many sports and recreational activities and shape and influence local services.

I hope that with my experience and passion for supporting some of society’s most vulnerable members, together we can support Berkshire Vision to grow into the leading Berkshire charity for people with sight loss.

Louise Lucio-Palk Chief Executive Officer T 0118 987 2803 E ceo@berkshirevision.org.uk

Goodbye...

Not only is Tom Conlin our CEO for the past 10 years leaving us, we are also losing Amanda Barford and Jeanette Stacey ...

Amanda joined Berkshire Vision 18 years ago and has had an incredible influence on the charity, being instrumental in setting up the children’s department which has given many children experiences that go beyond their wildest dreams. Amanda leaves behind a raft of memories and her legacy will continue as the department grows and develops to offer a range of activities and support to children and families.

Jeanette joined Berkshire Vision in 2012 and has been instrumental in developing our comprehensive and varied sports programme. Members have enjoyed sports ranging from Dragon Boating to Tandem Cycling with enthusiasm and courage. Jeanette will leave a huge legacy to the charity and her passion for giving our members opportunities that they may not otherwise have experienced will be greatly missed.

Thank you both for your dedication and support over the years.

Home Visits Often a diagnosis will come as a shock and having an eye condition that has or will cause significant sight loss can be frightening Our first contact with a visually impaired person can be through one of the hospital eye clinics, a referral from the local Sensory Needs team, a GP or support worker or simply by a phone call from the person themselves, a friend or a relative.

After an initial phone call with one of our experienced home visitor team members we are able to assess what the best course of action will be for a newly diagnosed person. If we feel that a home visit would help, we arrange to come along to meet you. This gives us the opportunity to tell you more about the wide range of resources available to assist you. We can also give you information about the wide range of social, leisure and sporting activities on offer to you as a Berkshire Vision member.

Perhaps, most importantly, it is a chance for company and a friendly chat. Our regular Home Visiting Scheme is very popular with members and where appropriate we visit on a monthly basis. Some members can be isolated and knowing that someone is coming to listen and offer support can be very reassuring.

Once we are aware that someone needs our help or advice we can offer information on special equipment and statutory services as well as practical support.

We can also provide general advice on benefits and allowances, although it’s not our area of expertise.

A member said “I don’t get out much now I’m losing my sight. I really appreciate the company and advice that is provided; I feel that if I needed anything I could call my home visitor for support.”

The demand for this service is increasing and it is predicted that by 2020 the number of people with sight loss will rise to over 2,250,000. By 2050, the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to nearly four million.

Home visiting offers a life-line particularly to the elderly who can be left without family nearby and don’t feel able to access the technology available to the younger generations. The service delivers more than support for sight loss it can be the only contact a person has with a human being in any given week.

Jurassic Challenge

Giving for Sight

Fright Night!

Walking with Dinosaurs We’re looking for adventurous people The Jurassic from Poole to Weymouth to beautiful take part in aCoast tandem skydive on is the challenging route. The views are amazing as Saturday 27th June 2015.

Ourthe Chief runners, joggers and walkers travel along coastal path for 25km,is 58km or 100km.

Executive leading the way and we want you to join us!

The team taking part consists of 12 determined women

Can you spare just £5 a month to support a person with sight loss?

Join us on Friday 26th October for our Fright Night Halloween party at Trunkwell House, RG7 2AT.

who want to achieve great personal goals for many If you’d like to support himin you donate reasons, including walking thecan memory of at their www.justgiving.com/tom-conlin You can also take Mum and raising funds for their own charity. Emma part in a skydive on a day of your choice, simply and Vickie from Berkshire Vision are also taking part. book today at www.skylineparachuting.co.uk Both Emma and Vickie from the fundraising team have If youmany want hours to experience then get touch, spent training the andthrill preparing to in walk a we simply ask you to raise £395 in sponsorship money huge 58km. It is a true challenge as it’s been reported in order for you to jump for FREE and of in the turncoast we will that the climb along just the first part is receive an average donation of £140.

In addition to equivalent to climbing Snowdon! this, every extra pound that you raise over the minimum comes straight to us, so pleaseefforts try to so raise Please support them in their fundraising as much as you possibly can!

And don’t forget to that each step makes a difference. apply Gift Aid to your donation.

We have established our #Support 4 Sight campaign. We are giving our supporters the opportunity to help us on a regular basis which may simply mean donating the price of a coffee to the charity each month.

