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Herts Vision Loss
Charity Number 1047148
Company Number 3033089
"Supporting and empowering people in Hertfordshire with a
visual impairment"
Sight News
Spring 2021 Issue 158
Happy Spring 2021 Everyone,
We’re almost over the worst and we will be
out there with you very soon!
News from Chief This is not new to us; however,
Executive we will be taking on the CVI
Officer (Certificate of Visual impairment)
Joanna Carter registration process.
This is exciting for us as we will
be able to meet many more
Hello from all the team at Herts people who may need or want our
Vision Loss and welcome to our help. We are sure to see our
Spring issue of Sight News. I numbers of service users rise in
hope that you are all keeping well the coming months. With this in
amid the Covid-19 pandemic and mind, we will be doing some
can make sense of the situation recruitment. If you know anyone
and the government guidance. who would like to join our
We seem to be emerging from the experienced team of Vision Loss
restrictions and as we do, our Advisors, then do send them my
services will also be emerging! way!
You may remember in the last We have been successful in being
edition of Sight News that I talked awarded a grant of £3000 from
hopefully about the potential to NHS Charities together and the
reunite? I am pleased to say that Herts Valley CCG. This money
we are planning this reunion in will be spent on supporting people
June. We are so excited at the who have been in hospital to re-
prospect of getting together again. adjust to their home life. This may
Read on to find out more be just meeting them when they
information. get home, getting some
emergency supplies in or
Do not forget that the team at rehabilitating them to their
Herts Vision Loss are continuing surroundings. Whatever it is we
through the pandemic, albeit in will try to help. Do spread the
different ways. Do contact us if word and let us know if you or
you need any assistance. anyone you know could benefit
from this.
We have secured our contract
with Hertfordshire Council to As always, my utmost thanks and
provide advice and information, best wishes to you all.
home visiting and befriending and
support in hospital settings. Jo Carter (CEO)
1
News from our Nevertheless, Covid regulations
Chairman Alex did not stop us arranging a
Hickinbotham Volunteers online session last
December. While it would have
been nice to have a usual
Christmas combined event, it was
as successful as our other online
Hello again. Time has flown in group sessions and one we will
some ways despite the third reconvene soon.
lockdown we have all had to cope
with. Yet in other ways time has From April we are pleased to
dragged. As Spring arrives and commence a new contract with
we begin to move step by step out Hertfordshire County Council, and
of lockdown it is great to see the work, with a wider scope, to
spring flowers and wildlife appear, support those visually impaired
giving us a positive slant on our residents. We are working in
future. closer collaboration with both the
Sensory Services in Hertfordshire
A big thank you to our staff for and with the Hertfordshire Hearing
continuing to assist HVL in Advice Service. In addition, as the
providing many of our services in NHS restarts its routine services,
‘Covid format’, although it has we will restart our attendance at
been felt more demanding to keep the various Eye Clinics so
positive this time round. Also, the enabling us to reach a wider
volunteers who have continued number of people who might
their input to our service users. value our support.
Along with our service users who
have continued to access our As you know, we have moved to
different provision. It will be great the Weltech Centre in Welwyn
for you to feedback to our staff as Garden City. While this is a
to what worked well and how. temporary move for now, we will
be continuing to reassess the type
We are looking forward to a time, and scope of the premises we
hopefully soon, when we can require for the future. As the
meet face to face as well as pandemic has shown everyone
maintaining online and other different options, our thoughts two
methods of contact as years ago may differ now.
appropriate. Let alone waiting for
possible summer events. Enjoy your Summer
2 Alex Hickinbotham, Chair HVL
You could share this role so you
would not have to commit to every
week. Please let me know if you
are interested.
