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Issue 20 – November 2011
by Shaun McGarry, Vice Chairman on 21st November 2011 8:16 am
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 20 The NEWS November 2011
Next Meeting Monday 28 November at Wherry Way Community Room
Caister Road, at 2.30. Book your Taxi on 01493 301 759
Dear Friends welcome to your Newsletter. Thank you for taking part in our telephone survey. It was good to talk with you. Please let us know if we have missed you out.
We have invited Carl Dawdry.
He is the Highways Engineer for Great Yarmouth. We have already sent him some of your requests and queries, so he will be able to respond at the meeting.
We did have one success where a situation with a pavement was dealt with very fast. I will update at our meeting.
If you have any more problems about roads and pavements please come along to the meeting where you can discuss them directly with Mr. Dawdry.
We would like ideas from you on the subjects for our next telephone survey.
We would also like suggestions for future meetings.
At our last meeting we agreed that people who come by Taxi should pay £4.00 each for return journey and all members pay £2.00 donation towards costs. Thank you for your support this should help keep the group continue in the future, thank you.
The new non emergency number for the Police is 101. No code needed.
If you have any problems on Police matters let Wendy know at NNAB and she will get in contact with the local Special Constable who will be able to pass the details on to help you.
On Tuesday 13 December we will be having our Christmas lunchtime buffet at the NNAB Great Yarmouth. Wendy has kindly got permission to have it at NNAB.
If you wish to attend please contact Wendy. There will be a charge of approximately £8.00. Please pay Wendy directly. We will be having a raffle on the day. Could you bring your wrapped raffle prizes into Wendy at the office or on the day. We will need to know the numbers shortly as there is limited space. Although the food will be buffet Wendy has asked for sighted volunteers to help us.
Penny is not so well at the moment and our thoughts are with her and her family. We all wish you will be feeling better soon Penny.
The Disability Forum is hosting an Equality and Diversity Policy consultation at 2.30pm to 4pm at Christchurch Methodist Church, King Street, Great Yarmouth NR30 2HL on 1st December 2011. If you would like to come along and take part please call me (David) on 07990998845 to book your free transport there and back home.
This is a mobile number so if you wish, I will call you back.
This is a good opportunity for you to have your say. If you would like a large copy of the consultation please contact me. You can go online http://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/community- diversity/equality-consultation.htm
Good News the plans for car parking near the Gorleston boating pond have been halted as a result of people demonstrating against the project. That is very good news for us as that is where we do our health walk with Rebecca.
We were successful in our funding bid with the NCODP many thanks to Penny Parker for your help. Thank you to Nelly from the Voluntary Sector partnership for helping us with the paperwork.
Reminder, that Wendy has raffle tickets for sale for the NNAB Christmas Raffle. She will bring them along to our meeting on 28 November.
We hope that you have found this Newsletter interesting and we look forward to seeing you or speaking to you soon. Thank you, David.
David Wilkinson (Chairman)
07990998845 david.wilkinson2@tesco.net
Shaun McGarry, Vice Chairman
01493 602272 shaun@blindcrazy.co.uk
Wendy at NNNAB 01493 745973
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Issue 18 — The NEWS — September 2011
by Shaun McGarry, Vice Chairman on 16th September 2011 8:02 am
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 18 THE NEWS September 2011
Hello Friends we look forward to our next meeting. Matron Sarah Morris will return to update us and answer the questions we had remaining from her last visit.
Lizzie McDermott – Food Programmes Coordinator will do a short presentation. This will be telling us about courses available for people wishing to learn about cooking good quality meals at a low cost.
Joleen will be along from the ?Sow A Seed? project, she will bring some seeds, soil and plant pots with her and if you wish you will be able to take home and grow yourself!
Penny has provisionally booked the Furzedown for our Christmas Lunch this year. We will be sending the menu soon.
Financial News
You will have noticed from the Minutes of the AGM. We need more funding and in the past have been fortunate to have funding for our transport.
