Newsletters
Newsletter for Winter 2007: Issue 20
This information is also available in Braille, on tape or, if you prefer, by e-mail. If you wish to receive your newsletter in any of these formats, give us a call on 01495 763650 and speak to Sam.
Newsletter Contents
Clicking one of the content links below will take you to the relevant section if you do not wish to read the entire newsletter.
Digital Television Switchover and Audio Description
RNIB have appointed a project officer, Peter Atkin, in order to help people understand how digital switchover will affect them in the coming months. Switchover is happening on a region by region basis, and is due to affect Gwent in January to March 2010. Peter’s main aims are to inform people of the Digital TV Switchover and the Help Scheme in simple terms and to introduce people to Audio Description (AD) and encourage them to use it.
Further choice of AD programmes will only come about with an increase in demand from the Blind and Partially Sighted community and those who have difficulty watching TV.
Peter will be passing on information and leaflets, and aims to ensure people have the help they need when their area goes digital. You can contact Peter directly via email or telephone 01487 813172. If you would like to attend a meeting that will explain how digital switchover will affect you, we have arranged this for 11am on Tuesday 19th February 2008 at Bradbury House, Pontypool.
Postal Scam
The Trading Standards Office is making people aware of the following scam. A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on a premium rate number.
DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize in the Caribbean. If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072 396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at ICSTIS web site.
Learn at GAB
We currently have spaces available in our Wednesday Braille classes. If you are interested in learning in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, call us on (01495) 763650.
We also open up our computer suite to anyone who wishes to use the equipment at their own pace and unsupported, every Friday 10am – 3pm. Places are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis so it is recommended you phone in advance.
Scam Telephone Calls on Bank Charges
The Office of Fair Trading has been made aware of a scam involving consumers being telephoned by people alleging to be from the OFT, and asking for personal and financial information including their bank account details in order for the OFT to reclaim bank charges on their behalf.
These callers have no connection with the OFT, and their intention is to use the information for identity theft or to run up bills or commit crimes using stolen details. The OFT will never contact consumers asking them for personal bank details. The OFT is warning consumers not to pass on personal or financial information to cold callers either over the phone or via email, and if they have already done so, to contact their bank as soon as possible and review their credit card and bank account statements to see if there have been any unauthorised transactions.
Get Writing!
We are looking for people to contribute short stories, poems and anecdotes about their sight loss so that we can compile them into a book for publishing, and hopefully selling to local people in order to raise funds for the charity.
If you would like to tell us about how you lost your sight, or would like to give a written account please contact us by phone 01495 763650 or email, or by posting to Bradbury House (full address on back page). We would need your name and phone number (although if you want to remain anonymous we will not publish these details) in case we need to clarify anything. The more people who contribute to this booklet the more interesting it will be – so for all you budding writers, poets and journalists - let us have your stories!
Torfaen Rehabilitation Service
Pam Dennis has started a Visually Impaired reading group in Chepstow and is keen to hear from any Talking Book users in the area.
They meet on the second Tuesday of each month to choose books for the future and talk about the book they have read. They also have an excellent speaker who entertains them with tales and poems (and also cooked a very nice meal at Christmas!). If you are a keen Talking Book user in the Chepstow/Caldicot/Tintern area please ring 01495 763650 for more information.
Sponsored Walk
September 29th was D-Day for the many walkers, fundraisers, volunteers and staff who took part in our annual Sponsored Walk at Cwmcarn.
The weather was dry and cool as the tremendous turnout began their chosen stroll around the beautiful surroundings of the Forest Drive. Spirits amongst the walkers – adults and children alike - remained high throughout the day. At the conclusion of the walks a very welcome barbecue and refreshment stall provided much-needed comfort to the hungry and weary.
The total amount raised from the event was £2450. Such funds are vital to keeping the services GAB provides going, as we receive no statutory funding from Government, nor do we obtain any money from other organisations like RNIB or Guide Dogs for the Blind. We are therefore extremely grateful to everyone who took part, or sponsored our walkers. Your effort and generosity is hugely appreciated.
We have already begun planning our next fundraising walk for 28th September 2008 – this time to be held closer to home – so keep your diaries clear!
Other forthcoming events include: Newport Open Day on 15th April; Technology and Information Day on 13th May; Activity and Relaxation Day on June 10th.
Can you help People in Africa by Donating a Brailler?
Do you have an old Brailler you are no longer using? If you do then The African Union of the Blind in Kenya would really benefit from receiving it. This year the African Union of the Blind is celebrating its 20th Anniversary, during which time it has created a network of country representatives throughout the continent; brought people together to identify needs; introduced programmes, seminars on health, education, leadership and human rights, and made itself a prominent voice for Africa’s 6.5 million blind people.
If you have a Brailler you no longer use please contact GAB on 01495 763650
Discounted Rail Tickets
If you are registered as blind or visually impaired and you are travelling with another person, concessionary fares apply for both you and your companion. You cannot get a discount if you are travelling on your own. You must show a document confirming your disability when you buy your ticket and when travelling. It must be from a recognised institution, for example, Social Services, your Local Authority, The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) or St Dunstans’.
