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Up-to-date news stories and exciting events from Vista.

Stamp of approval for Vista's Chairman!

May 2012

A picture taken by a blind photographer has been given the seal of approval by the Royal Mail.

Dr Brian Negus's image of Stormont, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly, has been used on a new set of stamps.

The 65-year-old, who is registered blind, took the photo in May last year while on a trip to Belfast and posted it on image sharing website Flickr, not thinking anyone would show much interest.

However, in December he was contacted by the Royal Mail to ask if they could use the shot for a stamp collection of UK landmarks.

Brian, from Loughborough, who is the chairman of Vista, said: "I couldn't believe it, I had no idea they were looking for photos for their new collection.

"I love photography but this is marvellous because it's something real and tangible you can hold."

The image appears on the Royal Mail's UK A-Z Part 2 stamp sheet which was launched recently.

The Royal Mail paid Brian £200. He donated the money to Vista.

"It's not the first one of my photographs I've been paid for either," said Brian.

Scottish whisky distillery Bruichladdich used a picture of a peat fire that he took in Arnol, Scotland, in 2010.

The firm donated £200 to Vista in exchange for using the photograph.

"It's great I can make money with my photographs and pass on my good fortune to Vista.

"It's not like I don't get anything from it – I get the satisfaction of knowing my photographs are being used and Bruichladdich sent me a couple of bottles of whisky."

Brian said he took up photography in 2000 after camera companies began putting large LCD screens on their digital SLR cameras. He uses the screen and a magnifying lens on one eye which enables him to see the image.

"Before digital cameras I wasn't able to take photographs but now I'm hooked. I can't use the viewfinder, so the LCD screens are perfect. I still need a lens which magnifies the screen 12 times."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said: "The image was chosen as it was the best one of Stormont we found that would work."

Brian, who was director of computing at Loughborough University until his retirement in 2007, joined Vista in 2006 and became chairman a year later.

This link will take you to the story published in the Leicester Mercury on 12th May 2012.

Two blind British men have electronic retinas fitted

May 2012

Two British men who have been totally blind for many years have had part of their vision restored after surgery to fit pioneering eye implants.

They are able to perceive light and even some shapes from the devices which were fitted behind the retina.

The men are part of a clinical trial carried out at the Oxford Eye Hospital and King's College Hospital in London.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17936302

Also quoted in the Daily Express online and in the newspaper:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/318029/Bionic-eyes-restore-the-sight-of-Britons-blind-for-20-years

Guardian online and in the newspaper:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/may/03/eye-implants-restore-sight-blind?newsfeed=true

Parker Brothers Fundraising Tour of Pembrokeshire

April 2012

Two Brothers, Richard and Adam Parker are cycling the 2012 tour of Pembrokeshire in aid of Vista. The 2012 tour will take in the magnificent
countryside of Pembrokeshire.

Richard says of the Challenge ‘We know that all charities are struggling to Fundraise in this current climate. Last year Adam and I took part in the
Forest of Dean challenge which was the first organised ride either of us had done totalling 89 miles - I finished in 7.5 Hours! This year we are
doing the 100 mile tour of Pembrokeshire and I hope to finish in 7 hrs (or just finish). As we are putting that much effort it seemed a good
opportunity to raise some money for Vista.’

To support their challenge please visit:
http://www.justgiving.com/ParkerBrothersTourofPembrokeshire2012  or donate by calling Vista’s Fundraising team on: 0116 249 8801.

NHS faces judicial review over eye drug

April 2012

Some intersting news and developments have been announced today and relate to the Avastin/Lucentis Debate.

The pharmaceutical company Novartis is challenging the use of a cheaper alternative to its drug Lucentis for a common cause of loss of vision.

The NHS in four areas in the south of England agreed last year that a drug called Avastin could be prescribed for the condition wet AMD.

Lucentis is recommended for use by the NHS drugs watchdog NICE.

Avastin is not officially approved for eye conditions, but is being widely used off licence.

