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BucksVision News
Our 195 service is a real life-line for those people who find it difficult to hold a phonebook or look up numbers. It's a free directory enquiries service from BT that lets people find numbers without having to use the phone book. The service is available to those with visual impairments or other disabilities, but did you know that people with dyslexia may also be eligible ? To find out more about the service, or enquire about eligibility, simply call 0800 587 0195 and ask for the registration team. They're available Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm (excluding public holidays) and can answer any questions you have. Once registered, customers just call 195 and the BT team will look up a number for them - free of charge. And anyone registered for the 195 service can also use the 1471-3 call return service - where the connection fee (you are connected after pressing the 3) will be waived.
Recent news reports suggest little sign of an imminent or significant upturn in the economy. With prices rising and money tight, the knock-on effect of this gloomy outlook is that people's budgets continue to be squeezed. BT is committed to ensuring that all people who want access to a landline can have access to one, and BT Basic is our subsidised service for those on constrained incomes. If someone you know is claiming benefits such as Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pensions Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, then they may be eligible for BT Basic. BT Basic line rental costs just £4.50 a month - or £13.50 (including VAT) every three months. That includes a call allowance of £4.50 (including VAT) every three months for local, national and international landline calls. As long as they stay within their £4.50 call limit, their phone bill will always be £13.50. And yes, to answer one of the most frequently asked questions about this, they can also subscribe to our broadband service - even if they're on BT Basic. You can find more information at www.bt.com/broadband If they exceed their £4.50 call allowance, they'll pay 10p a minute (plus 3p for each phone call) for all local and national calls (those that start with either 01, 02 or 03). All other calls are charged at our standard BT Basic calling package rates. There's a call barring service included to prevent anyone from dialling costly premium-rate services, for example, and they can always find out how much they've spent by simply visiting our website or phoning BT's automated Call My Bill service anytime night or day on 0800 443311 (if you call from a different number to the one you are checking, you will need your account number handy). You can find out more information about BT Basic - including eligibility and charges - by visiting www.bt.com/btbasic or for sign language users on www.bt.com/btbasicsign
If you are interested in joining the National Blind Ten Pin Bowling Association's Winter Trios League 2010-2011, please complete the Entry Form and return it with the required entry fee to the address on the form no later than Friday 8th October 2010. If you are joining the league please ensure that you read the rules carefully.
It’s Official! BucksVision are Winners of the Pride in Aylesbury Award for Best Voluntary Organisation 2010.
We had a full house for our Awards Ceremony this year. The Mayor of Aylesbury, Cllr. Ranula Takodra presented the Awards along with Diane Rutter. 
The BucksVision Volunteer of the Year Award was won by Robin Patching. Robin always goes that extra mile and does his utmost to ensure that the MK members have a full range of activities to help them in their local area. The BucksVision Company Best Practice Award was won by Chiltern Railways. Chiltern Railways were nominated for consistently providing a high level of customer care and service for our members - in particular Aylesbury Station. The BucksVision Community Champion Award was won by Jacqui Wallace from North Division. Jacqui has been a marvellous ambassador for the charity over many years and is a great supporter and fundraiser. Biddy Stephan who has volunteered for 50 years and Derrick Edwards from the Chalfonts, received special commendations for their volunteering work. It was a really lively, positive day - greatly enhanced with food provided by the Greek Taverna in Aylesbury. Many thanks to all who came and we look forward to next year’s Awards!
The RNIB have just advertised the post of Campaigns Advocacy Co-ordinator - the postholder will help us build up the role of our blind and partially sighted campaigners, support the development of a campaign skills training programme and seek opportunities for campaigners to speak out and match campaigners with these opportunities, and will work with our regional campaigns team throughout England. It's an 18 month contract and will be based in central London, starting salary £25,250 - £31,148 inc ILW. This would be a good opportunity for someone looking to gain more experience in a campaigning role. Applications from blind and partially sighted people particularly welcome. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please let them know or pass this on to any contacts you have. Closing date is 23 June. The job is advertised on the RNIB website and at: http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/998127/temporary-campaigns-advocacy-co-ordinator/
BucksVision have been nominated for the Bucks Herald Pride in Aylesbury Best Voluntary Organisation. We are delighted to have been put forward and you can nominate us by filling in the form in the Bucks Herald or Bucks Advertiser or log onto www.bucksherald.co.uk. But hurry you only have until May 7th!
