With the winter nights drawing in, there’s no doubt that Christmas is fast approaching. In the North Pole, Santa and his elves are busy getting ready to give every child a magical Christmas.
Santa is once again expecting to receive millions of letters from children around the world with endless lists of what they’d like to receive in their stockings when the big day arrives.
To ensure children living with a vision impairment in the UK get a reply from Santa, he has teamed up with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to make his letters available in accessible formats, including audio and large print.
This year, Santa’s friends at card company Hallmark have also helped him write replies in braille so every child with a vision impairment can read their letter independently.
Last year, the elves sent more than 1,400 letters from Santa to blind and partially sighted children across the UK, helping them experience the same magic of Christmas as sighted children.
If you know a child who has a vision impairment and who would love to receive a letter from Santa, please send their Christmas letter to: Santa Claus, RNIB, Northminster House, Northminster, Peterborough, PE1 1YN.
Santa can receive letters through his email address. Email santa@rnib.org.uk by Tuesday 20 December for an email response with a large print attachment.
Letters can also be requested through RNIB’s website at www.rnib.org.uk/santa. Postal letters and website requests need to be sent by Friday 2 December.
On behalf of Santa, his elves and all at RNIB, we wish you a Merry Christmas!
A Portobello woman who has been visually impaired since childhood is backing a nationwide campaign by charity RNIB to challenge outdated perceptions and give a voice to some of the hopes and frustrations of blind and partially sighted people.
Sue Marshall (78) was partially sighted in childhood due to the condition Keritecious and became totally blind at 17.
“The strangest thing I’ve found is that when you tell sighted people that can’t see at all they still think you must be able to see something,” she says. “And friends have told me a similar stories. One even took her glass-eyes out and said right, do you understand now!
“I think, in general though, the public are very helpful and kind to the visually impaired. Where I think things haven’t improved is in the workplace. If you’re higher up the chain it seems to be okay, but getting on the first rung of the employment ladder is still difficult.”
RNIB’s ‘See the Person, Not the Sight Loss’ campaign is being launched on World Sight Day today with an emotive short film about Ava, a fictional teenage girl who is coming to terms with losing her sight.
We see the impact this has on many areas of her life, from education to relationships. Most crucially, the film demonstrates how sight loss can impact on mental as well as physical health. With the help of RNIB, Ava’s friends, family and teachers offer their support, while a RNIB Eye Care Liaison Officer counsels her post-diagnosis. Ava starts to find her feet again, accepting her condition and regaining confidence.
David Aldwinckle, director of insight that will run in cinemas, television and online customer voice at RNIB, said: “As someone who’s lived with sight loss for forty years, these findings really resonated with me emotionally.
“When people are diagnosed with sight loss, we know that they often experience a range of emotions including shock, anger and anxiety, and that these can be particularly acute for a young person.
“That’s one of the reasons why we’ve made it a core part of our mission to improve understanding of sight loss. At RNIB, blind and partially sighted people often tell us that they wish other people had a better understanding of what it means to be living with a vision impairment, and we know that by making sometimes small changes to their behaviour, people can help to create a more equitable world for anyone affected by sight loss.
“I’m excited by the launch of our important campaign and with the authenticity of our film, which captures the range of feelings that people go through – the fear, the sense of anxiety, the anger and denial. But really importantly it captures the fact that we also have desire, passion, ambition, skills, abilities, to live full lives and contribute to the world around us just like everybody else.”
In portraying the character of Ava, lead actor Eli London drew upon personal experiences of sight loss, having had retinoblastoma in childhood resulting in monocular vision.
Eli said: “This short film is going to have a tangible, deep impact for a lot of people. Following a young woman, a student, a gamer, through a sight loss journey is overtly a different approach to media that has covered this story before, but it’s important, and necessary. We exist, and it’s been a pleasure to bring her story to screen, to give someone out there their truest representation.”
The two-minute ‘See the Person, Not the Sight Loss’ film is online and in cinemas, along with a 60-second version which has aired on prime-time television, with a 30-second version running throughout the rest of the four-week campaign period. The full three-and-a-half-minute film is available to view online also.
During tomorrow night’s episode of ‘Gogglebox’ on Channel 4 the cast will watch the campaign film, opening up the conversation about sight loss to the whole nation.
The campaign has been supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery through the Postcode Care Trust and other partners.
You can watch the full film here and the 60 second version here.
