News from 2007
Let's Walk Cymru
Gwent Association for the Blind is thrilled and excited to have been awarded a grant by Let's Walk Cymru with the aim of getting people who are socially isolated out and about in a safe and enjoyable environment. Our GAB Rambling group will go on walks throughout the region, ably assisted by volunteers who have had specialist awareness training. Walks will aim to be of around 3 miles, and usually start at around 10.30am. Walks will be at a comfortable yet stretching pace, so that people can really get the benefit of some lovely countryside, good company and fresh air. Transport is generally available. If you have a visual impairment and would like to take part in these walks and your doctor feels that you are able to do so, please contact Robert on 01495 763650 to make sure you are included on the list.
We are always keen to hear from potential volunteers, and have a training policy that gives appropriate training to all people who are going to help lead these walks. If you would like to be part of this programme please telephone Sharon Beckett 01495 763650 or . All volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal bureau check.
For further information you can Visit Let's Walk Cymru web site or the Welsh version of the site.
GAB Bowling News
Bernard Williams, Joan Carpenter, Peggy Rickards and Elwyn West from Blackwood Club went to Scotland with the Welsh Association of Blind Bowlers. Well done all! The full team consisted of six men and seven ladies plus coaches, helpers and officials.
GAB warmly congratulates four local residents who have taken first place in the British Blind Sports Winter Fours bowling competition. They staggered home with their trophies, sponsored by Westfield, having beaten off 23 other teams from all over the United Kingdom. Well done to Steve Green, Elwyn West, Keith Williams and Diana Evans with thanks also to Bernadette Williams who assisted. The next big event will be in Sydney, Australia so we wish all players picked for this world event the very best of luck.
Ten-pin bowling success
Recently Ddraig Cymraeg (part of the Welsh Blind Dragons Ten Pin Bowling Club for Blind and Partially Sighted People and their family and friends who play at Bowlplex, Parc Nantgarw, Treforest Industrial Estate. Nr Cardiff ) made it through to the National Finals of the British Blind Sport Westfield Winter 4s held at the Hollywood Bowl in Sheffield. Teams from around the UK took part.
| Winners of League Division C |
| Winners of the League Knockout Competition |
| Top rank B1 bowler for 2007 - Steve Green |
| Top rank and Winners of the Westfield Winter 4s for 2007 |
This was an outstanding achievement for the team as they have only been playing together for three years.
If yourself or anyone you knnow wants to join the Welsh Blind Dragons or if you would like to sponsor them, please contact Steve Green by email at welshblinddragon@yahoo.co.uk for more information.
2007 Technology Day
GAB had a Technology and Information Day on 2nd May, 2007 and it was hugely successful. About 400 people attended the event which included an exhibition of some of the UK's leading technology companies and a wonderful seminar where some eminent speakers in the field of visual impairment gave brilliant presentations. The event was most imformative and enjoyed by all who attended; including service users, carers and professionals.
Calendar Competition
This picture shows the winners of our competition to design pages for our GAB calendar. The winning children were presented with gift vouchers as prizes for creating such great pictures!
Two of the chosen pictures are shown on this page and there are also some shown at the top of other pages on the web site.
Rotary Club Donation
The Rotary Club of Pontllanfraith very kindly donated to the Gwent Association for the Blind the sum of £250. In the picture left to right are : Nigel Kaszubowski (President of Rotary Club of Pontllanfraith), Shaun Doyle (visually impaired member of GAB), Scrumpy the Guide Dog, Sharon Beckett (CEO of GAB), and Noel Tippett (Vice President of Rotary Club of Pontallanfraith). We are very grateful to them for their generous donation.
Communities@One
Communities@One awarded GAB with a grant of £23,000 to provide computer and high tech training to the visually impaired to bridge the Digital Divide.
Garden Party
We are delighted that Yvonne Williams who is a long standing volunteer with GAB (she runs the Eton Road Club in Newport), and also the Chair of the Trustees, has been invited by the Queen to Buckingham Palace to a Garden Party in July. Congratulations Yvonne! This is well deserved and we all wish Yvonne a fabulous day at Buckingham Palace!
First Aid Course
Emma Richards successfully passed her First Aid Training Course!
Massage
Tony Harris is going to offer massage on the first Wednesday of every month. There will be a small charge for this service, but it will be less than £8 per hour. Phone Tony on 07776 060 481 to book.