Hello Volunteers We are starting to reinstate our
face-to-face home visiting
So, we are slowly but surely services. We want to stress that
coming out of the Lockdown we only want you to go back to
period and we are increasing our seeing service users when both
services now, albeit still taking parties are happy. Our telephone
precautions. We have been volunteering service has been
working through how and when going well and I do encourage you
we will be starting with face-to- to keep this going if you can.
face visits ensuring the utmost
safety for all involved. We have Why is it great to be a volunteer?
started by resuming our hospital Did you know that volunteering
services and our dedicated helps you to stay healthy? Older
hospital volunteers have already volunteers tend to walk more, find
started back at the clinics, thank it easier to cope with everyday
you all. As the clinics re-start we tasks, are less likely to develop
now have new opportunities for high blood pressure and have
volunteers to get involved. Can better thinking skills. Volunteering
you help at the Low Vision Clinic can also lessen symptoms of
at the QEII in Welwyn Garden chronic pain and reduce the risk
City? The QE2 clinic resumes on of heart disease.
Friday mornings, 10-12 from 16th
April. Your role will be to give Have you been vaccinated yet?
information and advice to patients If you are aged 50 or over or are
who have attended the clinic and in the vulnerable category you
who may have been given the should have been called for your
news that they are now sight vaccination. If you have not, then
impaired or severely sight please call 119 to get your
impaired. There is no clinical appointment. The general
knowledge required and you will population programme for those in
be given training. These patients their 40’s will start in mid-April and
need some positive reinforcement then in descending order through
and information to take forward the 30’s and then 18–29-year-
whilst they come to terms with a olds, with all in these groups
potentially life changing condition. having received their first vaccine
by 31st July.
3
HVL Summer Reunion
30th June, 1.00-3.00pm
We are so thrilled to be able to
invite you to our post pandemic
reunion on Wednesday 30th June
2021 at St Francis Church,
If you have not yet had your Church Road, WGC, 1.00pm-
vaccine because your group has 3.00pm.
not been called, you may be able
to receive your vaccination now
under the Health and Social Care
category. Please do let me know
if you want to pursue this and we
can check your eligibility.
You will see that we have a few
plans for the coming months, and
we hope to hold a volunteer drop- We will be following all the
in as soon as we can. In the Government advice in relation to
meantime, we would love to see this event. Assuming that the
you at our Summer Reunion road map goes according to plan
which is optimistically booked for we intend to invite all of you to this
30th June, fingers crossed. I will event. The venue is right in the
send you an invitation nearer the centre of Welwyn Garden City and
time to remind you. very easy to get to. The facility is
spacious and has lovely grounds.
As always, if you have any Ideal for this event. If you do want
concerns or thoughts that you us to keep you informed about
want to share with us please get this and are interested in
in touch with any member of the attending do drop us a note at
team and as always, our big office@hertsvisionloss.org.uk or
thanks to you all. call us on 01707 324680
Sue Firth
Volunteering@hertsvisionloss.org.
uk
4
Waterways Experience
5th July 2021, 11.00 – 3.00pm
Come and join us! We have done
this trip twice before and it is very
popular. HVL hires a large canal
Stevenage and North Herts
boat (maximum 40) from a
Talking News – a free service to
boatyard on the Grand Union
help you keep in touch.
Canal, Hemel Hempstead and we
cruise down the canal to Hunton
Stevenage and North Herts
Bridge where we pick up
Talking News is a registered
previously ordered fish and chips
charity which offers blind and
for lunch.
visually impaired people a way to
keep in touch with news and
information from the local papers,
as well as items of general
interest, through audio recordings
which are sent to them on a USB
stick every week through the free
Articles for the Blind postal
service.
Everyone on board can get
involved with working the boat They currently have around 50
(steering and operating locks). listeners, who mostly live in
For those for whom steering and Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth,
lock operation is either not Baldock, Royston and the
appealing or not feasible, the surrounding villages in north
novelty of the surroundings and Hertfordshire and south-east
close encounters with nature is Bedfordshire and they would love
very special. Passengers often to hear from anyone who thinks
surprise themselves by their they might benefit from the
achievements in rising to friendly service.
the challenge.
The weekly USB stick contains
I look forward to receiving your local news, letters and sport from
bookings. Vanessa the Comet and the Royston Crow,
Vanessa.macdonald@hertsvisionl plus articles and information from
oss.org.uk or phone other sources and audio
07825 992950 recordings from a wide variety of
national weekly and monthly
5 magazines supplied under
license by the RNIB – giving Home Instead, formally Home
about 45 minutes of local news Instead Senior Care, are excited
and hours of magazine content. If to introduce to you their new
you do not already have one, they name and logo:
will loan you an easy to use,
rechargeable, small portable
player to listen to the sticks.
