Working locally with blind, partially sighted and deaf/blind people
Patron HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO
Registered Charity No. 207007

Mission Statement
The Middlesex Association for the Blind aims to support people who are blind, partially sighted and deaf-blind, to lead independent lives. The Association achieves this through the local provision and delivery of a range of high quality services, advice and information to people across nine London boroughs.
CONTENTS Page No.
Message from our CEO............................................... 3
MAB News and Events................................................ 5
Services offered by MAB............................................. 11
News/Information...................................................... 13
For Sale.................................................................... 17
Equipment.............................................................. .. 18
Holidays.................................................................... 19
What’s On................................................................. 20
Donations................................................................. 22
Thank you................................................................ 22
Wills and Legacies...................................................... 23
Contact Numbers........................................................ 24
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I celebrated my birthday on July 13 th this year by running the British London 10k accompanied by colleagues, friends and family. You may think that is a particularly masochistic way to spend one’s birthday but the fact is that it made for an especially memorable day. Around
25,000 runners enter this race each year and the majority are running for charities. The atmosphere is fantastic and the whole course is lined with cheering spectators.
So my thanks go to staff members Ali and Martin, my daughters Bethany and Emily and family friend Tom, who all completed the route in very respectable times to earn a well-deserved medal. Thanks also to my wife Toni, for supporting us along the route. We have raised nearly
£500 so far in sponsorship for MAB and we will be running again at the same event next year.
From left to right: Martin, Andrew, Emily, Ali, Tom and
Bethany
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Elsewhere in this issue of Outlook you will find an introduction to our new members of staff. Their contribution has already been significant and I wish them all a long and enjoyable career with MAB. Sadly, we say goodbye to Leon Gilbert who has worked with MAB as one of our IT trainers for several years. We wish Leon every success and happiness in the future.
The Mobile Resource Unit is about to become a reality.
With the help of funding from the Big Lottery we have now ordered the vehicle which will be converted by
CoachbuiltGB who have an excellent track record of adapting vehicles for special purposes. The mobile unit will have a widened access with wheelchair ramps and we expect the vehicle to be available in 2 or 3 easily accessible locations in each of our nine boroughs every month providing expert advice and guidance. We will publish a schedule on our website and elsewhere once the vehicle becomes operational later this year.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Outlook and my thanks to Fernanda Diaz for collating and editing the magazine and masterminding its distribution.
Finally, my thanks to all our staff, volunteers and trustees for their dedication and hard work in ensuring that MAB continues to provide a wide range of high quality services.
______________________________________________
Follow us on Facebook by going to Middlesex
Association for the Blind
We are happy to receive postings from friends and from anyone who has information that they would like to pass on to other followers.
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Pride in Our People Awards in Ealing
By Karen Staartjes – Ealing Co-ordinator
Amanda Cresswell was nominated by Michele
Springall for the Pride in
Our People Awards, organised by the Ealing
Gazette. The Awards are divided into various categories and Amanda appeared in the
‘Community Champion’ section. The account of her work, which appeared in the programme at the
Awards Ceremony reads as follows:
Amanda Cresswell, a partially sighted woman who has cerebral palsy and nearly lost her life to cancer, now travels throughout the UK and Europe helping people cope with the disease that almost killed her. Amanda, 42 talks to organisations about how to spot the early signs of cancer and how to cope with disabilities. She is part of St.
George’s Hospital advisory board, sharing her insight and experience on people with learning disabilities.
She also runs a book club at Hanwell library where she teaches people with learning disabilities how to use
‘books beyond words’. However, she says that she could not do her work without the support of Michele Springall from the Ealing Association for the Blind, who accompanies her to many of her talks. The dynamic duo nominated each other. Amanda says “My work at St.
George’s Hospital means I travel all over the country. I
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have a fantastic life, even though it can be frustrating sometimes, but I want to encourage people to speak up and have a voice.” Well done Amanda!
______________________________________________
Waitrose Mill Hill – Community Matters
Thanks to the Mill
Hill Waitrose
Community
Matters initiative,
Michael Henriques was able to collect a cheque for £299 to help fund
Barnet Association for the Blind
Services.
Michael said that the presentation event was lots of fun and the buffet was excellent so if there are anymore
Waitrose cheques to be collected for MAB he would be more than willing to volunteer for the job!
______________________________________________
My time as a Volunteer by Rebecca - Hillingdon Volunteer