We took a vote and was unanimously agreed that the contribution towards refreshments and the Group will be now £2.
I have phoned several people that come in by taxi and they have agreed in principle to paying toward the fare. Some said they may make their own way. If you put away £1 each week you would be able to contribute the monies towards taxis. This will be on the Agenda.
News Updates
We have received a confirmation letter from Norfolk County Council that the hazard markings on all scaffolding poles are, from April 2011, now required to use the higher contrast Yellow & Black stripes.
There are two exhibitions at our NNAB Great Yarmouth .. ..
Sept 29th 10am to 3pm
Humanware is Showing a range of low vision products and the Trekker Breeze GPS.
October 13th 10am to 1pm
Associated Optical showing magnifiers and low vision aids. Over 200 in the range plus Scibolux 2.8 magnifer with light suitable for crosswords and sewing etc.
The Lions club are hosting another blindfold walk in Saint Georges Park this year. World Sight Day is Saturday 15 October. There will be information about local groups including ourselves available at the event from 11 O?clock. The walk for sighted people wearing a blindfold and being guided will begin at 12 noon.
A tree will be planted at 12:15, the same time all over the world where the Lions helps people with sight loss, trees will be planted.
Digital TV
Don?t forget that the Analogue TV signal will be switched off very soon (only month and a half to go) in November. The Digital TV will bring lots of extra channels including many radio stations through your TV. If you haven?t switched over yet then telephone 0800 408 5900 or visit Website www.helpscheme.co.uk. You very well may be entitled to a free upgrade of your aerial and a new set top box. Members reports that they are quite happy – the channel name is spoken out loud when switching between channels, and remote control is nice.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
David Wilkinson (chairman) 01493 842156
Shaun McGarry (Vice Chair) 01493602272
Penny Cox (secretary) 01493721167
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Issue 17 — The News — July 2011
by David Wilkinson, Chairman on 5th July 2011 8:39 am
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 17 THE NEWS July 2011
Next Meeting 25th July 2011
At Wherry Way Communal Room, Wherry Way
Great Yarmouth NR30 4 DJ
2pm to 4:30pm
For free transport from home and return
Call 01493 301 759
AGM and Group Update
Looking to the Future
Dear All, welcome to our July Newsletter. I hope that you are enjoying all the sunshine that we have been having.
AGM
Our Annual General Meeting will form the main part of our meeting on 25 July. Most of our committee will be standing for re-election. However we have room and would welcome some new faces. This is very interesting work. If you are interested please call Penny, Shaun or me, our telephone numbers are at the end of this Newsletter. Paul Bowerbank will be along to update us on the Sensory Support Unit.
Belton Fete
We have a stall at Belton Fete this year. It takes place on Sunday 17 July 10am to 5pm, in New Road playing field.
If you have any small items that you would like to donate please call Shaun, Penny or me and we will arrange the items to be picked up or let you know where you can drop them off. It is the first time we have fund raised in this way. If you know of any other events that we could get involved in then please let us know. If you are able to help in any way we would be grateful.
The HAPPI Group with their “Oops A Daisy” project also are supporting us. Come and Sow A Seed with us! They have been invited to come to our September meeting to explain more about this latest project.
Other News
It was good to see Sarah at our last meeting and we found the information very interesting. A full report is contained in the Minutes of that meeting which you should have.
Sarah has been re-invited back to our September meeting.
At our last meeting Terry asked our MP, Brandon Lewis, via his aide, Lewis Roberts, “Why are people that are sixty five and over not entitled to be considered for the New higher rate DLA Component for Severely Blind people.” Some members have received a letter from Brandon explaining that if you are in receipt of the Old Age Pension you are not entitled to the new allowance.
Chris Stanley came along with his Hybrid electric car and he drove it backwards and forwards and none of us could hear it! There is a full report in the minutes and I will get the picture to our website soon. Thanks Chris it was good to see you. We look forward to his British Lions “World Sight Day” when I expect some of us will be walking in Saint Georges Park.