Over the course of this year, you
will begin seeing the new Home
Instead name and logo more and
Thanks to generous donations more in communications, signage
from private individuals, business and community outreach efforts.
sponsorship and grants, and the You will also notice that with their
hard work of their volunteers, they new name, they have updated
can offer this service completely their website
free. www.HomeInstead.co.uk
To find out more, please do get in Home Instead has told us that
touch via email or phone. Contact they have the same values and
Kate Thompson on same commitment, they write:
01462 621248 or email Throughout the years, Home
katethompson1834@gmail.com Instead has remained steadfastly
committed to our mission: to
enhance the lives of ageing adults
VIDA Employment and their families. This remains
Training the same: we are deeply
committed to providing our clients
8 places are available. To join, the same level of compassion,
candidates must live in the UK care and support needed to fulfil a
and meet the criteria - have a joyful and quality life at home.
vision impairment, use a screen Our transition to Home Instead
reader, are a competent computer and our new logo does not
user and are actively seeking change that, in fact, it amplifies it.
work. For more details
contact training@vidatraining.co.
uk
6
The Home Instead name After seeing first-hand how human
Since we were founded in the UK connection contributed to
16 years ago, we have worked Grandma Manhart’s happiness,
closely with community partners vitality and growth, Paul and Lori
like you to expand the Home selected the tulip as the symbol
Instead UK network far and wide for Home Instead: an icon that
across the country. We have reflects optimism, hope, continued
positively impacted the lives of growth and friendship.
millions of clients and families,
and we have continually sought The circle surrounding the tulip in
out new and innovative ways to our new logo symbolizes a full life
support those who trust us with and the community of support that
their care. By removing ‘Senior contributes to one’s wellbeing and
Care’ from our name, we are the continuation of growth and
showing our commitment to experiences to come.
helping individuals age well at
home wherever they are on their At Home Instead Welwyn as
ageing journey. That still, and specialists in dementia care and
always will, includes serving our community focus on dementia
seniors, a privilege that is run a Dementia Friendly
ingrained in what we do. Community Café which was
launched in 2017 and held every
About our new logo second Tuesday in Digswell.
When Lori and Paul Hogan Since the launch, the café has
started Home Instead in the US in been going from strength to
1994, they set out to redefine strength in engaging our local
what it meant to care for ageing community. Our aim is to reduce
adults. This was an experience loneliness in providing a
that was very near and dear to welcoming and friendly
them after fostering a warm and atmosphere to join us in fun
joyful environment at home for activities and companionship
Paul’s Grandma Manhart to thrive specifically aimed at our isolated
in until she was just three months community, their families, carers
shy of her 101st birthday. and their loved ones.
With an ageing population, cases
of dementia are increasing which
means that more and more
people in the local area will be
affected by the condition at some
point in their lives.
7
Our Dementia Friendly
Community Café is planning to
reopen on Tuesday 8th June 2021,
our doors open at 11.00am until
2.00pm, refreshments and a light
lunch are available to purchase at Sight Loss Charity Extends
a minimal cost to all our guests, Campaign to Continue
see our Facebook page for any Specialist Support During
notices of change and upcoming COVID
events. ‘Dementia Friendly
Community Café Digswell’. British Wireless for the Blind Fund
(BWBF), a Kent-based sight loss
It is our hope that by educating charity that provides free,
the local community, we can especially adapted audio
enhance dementia awareness equipment to those living with
through positive social interaction sight loss, is proud to announce
as our mission is to create a that its popular BWBFConnect
dementia friendly community. service will continue throughout
2021.
The dedicated service was initially
launched in April 2020, shortly
after the UK entered its first
COVID-19 lockdown. Designed to
better connect vulnerable people
to essential support networks, the
scheme a free audio device,
delivered direct to the door, to
ensure critical information is
communicated effectively, and
that vulnerable people can access
For further information please vital support.
contact us on 01707 240 650 or
visit our website To date, more than 2000 radios
www.homeinstead.co.uk/welwyn have been delivered under the
BWBF initiative.
