Walsall Society for the Blind

Walsall Talking News wk ending 08/12/23 Newspapers and Magazines for the visually impaired

WSB Youth Christmas Movie.

Come along to our under 25's Grinch movie afternoon and pizza party.

When: Saturday 9 December
Time: 3pm - 5:30pm
Where: Walsall Society for the Blind, 11 Hatherton Road, Walsall, WS1 1XS
Parking: Free parking is available at the centre

This event is for visually impaired children plus one carer.

Book your space now by calling Lisa on 07359 027242 or email [email protected]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎄

Our Social Activity clients have been doing some festive pebble painting. There were snowmen, Christmas trees, wintery scenes and paw prints in the snow 🐾☃️❄️

Walsall Talking News wk ending 01/12/23 Newspapers and Magazines for the visually impaired

Our Annual Review is a great way to learn a little more about our services and how we've been supporting local people with sight loss over the last year.

Our most recent Annual Review is now available to view on our website and in print at the centre.

About Us About Us Walsall Society for the Blind is a local charity, providing information, support and friendship to people with sight loss living in the Borough of Walsall. Founded in 1885, our user led approach has a long history of providing vital sight loss support across

Meet our amazing volunteers....

This is Sita.

Sita has been volunteering in our Social Activity Centre since 2000.

Sita likes to help others and finds volunteering rewarding.

Thank you Sita, for all that you do and for the many, many hours you've supported our services users over the last 23 years.

Not sure what to buy this Christmas? How about a personalised leaf on our Tree of Life🎁

Starting from just £25 for a bronze leaf, all you need to do is think up the inscription.

Last date for Christmas orders is Tuesday 12 December.

For more details and to purchase a leaf visit: www.walsallblind.org/tree-of-life

Tree of Life Tree of Life Our eye catching Tree of Life is a stunning edition to our reception foyer. With a combination of 456 gold, silver and bronze leaves it's not only a tactile piece of artwork, but

We’re hosting a Christmas movie afternoon for young people with sight loss in Walsall.

Pizza, popcorn and The Grinch.

Sound good?

Date: Saturday 9th December
Time: 3pm - 5:30pm
Venue: Walsall Society for the Blind, WS1 1XS
Parking: Free parking available

This event is for under 25s with a visual impairment plus one carer.

To book your free place place contact Lisa on [email protected] or call 07359 027 242.

This Saturday is our second Coffee and Catch Up for our under 25 parents and carers.

Come and meet Lisa and discuss activities and ideas for young people with a visual impairment.

Date: Saturday 2 December
Time: 3:30pm - 5pm
Venue: Walsall Society for the Blind, 11 Hatherton Road, Walsall, WS1 1XS
Parking: Free parking is available at the centre.

RSVP to Lisa on 07359 027 242 or email [email protected]

We made this card for a recent awareness raising event.

Look how well the Braille stands out.

Visual prompts like these really help sighted individuals to gain an insight into the challenges of visual impairment.

And the top scorers in our Golf Tournament ⛳️
were:
1st place: Pat
2nd place: Victor
3rd place: Gurmail

A really great competition of putting skills with some seriously high scores. Well done everyone.

We've created a brand new Facebook group especially for younger people with sight loss 🤩

If you're under 25, or you are a parent or carer for a child with sight loss this is a safe space for you to meet and chat with others who understand visual impairment.

We'll soon be launching a calendar of activities for our under 25s and are excited to get you all involved.

If you'd like to join the WSB Youth Facebook group, drop us a message and we'll send you the link. We're looking forward to meeting you 😀

Next Saturday is our second Coffee and Catch Up for our under 25 parents and carers.

Come and meet Lisa and discuss activities and ideas for young people with a visual impairment.

Date: Saturday 2 December
Time: 3:30pm - 5pm
Venue: Walsall Society for the Blind, 11 Hatherton Road, Walsall, WS1 1XS
Parking: Free parking is available at the centre.

RSVP to Lisa on 07359 027 242 or email [email protected]

Do you shop online? 🎁🛒🛍

Whether it's your weekly grocery shop or Christmas gifts, you can raise money for Walsall Society For The Blind just by doing your shopping!

Sound good? All you have to do is register with Easy Fundraising, for free, then shop as normal.

There are over 7,000 brands that will now donate to us every time you shop with them.

It's super simple and donations raised from your regular and one off shopping will help us to fund our sight loss support services.

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/walsallblind/?utm_campaign=raise-more&utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=rm-gs-f1

Walsall Talking News wk ending 24/11/23 Newspapers and Magazines for the visually impaired

Friday group went to Boundary Outlet in Walsall last week to do a spot of shopping.

They had a great time and Scott treated himself to some new aftershave 🛍

Started thinking about Christmas yet? 🎄

We've got the perfect gift for that special someone in your life. A personalised leaf on our Tree of Life🎁

Starting from just £25 for a bronze leaf, all you need to do is think up the inscription.

For more details and to purchase a leaf visit: www.walsallblind.org/tree-of-life

Full house for this morning’s AGM

Look at this stylish trio 😍

Last Thursday a vintage bus came and picked Lindsey, Julie and Maisie (the guide dog) up from Walsall Society for the Blind and took them to Julie’s son’s wedding in Lichfield.