Cobolt Systems had a good exhibition, showing their range of talking gadgets like measuring jugs, kitchen scales, FM Radio and lots more, at our NNAB Centre in Great Yarmouth. Also there is a good range of equipment from RNIB and others too. NNAB are open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm. Telephone 01493 745 973. Wendy Liz and Janet will be always happy to talk with you.
Contact Us
Please do not hesitate to call one of us if you need a chat.
Chairman David
Mobile 07990998845
Chairman@gyvipusergroup.org.uk
Vice Chair Shaun
01493 60 22 72
vicechair@gyvipusergroup.org.uk
Secretary Penny Cox
01493 721167
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Issue 16 of The NEWS — May 2011
by David Wilkinson, Chairman on 13th May 2011 1:14 pm
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 16 THE NEWS May 2011
Next Meeting 23 May 2011
At Wherry Way Communal Room, Wherry Way
Great Yarmouth NR30 4 DJ
2pm to 4:30pm
For free transport from home and return
Call 01493 301 759
Update from Matron Sarah Morris of the JPH
Experience a New Electric Hybrid Car
Dear Friends welcome to our Newsletter. We hope that you have been enjoying the good weather and all the bank holidays.
Due to unforeseen circumstances our AGM will be postponed. It will now take place on Monday 25th July.
Matron Sarah Maurice will be our speaker at our meeting. Sarah has apologised for her absence at our last meeting. This was due to an oversight in her diary. Sarah promises to be with us this time. I am sure there will be lots of questions that we would like to ask.
Chris Stanley from the Lions club will be coming along to show us his new Hybrid Car.
We will be invited to go outside and see what we can hear of it, if anything! Chris is happy to take our comments back to the manufacturer of the car.
Our guest speaker back in March was Peter from RNIB speaking about the Digital change over.
Details are in the Meeting minutes.
You should be contacted automatically.
Help scheme for Digital TV
Telephone 0800 408 5900
Website helpscheme.co.uk
The NHS Fresh food lorry should be outside our meeting room when you arrive. If you wish you may purchase from it like several of you did last time.
The lorry is on Mondays at Great Yarmouth Library 12.00- 12.30. Empress Road Cobholm 1.00-1.05 Nelson Road Central/South 1.30-1.45 Midland Close 1.50-2.05
Lawn Avenue 2.10-2.40
Tuesdays the food lorry is at Electra House,
Southtown Road 12.30-1.00 Ecclestone Bunnywell Close Gorleston 1.30-2.40 Hammon Middle School 2.45-3.15
Wednesday the food lorry is at
Greanacre School 8.30-9.15 Isabella Square 9.30-9.50 Hawkings Close 9.55-10.55
John Grant School 11.30-12.15
Kingfisher Close 12.40- 1.30
The decision has been made to organise The Great Yarmouth Older People’s Olympics 2012 based on many of the activities contained within the
Ageless Opportunity directory plus any others that may be of interest to older people, that is anybody over 50. Details will be available shortly.
The sports could include, short mat bowls, green bowls, ten pin bowling and many more activities.
The RNIB are taking part in a demonstration in London on 11 May. This is to vent disabled peoples feeling against the changes to DLA and other benefits. Linda and Penny will be representing our group and lobbying our MP.
We look forward to hearing all about the day at our meeting.
I hope that you are all receiving your copy of Magpie News and that you keep up to date with all the activities that you could get involved in.
The craft classes and coffee mornings are very popular here in Yarmouth at NNAB
Chairman David
Home 01493 842156
Mobile 07990998845
Vice Chair Shaun
01493 60 22 72
Secretary Penny Cox
01493 72 11 67
Looking forward to seeing you on 23 May, best wishes David
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Issue 15 of The NEWS — March 2011
by David Wilkinson, Chairman on 21st March 2011 1:09 pm
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 15 The News March 2011
Next Meeting Monday 28 March 2011
At Wherry Way Community Room, Wherry Way
Great Yarmouth NR30 4 DJ
2pm to 4:30pm.
free transport from home and return Call 01493 301 759
Digital Switchover Talk from RNIB
update from Matron Sarah Morris of the JPH
Welcome to our Newsletter for March and April.