If you are blind or visually-impaired you can buy one adult season ticket that enables a companion to travel with you at no extra cost (so two people travel for the price of one). It doesn’t have to be the same person travelling with you on every journey. Please take evidence of your visual impairment with you to prove your eligibility. These tickets can be purchased from staffed stations.
Bowling Successes!.
Elwyn West, Keith Williams, Gillian McCarthy, Bernadette Williams, our very own Diana Evans, Captain and Coach Steve Green make up team Draig Cymraeg. Recently, the Team (part of the Welsh Blind Dragons Ten Pin Bowling Club for Blind and Partially Sighted People) made it through to the National Finals of the British Blind Sport Westfield Winter 4’s, held in Sheffield. Playing teams from around the UK during a long and hot day of bowling, the Team took home the following awards:
- Winners of League Division C
- Winners of the League Knockout Competition
- Top Rank B1 Bowler for 2007 – Steve Green (For bowlers with light perception or totally blind)
- Top rank and Winners of the Westfield Winter 4s for 2007
This was an outstanding achievement for the team as they have only been bowling together for 3 years. If you or anyone you know would like to join the Welsh Blind Dragons, who play at Parc Nantgarw Bowlplex, or if you would like to sponsor them, please contact Steve Green on 05602794630 or email for more information
In addition to this, the Australian Blind Sports Federation (ABSF) has just hosted the 3rd Tenpin Bowling World Championships. The championship took place between the 2nd - 11th November in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. Diana Evans, our Rehabilitation Worker for Newport, finished with a world ranking of 9 in the women’s B2 category.
Diana and Gillian McCarthy have also reached the British Blind Sports final to be held in Swindon. Not to be out done, the men’s team of Keith Williams and Steve Green, AKA the Cymraig Comrades have also reached the final. We wish both teams all the best.
Finally, the more relaxing indoor bowls has also had local success. Four members of the Blackwood V.I. club - Peggy Rickards, Stanley Thompson, Bernard Williams and Elwyn West took part in the Welsh VI Bowlers Associations Finals in Cardiff. Bernard won Gold in category B2, Elwyn won Silver in B4 and Stanley won Bronze in B3. Well done to you all!
Anonymour Donor
Once again we find ourselves saying thank you to an anonymous and very generous donor. Whoever you are, we are so grateful to you - and thank you also for your expression of 'God bless you all' - we feel so touched by your concerns. The significant cash donation we received is very welcome and will be used towards the transport costs of our clubs.
Our clubs are a lifeline to people who otherwise may not get out but they do cost us in excess of £23,000 a year to run.
Switched on Communities
Gwent Association for the Blind has been chosen to receive training and equipment to enable us to adapt computers to meet the needs of learners of all ages with both physical and visual disabilities.
The Switched on Communities project, funded by PC World and in partnership with AbilityNet and RISE, offers a combination of hardware and software solutions to make using a computer comfortable and productive. If you’re interested in learning more, contact us on (01495) 763650 or email.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Charles Bonnet Syndrome (or CBS for short) is the situation when people with sight problems start to see things which they know aren't real. Sometimes called visual hallucinations the things people see can take all kinds of forms from simple patterns of straight lines to detailed pictures of people or buildings.
CBS affects people with sight difficulties and usually only people who have lost their sight later in life. The visual hallucinations often stop within a year to eighteen months. When people lose their sight their brains are not receiving as many pictures as they used to. Sometimes, new fantasy pictures or old pictures stored in our brains are released and experienced as though they were seen.
These experiences seem to happen when there is not much going on, for example when people are sitting alone, somewhere quiet, which is familiar to them, or when they are in lying in bed at night. Sometimes these hallucinations can make it difficult to get around. For example, streets and rooms may have their shape changed and this can make it difficult for you to judge exactly where you are.
Unfortunately at the moment there is no known cure or treatment for CBS. However, generally these experiences will disappear after about a year or eighteen months but of course this will not happen for everyone with the condition. For further information, visit: Henshaw's web site.
Keep Well this Winter
Keep Warm Keep Well is a national campaign to reduce cold-related illness and deaths during winter. The initiative offers information and advice about how to stay well in winter by keeping warm, and the kind of financial support that is available
We have a number of audio tape and CD versions of the information booklet, available free to any of our clients who wish to receive one. Simply call us at Bradbury House on (01495) 763650 to request a copy
Christmas Bazaar
We are holding a Christmas Bazaar at the Salvation Army in Pontypool (opposite Bradbury House) on 6th December from 1pm – 3pm. Come along for mince pies and coffee or wine, and hear Christmas Carols sung by a local school. Lots of last minute presents can be bought and it will get you well and truly in the Christmas spirit. Entrance is £3, and includes a raffle ticket and free coffee, wine and mince pies.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our clients, friends, benefactors, and other newsletter recipients a very Happy Christmas, and a peaceful, prosperous and healthy New Year.
We look forward to working with you all in 2008!