Sight Support What’s On E-newsletter for November 2024

Monthly What’s On Guide

Welcome to your monthly update of accessible services and events in Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. This update mainly covers November 2024.

Sight Support Events and Notices

Paid Vacancy – Sight Loss Advisor for Bristol

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Community Sight Loss Adviser to take a lead role in providing our Information, Advice and Guidance Service for people with sight loss living in Bristol and the surrounding area.

The role will work 1-1 with clients, assessing their needs and preparing appropriate action plans to ensure that they are accessing support, equipment, and training to help them adjust to their sight loss. The role will lead on development and delivery of support and advice with underserved communities, to ensure maximum accessibility of our services.  This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive person with strong people skills to make a real difference to the lives of people living with sight loss in the area.

Salary £25,000 per annum. This is a full-time role.

Prior experience of working with sight loss is not required as comprehensive training will be provided.

The Job Description and Person Specification can be found on our Work For Us webpage along with details of how to apply for this post.  Sight Support West of England is committed to quality, equality and valuing diversity, and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

As a sight loss charity, we particularly encourage applicants with personal experience of sight loss to apply. As this role will lead on the development of services with underserved communities, we also encourage applicants from these communities to apply.

Closing Date: Monday 4th November 2024 at 5pm. Interviews will take place the week of the 11th of November at our Bristol office.

Could you represent us?

We are receiving more requests for charity representation at events like awareness talks, cheque presentations, and charity engagements. We’re also looking to run fundraising stalls at community events like fairs and information days.

We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in helping, whether it’s suggesting events, manning a stall, representing us at ceremonies, or becoming a Volunteer Speaker delivering talks to community groups about your personal story as well as increasing audience understanding of visual impairment and the work and impact of Sight Support (training and support are provided).

To learn more, contact Becs at 07849 833 047 or email volunteering@sightsupportwest.org.uk

Sight Support Hubs and Social Groups

Our sight loss advice hubs provide a space for consultations with your local advisor, offering information, guidance, and advice on equipment and technology. You can explore a selection of helpful aids, and many hubs also offer tech support and training from trained advisors or volunteers. Additionally, most hubs host social groups where you can meet others, share tips and tricks, and enjoy a chat.

For full details of our sight loss advice hubs and social groups, see our website which has the latest information, or you can call our office on 0117 3224885. Click here for our website hub and social group listings. You can put your postcode in the search bar to find your nearest hub.

Events & Notices From Other Organisations

These events and notices are from other organisations. Please check with the contact given that the event is going ahead as planned. Sometimes changes need to be made to dates and times at short notice.

SoundScribe recruiting for VI consultant

SoundScribe is recruiting a blind or visually impaired person of Black heritage based in Bristol or the surrounding area to consult on two short films by filmmaker and activist, Dan Guthrie.

His new work references a 17th century Blackboy Clock in Stroud, a racist mechanised depiction of a Black boy figurine. Dan and audio describer, Elaine are creating audio description that stages a dialogue between a subjective voice and objective voice, encouraging listeners to consider their own perspective in relation to colonial artefacts.

Role: Attend a walkthrough of the show at Spike Island and provide feedback on AD. Looking for keen audio description users and film enthusiasts.

Remuneration: £300 Start date: November

Please contact Elaine at elaine@soundscribe.co.uk

Hope Tech Plus – Assistive Technology Survey

Hope Tech Plus is an assistive technology company, developing products through user-testing and participant research. Visit Hope Tech Website

To improve access to new assistive technology and offer greater support to the VI community, they are inviting potential users to take part in a short, confidential survey on their experiences of  accessing assistive tech. Link to survey  Hope Tech survey

If, in addition you would like to help with further research by sharing your own story and experience of using assistive technology, please contact  Laura@HopeTech.Vision directly.

They are grateful for your support and will share the results in the near future.

Inclusive Social Play Research Project

The inclusivexplay project team at the University of Bristol is seeking participants for several studies. The aim of the project is to create inclusive play technologies for blind and visually impaired (BVI) children, as well as their sighted peers.

The team is looking for families with BVI children aged 2-4 years. They would like to observe BVI and sighted children during playtime, using video recordings. Additionally, they wish to speak with parents to gather their experiences and ideas about inclusive play. A small financial contribution will be provided to support involvement, along with coverage of travel and sustenance costs.

There are also future opportunities for families to contribute to the design and development of new, inclusive toys for social play.

To sign up or find out more, contact Amy at:

amy.hicks@bristol.ac.uk

Leonard Cheshire Paid Internships

Change 100 is Leonard Cheshire’s flagship programme of paid summer internships, professional development and mentoring.