Being asked whether their guide-dog can read bus-numbers, how they look after their children, know whether their house is clean and tidy, or even when they have their period, are some of the questions blind and partially sighted people have put to them.
RNIB asked what they wished sighted people would stop doing:
Asking ‘How many fingers am I are holding up?’
Assuming that because I can’t see properly, I can’t hear either.
Making hurtful comments such as ‘I couldn’t cope if I was in your shoes’.
Leaving a room or meeting without saying goodbye.
Directing questions to my guide dog, family or friend instead of me.
Asking ‘Would you rather be deaf or blind?’
Assuming I need help without asking.
Assuming I would only date or marry another blind person.
Parking cars on pavements.
What do you wish sighted people knew about sight loss?
That sight loss is a spectrum, and everyone’s experience is individual.
It’s tiring! The level of fatigue you feel from the extra concentration you are using all the time.
It is deeply offensive to say, ‘I don’t look blind’.
The fact that I’m blind, doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it just means it takes me a little bit longer or I do it a bit differently.
How nerve-wracking it can be to cope in public environments that are low or brightly lit, cluttered, noisy or busy.
How much flippant and disrespectful comments can hurt.
Research finds one in four Scots (28%) would be more likely to walk locally if their streets were clutter-free.
Parked cars, bins and badly placed lampposts or signs are the most common obstructions.
Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking is urging councils to take action to make streets accessible to all during #CutTheClutter week (11 – 17 July 2022)
The campaign is supported by Guide Dogs, RNIB and Transport for All.
Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking is calling on councils to take action to clear pavements of poorly placed bins, A-boards and excessive signage, which make it difficult for people to walk and wheel their everyday journeys.
It comes as new YouGov research finds that over one in four Scottish people (28%) would want to walk more if their local streets were clutter-free.
The research also revealed the worst offenders for blocking up our pavements, with respondents citing parked cars/ vehicles blocking pavements (58%), bins (50%) and badly-placed lampposts and signs (19%) as the three most common obstructions in Scotland.
As well as impacting on people’s desire to walk their short journeys instead of driving them, cluttered pavements also prevent people with wheelchairs, buggies or Guide Dogs from getting around easily and safely.
Scotland made history in 2019 by introducing a nationwide ban on pavement parking. However, guidance on how local authorities should implement the ban is still being drafted by the Scottish Government’s Road Policy Team.
During Living Streets’ #CutTheClutter Week (11-17 July 2022), the charity is calling on councils to implement a series of measures to clear streets of other clutter and make them more accessible, including banning advertising boards (A-boards) on the pavement; putting in place plans and budget to remove excess or unused street furniture; and providing guidance to businesses on using pavement space for outdoor entertainment to ensure at least 1.5m pavement width remains.
Stephen Edwards, Chief Executive, Living Streets said:“Street clutter clogs up our pavements and makes it hazardous for people to get around. It forces people with wheelchairs and buggies onto the road and into the path of oncoming traffic.
“We need to make sure walking and wheeling are attractive options. Streets cluttered with obstructions fly in the face of that.
“We want councils to take action on these issues to make our streets accessible to all. In return, our streets will become safer, our communities more active, and the air we breathe cleaner.”
Living Streets’ Cut the Clutter campaign is being supported by Guide Dogs, RNIB and Transport for All.
As the covid crisis eases, the national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland is emphasising it is more important than ever that people with diabetes attend their regular eye-examinations now that these have resumed.
During Diabetes Week this week [June 13-19th], the charity is pointing out that diabetic retinopathy, a complication of the condition, is a leading cause of sight loss among working-age Scots.
Director James Adams said: “Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, can affect the small blood vessels at the back of the eye and is a major cause of sight loss among working-age adults. But damage to vision can be arrested if detected early enough.
“While it’s possible that diabetes won’t cause any changes to your vision, the most effective thing you can do to prevent sight loss is to go to your retinal screening appointments and eye examinations, where safety measures are in place.”
Each year, 5,500 patients with diabetes in Scotland need to undergo further imaging or see an NHS eye specialist for the first time due to worsening in their retinopathy.
Angela Clelland, 47, from Inverness received a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy during lockdown.
“Getting diagnosed was very, very scary,” Angela said, “because I was isolated in the pandemic. If you are on your own, it affects everything from simple things like making a cup of tea, having the confidence to go out, or not being able to check your diabetes because you can’t read the monitor.
“You need to take your eye health seriously. You need to make sure that you are going for your eye health checks. Even with the slightest change, go to your optician. As things were delayed due to COVID, I would urge anybody who is maybe late or due an appointment to go and make one, because the effect on your life if you don’t go and something happens is devastating.”