They all looked absolutely stunning in their purple outfits, and even Maisie had a gorgeous purple bow attached to her collar.

Great article in the Express & Star about our match day take over at Walsall FC Official last month 😍⚽️

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/walsall/2023/10/20/walsall-football-fans-donate-1000-to-local-charity-supporting-people-with-sight-loss/

Walsall football fans donate £1,000 to local charity supporting people with sight loss A Walsall charity is celebrating this week after a successful awareness-raising event at Walsall Football Club on Saturday raised more than £1,000.

We are absolutely delighted that our first group of learners have now completed their ‘Computers for beginners with sight loss’ course.

They’ve each received a certificate to acknowledge their hard work and all the new IT skills they’ve learnt during the 6 session course.

Run by our fabulous tech whizz Dee Dewhurst, and our Assistive Technology Officer Dan Smith, these courses are very popular.

Our second course is already underway and our January course is now fully booked.

If you’d like to improve your computer skills call us now to get on the waiting list. Tel: 01922 627 683.

Thanks to the Health Inequalities Fund, distributed by One Walsall we’ve been able to commence our healthy eating workshops.

Colin was the first of our visually impaired clients to test out his kitchen skills and our new cooker.

He made a low sugar fruit cake which was enjoyed by everyone who attends our Social Activity Centre.

This wonderful collection of poems by our very own Peter Wilkes is back on sale at Walsall Society For The Blind.

The book of poems about Walsall has already raised £2,000, which was shared between Walsall Society for the Blind and Guide Dogs UK last year.

This book will make a fabulous stocking filler for anyone who knows and loves Walsall.

Our second WSB Youth carers coffee morning will take place on Saturday 2 December.

Join us for your chance to shape the services we offer for under 25s and to meet other parents and carers who understand the challenges of supporting a visually impaired child.

If you're a young adult with sight loss, we'd love you to join us too. Your input is valuable to help us create the right services for you.

When: Saturday 2 December
Time: 3:30pm - 5pm
Where: Walsall Society for the Blind, 11 Hatherton Road, Walsall, WS1 1XS.

To book your space call Lisa B on 07359 027 242 or email [email protected]

Walsall Talking News wk ending 17/11/23 Newspapers and Magazines for the visually impaired

We had fun celebrating Lynne and Julie’s birthdays at WSB earlier this month.

Many happy returns ladies.

Maisie was all set for Armistice Day when she was in the centre last week.

Last week was Trustees Week.

We are so grateful to both our long serving and our new Trustees for giving up their time and sharing their expertise to help us run such a successful local charity.

Thank you 🙏🏻

Would you like a free laptop or tablet to help you become more digitally connected?

We have a number of free devices and data available to give away to Walsall residents with sight loss.

If you're interested please get in touch to find out more.
Call Dan now on 01922 627 683.

To be eligible for a device you must be:
* registered with sight loss
* a Walsall resident
* over the age of 18
* from a low income household
* have no access to a suitable device.

This year RNIB are helping Father Christmas to send letters in Braille, large print and audio formats to visually impaired children across the country.

If you know a child who'd benefit from this free service be sure to get your application in before the 1 December deadline 🎅

This year we're sharing the magic of Christmas by making sure all blind and partially sighted children can receive a very special letter from Mr Claus himself.🎅

Our jolly elves are working closely with Santa to help him produce letters in accessible reading formats - be that braille, audio or large print - bringing extra seasonal joy to hundreds of visually impaired children.

If you know a child who'd like an accessible letter from Santa, please get in touch here: rnib.in/LettersFromSanta

The winners of our hard fought skittles tournament were:
1st place: Grenville
2nd place: Tim
3rd place: Ray

Well done to everyone who took part 🎳

Walsall Talking Newspaper wk ending 10/11/23 Newspapers and Magazines for the visually impaired

Walsall Talking News - WK Ending 03/11/2023 Newspapers and Magazines for the visually impaired

Item of the week: Cocoons sunglasses.

Cocoons are a brand of sunglasses that wrap around the eyes so that light sources dim in both the central and peripheral vision whilst wearing them. These sunglasses are anti-glare, and you can choose from 13 different coloured lenses to help aid vison depending on your sight loss.

The Cocoons are very customisable, having up to 15 different colour selections depending on the chosen lens colour. The sunglasses also come in 8 different sizes for maximum comfort.

Cocoons are designed to fit over spectacles, so a prescription set of glasses can still be worn underneath the Cocoons which ensures that your vision is not compromised in any way.

If you wish to own a pair, try on different styles or are interested in learning more, please call Dan on 01922 627 683.

Walsall Talking News wk ending 27/10/23 Newspapers and Magazines for the visually impaired

Our old boiler was very temperamental, some days it chose not to provide us with any heating or hot water 🥶

Thanks to a grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund we've been able to upgrade our heating system.

Now we're able to ensure that our sight loss support centre is always warm and welcoming for our visually impaired service users.

This week our service users took part in a golf tournament ⛳️

Seems some of them are pros with the putter.