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RNIB Connect February/March 2016

Issue 1

Welcome

Welcome to your new community and magazine. In this edition, we hear about the exciting plans so far and all the ways that you can have a say and get involved. Why not go along to an event near you soon? Or perhaps think about becoming a Community Connector to lead on organising events and activities in your area?

Author Chris Cleave, who is a judge on the panel for our annual writing competition, reveals how he researches and writes his novels. Plus Chris outlines what he’ll be looking for in the winning entries.

Many of you were involved in the My Voice research – the most comprehensive survey of blind and partially sighted people for over 10 years. Transport, emotional support and income are still high on the list – find out more on in the full article [heading ‘Your voice’].

And on a personal note, I’d like to say thank you for all your inspiring contributions, conversations and letters over the years, as I’m leaving RNIB. I wish you all the very best with your new community and hope you’ll take the opportunity to get involved, share your ideas and meet and support other members.

Clare Conley, Managing Editor

Your voiceYour community

Over the last year, we heard from members of RNIB, campaigners and Action Connect members about shaping the future of our new community, RNIB Connect.

Interview with Ellie Southwood, RNIB Group Vice Chair RNIB Group Vice Chair, Ellie Southwood led on the development of the new community. She spoke to us about what the new community means to her.

Why is this new community so important to you?I was born with the condition called Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis. Throughout my education, university and career I have relied on having information about the things that can help me - technology, changes in the law and legislation. I know how important it is to know what’s out there. People can’t make decisions and choices if they don’t know what’s available to them.

In a nutshell, what is the community all about? At the moment we have three separate communities: RNIB Membership, the volunteer campaign network and Action Connect. All of those have very distinct characteristics. The main purpose is to bring them together and to remove barriers for people who want to engage and get involved in lots of different ways.

The second reason is to try to help people connect with each other. To not always be RNIB knowing all the answers, but to be a place where people can be put in touch with others, perhaps in a similar circumstance, or find out about local events and opportunities.

We also spoke to three people who have already been involved in different parts of the community.

Interview with Hussein Patwa, RNIB Member Representative in Scotland

Hussein Patwa, an RNIB Member Representative in Scotland, explained the benefits of members having a say in what they want to happen locally and in linking up with other organisations.

If a group of people wanted to arrange a coffee morning, a sailing event or to form a local walking group, this would give them the opportunity to do that - knowing they’ve got something in common

and that they’re not alone in facing any challenges they may encounter.

The one component missing when you have national organisations is the local knowledge. One of the benefits I see of the new community is linking together local societies with RNIB.

Interview with Steph Cutler, Action for Blind People Trustee

Steph Cutler, a motivational speaker, life coach and Action for Blind People Trustee goes on to explain why peer support is so important.

I think there’s huge untapped potential in the use of blind and partially sighted role models. Particularly upon diagnosis, when you just don’t know what’s out there or what you’re able to do. That was a time when I definitely benefitted from reading about, hearing about and meeting other people with sight loss.

I find technology is a real help. And yet I’m not a techno whizz. So the community may be a way of connecting with people more up to date on the latest assistive technology. I think the community represents a refreshing way for blind and partially sighted people to connect, both online and in person.

Interview with Padma Cheryan, volunteer campaign co-ordinator for RNIB

Finally Padma Cheryan, a volunteer campaign co-ordinator for RNIB spoke to us about the benefits of a larger community.

As a campaigner, I’m terribly excited. The larger the network, the greater the support I have, the greater the chance of success for my campaigns. We’re hoping to reach the grass roots level, the minorities who have not been reached before. For example, black and minority ethnic groups and elderly people who, having lost sight late in life, are isolated.

We’d love to see more people getting involved. This is a fantastic opportunity to build networks to feel part of a much stronger, more vibrant community.

Something that comes over strongly is people having more of a say in what they want locally. How exactly can people do that?

The community will work through regional teams, supported by RNIB staff. Some positions will be elected, and some roles will be based on their expertise, for example in campaigning or linking with local societies. It’s the experience, expertise and time people give that is valuable. From now on there won’t be any subscription for joining - although the opportunity to donate will still be there.

There will also be the chance to vote directly for a proportion of RNIB trustees. One of the fundamental pillars of this community is that it is led by blind and partially sighted people so that ability, to directly elect a proportion of the trustees is fundamental too.

