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Supporting blind and visually impaired people across Halifax since 1886.

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Latest News

HSB Activities Update

Welcome to the Halifax Society for the Blind Activities Update.  Exciting times, we have some face-to-face activities to tell you about this time!  We are continuing to run phone-based and online groups as well though, so hopefully there’s something for everyone.

In this issue:-

HSB Activities

NEW – Book group

Social groups at Brighouse and Halifax

Charles Bonnet Syndrome support group

Synapptic User group

The Social Room

 

Other activities

Audio seated Pilates

Tandem Trekkers Cycling Club

Facebook groups – RNIB Connect & VI Talk Resources

Activities for children and young people

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HSB Activities

NEW – Book group

Do you like reading or listening to books?  Our new Book Group will give you an opportunity to chat with like-minded people about the books you are enjoying.  During the first few meetings, we can chat about what format you would like the group to take.  The group will be held fortnightly on a Friday at 2pm, starting on the 30th July, at Jamocha Coffee Lounge, 3-5 Northgate, Halifax.  Places will be limited, so If you would like to join the group, please phone the office or phone Lucy on 07458 302903 to reserve your place.

Social groups at Brighouse and Halifax

We have now started two in-person social groups where you can come along for a chat, some refreshments and activities including quizzes, games and bingo.  There will be a weekly group at Brighouse Rest Centre, every Monday from 1pm-2:30pm.  The Halifax group will be at the Maurice Jagger Centre, on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2:15pm-3:45pm.   

Please contact us to reserve a place if you would like to attend either or both groups.  Numbers are limited and we will offer places on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.  Subs for the groups will be £1.50 per session – please either bring exact change or you can pay by card.  Please do not bring along any prizes for the bingo as the cost of these is included in your subs, thank you. 

For now, we are asking that you arrange your own transport to the groups.  Calderdale Community Transport have recently expanded their service to include community venues again, but you need to register to receive the service – call 01422 888086 or email sandra.makin@ctcalderdale.co.uk or complete the registration form on their website.  If you need any support to do this, feel free to contact the HSB office. 

Charles Bonnet Syndrome support group

HSB run a monthly phone-based support group for people living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), a common condition experienced by people who are losing, or have lost, their sight. CBS causes people to see things which are not really there (visual hallucinations).  We have had a few meetings now and the conversation has been very informative and supportive.  If you have CBS and wish to join the group, you would be very welcome.  It runs on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 11am – contact Lucy on 07458 302903 or phone the HSB office to get signed up.  Judith Potts (from the national CBS charity, Esme’s Umbrella) will be joining us for the session on the 25th of August, so if you’re new to the group and would like to join, this would be a great session to start with.

Synapptic User Group

This is a Zoom-based group for anyone who uses Synapptic devices, to share ideas and get support on all aspects of using them.  If you are interested in joining, please contact the HSB office and we will send you the link and support you to access the session if needed.  This session is on the second Wednesday of each month at 11am.

The Social Room

This is a telephone-based service run by HSB, where local people with sight loss can socialise, support each other and take part in various activities.  New group members are welcome, just phone Lucy on 07458 302903 to sign up.  Once you’re signed up, at the time of your group, simply phone 0330 606 1112 and enter the room number 781285 when prompted. Or, in the case of the Zoom group, we will share a joining link with you, or a phone number if you would rather dial in.

We can provide joining instructions in an accessible format to suit you.  In some instances, we may be able to dial you in, so all you need to do is pick up the phone when it rings at the session starting time.

We’re always open to your ideas and suggestions for new groups and activities, so let us know if there is something you would like to see us doing, and we’ll work together to help make it happen.  The current group timetable is as follows:-

Tuesday

•        Zoom Group (11am)  Join us on Zoom for different activities each week, including guest speakers, quizzes, information, chat and workshop sessions

•        Coffee Shop (1pm)    Come along for a sociable chat – bring your own brew! We usually chat for about an hour, but you are welcome to drop in and out when you like

Wednesday

•       Well-being Wise (2.30pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month)   Supporting each other to look after our mental and physical well-being.  We have looked at a variety of themes including mindfulness, diet, exercise and stress reduction

Thursday

•       Fun and Games (1pm)   Quizzes and games for a brain workout – it’s just for fun though, you don’t have to be an egghead!

Friday

•        Chairobics (10am)  A 25 minute gentle exercise session, done while seated. Suitable for all ages and abilities.

Other activities

Audio Seated Pilates

Sense Active is offering seated Pilates classes Thursdays from 11:30 – 12:30 to strengthen muscles, improve posture and increase flexibility. The sessions are audio-led and delivered over the phone, making them accessible to people who are blind or partially sighted. Click here to book your place.

