Open Hand Autumn 2017

Autumn 2017 

The magazine of Deafblind UK – putting you in the picture 

Inside: 

• nSafe as houses 

• nAll about alternative therapy 

• nDid you know about... Tele-befriending 

p18 

Accessibility 

at Stonehenge

What’s inside? 

News 

P4 News 

P7 You said it, we did it! 

P8 What’s on? 

P9 Member news 

P10 Regional roundup 

Information 

P12 Digital update 

P14 Healthy body, 

healthy mind 

P16 Safe as houses 

P18 Accessibility at 

Stonehenge 

P20 All about alternative 

therapy 

P22 Try something new 

Features 

P24 Did you know about… 

Tele-befrienders 

P25 Be part of tomorrow 

P26 Something for 

everyone 

P28 Eye care at home 

P30 Priority Services 

Register 

P32 Bill’s Board 

P34 A word of thanks 

All about alternative therapy 

Editor: 

David Evans 

info@deafblind.org.uk 

Design: 

Lovely Cuppa Design 

Published by: 

Deafblind UK 

© Deafblind UK 2017 

Pass it on 

Please share this edition 

of Open Hand with friends 

and family and even your 

local doctor or optician’s 

waiting rooms when you are 

finished with it. 

2 Open Hand

Welcome 

The recent celebrations of Deafblind Awareness Week 

reminded me just how far we have come in raising 

awareness of dual sensory loss. We only need to glance 

at social media or to turn on the TV and we are reminded 

of just how many people are interested and engaged in 

supporting our cause. 

For people living with combined sight and hearing loss, 

there has never been a better time. We are starting to see a 

very definite change in public attitude; bank notes and coins 

are becoming more accessible, subtitles and BSL clips are 

increasingly used on TV and we benefit from technology 

that no-one would have dreamed of when Deafblind UK was 

founded. There is still a long way to go but this is a hugely 

positive step and one that makes me proud to be part of 

such an exciting time for people with dual sensory loss. 

So, it is exciting times for the sector and exciting times for 

Deafblind UK. We recently welcomed Shirley Scotcher to 

the organisation as Director of Fundraising. Shirley joins us 

with a wealth of experience in 

fundraising for disability charities 

and is very passionate about 

championing the cause for 

people with sight and hearing 

loss. I’m sure you will join me in 

welcoming her on board. 

David Evans 

Chairman 

David Evans 

Open Hand 

3

News 

Deafblind Awareness Week 2017 

Deafblind Awareness Week was bigger and better than ever this 

year and we certainly got stuck in to raise awareness of sight 

and hearing loss. Here’s a snapshot of what we got up to… 

Sight and hearing 

loss information day 

Having fun at the sight and 

hearing loss information day 

Our sight and hearing loss 

information day in London 

gave members of the public 

and other organisations advice 

and guidance on how to deal 

with sight and hearing loss 

and how to access support. 

Visitors also had the chance to 

take part in a sensory collage 

using scented paints. 

Doughnut 

decorating 

Our Peterborough social 

group enjoyed an afternoon 

of doughnut decorating 

(and eating!) with national 

doughnut chain, Krispy 

Kreme. Members were able to 

decorate their own doughnut, 

take part in a taste test and 

even do the Krispy Kreme 

‘doughnut dance’! 

Doughnut 

decorating 

with Krispy 

Kreme 


In the news 

Did you spot Deafblind 

UK in the news? We 

managed to gain over 

14 appearances in local 

and national newspapers, 

radio and TV throughout 

the week! 

Awareness Talks 

We held a range of talks to 

raise awareness of sight and 

hearing loss and to teach 

people how to 

communicate 

with people 

who are 

deafblind. 

Anika giving 

an awareness talk 

Rainbow Court 

Fun Day 

Our assisted living complex, 

Rainbow Court, held its annual 

summer fun day last month. 

The great British rain didn’t stop 

the fun though and everyone 

enjoyed games, competitions, a 

raffle and of course a barbeque! 

Wet sponge throwing at the 

Rainbow Court fun day 

Information stands 

Deafblind UK staff manned over 

20 information stands in hospitals, 

libraries and shopping centres 

throughout the week. Members of 

the public were interested to talk 

to us about dual sensory loss and 

hear about our services. 

A busy 

information stand 


5

Relaxed Prom 

Our members had a great time 

at the first ever BBC Relaxed 

Prom in July. The concert, 

which was designed for people 

with learning disabilities, autism 

and sensory loss, included 

interpreters in the aisles and 

large screens. The orchestra 

wore colour coded tops to 

distinguish each instrument. 

Good news for 

public transport 

The RNIB’s ‘Stop for Me, 

Speak to Me’ campaign aims 

to address the key issues that 

make travelling by bus difficult 

for people with reduced 

sight. The UK’s largest bus 

operators have now signed up 

to the new charter, pledging a 

better experience for visually 

impaired people! 

