Berkshire local peer support group

Following on from our launch meeting back in July 2022, Christine has kindly agreed to return to give us an update on what has been going on at Berkshire Vision over the last 18 months.

Berkshire Vision are a local charity based in Reading, Berkshire that provide vital, practical and friendly support, befriending, sport and activities to visually impaired children and adults and their families in the county. Their aim is to enhance the lives of visually impaired people so they can lead full, enriched and independent lives.

Their services include: Sight Loss Support Officers, 18-35 Group, Social Activities, Adapted Sports, Telephone Befriending, Resources, Children, Young People & Families, Peer Support, Tech Buddies and Employability.

As a Sight Loss Support Officer Christine works with their members to assess their needs and agree a support plan laying out how and when they can work together to help. This could include:-

• aids and adaptations to help with everyday tasks and maintain or increase independence
• supporting with technology including accessibility features and apps
• helping to identify and access things to do in the local community
• provide a listening ear to talk about coming to terms with sight loss
• linking in with partners for advice on benefits and allowances that may be able to claimed
• help with mobility both in the home and out and about
• employment, debt advice, and a wide range of other issues.

Following on from Christine’s talk we can all have a social catch up about meeting up in-person throughout the Summer.

We hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you there!

Venue

This meeting will be held online via Zoom.