For more information click on this link:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17817945#?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Shared by Vision 2020.

East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group - Survey

April 2012

Community services in East Leicestershire and Rutland

East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG (ELR CCG) is reviewing how community services are provided locally. We want to make sure patients receive the best care by offering services which are local, cost effective and delivered as close to home as possible. In East Leicestershire and Rutland there are a number of community hospitals and other venues delivering healthcare services. These include:

·         Market Harborough District Hospital

·         St Luke’s Hospital, Market Harborough

·         Rutland Memorial Hospital

·         Feilding Palmer Hospital, Lutterworth

·         Melton Mowbray Hospital and St Mary’s Maternity Hospital

·         GP Practices e.g. Syston Health Centre

With these in mind, we would like to find out your thoughts and suggestions on what you want from your community services.  We are particularly interested in finding out your thoughts on elective care services (treatment and surgery which is pre-arranged and not urgent) and the Minor Injury Units.

We would also like the views of patients, carers and members of the public, so we ask that you please help us by distributing our survey links to your service users and stakeholders where possible. Please final a copy of the survey attached and the link to the online version below.

If you would like translations, large print, hard copies or easy read versions please call Penny Harris on 0116 295 7571 or email getinvolved@leicestercity.nhs.uk

Please complete the survey online by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ELRElectivecare where possible or send returned copies back to our freepost address below by the 13^th May 2012:

Get Involved,
Freepost RRUE – JRBR – RGGT,
NHS Leicester City,
St Johns House
30 East Street,
Leicester,
LE1 6NB

Vista Spring Raffle 2012

April 2012

Enter Vista’s Spring Raffle today for a chance to win a cash prize of £250, £100 or £50!

Tickets available from Vista, £1 each or £10 for a book of 10.

Why not sell them to family and friends?

All tickets to be returned by: Friday 15th June 2012.

Draw date: Friday 29th June 2012.

For more information please call: 0116 2498801 or email: info@vistablind.org.uk

Changes to bus stops on Humberstone Gate in Leicester

April 2012

On Wednesday 11th April there will be a number of changes to bus stops as a result of the works taking place on Humberstone Gate East.
Humberstone Gate East will only be open for eastbound traffic for the next phase of the regeneration work. All bus services normally entering the city via Humberstone Gate East will come in via St Matthews Way and Belgrave Gate or via St Georges Way and Charles Street.

Buses will not be able to access bus stops DG, DH, DJ and DK on the south side of Humberstone Gate East and services at some other bus stops, particularly those in Haymarket Bus Station – stops HH, HK, HL and HM  and on Charles Street – stop CU will also be affected.

All services leaving the city via Humberstone Gate East operating towards Humberstone Road, Uppingham Road and St Matthews Estate will not be affected.

This link will take you to a word document detailing the changes.

For more information about these changes please call 0116 252 7000

Henry Smith and Hamylton launch fundraising partnership with Vista!

April 2012

Henry smith & Hamylton opticians are celebrating their 125th anniversary of local independent family run eye care this year. As part of their celebrations the Company have decided to run a series of charity fundraising events in partnership with Vista, a local charity that support people with sight loss in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Fundraising activities for Vista will take place throughout the year at all of their 8 practices around Leicester & Peterborough.

Henry Smith & Hamylton  (HSH) have chosen Vista for the dedicated work they provide to improve the lives of people with sight loss in and around Leicestershire. Every year Vista provides services, support, advice and information to almost 6000 registered blind and partially sighted local people.
 
To launch the HSH 125 years celebration charity partnership, Vista have invited all Smith & Hamylton staff for a tour of their facilities and learn more about the support and services they provide.

Vista’s Chief Executive, Jenny Pearce, says of this partnership ‘It’s wonderful for Vista to have such an exciting partnership Henry Smith and Hamylton. Vista is one of the oldest charities for people with sight loss in the Midlands and Henry Smith and Hamylton are one of the oldest eye care providers in the region – there is such natural synergy here! I’m thrilled to be hosting a tour of our Head Office facilities today (April 10th at 6pm) and look forward to a fantastic partnership throughout 2012!’
 