For more information visit 

www.rnib.org.uk. 

Relaxed Prom 

Deafblind UK 

turns 90! 

Deafblind UK was founded in 

1928, which means we will be 

turning 90 next year – and we’d 

like you to help us celebrate! 

Do you have an interesting 

story that you’d like to tell us 

about? Do you have any early 

editions of Open Hand (or 

Rainbow as it was previously 

known)? Or, will you also be 

turning 90 next year? 

If so, we’d like to hear from 

you, please get in touch 

using the details on the back 

of this magazine. 


You said it... 

We did it! 

Round table discussions at 

the forum 

Representatives from across the country joined us in June for our 

first ever National Forum. This was a chance for members to tell 

us what they really think about the services that we provide – and 

here’s what we’ve done about it… 

You said: “We love the digital 

inclusion service – can we have 

more of it?” 

Staff and members 

deep in conversation 

You said: “We’d like another 

caravan to use!” 

We did: We raised funds to buy 

a new caravan in North Wales 

for our members to enjoy. 

You said: “We would like to see 

Deafblind UK more involved 

with other organisations” 

We did: We are in talks with 

various organisations to form 

closer working relationships, 

including British Blind Sports 

and In Good Hands. 

We did: We are currently 

raising funds to enhance and 

expand the digital inclusion 

service so that we can serve 

more members. 

You said: “We would like more 

volunteer befrienders” 

We did: We are embarking 

on a project to recruit more 

volunteers so that we can offer 

more befrienders to those who 

need them. 

Staff and 

members 

having a 

laugh 


7

What’s On 

Here’s your roundup of the best places to be over the next few 

months. If you know of an event that you think we should list here, 

please let us know! 

18-24th September 

National Eye Health Week, 

Nationwide 

During National Eye Health 

Week, different organisations 

will be holding events and 

activities to raise awareness 

about eye health and let 

people know how to look 

after their eyes! For more 

information, check out 

www.visionmatters.org.uk. 

22nd September 

Low Vision Day, 

Peterborough 

We are proud to host the 2017 

Peterborough Low Vision 

Day at our head office! This 

is an event for people with 

low or no vision and it helps 

anyone connected to sight 

loss (individuals, friends, 

family, professionals) to find 

out just which clubs, activities 

and support are available 

in Peterborough and the 

8 Open Hand 

surrounding areas. A wide 

range of items to help with 

daily life will be on display and 

a chance to talk to organisers 

of the activities and services 

available in Peterborough. 

27th September 

Sight Village Roadshow, 

Manchester 

An exhibition hosted by Queen 

Alexandra College which 

showcases technical solutions for 

people with vision impairments. 

It is described as “the premier 

exhibition for blind and partiallysighted 

people in the UK”. The 

event will be at the Marriott 

Renaissance Hotel, Blackfriars 

Street on 27th September 2017. 

Closeup of an eye looking 

straight ahead

Member News 

A poem written by Deafblind UK member Pratima in 

dedication to her daughter… 

My Daughter, my heart, 

my love 

You bring me such joy 

In so many ways 

Like a warm and radient sun 

That brightens my days 

Your beauty, your confidence 

Your spirit so strong 

All shine from within 

Like a wonderful song 

Your talent, your grace 

The gift that you share 

With Faith and with wisdom 

Show the way that you care 

Your plans and your dreams 

From what’s yet to be 

Your ideas for the future 

Are the hope shared with me 

So I’ll love you forever 

Because straight from 

the start 

You filled me with love 

And put a smile on my heart 

You’re my beautiful daughter 

A promise come true 

God gave me a miracle 

When he gave me you 

My heart full of joy 

A note from the Queen 

When Deafblind UK member 

Mohammed wrote to The 

Queen to notify her of his 

services during the second 

world war he was touched to 

receive a letter of appreciation 

from Buckingham Palace in 

response. Congratulations 

Mohammed! 

Pratima 

If you have any news, 

stories or letters that you 

would like to tell us about, 

please send them to 

Deafblind UK using the 

contact details on the back 

Open Hand 9 

of the magazine.

Regional Roundup: North Wales 

In each edition of Open Hand we will bring you a roundup of the 

services and activities on offer for members in certain areas. If you 

would like to take part in any future activities, please contact us. 

Capturing beauty 

Members enjoying the 

photographic trip 

Wrexham-based volunteer, 

Trevor Lockyer, has been 

treating our members to 

photography trips over the 

summer. The trips were 

planned based on destinations 

mentioned in the famous 

poem “The Seven Wonders of 

Wales”. The most outstanding 

photographs from the trip will 

be selected to appear in the 

Wrexham group’s calendar, 

produced each Christmas to 

raise funds. 