8
Having proven to be highly many people are separated from
successful, and in great demand, their friends and families. BWBF
BWBF hopes that the continuation phone lines have remained open
of the scheme throughout 2021 during the pandemic and will
will enable even more people with remain open with staff and
sight loss to stay connected, volunteers carrying out many of
rebuild their confidence, and their duties from home to continue
reduce feelings of isolation. providing necessary support for
BWBF is striving to provide those with sight loss as the UK’s
another 2000 devices this year. lockdown continues.
Simon Parsons, BWBF Regional To find out if someone you know
Development Manager said, is eligible for a free device under
“BWBFConnect was so the BWBFConnect scheme, visit
successful during 2020 that we www.blind.org.uk or call 01622
are extending the project to 754 757.
support more people with sight
loss across the coming year. Sight News is changing!
While we have had some very
positive news lately about the At Herts Vision Loss we do not
roadmap out of lockdown, what like to stay static! A change is as
many do not realise is that life will good as rest, don’t they say? So,
not return to normal until much we have decided to try making a
later for those with sight loss. difference to our audio version.
We are very grateful to St Albans
With the continuation of the talking news who have been
scheme, we want to make sure doing our recent recordings and
that people living with sight loss we are now going to work more
do not become COVID’s closely with them by reading our
forgotten; we want to ensure that own articles. This will mean that
we are doing everything we can to there will be several different
provide mental stimulation, news, voices throughout the editions
and entertainment during lonely which we hope will bring an
times.” interesting and more personal
approach.
The radios play a significant role
in delivering news and If you would like to be involved in
information, along with the recordings, then do get in
entertainment and, perhaps most touch. The more, the merrier!
importantly, a friendly voice and
companionship at a time when
9Two big security guards at the
Jabadvisor door, “can we help you”, I feel a
little intimidated, and mumble “I’ve
Love this! come for a COVID-19 takeaway”,
“sorry” they reply, “we only do sit-
ins, do you have a reservation?” A
lady behind says “they are only
We invited you to send in your
joking, please come in”. I get my
reviews of various Covid centres.
temperature checked on a posh
Our HVL volunteer Eric Hutton,
camera system, show my ID, and
recently went to the vaccination
it is upstairs to fill in the
centre at Watford football club,
paperwork. It always amuses me
here is his report.
as a bloke, with the “Are you
pregnant” question, and I guess
“I needed to have my Covid jab,
for most of you ladies the answer
and someone told me the Watford
will be “I hope not”. Now my
FC was doing walk-in sessions for
eyesight is fortunately good, but
keyworkers, ideal I thought. So,
even I could do with a magnifying
after finishing my volunteer
glass to read the separate vaccine
shopping for HVL clients, I put the
information/side effects sheet.
postcode into my sat-nav, “What
Then onward to the waiting room,
house number?” my sat-nav
before I have a chance to sit
asked, does a football ground
down, I am ushered into to have
have a house number, I guessed
my jab, then on to the “executive
at 1, bad guess… “You have
lounge” where they register my
arrived at your destination”, no
jab and book me in for a second
football ground in site, a fork in
visit. Unfortunately, the bar is not
the road and I take the wrong
open, and they are not doing any
turning and get lost. Stop and
food. But I do get offered a free
reset my sat-nav this time spelling
tea or glass of water, and I wait
out my destination, success, I
my 15min overlooking the very
arrive. Now other Covid centres I
impressive multi-coloured seated
have been to have a multitude of
stadium before I head home.
yellow signs pointing the way,
Would I come again, yes, most
here nothing. It must be very
definitely, in 12 weeks!
exclusive I think to myself; they do
Watford FC Covid vaccination
not want any old riffraff coming in
centre
off the street. I put 90min in the
Getting to venue
pay and display, still do not know
Staff
where I go in, then down a side
Venue
ally I see a lit-up glass fronted
entrance. 10 Overall experience Thoughts from one of our very It may be, as I have found, that
valuable Volunteers, Verina family and carers are not aware
that such cards exist but mean a
lot to people who receive them.