One day I was waiting at Kings Cross Station for a train when I saw a man with a white cane walking straight towards the edge of the platform. There were plenty of people around but not one person tried to approach or help him. I went up to him and asked where he wanted to go. I escorted him out of the station as requested and he was so grateful for my help. He is the reason I chose to help blind and partially sighted people. It’s amazing the warmth you feel when you help someone else.
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Volunteering as a home visitor has been so easy for me to do. All you have to do is take an hour a week out of your time to visit your client and help them with everyday essentials. After a while you forget that you’re volunteering and just see it as visiting a friend.
Not only do I know I have helped someone else by volunteering, I have also personally gained so much from the experience. I now know how to treat someone who is partially sighted thanks to the training that MAB have provided. I have also learnt that you should never judge someone from how they may appear on the outside...as you don't know what walk of life they have travelled from.
If you would like to volunteer in Hillingdon or any of our other boroughs, please contact Head Office on 020 8423 5141.
___________________________________________
Bowling us over! by Karen Staartjes - Ealing Co-ordinator
On a glorious June afternoon a small group of us, Noula,
Pardeep, Merle and Jamie the guide dog with co-ordinator
Karen from Ealing took the tube to Ravenscourt Park
Station, where close to the station in the park, is an immaculate bowling green.
The afternoon was spent delightfully, playing bowls. The experienced bowlers were most welcoming to us novices and carefully explained the game and showed us how to play. This is a weekly meeting organised by Metro Blind
Sports.
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If you are interested in taking up this sport or many others such as archery, athletics, cricket, football and tennis that Metro Blind Sport organise, please phone
Karen in Ealing on 020 8992 4458 or phone Metro
Sports directly on 01708 456 832.
Or visit their website - www.metroblindsport.org
Bowlers from Metro Blind Sport on the green at
Ravenscourt Park.
______________________________________________
Events in Ealing
Karen at the Ealing Association for the Blind would like to remind you of some of the social opportunities available in the Borough.
On the first Thursday of the month from 10.15am to 1pm
The Ealing Association for the Blind has a coffee drop in at the William Hobbayne Centre.
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On the last Monday of the month a group of younger clients meets for lunch at 12 noon in Ealing. Please call
Karen on 0208 992 4458 for location details.
On the last Tuesday of the month the Ealing Association for the Blind Tricycle Club meets at 12 noon at the cafe in
Gunnersbury Park.
As well as these three regular meetings, small groups of clients occasionally attend described access events for people with a visual impairment at The Wallace Collection and the British Museum. We highly recommend these events and you can find out more about them by contacting the The Wallace Collection and the British
Museum directly or by phoning Karen.
In addition to this there are several other organisations that run events which may be of interest to you. These include Age Link, The University of the Third Age (U3A) and the Ealing Social Club for the Blind.
A good way of keeping up with everything that is going on is to listen to Ealing Talking Newspapers, and to get information from this Outlook publication or by word of mouth from others at the various events. We also have a hardworking phone volunteer who can call clients once a month with reminders of our regular events. This is by request only.
If you are interested in taking part or would like to know more about the various activities, please call
Karen on 0208 992 4458.
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Welcome to our new Support Staff
Our new Barnet Support Worker is Mary
Murphy. Mary joined us in March and is already very popular with her clients and colleagues. We are delighted to have you
Mary Murphy
Barnet as part of the team Mary.
We are pleased to welcome Sahib Singh as the Support Worker for Hounslow. Sahib joined us in April 2014 and comes from a background in care. He has already begun supporting clients in the Hounslow area. We wish you well in your new role Sahib.
Sahib Singh
Hounslow
Yasemin Morgan started with us in June as our Support Worker in Richmond. Yasemin also comes from a care background and has worked with stroke and head injury patients for last few years. Yasemin has settled in well and is a real asset to our work in Richmond.
Yasemin Morgan
Richmond
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Resource Centres – we have four Resource Centres in the boroughs of Ealing, Harrow, Enfield and Richmond.
Here are the details for each:
Address
Ealing Resource
Centre
The William
Hobbayne Centre
Lower Boston Road
W7 2AU
Bus route E8 and
195
Open
First Thursday of the month
10am – 1.00pm
What’s there
This centre has a small range of specialised equipment including talking clocks and watches, anti-glare glasses and daily living aids.
Drop in for coffee and biscuits and a chat.
For an appointment to view equipment or have a magnifier assessment with our optometrist, please call:
Karen Staartjes on 0208 992 4458
Address
Harrow Resource
Centre
Milmans Resource
Centre
Grove Avenue
Pinner
Middlesex
HA5 5PF
Open
Wednesdays
10am – 1.30pm
What’s there
This centre has a wide range of specialised equipment including CCTV’s, handheld electronic magnifiers and daily living aids.
A Rehabilitation Officer from Harrow VI
Team is in attendance.
Monthly magnifier assessments are available by appointment only.
For an appointment or further information, please call:
Fernanda Diaz on 020 8423 5141
11