Please note that you have until the 20th April to register your vote and to receive a postal vote. If you’re not sure if you have registered just phone your local council and ask for the Electoral Services Department. There is a very useful RNIB website which gives all sorts of information on voting, polling stations etc. This brings you straight to it: www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/yourrights/Pages/voting.aspx or just visit the RNIB website and navigate your way through.
The Braille Chess Association have a newly launched project to offer teaching, coaching and other support to blind and partially sighted people who wish to play chess, or to individuals or agencies who are thinking of setting up chess groups for visually impaired people in their area. We will fund teaching and coaching for visually impaired people and we will help with the funding of projects aimed at setting up chess groups for VI people. For many VI people travelling is a prime concern. We are prepared to do our best to find suitable teachers or coaches prepared to travel to the homes of VI people or to mutually convenient places. We will also do our best to find suitable teachers or coaches to assist in the setting up of chess groups for VI people. We will look at ways in which we can assist in the funding of such projects. All teachers and coaches involved will need to have CRB accreditation. We will also provide chess sets and chess clocks where appropriate. Our project covers people of all ages and we are also particularly keen to assist young people who may be in education in special units in mainstream schools. Where such schools would welcome a chess teacher we will do our best to provide a suitable person. Please contact Stan Lovell for further information or to discuss your projects. The group's brochure is available for download.
DPRCs can now be renewed online at http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/renewing-your-railcard.
The new film “My name is Khan” has become the first Bollywood film to be released with audio description. http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100224/914/ten-mnik-first-hindi-film-with-audio-des.html
A Great New Way of Raising Funds for BucksVision! Do you have any broken chains, odd earrings or jewellery that you simply don’t wear anymore? Whether it’s costume jewellery, gold or silver, you can help raise valuable funds with BucksVision’s new recycling scheme. All you have to do is pop your items into a labelled Freepost envelope which we can send out to you. And don’t worry if you have a mix of items as each piece is individually evaluated. Call us on 01296 487556 or email reception@bucksvision.co.uk. Please spread the word and help us to make this new fundraising initiative a great success!
Deanshanger air rifle club is a sports target shooting club specifically for blind and visually impaired people. We have an article for anyone who would like to know more.
This year is going to be a challenge for us all, so please take a look at the following link. http://www.everyclick.com/chrismellor Chris is doing a challenge to raise money for us, so if you are not ambitious enough to take the challenge yourself, perhaps you would consider sponsoring Chris and raise some money for BucksVision.
The following link takes you to a list of 8 free web browsers designed with visually impaired users in mind. http://webaxe.blogspot.com/2009/11/free-browsers-for-visual-impairment.html
Our latest newsletter is now on our Newsletters Page.
Dr Chetz Colwell of the Open University is looking for people who are blind or partially sighted and who use the web, to test a new website. The testing will take place in mid-November at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes and will take up to three hours. They will pay £100 (minus tax) and cover travel expenses. Please contact Dr Colwell (details below) if you are willing to help. Dr Chetz Colwell Accessibility in Educational Media team Institute of Educational Technology The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Tel: 01908 655772 Email: c.colwell@open.ac.uk
Coming soon is our new transcription service. This will make more effective communication available for everyone with serious sight loss. We will be using audio cassette, CD, USB stick and MP3 files. We are also now able to offer an audio translation service for Hindi and Gujrati and are looking to recruit speakers of Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Phari and Pusto. We will let you know when the new recording room is up and running hopefully within the next few months.
LOSING PATIENTS is a new campaign aimed at highlighting the difficulties of receiving health information in the correct format. Have you experienced problems either with appointments, test results, or health information ? If so, please contact Padma on 01908 377058 or email pscheriyan@gmail.com
Your chance to be heard … BucksVision needs your help by taking part in a survey that will shape the future of service delivery for blind and partially sighted people within Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. The survey will gather information about current service provision: the good, the bad and what is missing. It is a comprehensive look at how BucksVision supports its members and what more it could do. This is your chance to be heard, your chance to shape BucksVision and your chance to ensure that the services we offer meet your needs. The survey is offered in large print, yellow copy and a screen reader format or it can be completed over the telephone. If you would like to take part in the survey then please download the questionnaire and send in the filled in document or contact Neil Hunter: Telephone: 01296 487556 Email: nhunter@bucksvision.co.uk By post at: 143 Meadowcroft, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 9HH.