I also intend, when I have time, to
write to Marks and Spencer. I
gave Jo a box of chocolates at
Christmas and as a ‘label’ bought
a letter “J” from Marks, and when
you pressed the switch at the
back, the letter lights up.
This was something Jo could then
clearly see, and again she was
delighted.
Last November I bought two
musical Christmas cards, which My husband died last August
when you open them play a (from cancer, not Covid) and he
Christmas carol sung by, I think still keeps me busy … a far
the choir of Winchester Cathedral greater hoarder than I ever
for about 20 seconds. One I gave realised! There are letters, pay
to Jo, a service user I was slips, bank statements etc all
introduced to in November going back to 1961 when we
2017. When I was speaking to Jo married … and all in their
on the phone, she told me she still envelopes. The RNIB will do well
has it on her kitchen table and from all the stamps I have saved!
often opens it and plays it. This
sent me searching for musical There will be so many people to
birthday cards … and Amazon have lunch/coffee/tea/dinner with
have quite a few. For her birthday once we are allowed more contact
at the beginning of May I have with friends and family, I think I
ordered one with a photo of a shall still be putting on more
thrush, and when you open the weight as I am in isolation!
card it plays a recording of a
thrush singing. I have also bought With very best wishes,
another of these cards for a friend
in Reigate who is losing his sight Verina
through diabetes.
11The Therapy Space
That is a Mental Health Toolkit?
Hello and welcome to 2021!
Toolkits are boxes or bags that
contain a variety of devices,
implements and gadgets to help
repair and restore objects or
perhaps help with work on
projects. A Mental Health Toolkit
works in a similar way.
It is an assortment of information,
resources and strategies that you
Spring is in the air and has
can accumulate and then tap into
brought with it a re-energised and
whenever you need a bit of help
refreshed optimism. Restrictions
sustaining and maintaining your
are gradually lifting and with the
mental health while you seek and
possibilities of socialising again
await professional help. Having a
looming, there is light at the end
collection of tools and resources
of the tunnel!
at your disposal means that you
will become more adept at
We have been giving a lot of
developing supportive
thought to the impact lockdown
mechanisms for your wellbeing.
has had on mental and physical
Tapping into these techniques will
health and what Herts Vision Loss
encourage self-awareness, boost
can do to continue to inspire,
self-esteem, confidence and
assist and encourage your
perhaps help you take a bit more
independence. We believe in
control over where your life is
helping and supporting you in
leading.
becoming more autonomous and
more empowered, so we will be
Each Sight News issue will focus
creating a Mental Health Toolkit to
on a topic and offer adaptable tips
boost your wellbeing!
and resources but please
remember these are not designed
to put added stress, strain or
pressure on yourself. Listen to
your body, listen to your inner
voice.
12What works for one person does Here are 3 useful tips to combat
not work for all so only try what feelings of loneliness and tackle
feels comfortable to you. If some associated mental health
something is not working for you, issues.
try something else and perhaps
come back to it at a later date. Join a social group
Social groups are a great way of
meeting new people and
broadening your social circle.
Spend some time thinking about
your hobbies and interests. Are
there any classes or groups you
could join based upon these?
If you are feeling nervous or
apprehensive, you could join a
This issue’s topic: Loneliness class or group where there is no
expectation to interact or that you
What is loneliness? can trial before taking the plunge.
We are all born with an innate Perhaps, if meeting lots of new
need for social connection, people or joining a group is too
companionship, and inclusion. overwhelming you could try a
Loneliness is that feeling of befriending service.
wanting that connection and
sense of belonging but instead It can take a while to pluck up the
experiencing the opposite. courage to socialise, especially if
Loneliness does not necessarily you have been on your own for a
mean being alone. We can be in a while so it is worth looking for
crowded room and still feel lonely groups with likeminded people as
or we can choose to live by that will make the transition to
ourselves and never feel lonely. socialisation much easier. The
Aloneness is a deeply personal important thing is to take your
feeling that can affect anyone at time, there is no rush.
any time.