Making memories 

Rhyl-based members have been 

enjoying arts and crafts sessions, 

making beautiful items such as fridge 

magnets, photo frames and Easter 

bonnets, while professional artist 

Sian Hughes recently led a workshop 

on the cyanotype printing process. 

Many of the team’s wares go towards 

fundraising stalls at local events. 

Audrey with her 

Easter bonnet 


Members fishing by the river 

Hook, line 

and sinker 

Ever wanted to try fishing? 

Members from Rhyl and 

Wrexham enjoyed regular 

fishing trips over the summer 

months, organised by the 

Anglesey Angling Association. 

The team provide specialist 

fishing coaches who are trained 

to work with visually impaired 

people. The trips have received 

great feedback, with members 

saying: “I love the fishing 

trips. They’re a great day out!” 

Volunteer Ray Peters was so 

impressed, he even trained to 

become a coach himself! 

Going digital 

Our Digital Inclusion 

sessions continue to 

delight in Wrexham as 

our members begin to 

learn more about assistive 

technology. Each session 

is led by Digital Inclusion 

Officer, Tim Locke, who 

ensures each individual 

makes the most of the 

technology available to 

them and tailors it to their 

needs. The sessions have 

proved so popular that they 

have also been arranged in 

Llandudno and Rhyl. 

Musical madness 

To celebrate Deafblind 

Awareness Week back in June, 

we held a ukulele concert for 

members. Friends and family 

were entertained by the Princess 

Court Ukulele Band, and guests 

treated themselves to some 

gifts at arts and crafts and 

homemade goodies stands. 

The concert raised £400 for 

local groups whilst helping to 

raise awareness. 


11

Digital Update 

In order to improve and enrich our members’ 

lives, our Digital Inclusion service helps to make 

the most of assistive technology. The service involves teaching 

sessions by the Deafblind UK team, to help members make their 

everyday lives easier with modern devices. 

Imtiaz at the Bradford 

Digital Inclusion Group 

Meet Imtiaz 

Imtiaz is a Deafblind Digital 

Support Ambassador (DDSA). 

He is registered blind and has 

been a keen campaigner for 

more than 20 years. Imtiaz 

is keen to share his technical 

knowledge of hand-held devices 

such as smartphones and 

recently gave a demonstration 

to the Salford group about 

an app that reads out text. 

He says: “Many older people 

are intimidated by modern 

technology. It’s about confidence 

building as well as teaching 

new skills.” 

Care in the community 

Patients from Bristol Eye 

Hospital recently attended a 

session led by Deafblind UK’s 

Digital Officers to learn how to 

use accessibility settings on 

their devices. Eye Clinic Liaison 

Officer Laura would now like 

to hold regular sessions after 

receiving positive feedback 

from visitors, who were amazed 

at what memories they could 

recall using a Google search. 

Technology Day at the Bristol 

Eye Hospital 


From novice to 

know-it-all! 

Sheila Cubis is profoundly 

deaf and suffers from macular 

degeneration. After the fax 

machines she was using to 

communicate with her daughters 

became obsolete, she sought 

out new technologies to stay 

in touch. Our Digital Inclusion 

Officer Tim taught Sheila 

and her daughter how to use 

Synapptic software and she 

is now a confident tablet user; 

enjoying both emailing and 

Skype calling her daughters. 

Sheila using her tablet 

Tim’s 

top tip 

If you have an iPad or 

iPhone with iOS 10 or 

above, you can use it 

to read text aloud to 

you. To set this up, go 

to ‘Settings’, then select 

‘General’. Next, go to 

‘Accessibility’ and select 

‘Speech’. Turn on the 

‘Speak Screen’ option. 

Once you have set it 

up, you can initiate the 

text speech in an app by 

swiping down with two 

fingers over the text that 

you want to read. 

Get in touch via our 

contact page for more 

information on our 

Digital Inclusion service. 


13

Healthy body, 

healthy mind 

A silhouette of a yoga pose 

No matter what your age 

or ability, keeping active 

is a great way to spend 

your spare time, meet new 

people and maintain your 

physical health. While you 

enjoy the warmer weather, 

taking up a new physical 

activity will help you to: 

• nImprove your physical 

health 

• nIncrease energy levels 

• nSleep better 

• nMeet new people 

• nLearn a new skill 

• nMake you feel happier 

and more confident 


Trying something new 

If you’re new to exercise, the 

idea of trying something new 

can be quite daunting. To help 

ease you in, consider asking 

a friend to join you in trying 

out a new sport or activity. 

Many modern health clubs 

have accessible facilities to 

help you enjoy light activities 

A group of 

walkers with backpacks

such as swimming. You can 

also request assistance from 

our support service, About Me. 

