Eyes Right

(5 July 2022 12:00 am)

Simon smiling in his kitchen, holding one of his books Sight loss is easier to bear if you are mentally and physically prepared. In his new book, Simon Mahoney guides readers through the steps to regaining confidence, dignity and independence following the dreaded diagnosis. For those familiar with the emotions of receiving bad news about their deteriorating vision, the weeks, months or years leading to total loss of sight can be overwhelming to say the least. Simon Mahoney’s new book, Winging it Blind, serves as a survival guide for navigating.....
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Save Money with Pension Credits

(16 June 2022 12:00 am)

If anyone is eligible and not currently receiving pension credit, it is worthwhile them checking and claiming immediately! Pension Credit is a top up worth average £65 / week for people aged 66 or over with a weekly income of below c£200. In addition to extra income, it often leads to council tax reduction (c£1000 p.a.), warm home discount (c£140 p.a.) as well as cold weather payments (£25 p.w.), housing benefit for some renters (£1000s p.a.) the lump sum payment to assist with energy bill prices (£650 made in 2 payments of £325 in July.....
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A Conversation With A Rising Star: Georgie Morrell

(24 May 2022 12:00 am)

Georgie Morrell Visually impaired comedian, writer and an award-nominated actor Georgie Morrell talks with WVS about life as a rising visually impaired comedian and actress, and on her recent appearance on BBC Casualty and what that means for VI representation. You perform regularly through both acting and stand up, what was it that first sparked your interest in both of these? For acting, I wasn’t good at anything else. It’s the classic story of being a child that’s a bit precocious, tries out for a school play gets it, then you get the.....
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Roy and Debbie’s Skydive

(1 April 2022 12:00 am)

Roy and Debbie before their skydive On the 6th March, Roy and his daughter Debbie undertook the challenge of a lifetime as they jumped out of a moving plane in aid of their chosen sight loss charities.  Roy, who is 88 years young, committed to do the skydive to raise funds for Warwickshire Vision Support. He was registered blind several years ago and has since regularly attended our Nuneaton Vision Support Centre.  He has made some great friends and WVS’ resources and advice has been invaluable in supporting him and his family with adjusting.....
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Fun sessions to help your child develop through play

(16 August 2021 12:39 pm)

Guide Dogs have created a program to support you and your child, helping them to develop the practical skills and confidence to explore their world – all through the power of play. Guide Dogs understand the importance of early intervention for babies and young children with a vision impairment, and My Time to Play is designed to give them the best possible start in life. Group programmes Guide Dogs offer structured, fun, and supportive sessions for you and your child, each based around sensory stories and related activities including songs.....
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Access free eBooks, newspapers and magazines from Warwickshire Library Service

(2 June 2021 12:00 am)

Before you can access any services, first you will need to make sure you have an up-to-date library card. If you haven’t used your library within the last two years you will need to re-register. This can be done either online or in person at your library depending on your library’s COVID rules. Once you have been issued with a card, you can use your card number to access all Library services online, your date of birth will be your PIN unless you decide to change it. Visit the following link for more information on library services: https://www.....
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iPhone 12 Pro LIDAR - The Future of Navigation?

(7 May 2021 12:00 am)

By Sam Davis A LiDAR scanner has been added to the iPhone 12 Pro camera lenses and it has wonderful implications for the visually impaired community. LiDAR stands for light detection and ranging and it is a 3-dimensional mapping technology similar to radar and sonar. It is used in self-driving cars, factory floor robots and robot vacuum cleaners to navigate the world around them by sending out laser beams to generate a map. Its initial function was to improve augmented reality (AR) where digital data is overlaid onto real images (e.g. a phone.....
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Catching up with a Paralympic champion

(5 May 2021 12:00 am)

Noel Thatcher MBE, is a visually impaired Paralympic runner, who represented the United Kingdom at six Paralympic Games between 1984 and 2004, setting two world records and collecting a total of five gold medals. Speaking with Sam Davis, WVS’ marketing officer, Noel reflects on his career and gives advice as a visually impaired runner.  Noel, what was it that inspired your passion for running? My passion for running developed at Exhall Grange School in Coventry where I studied from age 10 to 18.  We had to run three times a week, and despite.....
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'Feeling' Good

(15 March 2021 12:00 am)

Mel Pritchard, a member of our Board of Trustees, has been spending time working with the Braillist’s Foundation to deliver a series of braille classes online. Mel, who was born with a severe visual impairment, has been using braille all of her life. Pre COVID-19, Mel had been teaching students braille in 1-to-1 classes and small groups for over 20 years. When Coronavirus hit the world and took us all into lockdown, Mel was no longer able to deliver her braille courses, something that remains a crucial element of literacy and independence for.....
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Warm Home Discount Scheme: You could be missing out on £140

(16 February 2021 4:01 pm)

You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2020 to 2021 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between September and March. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out. The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment. Eligibility There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme: 1) you get the Guarantee.....
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