Here at HVL we run Sight Life
What we do know is that a Groups that you can join at any
prolonged feeling of aloneness is time and dip in and out of as you
detrimental to physical and mental wish. We also have a telephone
health and can be associated with befriending service. Either option
low self-esteem, depression, could be a starting point for you.
introversion, anxiety and more. 13If you would like to know more, Look after yourself
please email This may seem like a silly thing to
office@hertsvisionloss.org.uk or include but self-care can often be
call 01707 324 680. forgotten about or disregarded but
is vital to an overall sense of
wellbeing. Good physical health
contributes to good mental health
so here are a few ideas to help
you on your way.
Sleep. Lack of sleep has a huge
impact on your mental health.
Make your sleeping area as
Counselling comfortable and cosy as possible.
Counselling is a type of talking You could try to incorporate a
therapy. Sometimes we all need a relaxing routine before going to
safe place to talk about our bed. It could be anything from
worries and concerns in a non- having a bath, listening to
judgemental and confidential soothing music, using breathing
space. Talking to a counsellor can techniques, meditation, visualising
help you to explore and a calm, peaceful scene or doing
understand your thoughts and some gentle stretching. Whatever
behaviours and unravel complex helps you get into a relaxed,
feelings. It can also help you to comfortable serene state.
recognise unhelpful patterns and
assist you in developing skills for
dealing with life’s challenges.
We have a counselling service
here at HVL and on Thursday
afternoons, we run Talk Time
where you can have a 15-minute
conversation with one of our
qualified counsellors. If you are
struggling at the moment or would Diet. Eating regularly keeps your
like to know more about our blood sugar stable and makes a
counselling service and/or Talk big difference to mood and energy
Time please contact levels. Stay hydrated and try to
earsforeyes@hertsvisionloss.org. avoid having too many sugary,
uk or call 07464 548 618 caffeinated, or alcoholic drinks.
14Physical activity. Exercise I hope these tips have been useful
releases endorphins - a chemical and encouraging. Please
produced by the body to relieve remember that they are not
stress and pain! Doing some form designed to take away the need
of exercise not only keeps you fit for professional help but are
but can boost your mental useful ways of continuing to
wellbeing and improve self- nourish and look after yourself.
esteem, so give it a go! Whether
it is gentle stroll to perhaps a bit of Do get in touch if you have any
dancing, anything that gets you topic suggestions that you would
moving will help! like to hear about in the future or if
you have tried some of these tips
Fresh air. If exercise is not your and want to share your
thing, try spending some time experience!
outside. A lot of research has
been done on the benefits of As always, I look forward to
breathing in fresh air and taking in hearing from you!
natural daylight. Whether it is Alma
sitting in a garden, a park bench,
or any green space, being with Useful links and organisations
the sounds of nature can help to
ground and quieten your mind and AGE UK: For the older generation
go some way towards improving you can find advice and support,
your wellbeing. befriending services, information
on money, care or health visit
www.ageuk.org.uk or call: 0800
678 1602
Blue Light For emergency
service workers, volunteers and
families who need information on
a range of mental health topics.
Call 0300 303 5999. Email
bluelightinfo@mind.org.uk
If you want to do outdoor activities
but not on your own, then a Mind For help with mental health
supportive and structured related issues, visit
programme like Ecotherapy or www.mind.org.uk or call their
‘social prescribing’ may be useful. information line on
There are also Social Farms, 0300 123 3393.
gardening clubs and walking
15
groups that you can join.Papyrus HOPELINEUK. For For Social Prescribing and other
under 35’s struggling with suicidal befriending networks visit:
feelings. Call 0800 068 4141. https://www.farmgarden.org.uk/
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text https://www.walkingforhealth.org.u
07786 209 697. k/
https://www.thrive.org.uk/
Samaritans Crisis Team: Free https://www.befriending.co.uk/
24/7 confidential support for those
in crisis. Call 116123. Email
jo@samaritans.org or text
07725 909090
Single Point of Access: mental
health signposting service open
from 8am-7.30pm daily. Visit
https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/get-help/ HVL would like to thank St Albans
or call: 0300 777 0707/ 0300 1234 Talking Newspaper (SATN) and
244. For out of hours call 01438 their readers for their very
843 322 generous help in the recording of
our newsletter, Sight News.