(For more information, turn to 

page 26.) Some light activities 

to help you get out into your 

community and improve your 

health include: 

• nSwimming 

• nWalking 

• nRiding 

• nYoga/Pilates 

Pumping iron 

It may surprise you to hear 

that local gyms can offer 

ample choice when it comes 

to exercise for the vision and 

hearing impaired – just ask our 

Belfast social group. In June, 

members Sally, Martin and 

Mary arranged a group visit to 

the Momentum Lite gymnasium 

at Newtownards Leisure 

Centre. As the group had prebooked 

their session, the gym 

kindly provided extra staff to 

assist them as they made their 

way around the weights and 

treadmills, even stopping off for 

tea and biscuits afterwards! 

Volunteers at Deafblind 

Northern Ireland said: “The 

friendly, helpful staff worked 

with each member individually, 

providing guidance on how to 

use each station safely. The 

group are very keen to come 

back next month.” 

To find out about health and 

fitness services in your area, 

ask you local Deafblind UK 

Community Engagement 

Officer or, look for information 

in your local community centre, 

church, school gyms or even in 

supermarket advertisements, 

where details of local classes 

may be displayed. Many 

reputable facilities will be happy 

to provide extra staff to assist 

your visit. 

Deafblind NI members enjoying 

a gym session 


15

Safe as houses 

Our homes are one of the most important places of our lives; 

we all want to feel safe and comfortable at home, but what 

happens if you find it difficult to cope on your own? 

Here’s a quick guide to the various options: 

Support at home 

Support at home involves a 

care worker visiting your home 

to provide support in your 

day to day life. Deafblind UK 

provides this service through 

About Me Care and Support 

– turn to page 26 for more 

information. 

Assisted living 

Assisted or supported living is 

shared accommodation that is 

visited by multiple members of 

support staff. Unlike residential 

care homes, assisted living 

residents are responsible for 

their own accommodation and 

staff are on hand to provide 

support when needed. See the 

next page for more information 

about our very own assisted 

living complex, Rainbow Court. 

Residential homes 

For those who require support 

around the clock, residential 

homes offer dignified 

accommodation with day to 

day activities to encourage 

residents to socialise and 

communicate. 

A cosy sofa next to a 

coffee table 


Look inside: 

Rainbow Court 

A Rainbow Court resident 

in his greenhouse 

Situated just a few miles 

away from Deafblind UK’s 

headquarters in Peterborough, 

Rainbow Court is an assisted 

living complex comprising 16 

accessible flats. Residents also 

have access to a communal 

lounge and kitchen where they 

can relax and chat to each other 

or support workers; watch TV, 

play games and have a cuppa. 

There is also a fully accessibly 

digital suite, greenhouses and 

micro allotments. 

There is rarely a quiet day at 

Rainbow Court with lots of 

activities taking place throughout 

the week such as exercise 

classes, cookery sessions, arts 

and crafts sessions and ‘Boccia 

and Beer’ on Fridays! 

The residents also arrange 

events such as their annual 

summer fete with stalls, music 

and food. 

Rainbow Court currently 

has a vacancy for a 

one-bedroom first floor flat 

with a fully fitted kitchen and 

wetroom. Rental charges are 

£203.73 per week exclusive 

of utilities, with day and 

night support available from 

£20 per hour. For more 

information, please contact 

us using the details on our 

contact page. Open Hand 17

Accessibility at Stonehenge 

Stonehenge ©English Heritage 

Stonehenge dates back to 

3000BC and is the bestknown 

pre-historic monument 

in Europe, providing a 

fascinating insight into our 

Neolithic ancestors. A visit 

to Stonehenge will allow 

you to explore the ancient 

burial ground on foot, before 

discovering the Neolithic 

Houses, giving a glimpse into 

the tools and objects of the 

Neolithic people. 

Facilities for 

Deafblind Visitors 

With 250 objects on display, 

English Heritage has made 

considerable effort to ensure 

the attraction can be enjoyed 

by all visitors. As such, there 


are audio and audio descriptive 

tours available, as well as 

a tour transcript. A number 

of the exhibits on display 

are also tactile and feature 

subtitles, BSL and a hearing 

loop together with large print 

exhibition text on request. If 

you would like to bring a guide 

dog with you, water bowls can 

be provided, and the team also 

has volunteers who can assist 

you and signpost quiet spaces 

if required. 

Stonehenge ©English Heritage

e 

What’s On 

Standing in the Stones 

This 360 degree tour of the 

stones will take you through 

all four seasons within the 

monument, from the height 

of summer to the chilly 

depths of the winter solstice. 

An interactive map also 

allows you to discover the 

environment at Stonehenge: 

how it was, how it is now and 

what it will become in years 

to come. 

Stonehenge Exhibition 

Go inside the visitor 

centre for the Stonehenge 

Exhibition, where you’ll 

have access to the entire 

Stonehenge collection 

including items on loan from 

the Salisbury Museum and 

the Wiltshire Museum. 