We have information on CD, large print and Braille of the NHS Summary Care Records.
You remember that Jason did a very interesting presentation at our last meeting. I will bring copies along to our next meeting. Call if you cannot attend and I will get a copy to you.
We look forward to our next meeting. The gentleman from RNIB will hopefully bring some equipment along to help us understand the Digital Switchover that will take place later this year.
We look forward to meeting Matron Sarah Morris from the eye ward at JPH who will be revisiting us and will have the opportunity to update us from our last meeting with her.
Some of us attended a meeting at Christchurch in February to take part in the DLA reform Consultation that the Disability Forum hosted.
There were seventy plus people there and we had a presentation from Julie from Independent Living Norfolk and Paul from the Department of Works and Pensions. We split into small working groups and answered questions from the document, These answers and comments have been sent to the DWP as part of the consultation.
If anybody would like a copy please contact me.
Shortly after that meeting we met our MP for Great Yarmouth Brandon Lewis to raise concerns with him. We also had a discussion with him about the dangerous crossing on sight at Kings Street so he could see for himself.
If need help filling in your Census forms there will be an official from UK Census at the Priory Centre on Monday 28 March between 10.00 and 2.00 to assist you.
I am sure our good people at NNAB will also be able to help if needed.
DIAL continues to offer a Money and Debt service for anyone experiencing financial difficulties and can make an appointment to see Stephen by contacting the office.
DIAL has recently commenced the delivery of Disability Awareness Workshops and anyone wishing to receive further details can contact Jo Howes on 01493 856 900.
Mark Smith from NNAB is arranging a guided tour of Great Yarmouth Potteries. This visit is on 14 April. The visit includes a lunch of fish and chips if you like. For details please contact Mark or Simon
01603 629 558
From RNIB is a TV Freeview set top box announces all on-screen information, including programmed guides and menus, using synthetic speech. Designed and developed in conjunction with RNIB to provide complete access to the world of Digital Broadcast for all VIPs.
Looking forward to seeing you on 28 April, Best wishes David
Contact Details
Chairman David Wilkinson
Home 01493 842156
Mobile 0799099884
Chairman@gyvipusergroup.org.uk
Vice Chair Shaun McGarry
01493 602272
vicechair@gyvipusergroup.org.uk
Secretary Penny Cox
01493 72 11 67
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Issue 14 of The NEWS — January 2011
by David Wilkinson, Chairman on 25th January 2011 10:37 pm
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 14 The News January 2011
Next Meeting 31st January Special DLA Meeting 8 Feb
Welcome to our first Newsletter of 2011.
A very belated Happy New, Year to you all. As you know our November meeting was cancelled because of the snow.
Our next meeting is at 2pm to 4:30 at Wherry Way community Hall Caister Road GT. Yarmouth on 31 January.
We have invited Jason from the NHS to come and explain about the new NHS Summary Care Records systems, for our next meeting. We also have Penny Leggett from Yare Care Alarms to come and speak with us about assistive technology that could help us in our homes. Mark Smith from NNAB will be along to inform about the social and leisure events that we could get involved with the NNAB.
If you need Free transport please call Town and Country on 01493 301759 and invoice to our group. PTO
Disability Living Allowance is under review by Government.
There is a public consultation taking place at the moment.
The end date for this review is February 14.
The Disability Forum is staging a public event where you will have the opportunity to take part and have your say. The notes of the meeting will be sent to the DWP to form part of the consultation.
You can telephone:
02074497688 or email:
For a copy in large print, audio or Braille. I have two copies of Braille and two large print call me 07990998845, it is a mobile I will call you back.
The meeting is at Christchurch on 8th February 2pm-4pm. Transport will be available from Town and Country Taxis free of charge just quote VIP User Group, call 01493 301759.