There are 3.5 million people in the UK who have been diagnosed diabetes, and an estimated 500,000 people living with undiagnosed diabetes. Within 20 years of diagnosis, nearly all people with type 1 diabetes and almost two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes will have developed some form of diabetic retinopathy. People with diabetes are also at increased risk of glaucoma and cataracts.
People from a South Asian or African-Caribbean background are two to four times more likely to get type 2 diabetes. They tend to develop it at a younger age which means they live with the condition for longer.
The risk of complications increases with the length of time people have the condition. It is not known why this is the case, but it is likely to be a mixture of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
* If you’re worried about your vision, contact RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk/eyehealth.
For more information on the NHS Scotland eye-screening service, visit:
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) continues to support blind and partially sighted people in Scotland with a range of wellbeing services during Mental Health Awareness Week, which starts today [May 9th].
Since Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, the charity’s counselling team has experienced an increasing number of calls for emotional support. Referrals to its Mental Wellbeing Check-ins are also continuing to rise and the surge is expected to continue throughout the year.
These provide support within 72 hours of contacting RNIB with an hour-long call with a counsellor, allowing people a space to share their feelings, and explore coping strategies and any other support needs.
Mental Health Awareness Week is organised by the Mental Health Foundation and RNIB is highlighting numerous resources and services available for the estimated 178,000 people living with sight loss in Scotland.
RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service also provides practical and emotional support to help reduce isolation and loneliness for blind and partially sighted people; services include peer-to-peer support such as Talk and Support, Living Well with Sight Loss courses and community Facebook groups.
These initiatives are made possible thanks to funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Funds raised will also be used to develop further projects to bring people together.
Amanda Hawkins, Strategic Lead for Counselling and Mental Health at RNIB, said: “Although lockdown restrictions have been eased for a while, we’re all still adjusting to the new way of living and it’s crucial we continue to look after our mental health in the process.
“Whether you’re experiencing feelings of isolation, interested in a listening ear, or seeking some advice, our sight loss advice line is here to support you. The mental health hub on our website also has several downloadable guides to help with loneliness, sleep difficulties, mindfulness and much more.”
If you or someone you know could benefit from speaking to someone, or for tips on how to maintain your mental health, please visit rnib.org.uk/advice/sight-loss-and-wellbeing or call our Sight Loss Advice Service on 0303 123 9999.
Two young deaf people and two young people with sight loss will get a chance to experience the thrill of flying a plane today.
Taking off from Dundee Airport, the four youngsters will sit beside an experienced pilot in a small dual-control Piper Warrior plane used for teaching novice-flyers.
The group is made up of Charlie (15) and Scott (11) who are partially sighted. They will be joined by Brooke (12) and Josie (12), two deaf children who are all looking forward to the event.
Charlie, from Musselburgh, has severe amblyopia in his left eye, resulting in about 15 per cent vision. Scott, from Edinburgh, has bilateral pseudophakia following surgery for congenital cataracts, and also nystagmus and farsightedness with astigmatism.
Brooke (12), who comes from Falkirk, was born profoundly deaf and is very active, enjoying cycling, swimming and football amongst many other activities.
Josie, from Stenhousemuir, has unilateral deafness and got her first hearing-aid aged around four. Josie (12) competes internationally in Highland Dancing and is also a member of Falkirk Victoria Harriers Running Club.
The opportunity comes thanks to Flying Aces, a scheme set up by the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, and funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, whereby young people from disadvantaged or disabled backgrounds can experience the thrill of flight.
Group Captain Jim Leggat, Regional Commandant for the Air Cadets in Scotland and Northern Ireland said: “We encourage young people to think: If I can fly an aeroplane is there anything in life I can’t do? The exercise is about getting them to control the aircraft as much as possible. They will be flying to the extent that any youngster – Air Cadet or not, disabled or not – is asked to.
“While, ultimately, it’s a matter for the instructor’s judgement, the young people will have a chance to pull back on the control column and feel the aircraft rising. They will also experience turning, flying level, climbing and descending.
“We know that blind and partially-sighted flyers are likely to get much more out of the experience than those who do have sight. They ‘feel’ flight and appreciate the various gravitational and other forces acting on the aircraft that are often lost on others. We hope they have a great day in the air.
Jane Coates from RNIB Scotland said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for more of our young people to try something they might otherwise have never been given the chance to do, because of their sight loss.