Address
Enfield Resource
Centre
Park Avenue Centre
65c Park Avenue
Enfield
EN1 2HL
Open
10.30am -12.30pm
Third Thursday of the month (no meeting in
December)
What’s there
This drop-in is held in partnership with
Enfield Vision. Call in for refreshments and a chat. A warm welcome awaits – no appointment necessary.
There is a large range of specialised equipment on display to ‘try before you buy’. A member of the London Borough of Enfield Sensory Services Team will be present to provide specialist advice regarding equipment and maintaining independence.
A qualified fitness instructor takes seated keep fit classes.
For further information, please call:
Christina Hind on 020 8423 5141
Address
Richmond
Resource Centre
1-3 Richmond Road
Twickenham
Middlesex
TW1 3AB
Open
10am – 1pm
What’s there
This centre has a range of specialised equipment including talking clocks and watches, anti-glare glasses and daily living aids.
This centre operates an appointment only system. To make an appointment, or for further information, please call
Richmond Social Services direct
on: 020 8891 7971
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Smart Glasses
Revolutionary glasses for people with a severe sight loss
Developed by RNIB with researchers from Oxford
University, Smart Glasses are a revolutionary new technology that enhances images of nearby people and objects. This means that for the first time people with severe sight loss are provided with a clearer view of their surroundings.
It’s an extraordinary step which has the potential to improve the lives of individuals who are registered blind across the globe.
RNIB have entered the glasses into Google’s Impact Challenge, a competition which provides funding to charity technology projects. To win the Challenge and get the funding they need as many votes as possible.
To vote go to: https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/uk2014/ charity/rnib
More information on the glasses, the researchers and the technology behind them is available on the BBC website: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27768890
13

Barnet Borough Sight Impaired - Quiz Night
Saturday 11 th October 2014
6.45 pm for 7.00 pm
Trinity Church Mill Hill 100 The Broadway
Mill Hill London NW7 3TB
Tickets £14.00 - includes a buffet supper and soft drinks. Bring a bottle if you wish
For further details please contact:
Sandra Roeder - Tel: 07957 686377
Email: sandraroeder@hotmail.com
or Lis Vandyk - Tel: 020 8349 4705
Email: lis.vandyk@sky.com
NHS ‘Mystery Shopper’ Survey
How accessible is your GP surgery, hospital or pharmacy to someone with a sight loss? Do you receive all the information you want in an accessible format? Is the physical environment well planned for someone with sight loss?
If you are keen to see improvements to your local health service, you can support RNIB’s campaign by becoming a
‘mystery shopper’. The next time you visit your GP, the
14