Silverline: For the older
generation, this 24 hour helpline If you know someone – a relative,
offers free information, friendship neighbour, friend or client – who is
and advice. Call 0800 470 8090 or visually impaired or otherwise has
visit www.thesilverline.org.uk difficulty in reading print but wants
to keep in touch with local news
The Mix: Free information and and events, please tell them about
support on a range of issues for their local Talking Newspaper.
under 25’s. Visit
www.themix.org.uk, call: 0808 808 It offers a weekly and quarterly
4994 or Text 85258 audio programme posted to our
listeners’ homes free-of-charge
Young Minds: A confidential (with the alternative ‘listen online’
helpline and support service for option through our website or the
under 25’s for free 24/7 support. Talking Newspaper App).
Visit www.youngminds.org.uk or
text 85258. Parents/ Carers can It helps a variety of local residents
call the free parent Helpline on of all ages – those with limited
0808 802 5544 sight and others with temporary or
long-term conditions that limit their
enjoyment of the written word –
16to keep up to date with what’s with visual impairments from
going on in St Albans, Harpenden Hertfordshire Children’s Services.
and all the villages and parishes As Lizzy from St Albans Library
within the District. said, “It was lovely to be
welcomed into their session and
For further information regarding be able to see them singing along
our FREE service, contact us for and joining in with the actions.
more information: Music and rhymes are such an
info@sadtn.org.uk important part of any child’s
development that it’s great to
News from Hertfordshire know the library is reaching out
Libraries and communicating with more of
our young community.”
Since the start of 2021, in line with
government guidelines, we were We are keen to deliver the best
pleased to extend our service in service we can for people with
March to enable customers to use visual impairments of all ages. If
our public computers as long as you are involved in a local support
they pre-book a session at their group and would welcome a
chosen library. We are busy virtual visit from your local library
working behind the scenes to or some more information about
make sure our libraries are ready the library service in Hertfordshire,
to re-open for you to visit as soon please do get in touch with Ros
as restrictions are lifted and it’s via
safe to do so. To keep up to date libraries.information@hertfordshir
with the latest services being e.gov.uk
offered at your local library please We promise we will not make
visit our website everyone sing!
hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries.
While we have not been able to
connect with our customers in
person, we have been finding new
and different ways to deliver
services. Staff from both St
Albans and Welwyn Garden City
libraries were delighted to be able
A tactile version of Wind the
to join a virtual DOVES group
Bobbin Up with a scarf at Welwyn
hosted by the team of specialist
Garden City Library.
advisory teachers for children
17Herts Vision Loss
Charity Number 1047148
Company Number 3033089
Supporting and empowering people in
Hertfordshire with a visual impairment
Supporting Visually Impaired People (VIPs)
from hospital to home
Are you visually impaired or do you know
someone who is?
Are you or do you know a VIP leaving hospital after
a long stay?
Concerned about the support you or a VIP will
receive once you/they are back at home?
We at Herts Vision Loss can provide visually impaired and blind
people with the support needed when leaving hospital. Whether it is
transport home, getting settled back in after a long stay,
communication with family and friends or support for living
independently, we can ensure it is an easy and stress-free transition.
There are many services that Herts Vision Loss provide following on
from the ‘hospital to home support’. These include befriending,
counselling, home visits, advice on local support groups in your
area, help with visual aids and equipment and signposting to other
relevant services.
We are here to support the visually impaired community. If you or
you know of a VIP to refer, please call our sight line on
01707 324 680 or email office@hertsvisionloss.org.uk quoting:
Hospital to home support.
“Supporting and empowering people in Hertfordshire with a visual impairment”
Charity Number: 1047148 Company Limited by Guarantee Number: 3033089
Our privacy policy is available on our website www.hertsvisionloss.org.ukYou can also read