“What youngster wouldn’t be thrilled to fly a plane alongside a pilot used to teaching novices? Flying Aces have gone out of their way to make this dream a reality.”
Jacquie Winning MBE, chief executive of Forth Valley Sensory Centre, added: “Brooke and Josie both attend our Friday Youth Group and are very bright and fun-loving children. Flying Aces really supports our own ethos in building confidence and helping people to be as independent as possible.
“Having a sight or hearing impairment should not be a barrier to opportunity and we are delighted for all those taking part.”
The RNIB See Differently Awards, alongside headline sponsor Amazon Alexa, recognise and celebrate outstanding work to support people with sight loss.
A campaigning group of people from Edinburgh have been shortlisted for an RNIB See Differently Award in recognition of their work to keep eye care services for blind and partially sighted people in their area.
Keep Edinburgh Eye Pavilion (KEEP) has been shortlisted in the Team of the Year category. This award seeks to recognise a team that has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people who are blind or partially sighted.
The group was formed following news in late 2020 that the replacement for the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh, the main eye clinic serving the south-east of Scotland, would not go ahead as planned. The provision would instead be moved to the site of St John’s Hospital in Livingston, some 15 miles away from the current Eye Pavilion.
Chaired by Sylvia Paton from Corstophine, all members of KEEP have a visual impairment.
Sylvia, who has sight loss and attends the Eye Pavilion, was asked to comment on the announcement by a local journalist. She did so, outlining her objections which included poor transport links and a site that would be extremely difficult for blind and partially sighted people to navigate.
Sylvia was also worried that losing the Eye Pavilion, which is a teaching hospital, would set scientific research back.
After the interview, a number of people reached out to Sylvia. She said they told her: “We’ve all sat back for long enough.” Those conversations led to the establishment of the Keep Edinburgh Eye Pavilion (KEEP) campaign group.
After seeking advice and support from sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, KEEP began a campaign of letter writing. They wrote multiple letters to key decision makers, including members of the Scottish Government.
Their campaign has led to the Scottish Government and NHS Lothian agreeing that a new eye hospital in Edinburgh should be operational within five years.
There are now eight blind and partially sighted members of KEEP and the group meets at least once a month. Members join online or over the phone and all research, outcomes and other decisions are shared electronically so they are accessible to everyone.
Sylvia said: “I am so pleased for the KEEP team to be shortlisted and therefore recognised for the work they have done. Every member has their own skills, strengths, and experiences, helping the team work together with one objective, to KEEP and improve eye care services in Edinburgh. This recognition will strengthen the work we do.”
The RNIB See Differently Awards, which will be hosted by TV personality and entrepreneur Amar Latif will recognise and celebrate outstanding work to support people with sight loss. They aim to highlight the contributions being made to break down barriers and improve the world for people with sight loss.
RNIB chief executive Matt Stringer said: “The RNIB See Differently Awards celebrate people who are dedicated to making the world a better place for blind and partially sighted people. Our shortlisted National Finalists are all brilliant and we wish them the best of luck.”
The awards will recognise exceptional individuals and teams across seven categories: Campaigner of the Year, Community Contributor of the Year, Best Social Media Impact of the Year, Team of the Year, Employer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year and the Design for Everyone Award.
The award winners will be announced at a ceremony which will take place on 29 March 2022.
With the festive season nearly upon us, Santa and his elves are already busy getting everything prepared to make sure every child has a magical Christmas.
As always, Santa is expecting to receive millions of letters from children all over the world with asks of what they’d like to receive in their stockings on Christmas Day.
To make sure that every child can read his reply, Santa has teamed up with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to make his letters available in accessible formats, including braille, audio and large print, for children who have a vision impairment.
Last year, the elves sent 1,465 letters from Santa to blind and partially sighted children across the UK, helping them experience the same magic of Christmas as sighted children.
If you know a child who has a vision impairment and who would love to receive a letter from Santa, please send their Christmas letter to: Santa Claus, RNIB, Northminster House, Northminster, Peterborough, PE1 1YN.
Santa has also gone digital! Email santa@rnib.org.uk by Wednesday 22 December for an email response with a large print attachment.
Two Edinburgh women are backing a national campaign by charity RNIB Scotland, which has expressed concern that the covid crisis may lead to a rise in preventable sight loss if people neglect eye-treatment or regular check-ups.
During National Eye Health Week this week [September 20-26th], it will remind people that going for regular eye examinations remains as important as ever.