local hospital or pharmacy, fill in their NHS survey and let them know what you think.
To take part in the survey go to: rnib.org.uk/nhsmysteryshopper
Email: campaigns@rnib.org.uk
Or call 020 7391 2123 to fill out the survey by phone.
_____________________________________________
Living With Sight Loss
Courses
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with sight loss it may be comforting to know that Action for
Blind People now offer a ‘Living with Sight Loss’ course.
The six week programme for anyone coming to terms with sight loss is made up of weekly day long modules, delivered in partnership with other national charities and local groups.
Programmes are tailored to the needs of each group of attendees, so every course may offer something slightly different. However, the core elements cover:
15

 Getting out and making the most of your leisure time
 Coping strategies designed to address the emotional aspects of sight loss
 Practical solutions to overcome changes for everyday living
 Using technology
 Looking after your eyes
To find out more about this course you can call:
020 7391 2151 or 020 7635 4800 or visit their website: www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk
______________________________________________
RNIB Sightline Directory is a fully searchable online directory with over 1700 entries, and will provide quick and easy access to national and local specialist organisations and services that support blind and partially sighted people.
You can find out about:
 Benefits and rights
 Cultural activities
 Holidays
 Housing & residential care
 Eye care services
 Product supplies and much more...
Visit : www.sightlinedirectory.org.uk/
16

AbilityNet - Free computer help for disabled people
 Looking for friendly computer advice?
 Having trouble with your technology?
 Want to know about staying safe online?
Whatever your disability, AbilityNet can help you get the most from your home computer.
Their free services include home visits, a free telephone helpline and lots of free factsheets and free tools on their website.
Find out more at: www.abilitynet.org.uk/freeservices
Email: enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 269 545
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Talking MedCenter clock
A rectangular clock with four optional self set daily alarms to help remind you when it is time to take your medication.
Announces the time and date and has two volume levels, loud and extra loud making this clock suitable for people with a hearing loss. Four large operating buttons are on the top of the clock; green for time and date, blue for alarm check, yellow for clock light, red for acknowledging the alarm. The time on the digital display measures 3.5cm high.
Product code: CC65
£25.95
Talking kitchen timer with digital display
Keep tabs on your cooking with this pocket sized timer. Five clear function buttons on the front - hour, minute, clear, second and start/stop.
Product code: DK86 shop 22 co_w izr-shopcar dk86 add dk86 dk86
£9.95
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Both available from RNIB: Tel: 0303 123 9999
Windermere Manor Hotel
Set in three acres of beautiful landscaped gardens and just a 10 minute walk from the shores of Lake
Windermere, this Victorian country retreat boasts some of the most spectacular views across the lake to the
Langdale Pikes and mountains beyond.
Enjoy pony trekking, hiking on some of the most beautiful mountains in England, water sports on Lake
Windermere or shop in Keswick and Kendal.
For further details or to make a booking please contact:
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Tel: 01539 445801
Visit: www.visionhotels.co.uk
Vocaleyes - Audio Described Performances
Miss Saigon – this epic love story tells the tragic tale of a young bar girl Kim, orphaned by war, who falls in love with an American GI called Chris – but their lives are torn apart by the fall of Saigon.
Saturday 4 th October 2014
Touch Tour – TBA
Tickets - £33.75 (reduced from
£67.50)
Prince Edward Theatre Bookings: 0844 482 5165
Old Compton Street delfontmackintosh.co.uk
London
W1D 4HS
______________________________________________
Enfield Museum presents a
FREE exhibition marking the centenary of the First
World War
Enfield at War 1914-1918
In August 1914, Britain declared war with Germany. The next four years saw a conflict unlike any that had gone
20