Tandem Trekkers cycling club

Tandem Trekkers are a specialist cycling club, dedicated to providing tandem riding for blind and visually impaired cyclists.  They warmly welcome new members at their track sessions on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:30am – 12pm at Leeds Road Playing Fields, Leeds Road, Huddersfield, HD2 1YY.  The next track session is on Saturday 7th August.  If you would like to find out more, have a chat to me (Lucy) as I have attended two sessions and can give you an idea of what to expect.  You can also contact the club direct by phoning Martin on 07974 603699 or Paul on 07774 213372.  Once you have tried a track session and if you want to go further afield, the club also run sessions on the Spen Valley Greenway (mostly traffic free) and days out where they transport the bikes and riders to a quiet (and not too hilly!) location to ride on some country roads.  The first two sessions are free, after which the subs is £5 per session. 

Click here for the club’s website.

Facebook groups – RNIB Connect and VI Talk Resources

If you are on Facebook, check out these two groups that may be of interest. 

  • ‘RNIB Connect – Yorkshire and the Humber’ is a group that shares details of a wide variety of activities run by RNIB and other organisations.  Recent posts include details of a Fantasy Football League, a jobs board, an online men’s group, and a Return to Travel forum.  You can join the group by clicking here and then clicking ‘Join Group’. 
  • ‘VI Talk Resources’ is aimed at anyone who is visually impaired, knows someone who is or has connections with a charity, organisation or group which offers services and or support to visually impaired people.  This group is not for discussion but for members to post about businesses or charities that offer services relating to visual impairment.  You can join the group by clicking here and then clicking ‘Join Group’. 

Activities for children and young people 

  • RNIB  Connect North East – Young People’s Group

This group for young people with VI runs fortnightly via Microsoft Teams.  There is time for social chat, plus other activities such as quizzes and even a virtual escape room!

For more information on how to join, drop an email to Jade.burniston@rnib.org.uk or Christopher.fenton@rnib.org.uk  

  • Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) activities

The RSBC run lots of online activities for children and young people, including an audiobook club, health and well-being sessions for young people, sensory storytelling, and themed sessions on subjects such as assistive technology and ‘How to survive at university’.  Details of all their sessions can be found on their website – click here to access it. 

Final words

Just a bit of news to finish with.  I will be starting a degree course in September, in Rehabilitation Work for People with Visual Impairments, which means I will be leaving my paid post as Activities Co-ordinator.  I will continue to do lots of work for HSB as a volunteer though, so will still be seeing lots of you as more activities continue to restart. 

Keep safe and well,

Charles Bonnet Support Group

Have you experienced Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS)?  CBS is a common condition among people who have lost, or are losing, their sight.  It causes people to see things that aren’t really there – medically known as having a hallucination.  CBS hallucinations are only caused by sight loss and aren’t a sign that you have a mental health problem.  However, they can be distracting or even distressing, and many people ‘suffer in silence’ and may not be understood when they tell others about what they are experiencing.

That’s why HSB have decided to start a group for people experiencing CBS.  This will be a monthly, phone-based group to start with, but hopefully will progress to face-to-face meetings when possible.  Our first meeting will be on Wednesday 28th April at 11am.  Sue Straw, one of the Rehabilitation Officers for Calderdale’s VI team, will be joining us for the first session and sharing some information about CBS and coping strategies.  There will also be time to chat and share our own experiences.  We expect the group to last about an hour.

The group can be accessed by dialling 0203 481 5629, then entering the room number 781285 when prompted.  If you need support to access the group, please do get in touch by replying to this email or phoning the HSB office.  We can provide the numbers in an accessible format for you, or in some cases, we can dial you into the meeting so all you have to do is pick up the phone when it rings at the group start time.

Activities Update

HSB Activities Update – March/April 2021

Welcome to the March/April edition of the Halifax Society for the Blind Activities Update!  This month, the focus is on keeping our minds and bodies active, not always an easy task during a lockdown, but hopefully there are some ideas here that will give you some inspiration. 

Coming Soon – Walking Group

HSB are planning to start a walking group now that lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease again.  Please let us know if you are interested in joining this group, and if so, what sort of walks you would like to do (how long? Which locations?) and whether you would need support from a guide while walking.  This would be of great help in our planning of the sessions.