This is about RNIB bringing people together so if people want to get involved, to shape what happens locally and nationally, the community is the route for them to do that.

Get involved You can share ideas, join events or contribute your time and expertise. To find out more about the new community, why not come along to a local event? See heading ‘Service directory’ for more details.

Volunteer Are you a people person, networker and excited about making things possible for other blind and partially sighted people? You can give a little time and make a big difference, by applying to be a Community Network Volunteer.

To join with other volunteers and grow a thriving community in your area, visit rnib.org.uk/volunteering or call the Volunteering team on 0845 60 30 575 to apply (Calls cost 3p per minute plus your phone company's access charge).

Editorial panel We’re also forming an editorial panel to enable you to influence and create interesting and enjoyable communications.

If you’re interested in sharing news or ideas or in creating and editing content, please email [email protected] or leave a message on 0845 330 4134 and we’ll call you back.

RNIB news Iceland Trek - Ways to fundraiseThere are lots of ways you can help raise funds to support our vital work this year.

If you like a challenge, our upcoming Iceland trek could be for you. Taking place 6-10 October, discover the stunning scenery of Iceland as you trek through geothermal valleys, beautiful mountains, streams and waterfalls.

If a trek is not your thing, there are ways you can fundraise from your armchair! Did you know recycling used postage stamps, printer ink cartridges and old clothes or playing the RNIB lottery or raffle can all help?

Register or find out more To register for the trek, visit rnib.org.uk/iceland-trek.

For more ways to fundraise, visit rnib.org.uk/donate or call the fundraising team on 0845 345 0054 (Calls cost 3p per minute plus your phone company's access charge).

Two UK entrants win braille essay competition Two UK entrants won some of the top accolades in the European section of the recent Onkyo World Braille Essay Contest.

16 year old Lewis Shaw from Scotland won the junior prize and Lyn Street from South Wales won the senior prize - both received $1,000. They were among the five best entries chosen by RNIB to represent the UK for the annual essay competition about braille.

How to enter To read last year’s inspirational winning pieces and find out how to enter the competition in 2016, visit rnib.org.uk/essay or call Mandy White on 01829 261 853.

Letters – Star letter Driving experience

When I was a small boy my father got his first car. I used to sit beside him in the front. He would let me move the gear levers, and I thought: “This is great! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to sit behind the wheel… but I’ll never do it.”

And I never did. I didn’t let it get me down, and I wasn’t miserable, but it came into my mind every now and then.

Well, it actually happened a year or two ago. By this time my wife had died and I had no car. I happened to mention to a visiting Leonard Cheshire carer about wanting to drive, and he picked it up and spoke to a local instructor.

There’s an old air strip near where I live, which was used for sea planes during the war. It’s now used by young drivers to practice.

After thinking about it for 80 years, there I was - behind the wheel, with my foot on the accelerator, reaching a speed of 30 miles per hour.

To a driver that doesn’t sound like anything at all, but to me… I was bursting with enthusiasm. It’s a wonder that we didn’t go head on into the loch just beside us!

So if a thing looks impossible, just keep it in the back of your mind. Sooner or later, things will fall into place and it will happen.

John Cramond, Stranraer

Star letter prizeFor his star letter prize, John wins a £50 voucher to spend in the RNIB shop.

Driving experiencesIf you’d like to give this a go, there are lots of places that offer driving experiences for people with sight loss.

These include I Can Experiences - visit icanexperiences.co.uk or call 01869 322 000 – and Speed of Sight – visit speedofsight.org or call 0161 714 4567 to find out more.

Letters Get active this spring

London Sports Club for the Blind is an old sports and social club for visually impaired people. Founded in 1930, we promote and organise recreational and social activities for blind and partially sighted people.

We offer a number of sports, including ten pin bowling, swimming, activity holidays, rowing and other social activities.

We have weekly swimming classes, weekly rowing in Hyde Park between March and October, and once a month we have a bowling night out followed by a meal.

Our annual activity holiday is the most popular amongst members. A group of us get together and go away somewhere in the UK; anywhere from the Lake District, to Devon or Wales.

The main purpose is to get away as a group and do activities we wouldn’t normally be able to do, like horse-riding, water skiing, kayaking and canoeing.

In the Spring/Summer months we normally arrange country walks. We meet up with a sighted rambling group, and they provide individual guides for each member to walk with. We go for a nice long walk in the countryside and usually finish up with a pub lunch.