The Ancient Landscape 

This tour allows you to 

discover the wonders that 

surround the 6,500-acre 

landscape towards the stones. 

Wish You Were Here 

The newest addition to 

Stonehenge’s exhibitions, 

Wish You Were Here is 

a celebration of the way 

in which Stonehenge has 

been experienced by its 

thousands of visitors, with 

a look into its cultural icon 

status through souvenirs, 

postcards, guidebooks and 

photographs. 

Inside the visitor centre at 

Stonehenge ©English Heritage 

To find out more about planning your visit to Stonehenge, 

visit English-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/Stonehenge 


19

All About… Alternative Therapy 

Alternative therapies provide non-invasive, unintimidating 

treatments that are beneficial to everyone. If you would like to 

try any of these out, contact us for details. 

Reminiscence therapy 

hand art 

How can alternative 

therapy help people with 

sight and hearing loss? 

This type of therapy largely 

relies on the help of others to 

create sensory experiences 

for those with visual and 

hearing impairments. It aims 

to encourage positive feelings 

by providing multisensory 

stimulation, or simply tapping 

into a person’s most treasured 

memories. All of these methods 

are designed to help a person 

feel at ease, without the need 

for doctors or medication. 

Interested in learning more? 

Here are some suggestions of 

different but beneficial therapies: 

Sensory art 

Sensory artists provide 

multisensory experiences for 

those who want to enjoy art 

beyond the visuals. Sensory art 

involves stimulating our sense 

of touch and smell by using a 

variety of different materials. 

Some Deafblind UK members 

were luck enough to experience 

this while making collages 

with a local sensory artist in 

London during Deafblind 

Awareness Week. 

Sensory 

art using 

scented 

paints 



Reminiscence therapy involves 

working on creative projects 

to encourage good memories 

through touch, smell and 

sounds. Sharing and reflecting 

on our memories with others of 

a similar age helps to reduce 

isolation and create new 

friendships as we find comfort 

and pleasure through common 

experiences. 


hand art and life books 

Therapy dogs 

There’s no truer loyalty than 

that of man’s best friend 

and this is particularly true 

in the case of therapy dogs. 

These kind-natured animals 

provide companionship for the 

elderly, those in hospices or 

retirement homes, or people 

with disabilities. There are many 

organisations who can provide 

regular visits from therapy dogs 

to combat loneliness, such as 

Buckinghamshire-based Pets as 

Therapy, whose establishments 

describe their weekly visits as 

“something to really look forward 

to and brighten up our day.” 

Music Therapy 

There are many ways to 

engage in music, from joining 

choir or a band to listening to 

music or feeling the vibrations. 

Deafblind UK member, Russ 

Palmer has worked with 

deafblind people as a music 

therapist for 25 years. He says: 

“It is clear we are all able to 

feel musical vibrations through 

our bodies. Music Therapy can 

be used as a tool to enhance 

communication, relaxation, or 

to come to terms with various 

past and current traumatic and 

psychological experiences.” 

For more information visit www.russpalmer.com 


21

Try something new 

Whatever your age, hobbies 

or ability, learning a new skill 

is a great way of meeting new 

people and boosting your 

confidence. Over the years 

we have met many members 

who have astounded us with 

the skills they have learned, 

proving that whatever your 

ability, there is no barrier to 

doing the things you love. We 

spoke to some of our members 

about learning a new skill. 

A notebook and pencil 

Di Wade 

You may remember Di from 

our summer issue – she has 

recently published a poetry 

anthology, A Year in Verse, with 

proceeds going to Deafblind UK. 

While Di first began brailing and 

typing poetry in childhood, she 

recalls a creative writing course 

that propelled her into publishing 

her work. She says: “We had 

to write a romantic poem for 

Valentine’s Day, but I struggled 

and instead came up with a 

comic verse. To my surprise, 

it was met with a roar of 

appreciative laughter, which set 

me thinking about how poetry 

could be used. I have been 

sharing my poems with friends 

and colleagues ever since.” 

The cover of ‘A year 

in Verse’ by Di Wade 

Copies of A 

Year in Verse 

can be ordered 

by emailing 

diwadepoetry@gmail.com. 


Mark Pampell 

Keen pianist Mark has Usher 

Syndrome Type 3, which 

requires two hearing aids and 

severely impedes his vision, 

but that does not stop him from 

playing background music at 

his local Pizza Express on 

weekends. Mark learns by 

listening to a piece of music 

and replaying it with his own 

improvised variations. He also 

has a music assistant who 

uses tactile communications 

to tell him what the conductor 

is doing. 

Mark says the best way to learn 

is to use a keyboard with built 

in speakers and experiment by 

composing and improvising, 

for example, trying only black/ 

white keys. Mark plays with 

the London Symphony Create 

Orchestra (for those with 

learning and other difficulties) 

and recently played in London 

for Deafblind Awareness 

Week, calling the exhilaration a 

“natural high”. 