Social Room session – ‘Out and about’ – April 7th at 11am

This phone-based session will give people a chance to chat and share any concerns or ideas they may have about getting out and about as lockdown eases.  Angie & Jane, our Sight Support Advisors, will be attending the session to answer questions and share information.  If you would like to join the call, even if you have not accessed the Social Room service before, please do phone the office or phone Lucy on 07458 302903 to get signed up.

Coming soon – Charles Bonnet Syndrome support group

HSB are in the process of setting up a support group for people living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), a common condition experienced by people who are losing, or have lost, their sight. CBS causes people to see things which are not really there (visual hallucinations).  The support group will be monthly and phone-based to start with.  If you are interested in joining the group when it starts up, please contact the HSB office.

The Social Room

This is a telephone-based service run by HSB, where local people with sight loss can socialise, support each other and take part in various activities.  New group members are welcome, just phone Lucy on 07458 302903 to sign up.  Once you’re signed up, at the time of your group, simply phone 0203 481 5629 and enter the room number 781285 when prompted. Or, in the case of the Zoom group, we will share a joining link with you, or a phone number if you would rather dial in.

We can provide joining instructions in an accessible format to suit you.  In some instances, we may be able to dial you in, so all you need to do is pick up the phone when it rings at the session starting time.

We’re always open to your ideas and suggestions for new groups and activities, so let us know if there is something you would like to see us doing, and we’ll work together to help make it happen.  The current group timetable is as follows:-

Tuesday

  • Zoom Group (11am)  Join us on Zoom for different activities each week, including guest speakers, quizzes, information, chat and workshop sessions
  • Coffee Shop (1pm)    Come along for a sociable chat – bring your own brew! We usually chat for about an hour, but you are welcome to drop in and out when you like

Wednesday

  • Fun and Games (1pm)   Quizzes and games for a brain workout – it’s just for fun though, you don’t have to be an egghead!  
  • Well-being Wise (2.30pm)   Supporting each other to look after our mental and physical wellbeing, through group chat and regular guest speakers

Thursday

  • Fun and Games (11.30am)   Quizzes and games for a brain workout (a repeat of Wednesday’s session)

Friday

  • Chairobics (10am)  A 25 minute gentle exercise session, done while seated. Suitable for all ages and abilities
  • Literature Live! (1.30pm)   Sharing stories, poems, jokes and articles on different themes each week.  Come along and just listen in, or bring something to share with the group, it’s your choice!

Focus on ‘Chairobics’

The ‘Chairobics’ session is a gentle, chair-based workout covering exercises for every area of your body. Even a simple workout like this can help you get stronger and improve your flexibility and fitness, so why not give it a try? 

If you are not able to attend our session, there are lots of similar workouts available free on Youtube.  Here are a few examples:-

  • 35 minute chair workout
  • 35 minute workout (seated and standing)
  • 10 minute chair-based workout from Joe Wicks

Other activities

Local talking newspaper and magazine services

The Calderdale Talking Newspaper Association record a weekly newspaper covering mainly local stories taken from the Halifax Courier, Brighouse Echo, Hebden Bridge Times (incorporating the Todmorden News) and the Yorkshire Post. It also includes obituaries local events, and a short sports section.  A monthly magazine is also recorded where feature articles of local and general interest are read, together with occasional stories, poems and interviews (including an annual one with the Mayor of Calderdale).

The recordings on USB sticks are available free to all blind and visually impaired residents in Calderdale.  They are sent out post free in a plastic wallet which the recipient then reuses to return the stick. The Association will provide on loan the necessary equipment to listen to the sticks, or these can be played on the listener’s own computer or suitable audio book player.  If you would like to receive the recordings, just let HSB know.

The Talking Newspaper for Todmorden provide a monthly recording which  includes articles from the Todmorden News in the preceding weeks, together with a magazine section consisting of interviews with interesting local people, a quiz, poetry readings and various other items of local interest. The final section of each edition is a selection of briefings giving information about products, services or welfare issues of particular relevance to blind and partially sighted people.

You can listen to the recording online via the tntod.org.uk website.  Alternatively, the talking newspaper can be posted to you on a memory stick.  A free player can be provided to you on loan, or you can use your own equipment to listen.  To contact the Talking Newspaper to request any of these services, fill in the form on their contact page here or contact Angela Wilde on 07934 429313.

Every Mind Matters – Mental Health resource hub

The challenges brought by COVID-19 continue to affect us all and many people are reporting that their mental health is suffering as a result. The Every Mind Matters website is a great resource provided by Public Health England which can help you find strategies and support to improve your mental and physical health. The site aims to make it easier for everyone to look after their own wellbeing and improve their mental health, by providing a digital hub full of advice, tips and resources and a new online tool to help you create your own mental health action plan.  It also includes a page of links to a selection of free apps which can support you to improve your mental and physical health.  Click here to visit the site.

