Wiltshire Sight What’s On E-Newsletter for November 2024

Find out about local notices, groups and events that are accessible to anyone living with sight loss.

Welcome to your monthly update of accessible groups, services and events in Wiltshire and Swindon. This update mainly covers November 2024.

If you are interested in What’s On e-newsletters from our partner charities Sight Support West of England and Insight Gloucestershire, as well as our Children and Young People What’s On e-newsletter, you can find links to them on our 2024 What’s On E-Newsletters webpage

Wiltshire Sight Events and Notices

Christmas Craft Fayre

We are thrilled to be hosting a Christmas Craft Fayer in Swindon in November.  We would love for you to join us for a festive afternoon with craft stalls, Christmas cards, sweets & treats, tombola, and children’s games! A Community Sight Loss Advisor will be available to offer information about our services.

Saturday 23rd November1-4pm. Free entry.

Swindon Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square, Swindon, SN1 5BP.

Join Us for an Accessible Performance of Twelfth Night – Play On!

On the 31st of October at 2:15 PM, there will be an audio-described performance of the new musical adaptation of Twelfth Night – Play On! at Salisbury Playhouse. Before the show, there will also be a touch tour available which can really enhance the experience for those living with sight loss.

Wiltshire Sight’s Salisbury social group will be attending the touch tour and gathering for a quick drink before the performance. If you’d like to join us, please give us a call on 01380 723682.

To book your seat for the musical, contact the Salisbury Playhouse box office directly on 01722 320333. If you have a CVI, carers can attend free of charge.

Coffee morning in St Thomas’ Church, Salisbury

Wiltshire Sight are holding a coffee morning in St Thomas’ Church, St Thomas’s Square, Salisbury, SP1 1BA on Saturday 30th November from 9.30-12noon.  Do come and join us for coffee and cake.  Any donations of cakes / traybakes gratefully received – just let Lucy know by calling 01380 723 682.

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 Wiltshire Sight (training and support are provided).

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

Wiltshire Sight Hubs and Social Groups

Our sight loss advice hubs provide a local space for consultations with your advisor, offering information, guidance, and advice on equipment and technology. You can explore a selection of helpful aids and discover how technology can help you. 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 01380 723682. Click here for our website hub and social group listings. You can put your postcode in the search bar to find your nearest hub.

Changes To Note for Upcoming Hubs

  • The Tisbury advice hub and social group will now be running on the third Thursday of the month from 11-1pm in the Nadder centre from the 21st November.

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, so it is best to check with the organisation before the event takes place.

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.

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

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.

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

Local Leisure and Sporting Activities / Events

Join All Abilities Bowls Wiltshire for inclusive lawn bowls in Swindon, the only place in Wiltshire with internationally qualified coaches! Open to all abilities, they provide adaptive equipment, expert coaching, and a welcoming community. Enjoy fun, fitness, and friendship every Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm at Swindon Manor Indoor Bowls Club. Equipment is provided; just bring flat-soled shoes.

Contact Richard Ball at 07703893166 or email richardb290@gmail.com for details.

Discover why players of all abilities love this accessible sport!

Swindon Blind Craft Club

Swindon Blind Craft Club meets every Tuesday between 10 am and 1 pm and is run by Lou Curtis at Swindon Blind Association, Craven House, 145 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BU. Parking available and bus stop opposite. Bring your own lunch. Carers welcome.

You can enjoy a wide variety of activities, including creating baskets, painting, and tile decoration! Get in touch with Lou if you want to come along and find out more: 07703 306 403.

Swindon Bats Sports & Social Club

Swindon Bats have a variety of groups:

Contact them at: info@swindonbats.org or call their Secretary Sue Mead on 07788150487

Swindon Bats Monday Club

Takes place at Craven House, Swindon on the 2nd Monday of the month from 1pm-3pm a chance for you to meet and socialise with other VIPs. This month they will be learning about and having a go at VIP Chess!

Swindon Bats Weekly Tenpin Bowling

Meets at Tenpin West Swindon:

Wednesdays-12:15pm-2:30pm

Mondays- 18:45pm-21:00pm

Bowls Club in Chippenham

The Bowls Club in Chippenham are running a weekly indoor bowls club for people with sight loss and other disabilities.  Taking place at North Wilts Bowls Club in Chippenham (near Sainsburys) each Friday 4-5pm, September – Easter.  Coaching is given.  The contact for this club is Maureen on 01249 657228.

Devizes PHAB Group

(Physically disabled and Able bodied) an organisation which brings people with and without disabilities together. See their program of events at Devizes PHAB meetings and events

Support Groups and Courses

Swindon Chat group

Last Tuesday of the month 5.15pm

Contact communityconnectionsouthwest@rnib.org.uk

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:

RNIB Swindon Chat group

Fourth Thursday in the month from 10am to 12 noon.

General chat with advice from ECLO / ROVI at Craven House, Swindon. Contact: Bernice Cocking

Bernice.Cocking@rnib.org.uk  07761 328571

Local Audio Described Arts Events

Salisbury Playhouse

  • 31 October 2.15pm – Play On! a new musical version of Twelfth Night (AD & Touch Tour)

There will be a Wiltshire Sight social group meeting at the touch tour of the musical, call us if you would like to join us. Book your tickets directly with the Playhouse for the musical.

  • 17 and 19 December – Sleeping Beauty (AD & Touch Tour)

Wiltshire Creative Accessible Performances webpage

To buy tickets call 01722 320333 or email  ticketsales@wiltshirecreative.co.uk

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

Click the link below to download the newsletter as a Word document

11. Wiltshire Sight Whats On November 2024 (DOCX, 101 KB)