Playing the piano 

Try it yourself 

To try something new like Di and Mark, consider talking to: 

• nNearby colleges with evening courses 

• nLocal churches or community centres 

• nPublic gyms 


23

Did you know about… 

Tele-befriending? 

Our tele-befriending service has proved hugely beneficial in 

providing extra social contact to those who would like it. It gives 

you the chance to talk to a friendly volunteer every week over 

the phone about whatever you like! 

If you would like to benefit from 

this service, you will be matched 

with a trained volunteer who, 

where possible has similar 

interests to you. 

Tele-befriending provides our 

members with regular company 

and someone to talk to and 

laugh with. 85-year-old John 

is registered blind and uses 

hearing aids. He regularly 

chats with befriender Matthew. 

John says: “Matthew is a great 

listener. We have a good laugh 

and it’s great to have someone 

to talk to without worrying about 

going out and about.” 

Tele-befriending is part of our 

wider befriending service which 

also includes home befriending, 

social befriending and email 

befriending. 

John on the phone to his 

tele-befriender 

If you would like to benefit from our befriending service 

please contact us using the details on the last page. If you 

would like to become a befriender, go to Deafblinduk. 

current-vacancies.com. 


Be a part of tomorrow at 

Deafblind UK 

Did you know that last year 

money left to Deafblind 

UK in wills allowed us to 

provide our Digital Inclusion 

project, allowing more of 

our members to connect to 

others using technology? 

Writing your will may seem 

daunting, but it is one of the 

most important things you can 

do to ensure that your wishes 

are carried out. It makes things 

much easier for your loved 

ones, who will be comforted 

knowing that they are carrying 

out your final request. 

It’s a lot easier than people 

realise to make a will, often 

with just one single solicitors 

appointment. You don’t need 

lots of complicated paperwork, 

just a list of what you have and 

who you would like to leave it to. 

We recognise that your 

loved ones always 

come first. Choosing to 

leave a gift in your will 

to Deafblind UK, will 

allow us to continue and 

expand our services. 

If you have already left 

us a gift, please let 

us know as it helps us to 

plan our future. 

We always suggest using 

a qualified solicitor. Visit 

www.lawsociety.org.uk or 

call 0207 242 1222. 

Deafblind UK members using 

our Digital Inclusion service 


25

Something for everyone 

support attending appointments 

or meetings. About Me offers 

a totally personal experience, 

helping its clients to take control 

of their care whilst integrating 

with the local community. 

Being supported by 

About Me staff 

Deafblind UK’s unique 

social enterprise, About Me 

Care and Support (About 

Me) provides personalised 

services for those with 

sensory impairments 

throughout England. 

The team currently serves 

117 individuals in 36 local 

authority areas across the 

country, providing over 1,100 

hours of support each week. 

About Me works with both local 

authorities and self funders 

to provide personalised care 

services. This involves a care 

worker coming to the home to 

support with day to day activities. 

We also provide communicator 

guides for those who need 


Being supported by 

About Me staff 

About Me services are 

available to everyone 

and can be paid for 

either through your local 

authority or, if you don’t 

have a referral or would 

like additional services, 

by yourself.

Meet Anne 

Anne was born deaf and has 

since lost her sight but About 

Me support workers help Anne 

to feel included in every day 

life. They support her to do 

jobs around the house, like 

washing and cleaning and 

also to do everyday things 

that many of us take for granted, 

like going to the hairdressers, 

painting her nails or just having 

a coffee and a chat. 

Anne has always craved 

continuing to have an ordinary 

life but having no sight or 

hearing together with a 

curvature of the spine, means 

that she is limited in what she 

can do. So when she wanted 

to take her daughter Debra out 

for her birthday, Anne’s support 

worker, Tegwen, was able to 

help. Tegwen took Anne and 

her husband Eric to collect 

Debra before heading to a 

country pub for lunch. Anne 

Anne and Debra 

was absolutely delighted that 

she was able to treat Debra 

for her birthday like so many 

other mums do, but which is so 

difficult for Anne. 

About Me is regulated by the 

Care Quality Commission and 

can help you with a variety of 

services from communication 

support to accommodation 

and personal care. 

About Me 

Logo 

To find out more, visit www.aboutme.org.uk or 

call the voice and text service on 01733 213490. 


27

Eye care 

at home 

The latest NHS statistics 

suggest that 75% of over 

60’s suffer from visual 

impairment or sight loss, 

which can negatively impact 

their quality of life. Only 35% 

of over 60’s have regular eye 

examinations despite the 

service being free on the NHS. 

As we get older our bodies 

naturally begin to slow down 

and deteriorate and we have an 

increasing need for assistance. 