Alongside your paid internship, Change 100 provides support and guidance in sharing your disability and identifying and requesting workplace adjustments.

Deadline for applications is November 21 2024.

Who is eligible?

To apply to Change 100 you must:

  • Consider yourself to have a disability or long-term condition as defined in the Equality Act 2010.
  • Be in your penultimate or final year of university level study, or have graduated within the last five years.
  • Have the right to work in the UK for a summer.

See more at Leonard Cheshire’s internship webpage

Free Alexa Device from British Wireless for the Blind Fund

People living with sight loss can apply for a free Echo Show or Echo Dot device from the British Wireless for the Blind Fund. To qualify, they need to receive certain disability or income-related benefits and have an internet connection at home. Apply for a free Alexa device here: Referrals – British Wireless for the Blind Fund

RNIB Online Workshop – accessible healthcare information

Do you want to learn how to speak up for your right to accessible healthcare information? Would you like to campaign with local health and social care services, to make sure they’re providing accessible information to patients?

Join RNIB’s campaign team next month in one of their online workshops to learn what you’re entitled to and what you can do to campaign for change.

Upcoming workshops:

  • Speaking up for your right to accessible healthcare information: 4 November, 6pm to 8pm, and 5 November, 10am to 12pm.
  • Campaigning with local health services: 12 November, 6pm to 8pm and 13 November, 2pm to 4pm.

The sessions will be online video calls using Microsoft Teams, but you can also join using your landline or mobile phone.

To find out more and get involved, email campaigns@rnib.org.uk and let them know which session you’d like to join.

Local Leisure and Sporting Activities / Events

For a list of regular sport and leisure groups that don’t change each month and offered by other organisations, please see our website: Regular sport and leisure groups webpage

VIP Reading Group – Bristol Central Library, College Green

Takes place on the last Thursday of every month from 10.30 till 12.  New members welcome.

Audio books are chosen by members, mainly from RNIB’s talking book service so it’s helpful if you have already signed up. The next books are:

  • 31 October –The Outsider by Albert Camus. Or L’Etranger for those who want to read it in French
  • 28 November – Yellowface by R F Kuang
  • There will be no meeting in December. Instead there will be meetings on
  • 3 January – Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem
  • 30 January – Book to be decided
  • 27 February – Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris

For further information please email vibookgroup.bristol@gmail.com or ring Katharine Seymour at the Central Library on 07880 069877

Impact Driver, The Mount Without

November 21st 8pm, touch tour at 6.45pm

Eve Stainton’s, Impact Driver is a 60 minute show centred around a welding container. It is inside and around this container that 6 performers engage in welding, sound-making and dancing, using the welding as a metaphor for queer sexuality. Sparks literally fly to a live soundtrack of punk guitar riffs. There are moments of bright light throughout the show and some nudity. Ear defenders can be borrowed from the access team and we recommend sunglasses for those with light sensitive conditions. Audience members are invited to roam freely through the space.

Two describers will be voicing during the performance, sometimes in dialogue with each other, sometimes welding together their separate perceptions. A touch tour kicks off at 6.45pm at The Mount Without in Bristol where you can meet the choreographer and handle some welding equipment and costumes.  Here is the link to Audio introduction for Impact Driver on YouTube. Contact elaine@soundscribe.co.uk for more information.

Chat-e-Cycle tricycle taxi service

A new tricycle taxi service, Chat-e-Cycle, has been launched in the Somer Valley to help people with any mobility issues, including people with visual impairments,  get out and about. This side-by-side electric tandem trike allows two people to cycle together while chatting. The electric assist makes hills and country lanes easier, letting riders exert themselves as much or as little as they like. More than just transport, Chat-e-Cycle aims to reduce social isolation and promote physical activity.  Bookings now available for those in or around Chilcompton, whether you want to ride or know someone who would like to volunteer as a cycle pilot.

Website: https://www.chatecycle.com/

Contact Kate on: chatecycle@gmail.com / 01761 231433

Support Groups and Courses

Regular Support Groups

For a list of regular support groups offered by other organisations that take place locally and online, see our website: Webpage for regular support groups and services

Bath Macular Group

The Bath Macular Support group will meet on Wednesday 20th November when Jo Fishwick, the area manager for the Macular Society, will speak. They meet at The Bubble (Good Living) St John’s Foundation, situated behind The Cross Bath at 2.0pm. Coffee and Tea is provided and the cost is £2 per meeting. All Welcome!