To support Emma please visit: https:// www.justgiving.com/fundraising/e-corentin To support Vickie please visit: https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/vickie-randall1 T 0118 987 2803 E info@berkshirevision.org.uk

Festive Afternoon Tea Last December we hosted over 80 guests in the wonderful setting of the Long Gallery at Englefield House raising nearly £1,000 It was an afternoon tea with a difference. Christmas was the theme with a performance from Pop goes the Choir. We also treated guests to a performance by one of the children that we help, Lily Bartlett, who sung for the audience and impressed everyone with her enthusiasm!

We’d like to thank all those who came along to the event and supported us. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon so much that we will be having another Festive Afternoon Tea on Sunday 2nd December 2018 so please keep the date free.

Royal Parks Half Marathon Join our Team on 14th October 2018 Regarded as one of the most scenic half marathons, the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon incorporates the historic architecture of Buckingham Palace and Admiralty Arch before navigating through three of Her Majesty’s Royal Parks - Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James Park.

We have two places left for this fabulous event. Call Linda on 0118 987 2803 for more details or check out our website www.berkshirevision.org.uk/events.

We are experiencing a high demand for our services as sight loss is on the increase. Our home visiting service saw over 1000 home visits in the last year in addition to support at 150 craft club meetings across the county. In addition to that we have a range of sporting programmes, leisure activities and children and family groups who benefit from support.

Early Bird Booking - £22 until July 25th. £25 thereafter. Tickets include dancing into the night, DJ, Disco and Supper! Call 0118 987 2803 to book.

As the UK population ages, by 2030 the number of people with sight loss in the UK could be nearly 4 million with 34,630 living in Berkshire.

Pushing the Boundaries Visually Impaired People defying expectations Georgia Collins speaks to Camille Elliot Kamara about life as a visually impaired person at work and her inspirational achievements in the field of sport.

Camille worked as a prison officer for almost twenty years when, in a devastating turn of events, she lost nearly all of her sight two years ago to Diabetic Retinopathy. Camille first heard of Berkshire Vision and the work that we do through the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s Eye Clinic Liaison Officer and has since joined an array of sporting and social activities that the charity has on offer.

Camille says; “I’ve always loved sports since I was little.

I don’t know where it comes from as there’s not one other sporty person in my family.”

Taking part in a wide range of sports before she lost her sight, Camille has not let her lack of vision dampen her enthusiasm for trying new things. In fact she impressed three separate coaches at the Metro Games so much that they were vying to have her join their team. Lots of different sports are on offer for Berkshire Vision members, and Camille has tried everything from golf, to tennis, and is a member of the Berkshire Stags cricket team.

As Camille was adjusting to life as a visually impaired person, she realised that it came with new challenges.

She explained that learning the simple everyday tasks like switching on the TV, and learning the layout of the remote

control took a while to master. However, her determination saw her returning to work just 22 months after losing her vision but as she explained; “There are two kinds of ways in life, you can be a shrinking violet, or there’s nothing wrong with me – I just can’t see.”

Camille is still finding her feet in her new role at the prison, but she said that she has encountered some really positive attitudes. “It’s great to be back at work and I just want to get on. It’s about doing the best you can do.

I don’t want people to stand in my way because of my vision,” she says.

Volunteer Focus

Support us

Get involved

Meet Molly

We are looking for local companies that want to make an impact in their community.

It’s time to take up a challenge! How about supporting us with your next adventure? You can get fit and raise funds through sponsorship to support us.

Whatever the size of your organisation or the level of commitment you can give, you can help make a real difference to people in Berkshire affected by sight loss.

One in ten of us will have a serious sight loss condition by the time we are 65 – but few really know what that actually means.

Why not take our challenge and let us come into your workplace with our Simi specs glasses that simulate the symptoms of the most common eye conditions - so your staff can start to understand just how it feels and how important it is to take care of your eyes.

Molly has been volunteering with Berkshire Vision for 25 years during which time she has been involved with a range of services. She initially joined the Maidenhead Blind Club as a driver and helper.

She said “What a pleasure it has given me. These members are not just people with visual impairment but friends with interesting life stories.”

Molly looked after the tapes and CDs for about 15 years, as well as helping to organize a variety of excursions. About four years ago she began working in the Reading office helping out with a variety of tasks as well as assisting with programmes for members.

Molly said, “It is so fulfilling to see members so appreciative of what I do for them, no matter how tired I am at the end of the day I always leave with a smile on my face.”

A range of volunteering opportunities are available that vary from ad-hoc tasks to a more regular commitment which may be helping out with transport for members to attend regular clubs.

