It has been an increasingly demanding year but we have made exciting progress throughout, for every disappointment came successful and challenging opportunities, for each tough decision made came acts of kindness and support. We have made steady progress with the building programme many areas are now complete and offer fine facilities to our members, such as the Information Technology Training Rooms.
Funding from the National Lotteries Board was agreed for an Employment Training department, provided we were successful in our bid for two government training contracts for employment training, having successfully won the contracts, staff were then recruited and the project commenced in April 1996.
November 1996, shows the need and the strength of the project when successful trainees are to be presented with their certificates and awards for their achievements, also for a Sussex crafts award for their designs on graphs and charts. CONGRATULATIONS, to staff and trainees on their achievements.
| Priorities While attaching no less importance to the needs of our elderly people for crafts, art, music, fun and therapy, the centre will rightly seek to give greater priority to toddlers, young people, and adults who seek training for employment. |
The bulk of people with severe sight problems are over retirement age; many having other handicaps as well. The numbers over 60 are expected to grow significantly, new registrations alone rising from around 120 a year in this community.
There are many people known to the Society who need specialist care in a quiet and intimate environment, not only will they have lost their sight but they will also suffer from other disabilities. During 1997 services for older people will be targeted and funding sought to employ full time staff to develop and extend day activities and respite care.
The Art & Craft groups again entered an outstanding display of Art & Crafts in the Sussex Art & Crafts for the Blind Competition. They won a number of firsts in the competition. Well Done to you all.
A successful playscheme took place this year with 59 children from the ages of 5 months to 15 years attending. Many activities were enjoyed both within the centre and outside. Within the centre we had craft, cooking in the training kitchen, sessions in the light sensory room, music and drama, and fun in the Ball Pool. In addition we had visits from the police and fire brigade (who allowed the children to explore their fire engine). Outings varied for different age groups, trips included: everyone going to Selsey Bill Fair ground, the under 5s went to Rocky's Indoor Play Centre, the 5-12 year olds went to the Dinosaur Exhibition at the Brighton Centre; and the teenage group went Ice Skating. During the playscheme every child had an official t-shirt and baseball hat to wear with raised tactile printing on it, this ensured their safety when we went out - we could identify them, and the children knew who the helpers were.
Revenue funding is required to further develop the essential facilities to a nursery unit for children who are Blind, Partially-Sighted or Multi-disabled.
Joint Working
The Society staff and the Social Services Rehabilitation Team have combined their skills to run a rehabilitation course at the centre for newly Blind and Partially Sighted people. The third course held over a period of eight weeks has recently commenced and provides the essential information and support for both the person with sight loss and their carer, those attending the course have found the time spent very worthwhile and supportive. The resources within the centre are used fully by the group.
The Library holds as a wealth of information for visually impaired people, the social library now houses over 500 volumes of talking books and a number of large print books many of the books were kindly donated by Ulverscroft Press, the audio books have been increased lately by the kind generosity of two local residents one who is blind herself and the others who has a blind child the additional volumes have greatly increased the pleasure of the growing numbers of visually impaired people using the library.
The Equipment Shop has a steady number of customers growing each day the numbers of housebound asking for equipment to be delivered is also increasing. The delivery of the radios provided by 'Wireless for The Blind Fund' offers the ideal opportunity to ensure housebound people are made aware of the equipment that is available to make life a little easier for them.
The Home Visiting Service which needs to be extended will incorporate the additional delivery of equipment. A recruitment campaign for additional volunteers for this service is under way.
The Training Kitchen is an attractive enjoyable kitchen to work in and is used regularly by the training groups. Also enjoyed by the children in the summer groups and will shortly offer creative cooking classes for different age groups.
All groups are looking forward to the hydrotherapy/swimming pool being completed. It will be a great asset to our members. Reflexology has commenced, the time allowed for this project will shortly need extending as the days allocated are already fully booked.