Club activities are subsidised to 50 per cent, and our other funding comes from fundraising and club membership fees. It’s a brilliant club, we’re all very active members and we have a great time.

Russell Bailey, London

Get in touch If you’d like to get involved with London Sports Club for the Blind, visit londonsportsclubfortheblind.org.uk or call 0203 372 5924.

If you’re outside of London, British Blind Sport offers activities across the UK. Visit britishblindsport.org.uk or call 01926 424 247.

Finding your feet

I trained a few years ago on a Finding Your Feet course. Through positive role models, these sessions show those who have been newly diagnosed that there is life after sight loss.

It’s taken me a couple of years to get the first one off the ground in Essex. But it was such a positive outcome that the people from the sensory team at the local county council want to continue it.

It does so much more than an hour or so with a sight loss adviser. It deals with the emotional stress and gives you information about where to go next. This gives people hope that they can come out the other side.

For example, I saw at least two of the three people on the course coming in very low and depressed, and coming out the other side engaging with all of the team that I’d brought together.

By using positive role models they can see that it is possible for people to carry on as normal. With just a few adjustments, they can do almost the same as everybody else.

Phil Lee, Essex

Find a local courseFinding Your Feet courses run across England. There are similar confidence building and information sharing courses in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Search on rnib.org.uk or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to find out more.

My Voice researchMy Voice researchRNIB have recently published My Voice, the largest ever survey of its kind. The report provides a much needed update on the realities of life as a blind or partially sighted person in the UK today.

Clare Conley, Managing Editor spoke to Rose Edwards, Research Officer at RNIB who co-wrote the report.

What was the most important issue for blind and partially sighted people you spoke to?When we asked people what makes the biggest difference in their everyday life, travel, transport and mobility were by far the most frequent answers.

We found that 40 per cent of registered blind and partially sighted people weren’t able to make every journey they wanted or needed to.

Considering the impact this must have on other areas of their lives – on employment, the ability to go out and socialise or even to access healthcare - this is a very disappointing finding.

Are there any other issues affecting mobility? As well as the difficulty of travelling, even walking down the street was a huge issue for too many people.

Two-thirds of working age people and a third of pension age people had collided with an obstacle on the pavement in the last three months alone. One in three of these incidents led to injury.

Is access to information still a key issue? Absolutely. A huge majority - 9 out of 10 people - told us that information on medication or food packaging was difficult or even impossible to read.

A large amount of important financial and medical information is also not being provided in accessible formats. 40 per cent of those surveyed said that information from health providers was never

accessible, while 28 per cent said they could never access information from banks.

Are many people relying on a sighted person to read for them? Yes, nearly half of blind and partially sighted people said that they always or frequently needed support to read written information. This is clearly a problem, both in terms of privacy and people’s right to live as independently as possible.

What about emotional support?This can come from a variety of sources, including sight loss advisers, or any other type of emotional support, advice or counselling.

Sadly, the majority of people said they didn’t receive any emotional support in relation to their sight loss. Only 17 per cent of registered blind and partially sighted people received any emotional support at all.

How are blind and partially sighted people coping financially? We found that 1 in 5 people surveyed said they had some or great difficulty in making ends meet. This was more pronounced for those of working age, as sight loss often disrupts their job.

How many people with sight loss are in work? 27 per cent of people with sight loss of working age are in either paid employment or self-employment. Unfortunately this is a decrease from ten years ago, when the last study of this kind was carried out.

How are people coping with benefits? More than a quarter of the people we spoke to, of all ages, said that their disability benefits were barely or never enough to meet the extra costs as a result of their sight loss. Examples of these costs include specialist adaptations or gadgets, or reliance on taxis.

Were there any other interesting findings? Other than transport, the biggest issue raised was public awareness and attitudes, which we found are really poor. More than a third of people said they had experienced negative attitudes from the general public.

Technology was also a key area. Less than 1 in 3 people felt they could take advantage of new technology, particularly older people. Overall lots of people said that they don’t feel like they’re making the most of technology available to them now, but they would be keen to if barriers were removed.

Another important point is that we found that many people continue to experience deterioration in their sight over time. This is important for service providers to note when planning, but also for blind and partially sighted people, to make sure that you continue to monitor your sight and receive any ongoing support if you need it.