Let’s get walking!

Walking is free, flexible and fun, and proven to have a huge impact on your wellbeing. Living Streets have put together 20 tips to help you fit 20 minutes of walking into your day.  Click here to view the tips.


Audio description on Netflix
The Netflix streaming service has over 10,000 hours of audio described programmes available in over 30 different languages. You can access the gallery here that allows you to search for something that interests you. You can search by a variety of genres including TV series, films, documentaries, dramas, music and comedy, so there’s plenty to keep your mind active!

Netflix can be watched online via their website, or on your smart TV, smartphone or tablet.  Once you have found a programme of interest, you can switch on audio description by playing the programme, then selecting ‘Audio & Subtitles’.  Audio description can then be selected from the list of languages.  Once you have selected audio description, it will stay activated for future programmes that you access. 

(Netflix is a subscription service with prices starting at £5.99 per month)

Activities for children and young people

  • British Blind Sport have a Youtube channel which includes lots of sports-based activities, many of which can be done indoors.  Their ‘Sports Skills series’ has activities based on cricket, rugby, tennis and hockey.  Click here to visit the channel.
  • The ‘Mister Teach’ Youtube channel has hundreds of educational and fun videos to keep your primary-age child’s mind active.  Many of the games are audio-based, so ideal for VI children.  Click here to visit the channel.
  • The ‘First Steps’ scheme from British Blind Sport aims to help children with sight loss get active with a FREE sport and fitness pack delivered to their door.  Designed for children aged 3 to 11 years old, the pack includes:

Audible ball: A bright and bouncy ball with ball-bearings inside to allow the child to hear the ball.

Activity booklet: Simple and enjoyable games that encourage the entire family to play together.

Progress poster: Tracking the child’s daily achievements to encourage habitual activity with a fun sticker chart.

In addition to receiving the First Steps Pack, families will receive ongoing support and will be invited to Family Days organised by BBS which not only bring young people together but also introduce them to new activities and inclusive clubs in their local community.

Click here to find out more and to register for the scheme.

We wish you a merry Christmas!

On behalf of everyone involved with Halifax Society for the Blind, I’d like wish you a merry Christmas and a truly joyous new year. I’ve no doubt that 2021 will bring interesting and exciting developments for local people with sight loss, but would also say that we could not have managed the thousands of befriending and support phone calls, hundreds of group support sessions, our innovative AVIATORS Project, and our having provided much needed sight loss equipment this year without substantial support from a great bunch of Trustees, active members and a lovely community – so a big thank you to all of you.

On this occasion, I would add that this excellent work is funded through donations made by our supporters. If you feel able, and would like to support us, you can click on our Just Giving page (see link), which will also help us obtain a tax credit top-up over any donation.  https://www.justgiving.com/halifaxsocietyfortheblind.

In the true spirit of 2020, our virtual office will stay open until 4pm tomorrow (24th December), when we close until Monday 4th January. However, we will be having a phone session for anybody who fancies a chat on Christmas day itself, from 3pm until 5pm. Christmas will be smaller for most of us, and its the right thing to do this year. For any information, please call our office on 01422 352383.

All the best,

Pete Hoey

Chief Officer – on behalf of the whole team at HSB

See us on TV

Here’s the news item about us which was on the TV news, many thanks to Margaret and Pauline for agreeing to star in the feature

BBC News Article

Look out October 2020

Our latest newsletter is now available online

Look Out! 28.10.20 FinalDownload

It’s all at the Co-op

It’s fantastic news that for the next 12 months we’re one of the Co-op’s local charity partners. This means that Co-op members across the district can support Halifax Society for the Blind each time they shop simply by choosing us as their reward partner. You can find out more about becoming a Co-op member here Coop Membership then all you need to do is select us as your nominated good cause.

Funds raised through this initiative will go towards the funding of information and training days for people diagnosed with sight loss. You could really play a big part and help us enable people to live full and independent lives. Thank you!

Co-op member card

Lottery success!

We are proud to announce that from next week, we’re providing a new and exciting service to supply local people with sight loaned special tablets and mobile phones. COVID19 has changed many things for people low or no vision, with social isolation and loss of independence being major themes.

Our Charity is at the forefront of funding and this kind of service, and we are extremely grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund, which working to deliver is part of the UK Government’s £750m support package for charities. Together, we are building an online community #CommunitiesCan.

For further details, contact our office on 01422 352383, or email info@halifaxblindsociety.org.uk

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