Many people use domiciliary 

(home-based) help to assist with 

the day-to-day difficulties that 

arise from being less mobile. 

A gentleman looking at 

an eye chart 

A lady wearing glasses 

in front of a bookcase 

For years many industries 

have provided home-based 

services to those unable to 

easily leave their homes. 

From mobile hairdressers 

and meal providers, to 

healthcare visitors and 

therapists; services that allow 

for increased independence 

and an improved standard of 

living are ever more possible. 

Home-Based Eye 

Care and Treatment 

Home based eye care services 

are available across the UK. 

We spoke to Community 

Care Opticians, a family-run 

company that has a 

well-established reputation 

as a trusted NHS provider. 

The Community Care Opticians’ 

team comprises experienced, 

friendly and professional 

opticians, all of whom are 


egistered with 

the General Optical Council 

(GOC) and Association of 

Optometrists (AOP). 

Using the latest optical 

equipment, Community 

Care’s optometrists perform 

eye examinations to the 

same standard that you 

would expect at a high street 

practice. They can provide 

private or free NHS services to 

customers in retirement homes, 

nursing homes, sheltered 

accommodation and hospices. 

Eye examinations for those 

clients who are less able to 

communicate are also possible 

and an accurate prescription can 

be obtained using equipment 

that requires no communication 

from the patient. 

Community Care 

Opticians Logo 

Caring about the community 

At the heart of Community Care Opticians’ training is ‘The 

Family Member Test’; a policy whereby all staff are trained to 

treat every client as if they were their own family member. 

Community Care Opticians believe in a holistic patientcentred 

approach, enabling them to focus on listening to 

their clients and responding effectively. They aim to give the 

customer as much value as possible from their visit and as 

well as carrying out the eye examinations. 

Website www.communitycareopticians.co.uk 

Email: seeme@ccchealth.co.uk 

Telephone: 0800 240 4602 


29

Priority Service Register 

Putting You First 

Electricity pylons in a field 

Power cuts can be an 

inconvenience to everybody, 

but they are a particular cause 

for concern when they affect 

those with hearing and sight 

difficulties. To ensure that the 

most vulnerable customers 

are taken care of in an 

emergency, energy suppliers 

nationwide offer the Priority 

Service Register. 

What is the Priority 

Service Register? 

Set up by the Office of Gas and 

Electricity Markets (Ofgem), 

the Priority Service Register 

is a free and voluntary system 

designed to help those in need 


during power failures, as well 

as tending to other issues. 

Depending on which energy 

supplier you’re registered with, 

the service will vary. However, 

generally speaking, those 

signed up to the Priority Service 

Register are entitled to: 

• nPriority service during 

power cuts 

• nAdvanced notice of any 

interruptions in services 

• nBraille or large print 

energy bills 

• nFour meter readings per year 

• nYearly gas safety checks 

• nMeter relocation for easy 

access if required

d 

An electric lamp 

There are additional benefits 

to being registered, depending 

on your supplier. For example, 

Scottish Power offers a 

‘nominate a friend’ service to 

assist with bill paying, whilst 

Western Power Distribution 

offers special help from the Red 

Cross if needed. 

Who can benefit from the 

Priority Service Register? 

The service has recently 

been updated to assess an 

individual’s needs based on 

personal circumstances rather 

than characteristics. Some of 

the people who have benefited 

from the service include: 

• nThose of pensionable age 

• nThose who are disabled or 

chronically ill 

• nThose with a long-term 

medical condition 

• nThose with hearing or 

visual impairments 

• nThose in a vulnerable 

situation, e.g. mental health 

conditions which affect their 

understanding of electricity 

bills, those with an injury, or 

temporary circumstances 

requiring extra support. 

How can I sign up for 

the service? 

You will need to speak to your 

energy supplier to sign up. If you 

change suppliers, 

this information 

can be transferred 

easily. We 

encourage all our 

members to 

sign up for this 

service and get 

the best from 

their provider. 

Electricity 

pylon in a field 

For more information, 

contact us using the 

details on our contact 

page or speak to the 

Citizens Advice Bureau at 

www.citizensadvice.org. 


31

Bill’s Board 

Thoughts and comments from Deafblind UK member, Bill. 

Summer solstice 

I hope you’ve all had a 

wonderful summer – it 

truly is a season to delight 

all the senses. I had the 

pleasure of experiencing 

the summer solstice on a 

beach in Lincolnshire. It was 

a lovely summer’s day and 

I could feel the cool breeze 

coming off the sea and the 

sand underneath my feet. A 

beautiful incense smell filled 

the salty sea air and I could 

tell which way the waves 

were moving as the bees 

buzzed around me. It was a 

wonderful morning with close 

friends, and well worth the 

early start! 

