Monthly V.I. Link - Issue 23 September 2021  

Hello!  Last month I started my introduction with how much I had enjoyed the Tokyo Olympics but, my goodness, the Tokyo Paralympics have been amazing!  Our athletes came away with a total of 124 medals, 41 of which were gold!  A wonderful testament of what can be done.   

Inspired by all this healthy activity, Gill Currie and myself have joined Cath Harrop (Trustee) in our ‘Steps for September’ challenge.   Aiming to complete a total of 150k steps throughout September any way we can, be it walking, dancing, running, going up and downstairs – you name it, we’re doing it to hit that total!  For further information on how you can join in, or support our efforts, either ring the office or visit our web site at www.buryblindsociety.org If brain simulation is more your style, we are holding our second Virtual Quiz on Friday 1 October – more details later.  It would be great if you could join us. 
 
We are also delighted to notice that some of you are now coming along to our Drop-In sessions on a Monday or Wednesday morning, 10am-12pm or the new Tuesday afternoon session 1pm-3pm.  Plus, a number of the groups are back in the Centre for their regular meetings.  Covid certainly hasn’t disappeared but numbers of hospitalisation cases have remained low and with just a slight increase with the return of schools and events, we are all slowly learning to ‘live with Covid’.  Here at the Society, our cautious approach remains to ensure the health and well-being of all.  The Centre is kept well ventilated, sanitised after all groups, temperature checks taken and Government guidelines with regard to PPE maintained.  We hope this will encourage you to feel comfortable and confident to visit but if you do feel anxious in any way, please do contact us for a chat.  – Jill Logan - CEO

Coronavirus information from Carrie Dearden, NHS Bury CCG.
Covid-19 vaccination clinics:  Everyone aged 16 and over can now get their Covid-19 vaccination.  Clinics are taking place right across the borough including both walk-in and bookable appointments.  
 
Young people aged 16 and 17 can get their Pfizer vaccination at Bury’s main vaccination sites – the Elizabethan Suite in Bury, Ramsbottom Civic Hall, Prestwich Walk-in Centre and Fairfield General Hospital. All clinics are walk-in – no appointment needed – although some appointments can also be booked. Getting vaccinated is the best form of defence so please encourage anyone who can to get vaccinated. 
Details of the latest clinics are available by going to:www.bury.gov.uk/coronavirus-vaccine .  If you don’t have access to the internet, the Vaccination Support Team can help: buccg.vaccinationbookings@nhs.net or call 0161 983 2300 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Regular rapid testing when you don’t have symptoms:  Regular rapid testing twice a week helps to pick up cases that might otherwise not have been discovered, this can break the chain of transmission, helping us to protect people around us and safely get back to the things we enjoy.  
 
You can request an assisted test or take a test yourself at home with a self-testing kit.  You can collect a supply from several local locations, including Bury Blind Society or have them posted to your home by ordering them online. If you cannot order them online, call 119 (7am to 11pm).
 
Find out everything you need to know, book a test or request/arrange to pick up testing kits to use at home or latest information about testing: www.bury.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing   

Self-isolation rules have changed:  People who have had both Covid-19 vaccinations, or who are under 18 years of age, are no longer legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case. Instead of self-isolating, they will be advised to get a free PCR test as soon as possible. 
Anyone who has symptoms or tests positive should self-isolate regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
Emotional wellbeing support
If you feel you need some extra support, Bury’s Getting Help Line is a confidential telephone service run by the voluntary sector for people of all ages who are experiencing difficulties with their mental wellbeing. You can access advice, guidance and signposting to local services by calling the Getting Help Line on 0161 464 3679 (Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm).  Find out more about other mental wellbeing support available locally: www.bury.gov.uk/mentalwellbeing 

Let’s Get Physical!  
The Monthly Walking Group enjoyed their August gentle walk to Manchester Road Park.  Going forward, the Group have decided to meet in the afternoon on the third Monday, so the date for September’s walk is Monday 20th meeting in The Sensory Garden at the Centre for 1pm.  The walk this month is to Peel Mills and surround.  If you could let us know if you are joining Michael and Jonathan, we can ensure appropriate support is available.  Ring the office for details. 

Thanks to all who have signed up or are supporting our Steps for September campaign.  Some of us are looking at this as training for the Walk 4 Sight on Saturday 9 October, the annual walk organised by our friends at Bury Lions.  The individual £20 registration fee will go to Bury Lions, but all other monies raised will go to Bury Blind Society.  If you want to join in, the route is slightly different route from last year, starting and finishing at The Burrs Country Park totalling approximately 8 miles.  For more information and a sponsor form, please contact email jill.logan@buryblindsociety.org or ring 0161 763 7014.