It’s an in-depth report, and we’ve only touched on the key findings. What’s next for the information that’s been gathered? It’s a very thorough report, and we’d like to thank everyone who took part.

RNIB are committed to supporting our members to face the challenges that blind and partially sighted people are experiencing. We will use the findings from the report to influence our strategy and to make sure we’re providing the best and most appropriate services.

We’re also holding sessions across the UK, speaking to local sight loss charities and groups about this research and how it can be used to help them.

Find out moreTo read the full report, visit rnib.org.uk/myvoice or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to request an alternative format.

Interview with Chris Cleave“The act of writing is a beautiful thing”

Chris Cleave is one of the judges of our annual writing competition. Chris is an award-winning writer who was raised

in Cameroon and went on to study at Oxford University. He’s lived in Australia, France and West Africa, and now lives in London. His novels include Incendiary, The Other Hand and Gold.

Clare Conley, Managing Editor asked Chris how much inspiration comes from the different places he’s lived.

I always come back to London for my stories. Everything I’ve written is based or has its heart here. What I love about London, purely and simply - the whole world is here.

Do you think it’s important to write from personal experience?

In ‘Writing 101’ they say ‘write about what you know’. I’ve almost deliberately spent my life writing the opposite.

The reason is that I have to be excited about a story. The stuff I know is dull. I like to go out and research something. I spend the year finding out about a new subject; I go to libraries and talk with people endlessly. I love interviewing people and finding out what makes them tick.

I think it’s a mistake to write about what you know. By the time you start writing you need to know a little bit about it, but I think writers who base everything on themselves run out of steam after a while.

How do you keep notes of all the conversations and the other research? Do you carry a notebook or record it on your phone?

I take hundreds of photos, so I take a little camera with me everywhere. I write a caption for every photo straight away. I always think that one sentence can convey a lot of meaning, so I throw the photos away and keep the text.

I keep quite comprehensive records of the interviews I have with people. I keep the sound files and go back to them. That’s really the reference: people’s tone of voice, the way they speak, the language they use. I’m trying to ultimately capture voice.

How did you first get started? Did you always write when you were younger, or was it something that came later?

I had a really good English teacher at primary school. She used to take an hour every week and call it a ‘creative writing’ lesson. It was really ‘old school’. She would stand at the blackboard, write down a title and underline it twice in chalk, and we’d have an hour to write that. I got good at it when I was nine. I would definitely not have started had it not been for that teacher.

How did you make the switch to become a published author?

I had a perfectly good job. I was trying to write during evenings and weekends, and I was exhausted. I was tired all the time and you can see it in my writing - it was cynical and angry.

Then our first child was born and I didn’t get much sleep for a few months. I quit my job because I wanted to write and I realised that I couldn’t with no sleep and a full-time job.

We’d saved up enough to live on for about six to eight months. So I gave myself six to eight months to get published, which was an incredibly naïve thing to do. Very foolish and irresponsible… and it worked!

Once I left my job, my writing improved straight away. Firstly, because I was desperate; and secondly, because I was giving it all of my attention in the morning when I wasn’t so tired.

I think as soon as that genuine love of people and love of life came back, the writing got a lot better. That was the big moment for me.

So actually getting published wasn’t the big moment - it was four or five months before that when I made this ‘journey’, since we’re on that theme. Writing takes you on a journey. It took me to this place where I was better than I had been before.

The act of writing is a beautiful thing. It gives you the time to think and to develop your ideas. So writing a short story is a lovely act; you don’t have to know what you’re doing at the start, because you will by the end.

Finally, is there anything you’ll be particularly looking for when shortlisting entries?

I love reading other people’s stories, so what really blows me away is when there’s an infectious enthusiasm in a story. I don’t mind at all about the technical level of a story. I care about its heart.

People’s voices are incredibly distinct and I love stories where people haven’t tried to conform to what they think is a neat short story.

So when I’m reading stories, I’m looking for something that is moving in a way that’s unexpected. I’m looking for someone who has put something on the page because they felt that they must. Not because they felt that they should.

Writing competition Thank you to everyone who has entered this year’s writing competition. We’ll be announcing the winners in the next edition. If you’re feeling inspired to read some of Chris Cleave’s books, the following are available from RNIB’s library.

Incendiary is available in braille Gold is available in giant print, on DAISY CD, USB stick and

digital download The Other Hand is available in all talking book formats,

braille and giant print, and also to buy in braille.