Each Smith & Hamylton Practice will have a dedicated month of fundraising, keep up to date with events by visiting www.smithandhamylton.co.uk  or  www.vistablind.org.uk to join in on the fun!

The Head Office staff of Henry Smith and Hamylton commence their fundraising on Sunday April 15th at the Beacon Hill Bunny fun run.

For more information about Vista or this partnership please call 0116 249 8858 or email info@vistablind.org.uk

Bed Vacancies at the Kathleen Rutland Home

April 2012

Vista's residential home in Leicester Forest East currently has vacancies for:

• Short stays
• Respite, and;
• Long stays.

The home specialises in supporting people with sight loss and dementia. Beds are also available for sighted people.

For enquiries about the Kathleen Rutland home, please contact Paul Sykes on 0116 239 4234.

Vision Strategy Group for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland - Progress Report March 2012

March 2012

Vision Strategy Group for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Progress Report – March 2012

1. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) – The CCGs are developing well and managing budgets already, although they don’t officially assume responsibility until 2013. Strategic priorities have been agreed in Leicester City and similar work is ongoing in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Vision Strategy Group has a clear reporting line to Leicester City CCG; links with the County CCGs are less clear but should gradually emerge.
2. Local Professional Network (LPN) - The PCT Cluster has followed the suggestion of the CCGs to opt for the Local Professional Network (LPN) to be focussed on Optometry. This is good news and provides an alternative to the original plan for an Eye Health Group. A key LPN objective will be to achieve the UK Vision Strategy aims, promoting eye care services to reduce inequalities, targeting those most at risk of sight-threatening disease.
3. Health and Wellbeing Boards – There is little news (other than the LPN) on development of structures and engagement mechanisms. The Physical and Sensory Disability Programme Board is therefore still dormant. However, a local authority-led physical and sensory disability strategy is being developed in Leicester City; the lead for this will make contact with her counterpart in Leicestershire (the lead in Rutland is unclear at present).
4. Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) – The group has contributed to draft JSNAs to ensure that sight loss is included. A sight loss chapter is being written for Leicester City and we have commented on the Leicestershire disability chapter. JSNAs will be revised annually.
5. Progress against action plan for children’s services – The SEN (Special Educational Needs) White Paper is expected at the end of March, but little is known about its scope. The Vision Strategy action plan can’t progress because of uncertainty caused by the introduction of academies and lack of clarity about involvement of local authority SEN services.
6. Progress against action plan for adult social care services – The Adult Social Care action plan will be reviewed over the next few weeks. A national Future of Rehabilitation group has developed a draft sight loss pathway with the aim of incorporating this into ‘Seeing it My Way’ with Department of Health endorsement. The group also aims to develop a robust evidence base for the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions.

Vista is working with Apex and Action for Blind People to enable people with sight loss to expand their skills to help them to gain employment.

Jenny Pearce, Vista
Chairman of Vision Strategy Group

Vista's Chief Executive, Jenny Pearce, announces retirement.

March 2012

After almost 13 years of dedicated service Vista’s Chief Executive, Jenny Pearce, will be retiring from her post in January 2013. Jenny joined Vista in June 2000 as Deputy Chief Executive and became Chief Executive in August 2006.

Jenny has stalwartly led Vista through a number of significant changes and challenges. Her leadership and tenacity has given the organisation a solid foundation to go forward with confidence and pride.

A small number of Jenny’s many achievements, since joining vista, include; heralding in and implementing the UK Vision strategy in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland; overseeing the Residential Homes and Community Services team; navigating the organisation through a programme of strengthening and capacity-building in the Fundraising and Marketing functions; a comprehensive strategic review and subsequent development and implementation of a 5 year Business Plan; embracing the Personalisation agenda and preparing the organisation for its implementation; a vast array of partnership and multi-agency working and leading on all external relations activities.