We welcome anyone interested in volunteering and work hard to match the vacancy to suit your requirements.

For more information or to discuss our current volunteering opportunities please visit our website or get in touch.

T 0118 987 2803 E info@berkshirevision.org.uk

We have many opportunities for your company to get involved, from a clay pigeon shoot we are planning for 2019, jumping out of a plane at 10,000ft, holding a one-off fundraising event or making Berkshire Vision your charity of the year.

If you are looking for a local charity to support where every £1 goes that bit further please get in touch for more information.

Contact Vickie T: 0118 987 2803

Leaving a Gift for Sight This is a gift for future generations that will allow people with sight loss to live safely, independently and with increased confidence.

When you prepare your will, we understand that your family and loved ones are likely to come first.

However, if you would consider leaving a small gift to Berkshire Vision from your estate, this will help us to create a better future for those affected by visual impairment allowing them to live independently and with the confidence of knowing they are not alone.

If you’d like to know more, we have a comprehensive information leaflet so please contact the office and we can post one to you or you can download a copy from our website by following the link below. http://ow.ly/JEka30ktUCf INK

There are all sorts of events around the county to get involved in. We have places available for some events and others you can just sign-up directly and take part, nominating Berkshire Vision as your beneficiary charity.

Take a look at our great range of events and get involved!

We can help you set-up an online fundraising page or simply send you some sponsor forms. We’d be delighted to hear from you!

Date 22/07/2018 05/08/2018 19/08/2018 28/08/2018 02/09/2018 08/09/2018 08/09/2018 09/09/2018 30/09/2018 07/10/2018 14/10/2018 21/10/2018 26/10/2018 02/12/2018 09/12/2018 14/06/2019

Event Down Tow Up Flow Half Marathon Round Reading Ultra Marathon Reading Dragon Boat Festival South Coast Challenge Maidenhead Half Marathon Thames Path Challenge 2018 Thames Bridges Trek The Henley 10K Tough Mudder - London South Royal Windsor Half Marathon Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon Henley Half Marathon Halloween Dance Festive Afternoon Tea Reading Santa Run Berkshire Vision Clay Shoot

Website www.purplepatchrunning.com www.purplepatchrunning.com www.dragonboatfestival.co.uk www.southcoastchallenge.com www.purplepatchrunning.com www.thamespathchallenge.com www.thamespathchallenge.com www.thamespathchallenge.com/henley-10k www.toughmudder.co.uk wwww.f3events.co.uk www.royalparkshalf.com ww.henleyhalfmarathon.org.uk www.berkshirevision.org.uk/events www.berkshirevision.org.uk/events www.readingsantarun.co.uk www.berkshirevisionshooting.co.uk

GDPR Berkshire Vision would like to keep your contact details in their database where information is backed up in the cloud and stored in the UK. We use your data to record and evaluate our service and to keep you informed about any new developments, news or services that are appropriate to you through our newsletters, email or telephone. We never pass your details on to a third party. You can withdraw consent at any time. All comments, queries and requests relating to our use of your information are welcomed and should be addressed to the Data Protection Officer, Louise Lucio-Palk at office@berkshirevision.org.uk.

Thank you We would like to thank all our supporters, donors, community groups, schools, clubs and companies for helping us make a difference to the 3,490 people registered as blind or partially sighted in Berkshire (RNIB Jan 2018).

Here are just some of those that have helped us recently: ASDA Supermarket £562.52 Be Prepared Lodge £1,484.41 Cardy Beaver Foundation £3,000 Co-op Local Community Fund £4,597.12 Datchet United Charities £500 Haines Hill Charitable Trust £500 Langley Marish Giving £320 Lynn Foundation £2,000 Albert Hunt Trust £500 The Rotary Club of Reading Matins £3,550 The Rotary Club of Reading Abbey £750 Reading St Laurence Churchlands Trust £1,000 Sandra Charitable Trust £5,000 Simon Pestell Opticians £343.90 Sobell Foundation £4,530 St Mary’s Chapter No 63 Masons £700 Tesco Supermarket - Slough £448 Midleton House 5 Erleigh Road Reading Berkshire RG1 5LR

T 0118 987 2803 E info@berkshirevision.org.uk www.berkshirevision.org.uk

Berkshire Vision is the working name of Berkshire County Blind Society which is a charitable company limited by guarantee no. 07977903, registered in England and Wales. Registered charity no. 1146413.

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