Chris Cleave’s new novel Everyone Brave is Forgiven will be available from RNIB in the summer. Visit rniblibrary.com or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Work and learningEmployment and Support Allowance rules clarifiedSome claimants with sight loss could get over £1,000 extra a year due to a new ruling affecting Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Our Legal Rights Service has achieved an important clarification of the law affecting claims for ESA for many people with sight loss.

The new rules make it clear that people who can’t read braille and can’t read 16 point print should be placed in the “support group”. If you are in the support group, you are paid at a higher rate and you don’t have to adhere to strict work-related conditions in order to continue receiving the benefit. As a result of the clarification, those people will be £1173 a year better off.

The rules were clarified by establishing a legal precedent in a recent case where RNIB’s Legal Rights Service represented a client. Prior to this, the Department for Work and Pensions and tribunals were wrongly deciding that some claimants with sight loss should only be placed in the support group if they also had hearing loss. Get your updated ESA toolkitWe’ve updated the ESA toolkit to include this latest decision. You can find the toolkit in the ESA section on rnib.org.uk or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 for a copy, which you can send with your ESA claim form. It’s available in alternative formats by request.

Lifestyle and leisureAudio book review

Vidar Hjardeng, RNIB Trustee and Diversity Consultant for ITV News, reviews Warriors of the Storm by Bernard Cornwell

This is the latest in the Saxon Chronicles series and it’s the first of Cornwell’s books I’ve read. I was slightly concerned I would feel a little ‘at sea’ as I’m not familiar with the characters. While I’d ideally have had a backdrop of the previous works, I’m pleased to say that proved in no way essential.

I would call these books ‘unofficial histories’ - this one is set in post-King Alfred the Great times. His son Edward rules East Anglia and Wessex, while his daughter, Ethel Fred rules Mercia, which includes Chester.

Uhtred, the hero and big character of the novel is Ethel’s protector, and has to fend off a lethal combination of Vikings and Irishmen. It’s tricky, unsettled times, and not only are they facing invasion

from marauding Vikings, there’s also internal treachery to be sniffed out, too.

Matthew Bates is a really versatile narrator and actor. This comes across in his accents for the wealth of characters from around the globe.

It’s fast moving, action-packed and a great historical adventure story. I’m now encouraged to read the series; not just enjoyable stories, but also a period of history I know little about. I think this is a really good way of getting a feel for the post-King Alfred era.

A fascinating read, and great for those dark evenings.

Read Warriors of the StormWarriors of the Storm by Bernard Cornwell is available to borrow from the RNIB Library in braille and giant print, as a talking book on DAISY CD, USB stick or as a digital download. Visit rniblibrary.com to find out more.

You can also buy it from RNIB by calling the Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Lifestyle and leisure Recipe for Potato pancakes

These make a delicious alternative to traditional pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. They’re great topped with poached or scrambled eggs, and also make a tasty alternative served with soup instead of bread. Spice up your pancakes by adding ½ tsp turmeric and 1 tsp curry powder to the mixture.

You can find this and other diabetic-friendly recipes at diabetes.org.uk.

Ingredients for 12 pancakes:

450g (1lb) floury potatoes, peeled and chopped 3 eggs, beaten freshly grated nutmeg 50g (1.8oz) self-raising flour

2 egg whites salt and freshly ground black pepper a little oil, for frying

Instructions

1. Boil the potatoes for 10-12 minutes or until tender. Drain and mash well or pass through a potato ricer. Leave to cool completely, then stir through the beaten eggs, nutmeg and flour and season well.

2. Whisk the egg whites until they form sort peaks, then gently fold through the potato mixture. Heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the mixture in spoonfuls and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden.

3. Place on a piece of kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil, then serve.

Health and wellbeing: Eye healthUnderstanding retinal detachment

Matthew Athey, RNIB’s Eye Health Information Manager, explains more about this sight loss condition.

What is retinal detachment?Retinal detachment is when the retina - the tissue that lines the inside of your eye and contains light-sensitive cells which allow you to see - comes away from the back of the eye.

What causes a detached retina? When a small hole or tear occurs in the retina, fluid can get in behind it which can cause it to begin to separate from the eye.

The initial tear can be caused by a number of factors, such as an accident or other eye condition, diabetes or in rare cases swelling of the eye.