Vista Chairman, Brian Negus says:

“Jenny is an incredible leader and is always going above and beyond the call of duty. Her strength, determination and foresight have positioned Vista as the market leader for delivering excellent services to people with sight loss across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Through Jenny’s direction Vista has retained its excellent reputation as an exceptional service provider and I’m confident that this standing will be maintained in the future. On behalf of the board of Trustees, past and present, I would like to thank Jenny for her commitment and strength during her time as Chief Executive and wish her a very happy and healthy retirement.

Vista will be recruiting its next Chief Executive later in 2012.

For more information about Vista please contact the Helpline on 0116 249 8839.

Leicester City Safeguarding Adults Service User Involvement Group

March 2012

The Leicester City Safeguarding Adults Board is seeking people that have been involved in, or affected by actions that have been carried out for the purpose of safeguarding a vulnerable person (Safeguarding Adults). We need people who have had these experiences to be part of our dedicated service user involvement group.

If you have been affected, live in the boundaries of Leicester City, and would like to work with us to improve communication between the Board and the users of safeguarding services, and play a part in improving how safeguarding services are delivered, then please contact us now.

0116 256 5163 or email: jennifer.williams@leicester.gov.uk

Vista's New Wycliffe home receive the Dignity in Care Award

February 2012

The Vista New Wycliffe Residential home has joined just a handful of organisations in Leicestershire who have received the Dignity in Care Accreditation Award.

The prestigious Award is only given to Care homes who can prove they are meeting the 10 ‘Dignity challenges’ and have proven they offer a personalized service to their residents and through their practices and staff development can demonstrate that they recognise their residents as individuals, giving them choice and control over their own lives. 

The Award is linked to a national campaign and was developed and launched in Leicestershire last summer by the County and City councils.  The objective of the Award is to improve care standards for adults living in residential homes and ensure residential care providers treat people with dignity and respect.

Staff and residents from the New Wycliffe home attended the Awards Ceremony which was hosted by Leicestershire County Council.  Staff at the Vista home have been working towards the Dignity in Care Award for the last year and are thrilled to have received recognition for their good practice and the high quality of care that they provide for the 46 visually impaired residents in the home.

A Spokesperson for Vista said, “We are very proud to have received the Dignity in Care Award as recognition of our staff’s commitment to creating a culture of dignity and respect in everything that we do.   From the Homes Manager to Domiciliary staff, everyone is trained to understand and demonstrate through their work and attitude to be ‘person centred’ in their approach, treating everyone as an individual and promoting independence and choice.”

For more information about the New Wycliffe Home or any of Vista’s services for visually impaired people please call 0116 249 8839 

 

Good news for visually impaired pedestrians in the City

February 2012

On Monday 6th February Leicester City Council set out a list of guidelines for businesses and shops for control of advertising boards on the highway.  During the Cabinet meeting Councillor Palmer, Deputy City Mayor, stated that for some people, the advertising boards were a nuisance and made access difficult for people using mobility scooters or pushchairs.  Various discussions and consultations had taken place with different groups and the guidelines were deemed to be a common sense approach and fair for everyone.  Councillor Palmer added that a final decision on the report would be made in March 2012.

The 10 new guidelines include premises only having one advertising A-board per business, having it directly outside the business and leaving at least 1.5 metres of pavement clear.  Shops are advised not to tie boards to lampposts, put them in central reservations or place boards too close to the kerb edge.

Jenny Pearce, Chief Executive of Vista, welcomed the move, saying: "For years, Vista and people with sight loss have campaigned for advertising A-boards to be regulated.  They are a nuisance to people with sight loss, especially long cane users, as they're usually situated directly on pedestrian routes. This decision is fantastic news and Vista is grateful to the city for listening and responding to the needs of people with sight loss."