The Edinburgh-based charity’s director James Adams said: “A lot has happened over the past 18 months with the covid pandemic. But we must not neglect other health matters such as our vision because of this.
“Eye examinations are free in Scotland and can not only detect early signs of sight problems, possibly in time to arrest or reverse damage, but also sometimes pick up the symptoms of other conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. It is entirely safe to visit your local optometrist.”
Julie Mosgrove, vice-chair of Optometry Scotland, said: “We have been communicating regularly with our members to share the latest Scottish Government guidance throughout the pandemic in relation to personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing measures.
“We would stress the importance of attending regular eye examinations as this is a vital health check that can detect a number of conditions and prevent avoidable sight loss.”
Edinburgh resident Hazel Kelly from Corstorphine has described how an eye examination prevented her own sight condition getting worse.
“In my case, after a routine check-up by my optician, they picked up on something and referred me to my local eye hospital, where I was diagnosed with the beginning of two rare corneal conditions,” Hazel said. “This referral from my optician ensured I got early treatment which prevented me from actually going blind. And while I still have issues, if these conditions hadn’t been picked up earlier then the outcomes for me could have been far, far worse.”
Kirin Saeed also from Edinburgh, backed Hazel’s message from her own experience of sight loss. “I believe eye tests are incredibly important,” she emphasised, “because they’re free and you can make sure that the precious gift that we all have, which is eye-sight, is kept safe and secure.”
According to the recent ‘State of the UK’s Eye Health 2021‘ report there were 4.3 million fewer eye tests across the UK in 2020, a 23 per cent drop compared to the last 12 months.
RNIB provides high quality information about all aspects of eye health, and a wide range of support to people experiencing problems with their sight, from emotional reassurance and counselling, to practical help with new technology and welfare benefits.
* Contact RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service on 0303 123 9999 or visit rnib.org.uk/eyehealth.
Living Streets is launching a campaign to rid Britain’s pavements of clutter.
An increase in e-bikes, e-scooters, and on-street dining has seen more space taken away from pedestrians.
Over a third of people (34%) would visit their local High Street more if pavements were less cluttered.
The charity wants people to map the clutter in their local area on an interactive map during their #CutTheClutter Week of Action(12-18 July 2021)
The campaign is supported by British Cycling, Cycling UK, Guide Dogs, RNIB and Transport for All.
Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking is launching a campaign to rid Britain’s pavements of clutter.
Poorly placed bins, A-boards and excessive signage can clutter pavements and make it hazardous for people to get around. A recent increase in e-bikes, e-scooters, and on-street dining has seen more space taken away from pedestrians. Living Streets wants to cut the clutter on Britain’s pavements to make it easier for people walking and wheeling.
Cluttered pavements can prevent people with wheelchairs, buggies or Guide Dogs getting around easily and safely. Living Streets research finds that it can also impact on everyone’s desire to walk more, with a YouGov poll finding that over a third of people (34%) would visit their local High Street more if pavements were less cluttered.
The charity is launching a #CutTheClutter Week of Action (12-18 July 2021) and asking people to show where the clutter is in their local area on an interactive map. The charity is also helping people write to their local councils to tackle the issue.
Stephen Edwards, Interim CEO, Living Streets said:“Our pavements should be wide enough for everyone to pass each other easily. When footways are blocked, it forces people into the carriageway and into traffic. Our research shows that people are more likely to get out and support their local economy when their streets are clutter-free.
“Town and cities nationwide have been using government investment to trial schemes to create more space for people walking, including widening pavements and closing certain streets to traffic. We should not undo all this great work and investment by crowding pavements with excessive signage and poorly placed street furniture.”
Living Streets’ Cut the Clutter campaign is being supported by British Cycling, Cycling UK, Guide Dogs, RNIB and Transport for All.
Katie Pennick from Transport For All recently highlighted the issues wheelchair users face from on-street dining in a Twitter video that’s been viewed over 1.9 million times.
Katie Pennick, Campaigns Lead, Transport for All said:“For wheelchair users, visually impaired people, and many other disabled pedestrians – street clutter can turn pavements into treacherous, disorienting, and difficult routes.
“A poorly placed A-board can put an end to a particular journey. Having to navigate constant obstacles puts many people off from walking and wheeling, excluding them from the benefits of active travel.
“It’s vital that we remove the barriers on our pavements to enable more people to enjoy moving around their local communities with freedom, ease, and independence.”