What are the main symptoms? An increase in ‘floaters’ or seeing flashing lights are both common warning signs. Floaters are clumps of material in the vitreous gel of

your eye, sometimes appearing as small black spots or long, thin hairs in your vision.

Flashing lights and floaters are very common and not always a sign of retinal problems, but it's always best to have any new ones checked as soon as possible to rule out any risk of retinal detachment. A dark curtain that you can’t see through which moves up, down or across your vision is a symptom of a detached retina. Anyone with this symptom should have their eyes checked within hours, as it could be a sign of a retinal detachment. If not treated quickly a detached retina can cause complete loss of vision in the affected eye.

Is it common, and who is most at risk?

The condition is quite rare and only affects 1 in 10,000 people each year. If you are aged between 60 and 70, are short-sighted or have had a previous eye injury then you are more likely to experience it, as your retina is slightly more fragile. People who have had a detached retina in one eye may also be more prone to experience it in the other eye.

What’s the treatment and how effective is it?

A wide range of treatments are available. Preventative treatment can be given if someone experiences symptoms but seeks help early. If a small tear in the retina is detected at this stage, lasers can be used to prevent a full detachment.

In cases where the retina has fully come away from the eye, surgery is needed to re-attach it. Sometimes silicone oil or a gas bubble is used to keep the retina in place while it heals.

Treatment for re-attaching the retina is in general very effective, although the level of vision which is restored can vary depending on how severe the detachment was.

What should you do if you think you may have a detached retina?

If you experience any of the symptoms described, speak to an eye health professional immediately. The earlier the condition is diagnosed and treated, the better chance of saving the vision in that eye.

Find out more about retinal detachment and other conditions

Download the “Understanding” series at rnib.org.uk/resources or call the Helpline to request one in your preferred format, on 0303 123 9999.

You can also email or speak to one of the advisers from our Eye Health Information Service about any questions to do with eye health. Contact them via the RNIB Helpline or email [email protected]

Lifestyle and leisure: ProductsFor your home or on the move

No-spill mugThis mug comes with a lid and has a clever grip-pad at the base, making it tricky to tip over if knocked by accident. Suitable for both hot and cold drinks, the mug is also fully insulated, keeping your drink at the temperature you like for longer.

Product code: DK144, £14.95

Cordless illuminated 10x magnification mirrorThis mirror has a satin nickel frame and lights up with energy-saving LED bulbs that illuminate your face. On one side, 10 times magnification allows you to see great detail, while the other side provides 1x magnification. With its cordless design and simple angle adjustment, place it anywhere for a positioning to suit you.

Product code: DM31, £39.95

To order these items and discover our full product range, visit rnib.org.uk/shop or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Reader OfferBuy a PenFriend2 and receive two free label packs worth £29.98 Simply record your own voice onto the self-adhesive labels using the PenFriend2 and attach them to a wide range of everyday items. When you need to identify the item, place your PenFriend2 onto the item and it will scan and play back your audio recording.

Use it to label:

Food items - including freezer food with use-by dates and cooking instructions

Shopping - Label items as they go into your basket so you know where to store them when you get home

DVDs and CDs – label names and genres

Medicine - names and instructions

Paperwork and personal documents.

The PenFriend2 comes with 127 labels in a variety of sizes, shapes and colours and a 4GB internal memory.

This special offer also includes label packs G and H - so in total you’ll receive over 1000 labels.

£74.99 (ex VAT)

£89.99 (incl. VAT)

Claim this offerTo claim this reader offer, go to shop.rnib.org.uk/visionoffer or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 and quote ‘Vision offer’.

Offer ends 5 April 2016, while stocks last.

Technology – Online TodayGet to grips with your new device Are you still struggling to use Christmas presents like an iPad or smartphone? An Online Today session could be the

answer.

Online Today is a Big Lottery funded project led by RNIB, delivered in partnership, to help people with sensory loss across the UK get online. Sessions are taking place across the UK right now to help people with sight loss benefit from technology.

At these free sessions, the Online Today team will be giving information and knowledge to help you realise the benefits of being online. There will be demonstrations of devices like iPads, tablets, ereaders and smartphones, as well as an opportunity to try out these products and ask questions. Online Today is for you if you have little or no experience of being online, or if your skills need updating and you’d like to find out more.

