If you are living with sight loss, or adjusting to a sudden deterioration in sight, you may be feeling anxious, depressed and worried about how you will cope. It can be helpful to talk through your feelings with someone who is trained and experienced in sight loss. If you feel reluctant to tell your friends and family how you are really feeling, then counselling may be the place you can find the support you need to move on. You may have other issues not related to your sight loss, and those too can be addressed in counselling. People of all ages have been shown to benefit from counselling, when there is something they want to talk through with an independent but supportive and understanding person.
The counselling service is free and usually available within a few weeks. Just contact VNS and say you would like to make an appointment.

A typical case would be Mary, (not her real name) who after developing Macular Disease gave up her regular activities and became depressed. After 6 sessions of counselling, and other help from VNS, she started to go out again and enjoy her life.

Vision North Somerset joined with Optelec – suppliers of CCTV readers to give local visually impaired people an opportunity to try out a range of magnification equipment – from hand held devices to stand alone monitors, all of which use a camera to bring large print onto the screen.  Dolphin Computers were also present to demonstrate their computer speech and magnification software including Super Nova and Jaws.

Vision’s Special Needs Advisors were on hand with a range of equipment from our Resource Centre.  Visitors were able to purchase or order aids and equipment designed to help visually impaired people.  Volunteers provided a welcome cup of tea and there was an opportunity to meet some of the staff from Vision North Somerset.

Arround 40 visually impaired people and their relatives or carers came along to the Methodist Church building in Nailsea to find out more about what was on offer.

OLDER PEOPLE STRATEGY

North Somerset Council has produced a consultation document which sets out the principals and priorities for the Older People Strategy which will come into effect in April 2011.

They would welcome your comments and feedback.

If you wish to comment please visit North Somerset Council’s Consultation web page at:

http://consult.n-somerset.gov.uk/consult.ti/olderpeoplestrategy.2011_17/consultationHome

The final date for comments is 31st July 2010.

A hard copy of the consultation document and questionnaire is available from:

claire.laycock@n-somerset.gov.uk or telephone 01275888650.

Sue Potepa and Nigel Dando

On behalf of Vision North Somerset the Chairty Golf Day organisers Russ Nickells and Sue Potepa would also like to  say a huge thank you to all the golders taking part and to the major sponsors of the event, Brunel Ford and  Brenell Training Consultants.

This year a record number of golfers took part. Winners Team Fore received their prizes from BBC Radio Bristol’s Nigel Dando. We are delighted that Nigel has agreed to become the new patron of Vision North Somerset.

Full press release golf day 2010

£5 per bike includes hot food and evening disco.

More details – Vision North Somerset 2010 Bike Run

For more information email Sue Potepa or phone 01934 419393

at Worlebury Golf Club

Friday 7th May  – for full details see 2010 Golf Day

Interested in joining us?

download your entry form Entry Form – Golf 2010

promote your business by sponsoring a tee sponsorship form