This link will take you to the article featured in the Leicester Mercury

 

Vista Celebrates National Storytelling week 2012

January 2012

(Listen to Vista's collaboration with storyteller Tom Phillips at the end of this article)

National Storytelling Week 2012 takes place between 28th January and 4th February and Vista, the leading local sight loss charity in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is proud to be participating in the event for the second year running.

As part of the celebrations this year, Vista have teamed up with local professional Storyteller Tom Phillips and have produced a CD of stories and poems recorded by Tom and the volunteers at the studio at HMP Gartree.  The CD has been distributed to nearly 2000 visually impaired people during National Storytelling week to accompany their monthly Vista audio magazine and talking newspapers.  Tom is also giving a live performance of his storytelling to Vista Day Care members.

A spokesperson for Vista’s Sound Services department said, “We are very excited about this collaboration.  It has been fantastic to produce a unique combination of stories and poems as a celebration of storytelling for our listeners. For some people with a sight loss they are totally reliant on someone else to read things aloud for them so Vista’s audio transcription service gives them a real sense of independence.”

Tom said, “National Storytelling Week is a time to show people the power of stories.  Stories touch the heart of everyone, young and old.  They help us understand and make sense of the world.  Through story we find answers by hearing how others have coped with adversity. We may not have magic and fantastical creatures to help us but we have the same strength and resolve the heroes of the stories have and these stories help us use it.”

“To celebrate this week Vista and I have joined forces to promote storytelling. The visually impaired people Vista work with rely on their hearing for so much and, as storytelling is primarily an oral art form, it is easily accessible.”
 
Vista’s Sound Services department offers people registered blind or partially sighted living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland a free talking newspaper service. Local publications such as the Leicester Mercury are currently recorded and distributed fortnightly to approximately 3,000 listeners.  Recordings are available in English, Gujarati and Punjabi and other languages on request.

Mrs Patel who regularly receives Vista’s talking newspapers in Gujarati said “I have Glaucoma and struggle to read nowadays, receiving the Leicester Mercury on CD is fantastic for me! I know what’s going on in Leicester and have things I can talk to my grandchildren about.”

For more information about Vista’s services for visually impaired people please call 0116 249 8839 or visit www.vistablind.org.uk and to find out more about local Storyteller Tom Phillips and how you can get involved in storytelling visit www.tomthetaleteller.webs.com

Click on the links below to hear the stories:

1. The Naked Truth
2. Dracula
3. A Rabbits Tale
4. Alice in Wonderland 
5. The Jabberwocky
6. The Devils Foot 
7. The Fletchers Son

 

Raise your concerns with Council Leaders

January 2012

Vista understands that, on a daily basis, people with sight loss encounter a number of frustrating obstacles. These issues range from inappropriately positioned advertising A boards to lack of clear and inaccessible signage.

To assist you, Vista has put together a template letter which we hope will help you to raise your concerns directly with Council leaders across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

This template is to be used as a starting point and we would actively encourage you to edit the letter as appropriate to meet your requirements.

This link will take you to a copy of the letter.

Vista needs you!

January 2012

Do you want to make a difference to local people with Sight loss?  If so, Vista needs you!

Vista are calling out to anyone who lives in South and South East Leicestershire who has an hour or more a week to help to make a difference by becoming a volunteer Box collector. 

In 2011 Vistas Box Collectors raised almost £35,000 which just shows that watching the pennies really does make pounds!  With these generous donations from the public and supporters Vista were able to fund initiatives ranging from training workshops, social groups, providing specialist equipment and Children’s activities.

The role is very flexible and varied and will involve emptying and collecting money donated to Vista Collection boxes and being an ambassador for Vista.  The amount you do is up to you and you can collect on your own or with a friend or partner.  Training and support are provided and travel expenses are paid.  A driving licence and use of a car is essential.  A spokesperson for the Vista fundraising team said, “It’s very fulfilling.  We collect from a variety of sources and have the opportunity to build up relationships with the box holders and their customers.”

For more information about becoming a Box Collector or Vista’s services for visually impaired people please call 0116 249 8801 or visit www.vistablind.org.uk

Super New Mini-bus for Vista!