Can You Nominate Us Please!!  As mentioned in our VI Link last month, we are sure you can appreciate, our Fundraising has taken a big hit over the past 20 months.  The Bury Times are taking nomination from supporters, volunteers, friends of local charities for their Gannett Foundation fund.  £20,000 will be distributed between the eight charities selected and then voting commences throughout November.  To nominate you can go on the Bury Times website and complete the nomination form, burytimes.co.uk/readerschoice or write to them, confirming the name and address of the charity and why you are nominating. Address is Bury Times, Readers’ Choice, Cash for Charity Nominations, Deeside Print Centre, Zone 3, 10th Avenue, Deeside Industrial Estate, Flintshire, CH5 2UA.  Closing date for nominations is Sunday 3 October 2021.

Small Change – Big Difference!  Over lockdown have you been collecting loose change?  A number of our members have kindly donated this to us and it does make a difference.  If you would like us to collect, or provide a collection box for your coins, please give us a ring and we would be happy to arrange.  Thank you. 
 
Scam Alert!
Here’s the monthly contribution updating on scams from Barry Grigg, Trustee and the Network Manager, Northwest Region, for HSBC Bank. 

Mobile Phone Upgrade scams:  The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) is warning of a cold-calling scam. The criminals impersonate employees of legitimate mobile network operators and suppliers.
Victims are offered early handset upgrades or new contracts at significant discounts. Once victims have been convinced that the deals are genuine, the fraudsters then ask for their online and mobile banking credentials, including their log on, address and bank account details.
Here's what you should do to protect yourself:
* if you receive a cold call about handset upgrades and contracts – hang up and do not reveal any personal information
* you should only contact your mobile network provider on a phone number that you know to be correct
* if you receive a device that you didn't order or expect - look for the genuine sender's details, which will be within the parcel, and call them immediately
* never post a device directly to a given address – genuine mobile network operators would send you a jiffy bag so you can return it without you incurring additional costs


Barry Grigg – Trustee.

Big Thank You: to Bury Lions for their kind donation in memory of our Trustee Michael Moor.  We were presented with a cheque for £439 which is being used to contribute to a microphone, screen and camera device, enabling us to combine virtual and face to face meetings in the Centre.   Also thank you to Hands On Computers, our IT Support, who have kindly donated a remote-controlled projector screen for the Centre.  A final thanks to Murium, a first-year student studying Optometry at Plymouth University.  Murium has been helping out at the Wednesday Drop in and a number of the Support Groups over the summer.  Murium said she has found the experience so worthwhile and has a far better understanding of the challenges our clients face. Murium is keen to return next Summer and we would be delighted to have her back. It has been interesting for us too, hearing what her course entails and gaining a clearer insight into the work of an Optometrist.
What’s Going On
We have produced a separate list at the end of this edition with current details of all the regular events during this month.  However, here’s some special highlights.

Weekly Drop In’s:  Don’t forget you are very welcome to drop in to the Centre, no appointment or booking necessary, at the following times:
Monday – 10am-12pm, Tuesday – 1pm-3pm, Wednesday 10am-12pm.  

Friday Lunch:  Every Friday, 11.30am- 1.30pm.  Carole and Mags welcome you back. Treat yourself to a prepared set lunch ranging from home-made pie, fish and chips or soup and roll followed by a pudding – all for a donation of £5.00.  Book by the Thursday before meal date.  All welcome.  Ring the office for further menu details and to book your place. 

Age UK Bury ‘Let’s Celebrate’ - Community Fun Day’ – Jubilee Centre – Saturday 11 September, 11am-4pm.  Come and join us as we celebrate getting together again at The Jubilee Centre and Lido with Age UK Bury.  We will have our usual stall and sounds like there will be plenty going on!

Pamper those feet! Yes, Dougie is back in the Centre.  Phoenix Foot Care will be resuming monthly sessions from Tuesday 21st September, from 2pm onwards.  Simply ring in and book your appointment.  Dougie will have full PPE and operating within current COVID guidelines.   An added bonus, you’ll be supporting the Society as Dougie kindly donates a percentage of his fee to BBS. 

Bury Market Stall:  Wednesday 22 September.  Our session in August was a great success so we’re back on Stall 27 on the Open Market on 22 September.  Come and visit our stall selling bric-a-brac, books, and a selection of clothing.  