We have been given information on the Here to Help programme, which has been set up by British Gas to address the issue of fuel poverty and help make thousands of homes throughout Britain warmer. RNIB works with British Gas on the Here to Help programme to provide blind and partially sighted people with additional products and services to improve quality of life - free of charge. Read the full (Word) document here.
We’re delighted that BucksVision Volunteer Millie Rowe (nee Gerrard) has won the Milton Keynes Council and Age Concern MK Volunteer Award. Padma Cheriyan sponsored Millie who has volunteered tirelessly for BucksVision and other charities for many years. Millie’s involvement with BucksVision has included Home Visiting, Eye4Art Club and much more. Congratulations Millie from all at BucksVision.
BucksVision members and staff attended an Enterprise Day in September at Chesham High School. As before, it was constructive, informative and uplifting to work with so many teenagers - 180 to be exact. Students are given marketing tasks to complete working with a charity - BucksVision! Thank you to Elsie Carwardine, Tony Hawkins, Peter Robbins and Peter Stickland and Lawrence Ward for coming to the Day and sharing their experiences and knowledge. The following extracts are from a letter received from Chesham High School student Thomas Jeffery “I would just like to thank you on behalf of Year 10 at Chesham High School for coming in to share and take part in our Enterprise Day. We would also like to thank you for the first hand opportunity to speak and get to know you. This was extremely helpful when relating to our objectives throughout the Day. The aids and equipment that were brought in to replicate what it is like to be blind or partially sighted were extremely valuable not only for trying and experiencing how to move around but also so that we can see through the eyes of people who suffer with sight loss. We would like to thank you for coming in and we will be looking forward for other years to possibly have this experience as well.”
Our latest annual report is now available for download.
Jim and Linda Lawson, who have considerable experience between them of visual impairment have launched a specialist greeting card company called Easy2C. From designs to print size these cards are produced for people with sight loss and in addition, all paper is environmentally friendly. The greetings can be tailor made for different occasions as well as buying the standard greetings off the shelf at £2 per card. For further information, please contact Easy2C on 01704 573199 or Henshaws in Liverpool on 0151 227 1226.
This website provides information on all Bucks Hospitals and their services.
Hosting a Lunch is just a great way of celebrating a special occasion, of bringing together family or friends, or having an informal, fun afternoon! Now here’s another special reason. 
Bucks CC have produced a document to explain their changes, including details of their Social Care surgeries.
BucksVision and RNIB have launched a new employment service to provide 1 to 1 employment support for people seeking paid or voluntary employment and advice for those who want to consider their options. Meetings will be held in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes Resource Centres. Please contact David Newbold on 0207 391 2151 or email david.newbold@rnib.org.uk to book your place for Aylesbury. Please contact Dane Sullivan on 07789395873 for Milton Keynes. Dates: - Aylesbury Resource Centre - 26th August, 24th September, 29th October, 27th November. Milton Keynes - 3rd Wednesday of each month. 20th August, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November.
2009 may seem a long way away but we are already taking orders for Calendars and Diaries. They are the same design as last year’s. We order them from an organisation called VIP and send them out to members at cost.
If you would like to place an order please email Maria at mmartins@bucksvision.co.uk or ring the office. We do now accept credit cards.
BucksVision member Donald Ball, recently held an exhibition of his work to raise funds for BucksVision. Donald, who is registered partially sighted, has been an artist for many years and in conjunction with Bucks University, put together a display of his work for sale in Little Missenden Village Hall. His love of art and talent was clearly shown in the range of paintings for sale. Over £2,000 has been raised so far. An online sale of his work will also be available. Please contact BucksVision if you would like further details.
We have our report on the annual competition, with pictures.
