Newcastle Society for Blind People
The impact of sight loss
Blindness is predominantly a problem related to age. As we grow older, the likelihood of debilitating sight problems increases. Even when it is gradual, this can be highly demoralising, leading older people to cut themselves off from their social networks and become isolated in their own homes. This in turn can lead to an increased incidence of accidents in the home, hospitalisation and placement in long-term care – all very expensive and frequently unnecessary. A timely skilled intervention can ensure that people losing their sight can continue an active and independent life.
Demand for our services
It is estimated that the number of people in the City who suffer from significant visual impairment could be as high as 8,000. Of these, approximately 1,800 are officially registered blind or partially sighted. Our own experience has shown that many of these would benefit from and value the services which we offer.
Our aims
The Society aims to help visually impaired people in Newcastle by:
- Increasing independence
- Extending choice
- Promoting privacy and dignity
- Raising public awareness
Our services
We offer a range of services tailored to the needs of those with a visual impairment. These include:
- Resource Centre
- Befriending service
- Braille classes
- Computer training
- Vision awareness training
- Specialist information service
- Weekly VIP groups
- Bi-monthly Newsletter
- Transcription service (braille and large print)