Music Sessions: From Monday 27th September, 1pm-3pm.  Our music sessions are coming back into the Centre with a slightly different flavour!  Meeting fortnightly on a Monday afternoon as per their virtual sessions, once a month, a guest performer will be attending for people to either simply listen to or even join in.  This month’s guest is Zac from Bloco Ashe who will be holding an inter-active drumming workshop.  Zac has held one of these workshops in the centre previously, and everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed it.  All are welcome. Please ring to book your place, as there will a COVID appropriate limit for the room.   
Virtual Fun Quiz Night – Friday 1 October 7.30-9.30pm.  Fired with the success of our first attempt back in February, Michael and I are having another go!  Why not join us for this Fun Quiz, a donation of £5 per team, maximum of 4, via our website would be appreciated.  Enter your email address when donating and we’ll send you the link.  Alternatively, ring for details. 

Monthly Makes Group:  Next meeting on Wednesday 6 October and then reverting back to the second Wednesday of the month.  The group are really excited as they are supporting our ‘Environmentally Friendly alternative wrapping’!!  As well as making a lovely handbag card, in October members will be utilising recycled magazines and newspapers to make ‘Alternative Toppers’ ready for Christmas!  How wonderful is that!  If you would like to be involved, then simply ring and book on the session.  You can also help by donating any old magazines or newspapers.  If you can’t make a Wednesday, how about joining our weekly Monday Morning Events Group who will also be involved in preparing our wrapping items for Christmas.  Again, ring the office for more details.

Open Day and Annual General meeting:  Thursday 14th October 10am-2pm – World Sight Day.  We are delighted to welcome The Mayor, Tim Pickstone, to our Open Day and AGM.  Starting at 10am, we will be joined by VisionAid providing access to a wide range of magnification equipment including a demonstration of the wonderful Orcam glasses everyone’s talking about.  Appointments bookable in advance for your own personal one to one session with Jason.  In the Garden area we will have a number of stalls and games and of course, in our Drop-In area, refreshments will be available. The Mayor will arrive at 11am and the official AGM will commence at 12pm in the Training Room for anyone who wishes to attend.  This year’s AGM will be particularly exciting for the Society as we welcome three new trustees.  Nomination forms, duly endorsed are on display in the Centre.     

Bury Pipeline:  We believe that our friends at Bury Pipeline are contacting clients on their records with a view to resuming their service.  It’s great to have them back – many of you have said how you have missed their weekly news updates.   Anyone wanting details of Bury Pipeline, ring Jean Spencer on 01706 824401.

It’s Good To Share’:  This month we thank one of our established volunteers, Carol Wilding, for submitting this useful hint.  Do you struggle to adjust the 
central heating thermostat at home as you can’t see the numbers?  You can try a clever sticker which makes it much simpler for partially sighted people to use a thermostat.  Designed by a heating engineer, the embossed See Clear thermostat sticker is applied directly to the thermostat dial.  It converts the temperature range to four easy to see coloured sections (similar to slices of coloured pie) along with an indication marker – much easier to see than tiny numbers.  For further information on this device visit seeclearprodcuts.co.uk or call 07912 173075.

Eye Hear You Sessions:  We are now taking bookings for our first mini workshop to help members who also wear hearing aids.  These bitesize sessions will provide demonstrations on how to deal with hearing aids when you also have a sight loss as well as giving information and advice on equipment to support you. Our first session will be held in the centre but we are looking to hold future ones in other areas.  If you are a resident of Bury and are interested in attending the workshop, to be held on Tuesday 12 October 10am-12pm, please contact Gill Currie either by phone 0161 763 7014 or email, eyetalk@buryblindsociety.org.  This is also open to family members and carers.

Special Thoughts:
For the family of Elsie Copeland who sadly passed away earlier this month.  Elsie’s family have kindly asked for donations to Bury Blind Society. We reported the sad loss of Lorna Elmore last month. The family very kindly asked for donations in Lorna’s memory to be sent to Guide Dogs for the Blind or ourselves.  Thank you also to Carole Allen and family for donations in memory of Sarah Webster. Our thoughts go out to any of our members or their families who have lost loved ones during this month.  We also would like thank members families for thinking of us at such a sad time by requesting donations for the Society. These donations will enable us to continue providing support for future members.

Monthly Prize Draw – ‘100 Club’. 
Our August winners were No. 146-£120.00, No. 81-£60.00 and No.6 (again!) £20.00.    
Thank you to all the people who have joined us recently.  50% of the money raised is distributed in prizes and the other half contributes directly to provide services for local people living with sight loss.  The draw takes place on the second Friday of every month, and to buy a number it costs just £1.00! Let us know if you would like an application pack.  
Just for Fun – Give your mind a workout with this month’s brain teaser.