Forty eight ladies entered the Doubles Tournament and it was once again a huge success. One of the ladies in the winning pair was Yvonne Shaw, the Volunteer who helps to organise this event, so we were delighted that she should win after doing so much hard work towards making the event run so well. Once again the lady members of the Tennis Club turned up trumps by providing all-day teas and coffees, they made some fabulous cakes and the lunch they supplied was amazing. Patrick Phillips, our BAB President, attended all day long and presented the crystal prizes to the winners, semi finalists and quarter finalists. The winning pair received the huge crystal trophy (which is held for one year then returned for re-presentation) and this year, their keeper prizes were matching crystal bowls presented on engraved plinths. The runner up pair received matching crystal vinaigrette jugs with stoppers, and the four ladies who were the quarter finalists each received crystal perfume bottles. The match Referee was an International Ref called Keith Dewick who once again gave his time and expertise for free. The Bucks Herald attended and took some photos and we have now sent in a report to match up with the pictures, so we hope they will publish it next week. The weather was extremely hot (a change from last year when it was quite cold and a bit drizzly) and sunny so it couldn’t have been better. We had some lovely raffle prizes and the event was sponsored with prizes such as Standard Fuchsia’s from Wendover’s Wyevale Garden Centre, a floral bouquet from Aylesbury’s Flower Gallery and Woodhall Cups & Trophies from Naphill subsidized the engraving of the plinths for us. Other prizes were donated from various sources: BAB volunteers, tennis club members, BAB Staff and others. Our thanks go to all those who helped make the event such a success.
This is to inform you that the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) has just received over 1,000 CDs of Bill Brown's “Intro to” courses, “Guitar by Ear”, and “Piano by Ear” music instructional lessons. The “Intro to” courses teach the basics of a particular instrument using no written or Braille notation. These courses are taught totally “by ear” and are suitable for absolute beginners. The “Guitar by Ear” and “Piano by Ear” lessons are individual CD's that teach an entire song all the way through using no written or Braille notation. These are suitable for those who have taken the “Intro” courses mentioned above or who already have basic skills on the piano or guitar. To request products or information from RNIB contact James Risdon at James.Risdon@rnib.org.uk. To find out more about all of Bill Brown's “Intro to” and “by Ear” items go to www.MusicForTheBlind.com. Musically Yours, Michelle MusicForTheBlind
On the 2nd June 2008, the next event in the Royal Academy of Arts' Programme for Visually Impaired People will take place, entitled "Exploring Cranach". Trained audio describer Gillian Cutbill gives detailed verbal descriptions of works selected from the exhibition while we study tactile representations of the images. This is accompanied by a group discussion and critique of the works led by Artist Naomi Kendrick, of Elephant Project. Reynolds Room; 10am-12.15; £3, email access@royalacademy.org.uk to book. A book containing a selection of Tactile Images from the Cranach exhibition is available to borrow on request. Please contact the Access Officer on access@royalacademy.org.uk or ask for the Access Officer at Reception. One-to-one guided tours are available for visually impaired persons - please contact the Access Officer in advance to arrange this. Access Officer Royal Academy of Arts Burlington House Piccadilly London W1J 0BD
This month sees the launch of an interactive Forum on BlindArt website where people can read, write about and discuss issues relating to art, visual impairment and disability. The Forum will help raise public awareness of inclusive events and the issues surrounding inclusive arts. For full details view or download their press release.
For those of you with an interest in museums and art, the V & A really is a wonderful place to visit. Entry to the museum is free and VI people are entitled to free admission with up to two friends for exhibitions. Call the V & A on 0207 942 2533 for further details. An Access Guide of the museum is available on disability@vam.ac.uk.
From 1st April this year, residents aged 60 and over and disabled people will be able to travel free of charge on all local buses in London or anywhere else in England. All existing bus pass holders will automatically be issued with a new style ‘smart card’ bus pass. Anyone who does not currently have a bus pass can request an application form by ringing 01296 585656. Passport style photo, proof of age and where they live is required. See http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/transport-streets/public-transport/travel-discounts/free-bus-pass-scheme/. This scheme is not available if people are using the concessionary taxi toxens. In Bucks, National Express and dial a ride buses are not included but this may vary elsewhere in the country. If you have any queries, do ring AVDC on 01296 585661
BucksVision has joined a new fundraising initiative with Foneaid (http://www.foneaid.org.uk/). For each mobile phone we collect we get £3. We have plastic collection bags to distribute (which we will collect if necessary) and would like as many local businesses, schools and clubs (and anyone else) as possible to help us collect as many mobile phones as possible. Any age or condition of mobile gets us money to enable us to continue helping out our beneficiaries so please help if you can. |