before it, stretching across the globe and claiming the lives of more than 29 million people.
This year, Enfield Museum is putting on an exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World
War. This exhibition will look at how the war affected the residents of Enfield - both in the trenches and on the home front. It will also delve into the important roles and contributions to the war effort of those living within the borough.
In October, there will be a free, informal tour of the museum, specifically for blind and partially sighted visitors.
If you are interested please ring Justine Stracy on
020 8379 1462.
____________________________________________
Strawberry Hill House – a fairy tale castle by the
Thames
Perfect for a day out in Twickenham
They offer special tours for visually impaired visitors including:
 Team of guides specially trained by VocalEyes
 Beautiful listed grounds and a new sensory garden
 Friendly accessible Cafe facing the garden
 Free entry for carers
 Guide dogs welcome
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To learn more or make a booking contact:
Tel: 020 8744 1241
Website: www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk
Email: claire.leighton@strawberryhillhouse.org.uk
02 7
375 1043
We would like to say a big thank you to the following people and organisations who have kindly made donations to the Association:
Mr & Mrs Foster Mr J Talbot Mr R Kabcha
Mrs N Johnson Miss K Singh Mrs M Renaud
Mr T Grant Mr & Mrs Ravi Mrs E Moore
Mr S Adamjee Mrs S Pankania Mr P Wadhwa
Mrs I Fletcher Mr H Tickner Mr T Fernando
Mrs M Cooney Mr B Slymon Mrs S Worley
Mrs G Johnson Mr F Sinyangwe Mr & Mrs Popat
Mr & Mrs Elliott Mrs M Davey
Mrs N Yoganathan
Rotary Club – Barnet
Waitrose – Mill Hill
MidSight Point - Hillingdon Hospital
MidSight Point – Barnet General Hospital
We would also like to thank the following for their continued support throughout the year.
The Greater London Fund for the Blind
Big Lottery Fund
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City Bridge Trust
Boroughs of: Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Harrow,
Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond
Making a Will, or adding a codicil to your existing Will is the only sure way to protect the interests of your family.
In the same way that you can provide for your family and friends after your death, leaving a legacy to MAB can also ensure that hundreds of visually impaired people can continue to be supported by MAB.
Legacies are so important to MAB, as they allow us to plan for the future. There is no better way of demonstrating your support for visually impaired people in your local community.
Types of Legacies:
There are three main types of gift you can leave to MAB:


Residuary Gift - is the gift of all (or part) of the value of your estate.
Pecuniary Gift - is the gift of a particular sum of money.

Specific Gift - is the gift of a specified item that could be for example; property, a painting or a piece of jewellery.
It is a good idea to take independent legal advice.
For more information, or if you would like to talk to someone in confidence about leaving MAB a legacy, please contact Andrew Cox on 020 8423 5141.
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Borough
Barnet
Brent
Enfield
Name
Christina Hind
Dana Mendez
Christina Hind
Ealing
Harrow
Karen Staartjes
Dana Mendez
Hillingdon Debbie Heusch
Hounslow Debbie Heusch
Telephone Number
020 8423 5141
020 8423 5141
020 8423 5141
020 8992 4458
020 8423 5141
020 8423 5141
020 8423 5141
Richmond Frances Osborne 020 8423 5141
Borough
Barnet
Brent
Ealing
Enfield
Haringey
Harrow
Hillingdon
Hounslow
Richmond
Telephone Number
020 8359 5000
020 8937 1200
020 8825 6230
020 8379 1001
020 8489 8900
020 8424 1694
01895 556393
020 8583 3215
020 8891 7971
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(27 June 1880 – 1 June 1968)
We welcome contributions to the newsletter. Please send your articles to Fernanda Diaz, Outlook Newsletter,
Middlesex Association for the Blind, Suite 18 Freetrade
House, Lowther Road, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 1EP.
This edition of Outlook is produced by:
Middlesex Association for the Blind
Suite 18
Freetrade House
Lowther Road
Stanmore
Middlesex
HA7 1EP
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Tel: 020 8423 5141 Fax: 020 8099 7003
Email: info@aftb.org.uk
Website: www.aftb.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 207007
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Middlesex Association for the Blind
Suite 18
Freetrade House
Lowther Road
Stanmore
Middlesex HA7 1EP Tel: 020 8423 5141
27