We are excited to tell you that we have received new funding from the Heart of England Community Foundation. It’s to support our members to get back out in the community post lockdown.
This new ‘Doing Things Differently’ Programme will start with a series of SVI members’ virtual Zoom focus groups and telephone conference calls. In these groups you will be able to discuss any worries and concerns you may have about beginning to venture out and doing things in a ‘new normal’ environment.
Based on your feedback, our next step will be to train a team of volunteers to offer Covid 19 safe, one‑to‑one help to our members. This will be to encourage you to go out, regain confidence and independence and carry out the activities you were doing before lockdown.
Book onto a focus group
To find out more and give your views about this exciting new programme e.g. what the issues and barriers are for you, please register for one of these sessions. Please state your first and second choice of session so that you can be sure to get a place:
- Tuesday 11 August – 10.30 am to 12 noon; 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm and 10.30 am to 12 noon
- Tuesday 25 August – 10.30 am to 12 noon
- Wednesday 26 August – 5.30 pm to 7 pm
Dates and times for telephone conference calls will follow shortly.
Please note: Focus groups and calls will be limited to no more than five at each session. It is only necessary to attend one session as the questions will be the same for each of them. More dates and times will be added if demand exceeds availability.
To book a place on one of the focus groups or to find out more, email info@sandwellvisuallyimpaired.org.uk ‑ or contact the office on 0121 525 4810. Places will be allocated on a first come basis.
What happens next?
Following these sessions, we will be in touch with everyone who has signed up to chat with you individually about the activity you want to undertake and the type of help we can provide.
Examples of activities we might be able to help you to do are shopping, walking for pleasure and exercise, visiting places of interest and certain personal fitness programmes (availability of facilities allowing).
Note: all activities will be subject to a Covid 19 risk assessment. Members and volunteers will need to wear suitable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which SVI will provide, unless you have your own.
