I hope your Easter was fun and lets all hope that the weather starts to improve now! This Saturday (the 7th of April) the Sight Concern Family Group will be getting messy with crafts, for those that want to, & using aids (like our talking microwave oven & liquid level indicators) to make indulgent hot chocolate! Yes more chocolate! 😃 Hope to see you there. Thanks, Mark Community ECLO Sight Concern Bedfordshire 1 Union Street, Luton LU1 3AN Email: markchapman@sightconcern.org.uk Direct Dial: 01582 256093

Great meeting today with Guide Dogs for the Blind. Photo shows Siobhan Meade and Rasna Khanom from Guide Dogs with Jamie Hierscher and Carol O'Brien from Sight Concern

Visual Impairment Champion George's British Wireless for the Blind Fund video with George speaking at the start https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuNPV-KNyPw&t=10s

THANK YOU to the Essex Court “3 O’Clockers” who have been saving their coins. They donated to Sight Concern before Christmas so it’s amazing that in under 3 months they have collected £180! 🎉 This time they wanted to specifically donate to Family Group so a huge thank you to everyone at the club but a special warm hug for Aina who has been making and selling (to as far flung places as America) these amazing knitted figures! Pictured with Dave and Aina are the knitted figures that she has also donated to SCB - so if you would like one please let us know 😃

Visual Impairment Champion, George is famous! Watch for George near the end of this BritishWireless promotional video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuNPV-KNyPw&t=88s … . Sorry he doesn't have a speaking part!

Our Visual Impairment Champion, George Hogman had a stand at the Luton Borough Council's over 60's coffee morning at the Salvation Army. George spoke to over 30 people interested in Sight Concern's services. Photo shows Sight Concern stand with information leaflets and resources including Liquid Level Indicator and Talking Clocks

Our Community Based Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) speaking just now (about the help available locally to parents of children born with a visual impairment) at the Luton Parent Teacher Forum event From The Cradle To The Grave.

This is a Writing Frame. It’s a bit like a clipboard that you can put paper in, leaving elasticated horizontal lines (a bit like elastic bands) that can keep you writing straight even if you have very little vision. A local poet, with sight loss, had a trial of one today and wrote out a few lines of one of his poems. He thinks it’ll be great way to help him keep writing poetry but also shopping lists and letters to friends. (The poem reads: When you enter the door, There are treasures in store, With books that teach up to the ceiling.)

Happy Mother’s Day from Sight Concern Bedfordshire. Yesterday at Family Group the children put together cards from paper and card kits invented and made by our Small Crafty Bunch (a group of visually impaired people that meet on a Monday afternoon to make and create all sorts of things). And fun was had by all - and we didn’t spill ANY paint! I think. May have to have another check tomorrow morning! 😂 Have a lovely day xx

The SCB Community Based Eye Clinic Liaison Officer is out in the community! This is the FIRST Wednesday (due to snow stopping last weeks trial) that our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, Mark Chapman, will be available to talk about living with sight loss in Luton Central Library. After this mornings short trial he will be available every Wednesday morning between 9.30 and 1 to discuss any aspect of sight loss. The term sight loss does include a huge spectrum of conditions, variation in useful sight and age of the person. Mark has 15 years of experience of working locally with people with sight loss (offering practical help and emotional support) and will be available to have a brief chat or to discuss things in a little more detail if required. There is also a quiet space if anyone wanted a little more privacy. The Well & Wise space is on the right as you enter the main entrance to Luton Central Library and we look forward to meeting you here.

Due to popular demand we have decided to run the Family Group THIS coming Saturday – the 10th of March! We had to cancel last weekend due to the snow but wanted to meet up before next month and we have Mother’s Day gifts to make! 🙂 We totally understand if you can’t make it but we will be here to welcome you and share a coffee and a bun. The long range forecast is that it will be much warmer but wet on Saturday so come and shelter from the rain with us. Hope to see you Saturday.