January 2012

Thanks to a very generous donation from the The Edith Murphy Foundation and the Rotary club of Rutland, Vista have been able to purchase a new wheelchair accessible minibus to replace their 14 year old bus.

A Vista Service Users said, “I have been coming to Vista's social group for 6 years. I’m 90 years old and live on my own, I don’t have any family. The bus is the only way I get to see my friends, without it I wouldn’t be able to go places.” 



A spokesperson for Vista said, “This is a most welcome addition as our buses are starting to show their age.  I would like to convey our thanks to the funders and assure them that it will be put to good use in providing safe travel for our service users.”

For more information about Vista’s services for people with sight loss please call 0116 249 8839 or email: info@vistablind.org.uk

VIstore Catalogue and Opening Times for 2012.

January 2012

VIstore the Vista shop has launched a catalogue of products.

This link will take you to the mail order catalogue. 

This link will take you to the order form and price list. 

For more information or copies of the catalogue in alternative formats contact Vistore on 0116 249 8800 or email: shop@vistablind.org.uk

Vistore is open from Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm

 

2011 AGM Open Forum report

December 2011

Two Open Forum events were held on the AGM day on 8th October 2011, to gather the views of Vista’s members.
The discussion topic was as follows:

‘What would make the biggest difference to people with sight loss to help them to be healthy and in control of their lives?  Also, what could we do to promote eye health and prevent avoidable sight loss?  What do you think Vista could do?’

Following the Open Forum events, the responses were discussed at a meeting of Vista’s Visually Impaired Forum on October 29th. A small group of Managers then met and agreed the actions we can take to put these suggestions into practice.

The responses from the two groups overlapped quite a lot so they have been combined into one report under five main headings. This report gives a brief summary of the main points raised and then explains the actions we plan to take, to improve health and wellbeing for people with sight loss.

This link will take you to a copy of the report

For more information about Vista please contact the Helpline on 0116 249 8839 or email: info@vistablind.org.uk

 

Vision Strategy Group for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Progress Report, December 2011

December 2011

Progress Report – December 2011

1. Low Vision Service – The review of service has commenced with a view of getting a decision for the next financial year.
2. Changes to Health Strategic Planning and Commissioning Structures - The Group was updated about development of the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), with discussions about how the Vision Strategy Group relates to the new reporting structures. The proposals for an Eye Health Group are still being considered with this being seen a sub-group with a pathway into the CCGs. The three local CCGs would also work together through an Integrated Commissioning Board. Different substructures would feed into this and the Vision Strategy group would relate to the Complex Care domain, which included physical and sensory disability in its remit.
   
   Work on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) had commenced and wider stakeholder involvement was welcomed by the Health and Wellbeing Boards, which were functioning well in shadow form. A report was being written by members of the Vision Strategy Group, to feed into the JSNAs. Meanwhile The Physical and Sensory Programme Board was dormant until its relationship with the emerging structures was clear. 
3. Progress against action plan for children’s services – No further progress with the action plan had been possible because of ongoing uncertainties - a new Education Act was expected at the beginning of 2012 and news about the Green Paper was still awaited. There was also uncertainty about future funding for children with support needs in schools.
4. Progress against action plan for adult social care services – The Vision Strategy Group was updated about contracts for early intervention services delivered by Vista on behalf of the 3 local authorities, including the exciting new reablement service for deafblind people. The positive attitude of the local authorities towards early interventions was very reassuring for people with sight loss in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Group was updated about the national working group which is addressing concerns about the future of rehabilitation. The draft standards framework ‘Seeing It My Way’ was felt to be pivotal to an understanding of the interventions required by people with sight loss and endorsement by the Department of Health was being sought. A sight loss pathway and framework had also been developed to clarify the skill sets required to deliver the ‘Seeing it My Way’ outcomes.

Jenny Pearce, Vista
Chairman of Vision Strategy Group

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