Answers first!  August’s Brain Teaser:  What is 3/7 chicken, 2/3 cat and 2/4 goat?  Chicago!  Get it?  First three letters from seven in chicken, two letters from cat, and two letters from goat!

This month’s Brain Teaser: What 3 letters can frighten a thief away?

‘Take 5’ Quiz. Answers from last month:

1. What is the best-selling book of all time?  The Bible
2. What is the middle name of Angela Merkel? Dorothea
3. What was the name of the ship that brought news of the Battle of Trafalgar to Britain? HMS Pickle
4. In Only Fools & Horses, by what name did Trigger always call Rodney? Dave.
5. Catalonia is a region of what country? Spain.

This month’s questions:
1. Which fashion designer reportedly had a relationship with Winston Churchill?
2. What’s a baby rabbit called?
3. Who did Anne Hathaway play in Les Misérables?
4. What fruit takes the scientific name Mangifera indica
5. What did Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone and Evan Williams collectively create?

Good luck!  If you have been enjoying our monthly ‘Take 5’ why not test your skills at our Virtual Quiz on 1 October, all in the comfort of your own home!  Access will be via a Zoom link.  Contact the office on 0161 763 7014 for more detail.

A little message from the Staff Team here for Gill Currie!  Happy Birthday Gill for the 17th September – just in case you thought we’d forgotten!  If you would like to wish someone a Happy Birthday or congratulations, let us know and we will include in future editions.
 
Stay safe and well and we look forward to seeing you in the Centre.    
Jill and all the Bury Blind Society Team
Registered Charity No. 1102525







Regular Social Events – Bury Blind Society: 
Please note, we are requesting a voluntary minimum donation of £1.00 for all Drop In or Group Sessions to help contribute to the Charity building overheads and provision of refreshments.  Thank you. 
Monday: 
Weekly Drop In: 10am-12pm:  Monday Morning Blues?  Join Margaret and co. for a Monday ‘weekend review’ at our weekly Drop In. 
Monthly Walk:  Third Monday of the month, 20th September, meeting in the Garden at the Centre, 1pm.  This month’s walk – Peel Mills and surround.
Fortnightly, from 27th September, 1.00pm: In The Centre.  Kicking off with a bang, the Music Sessions will be welcoming Zac from Bloc Ashe for a samba drumming workshop.  Booking essential as places limited due to Covid restrictions.  Following dates throughout the month of October are: 11 and 25 October.  
Tuesday:
Weekly Drop In:  1pm-3pm, an afternoon Drop in with Paul and Sue.  All welcome.
Third Tuesday: Retinal Dystrophy Support Group: A welcome return to our RD Group.  September 21st, meeting at the Centre at 1pm.

Wednesday:
Weekly Drop In:  10am-12pm:  Sid and co. welcome you to join them for a brew and biscuit every Wednesday morning in the Centre. 
Monthly Makes! Every second Wednesday at 2pm:  For October only, the group are meeting on Wednesday 6th October, thereafter back to the second Wednesday of the month.  Ring and book on to ensure materials are available for you on the day.  
Third Wednesday: 1.30pm: The monthly Macular Support Group: This group is accessed by a land or mobile telephone line.  All welcome.
Fourth Wednesday: 2.00pm: Glaucoma Support Group: Bernard and the group provide a warm welcome at this monthly group.  Meeting in person at the Centre.

Thursday:
Third Thursday: 10.30am: Healthy Living: Why not join this friendly group to review favourite recipes, learn hints and tips on how to prepare safely and even do a few exercises whilst you talk!  Access is via Zoom or phone line.  
Friday:
Weekly – Friday Lunch Club: 11.30am-1.30pm. Why not treat yourself and have someone else do the cooking! Carole and Mags are providing a delicious meal ranging from Fish and Chips, Chicken Paella to home-made soup. Ring the office for menu details and to book your place.  All welcome. Book by the Thursday before meal date.
Fourth Friday: 1pm: Access Forum: A virtual forum providing an area to voice concerns ranging from support in Supermarkets to uneven pavements and overhanging foliage, led by our Early Intervention Officer, Kelly Marno. Currently only available via Zoom and phone line.  Contact the office for details to join. 
For further details of how to join any of these sessions, just ring the Centre and speak to a member of staff.  0161 763 7014.
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