Liz Childs-Clarke from Southampton said of the Online Today session that she attended: “I have always used an iPad, but did not know about some of the programmes that would make it more accessible for people with sight loss, such as the voiceover and magnification functions. Although I have one good eye, I have AMD, cataracts and glaucoma in my other eye, so learning about the magnification function at the session has been really helpful.”

Go along to an Online Today session near youTo find out about an Online Today session in your area, call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999, or visit rnib.org.uk/onlinetoday.

Your community - eventsIt’s an event!Try something new, get involved and meet other members at an event near you.

In your new community, you’ll have lots of opportunities to have a say about what sorts of events you’d like and to get involved in organising activities tailor-made to your region.

Anne Bradbury is a Member Representative for the North West and last year helped to organise three pilot events to test out what sort of events members may want in the future. Anne describes the three events:

“I organised a meal at somewhere in the Piccadilly train station in Manchester, so that it would be easy for people to get to. In many ways it was a great success as for many people, this was the first event they’d

come along to. I wouldn’t choose that particular venue again though, as it was too noisy.

The next event was a sports day at St Vincent’s School for the Blind in Liverpool. We had a variety of activities for people to try including guided running, two types of sitting boules, games in the school hall and board games too. It was great fun and everyone enjoyed it.

One of our members who’s in her early 20s tried the guided running and found it very liberating as she’d been to a mainstream school and never had the opportunity to try anything like that before. While another gentlemen I met said that he’d got most out of chatting to other people who’d recently lost their sight and were in a similar situation to him.

I think lots of people enjoy having the opportunity to have a coffee and chat. I thoroughly enjoyed the event too – I can only run a short distance but I had a go.

The third event was a weekend at the Action for Blind People hotel in Windermere. It was £99 for 3 nights including dinner and breakfast, and again, overall it was a success. People could choose whether to come for the day or to stay for the whole weekend. The food was good and the staff were very helpful.

Many people fed back that they enjoyed the breakout sessions, particularly the technology and craft sessions, like making crackers and wine tasting. I really enjoyed the creative writing sessions. Unfortunately, the talks... well people glazed over really so that will have to be thought about and adjusted for future weekends I think! Overall though, lots of people said they enjoyed it and we had first-timers for an event, who said they’d definitely come back.

Come along to an event near youYou’ll receive invites to events near you, you can find more dates and information on your online area and there are some dates under the heading ‘Service Directory’. Alternatively, contact your membership team on 0303 123 9999.

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Service directory

Shape what we read and hearPost a letter to RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE

Or email [email protected]

Or leave a message for our team on 0845 330 4134 and we’ll call you back. Calls cost 3p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

Find out about your new community and connect with other members in your dedicated members’ online area – visit rnib.org.uk/membership

If you need to change your contact details, or to receive your magazine in a different format, it’s available in large print (16pt), braille, audio CD and email. Please contact the membership team.

If you’re interested in advertising opportunities with RNIB membership publications, contact Landmark Publishing on 020 7520 9474 or email [email protected]

Dates of new member eventsCalling all RNIB members, campaigners and Action Connectors.

Come along to your community member events to try new activities and to help influence and drive your new community.

You will receive invitations to events in your area, and you can contact your membership team on [email protected] or call 0303 1234 5555.

Upcoming member events Wales in Cardiff – 24 FebruaryScotland in Glasgow – 10 MarchEast of England in Cambridge – 22 MarchLondon - 31 March

Contact RNIB The Membership team Call 0303 1234 555, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/membership

HelplineGet eye health information, emotional support, benefits advice and product information. Call 0303 123 9999, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/ask

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.45am-5.30pm and calls cost no more than a standard rate call to an 01 or 02 number.

FundraisingFind out how you can support our work. Call 0845 345 0054, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/donate. Calls cost 3p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

Volunteering Give a little time, make a big difference. Call 0845 603 0575, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/volunteering. Calls cost 5p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.

Campaigning Campaign on the issues that matter to you. Call 020 7391 2123, email [email protected] or visit rnib.org.uk/campaigning

Free guidesWe have a range of guides that you can find online at rnib.org.uk/resources or you can order them in your preferred format free of charge.

The popular ‘Understanding’ series is for people who want to understand more about their eye condition. The ‘Starting Out’ series is for people who want to make the most of living with sight loss.

To order, call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email [email protected]

C) RNIB February 2016 Reg charity nos. 226227 (England and Wales) and SC039316 (Scotland)

ENDS