The sun rising 

over a beach 

Pedestrians using a crossing 

Please be wary 

of pedestrian 

crossings 

On another of my days out, 

I noticed a lack of beeps 

on some of the pedestrian 

crossings. These are an 

invaluable aid to those with 

sight and hearing difficulties 

to ensure they cross the 

road safely. If you notice 

any pedestrian crossing 

with a button not making a 

noise, please contact your 

local authority. 


My fire 

safety advice 

Green and white 

emergency exit sign 

We all had our hearts broken 

when we heard about the 

terrible Grenfell Tower disaster 

in London. It is absolutely 

imperative to check your 

smoke alarm. If you are 

hard of hearing, you can 

purchase a vibrating smoke 

alarm from Safelincs – these 

clever devices fit comfortably 

underneath your pillow. 

Look after yourself and your 

loved ones with my top tips: 

• nAsk your local fire station to 

inspect your property and 

make recommendations 

for your home, including 

preventing incidents and 

planning emergency exits 

should a fire start, which 

they should do free of 

charge. They might even be 

able to provide you with an 

accessible smoke detector. 

• nApply fluorescent tape to 

doorframes and windows 

to make them more visible 

in a fire 

• nTo make sure you are using 

the correct fire exit, fit a 

doormat next to the door 

that is a different texture 

from the rest of your flooring 

• nAgain, to remind you that 

you are in the right place, 

ask a friend or loved one to 

apply sticky Velcro, rough 

side out, to the handle of 

your emergency exit door. 

The different texture will 

prove an invaluable aid in 

the event of an emergency. 

Until next time, enjoy 

the rest of your summer! 

Bill 

Get in touch! 

If there is anything you 

would like me to write about 

in my next column, please 

let me know by contacting 

Deafblind UK. I would love 

to hear from you! 


33

A word of thanks 

Did you know that we have to raise £26,000 every week? This 

allows us to keep providing the services that we do to all our 

members. We are always looking at new ways to raise these 

funds and here are some of the ways local organisations have 

supported us in the past few months…. 

Big Lottery 

Fund Wales 

We were recently awarded 

a substantial sum from the 

Big Lottery Fund Wales as 

part of the three-year project, 

Reaching Out Wales. More 

than 1,400 people across North 

and South Wales will benefit 

from investment that seeks to 

combat isolation, loneliness 

and mental and physical health 

problems. This incredibly 

generous donation will help to 

educate others and to increase 

the skills and confidence of our 

members, and for that we are 

incredibly grateful. 


Wales 

lottery logo 

Running the Ugandan 

National Marathon 

Marathon runner 

Ed Gwynne 

Imagine the intense 

physical stress of running 

a marathon – now imagine 

running it in the Ugandan 

heat! Hero Ed ran the 

hilly 26.2 miles across the 

equator in May this year and 

has raised much needed 

funds for Deafblind UK and 

the Uganda International 

Marathon charities. We are 

hugely proud of Ed and thank 

him for all his hard work!

Northampton Town and 

County Association for the 

Blind Working Men’s Club 

We’d like to express our 

sincerest thanks to the 

Northampton Town and County 

Association for the Blind 

Working Men’s Club, who 

have made a significant 

donation to Deafblind UK. This 

will be put towards local causes 

and will make a real difference 

in the community. 

Braintree Lions 

We are very grateful to the 

Braintree Lions Club for 

donating a share of the profits 

from their recent beer festival to 

us. Funnily enough, our Essex 

team were even more keen than 

normal to attend this event! 

Braintree Lions 

Club members 

All ready for the Spalding 

High School Bake Off 

Spalding High School 

A big yummy thank you to 

all the student and teacher 

teams at Spalding High 

School, who made Swiss 

rolls as part of a bake-off 

fundraiser for Deafblind UK. 

We’d love to try some! 

Perhaps you know of 

someone who might 

like to fundraise for 

us too? 

If so, please contact 

the fundraising team 

on 01733 358100. 


35

How can we help you? 

Information 

and advice 

Community outreach 

Casework 

Home, telephone and 

email befriending 

Social groups 

Digital support 

Heavily discounted 

holidays 

If you would like to access 

any of the services we offer 

please contact us: 

0800 132 320 

info@deafblind.org.uk 

07950 008870 www.deafblind.org.uk 

If you have any news, letters or contributions for Open Hand, 

please email Marcoms@deafblind.org.uk or post them to the 

address below. 

Contact us 

Deafblind UK 

National Centre for 

Deafblindness 

John and Lucille van 

Geest Place 

Cygnet Road 

Peterborough 

PE7 8FD 

Tel/Text phone: 0800 132 320 

Fax: 01733 358 356 

email: info@deafblind.org.uk 

www.deafblind.org.uk 

DBUKCharity 

@DeafblindUK 

Registered Charity No: 802976 

Company Reg No: 2426281

Open Hand Autumn 2017

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