Contact Jo Fishwick on 07947 373 244 or Jo.Fishwick@macularsociety.org to find out more information or find other groups.

RNIB Living Well with Sight Loss Courses

These RNIB courses cover a range of topics related to sight loss, including daily living tips, eye health, magnification, lighting, technology, and wellbeing.

Upcoming Phone Group Sessions:

Course 1: Mon 4th Nov, Wed 6th Nov, Mon 11th Nov and Wed 13th Nov.  Time: 11am

  • Course 2: Thurs 7th Nov, Thurs 14th Nov, Thurs 21st Nov and Thurs 28th Nov. Time: 11am

Focus on Money Matters:

  • Tues 5th Nov, Tues 12th Nov, Tues 19th Nov and Tues 25th Nov. Time: 11am

December Courses:

  • Course 1: Mon 2nd Dec, Wed 4th Dec, Mon 9th Dec and Wed 11th Dec. Time: 11am
  • Course 2: Thurs 5th Dec, Fri 6th Dec, Thurs 12th Dec and Fri 13th Dec. Time: 11am

Contact Information:

Local Audio Described Arts Events

Galleries and Museums

Arnolfini Gallery

16th November 7.30 to 9pm Plantation A

An experimental sonic theatre work based on Alain Robbe-Grillet’s 1957 novel Jealousy, composed by Edward Jessen and presented by Phaedra Ensemble. This contemporary opera includes elements of audio description integrated into the performance. Audio introductory notes providing more information about the performance can be listened to here Plantation A Audio Intro Notes

The performance will begin at 7.30pm. Concession tickets are available at £8. Tickets can be bought online, by phone on 0117 917 2300 or by email at enquiries@arnolfini.org.uk .

Plantation A at Arnolfini webpage

Rinko Kawauchi: At the edge of the everyday world. There will be 2 described tours. Celebrating over twenty years of work by this acclaimed Japanese photographer’s poetic images.

Tours will be on:

  • Saturday 23rd November 2024 – 10am to 11am and
  • Saturday 25th January 2025 – 10am to 11am.

Coffee and cake provided in the café afterwards.

To book email community@arnolfini.org.uk  and say if you need a sighted guide.

Royal West of England Academy

Saturday 7 December 10.30 – 12.00.

The second audio described tour of the 171st Open Exhibition with more works to discuss and handle. Refreshments available after the tour.

Book with Connie.Ngan@rwa.org.uk  or phone learning and engagement team on 07425 889894. Please say whether you will bring a sighted companion or need a volunteer guide.

Bath, Victoria Art Gallery

Art on Mondays talks for VI Visitors

  • 11 November – Robert Grieve – Exhibiting artist
  • 9 December – David Birks – Exhibiting artist
  • 27 January – Nixon and Rowlandson 18th century caricaturists

Sessions run from 10–11.30 am. But as the gallery is closed to the public on those days ring 01225 477232 for access information or email Kersti Haabjoern – Kersti_Haabjoern@bathnes.gov.uk

Theatres – Upcoming Audio Described Shows

Bristol Hippodrome

  • 21 November – Mary Poppins
  • 2 January – Goldilocks and the 3 Bears
  • 24 January – & Juliet. A musical show featuring songs by pop divas like Britney Spears and Ariana Grande
  • 6 February – Only Fools and Horses

Book touch tours separately. Contact Access for All service – email bristoladmin@theambassadors.com or call the access booking line 0333 009 5399 for tickets

Bristol Old Vic

  • 16 November – Never let me Go – based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • 21 December – The Little Mermaid
  • 29 March – Romeo & Juliet

For more details and to book – ring the Box office – 0117 987 7877

Tobacco Factory Theatre

Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1TF

3 and 4 January – Hansel and Gretel. The classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm with a modern twist

Box Office on 0117 902 0344

Bath – Theatre Royal

Pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – 18 December 2pm and 11 January 7pm

.For those wishing to listen to the audio description, hearing devices will be available from all bars when the house opens half an hour before the performance is due to begin. They also have a demonstration device available at the box office if you wish to familiarise yourself with it beforehand.

All bookers for the AD performances will be emailed a day or two prior, with a link to audible pre-show notes from our audio describer.

To book tickets please visit theatreroyal.org.uk or to ensure the access register discount is applied, please call our box office team directly on 01225 448844.

For tickets and information phone the box office on 01225 448844 and ask to subscribe to the Theatre’s Access List.

The What’s On E-newsletter as a Word Document:

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11. Sight Support Whats On November 2024 (DOCX, 120 KB)