The Big Conversation
Many of us have taken part in the Norfolk County Council’s Big Conversation. Many of us took part in the meetings in Great Yarmouth. Indeed there have been many correspondents from our group. We suggested a phone line put in place and indeed it was.
I went to County Hall on 19 January for a debate hosted by NCODP. At this meeting we heard the views of the 5 county councillors. This was a lively debate.
It was announced that Sensory Support would be able to continue, so be it with half their budget cut. There were other important factors discussed that will effect everyone. We will do our best to keep you informed.
Good News
We have received the second half of our Small Grants NHS funding. We are grateful for this and appreciate the help that we have from Helen, Nelly and all at Voluntary Norfolk.
Penny has been working very hard over the last few years to get the specifications changed for Scaffolding demarcation from red and White to Black and Yellow.
The scaffold companies are made aware of the changes and allowed to gear up for them.
It is intended to be fully implemented by the new procedure for the 1 April 2011.
This has been confirmed by
Clive Derry Senior Engineer (Network Management) Environment, Transport and Development Norfolk County Council. We would like to pass our thanks on to Penny, RNIB, Tony Wright and Brandon Lewis M.P. who is still pursuing the situation to get the recommendation nationwide.
Grapevine celebrated their 30th birthday on 16 January. Some of us attended their birthday lunch at the Burlington Hotel. Congratulations to all at Grapevine.
We look forward to seeing you at our meetings soon. David Chairman@GYVIPUserGroup.org.uk call 07990998845
Vice Chair Shaun 01493602272
Secretary Penny 01493721167
Shaun McGarry, Vice Chairman
Great Yarmouth VIP User Group
01493 60 22 72 — 07 985 916 244
http://www.gyvipusergroup.org.uk/ www.gyvipusergroup.org.uk
*** Achieving Respect and Understanding for Visually Impaired People ***
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Issue 13 of Special Edition — November 2010
by David Wilkinson, Chairman on 11th November 2010 2:10 pm
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentHello and welcome. This News has been bought out earlier than normal. We have some very important information for you. This will help you get involved in voicing your views on the cuts that Norfolk County Council are proposing to implement. There will be special meetings here in Great Yarmouth that you can attend. The meetings are at Cobholm & Lichfield HR Centre, Pasteur Road on Monday 22 November 2010
Afternoon event: 3pm to 5pm
Evening event: 6pm to 8pm
If you wish to attend and need transport, call Town & Country on 01493 301 759. There will be no charge to you or to our Group, NCC will pay. Please state which session you wish to attend, you will be taken door to door to the meeting and back home afterwards.
The consultation documents are published on the Council’s website www.norfolk.gov.uk http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/ , along with information about the different ways that residents and community groups can get involved. Alternatively, you can contact the Council by telephone: 0344 800 8020, or
email: information@norfolk.gov.uk for a printed copy of the consultation document. You can ask for this document in alternative formats.
Our Sensory Support Unit in the Norfolk County Council is one of the departments threatened with closure in order to save money! The plan is that it will only do registration work. NO more rehabilitations, NO more support and NO more equipment.
Visit our web site for more details at www.gyvipusergroup.org.uk and click on the Sensory Support campaign link.
There are many more services under threat such as Meals on wheels, Library service, some bus services, some care services from social service, Rubbish collection and many more. I am sure! In fact there are 154 documents about in the Big Conversation consultation.
We have enclosed an addressed envelope with this Newsletter, so you can write your thoughts.
Our next meeting is on 29 November at Wherry Way 2:30pm as normal. We will be talking about the budget cuts of course. Our guest speakers will be Jason from the NHS talking about the Summary Care Record system, where some of your information about your health can be put on a National NHS database.
Also Matron Sarah Morris will be giving us an update following her visit to us last year.
We have also invited Sensory Support to join us and bring the latest news.
Please call Town & Country Taxis for Free transport to the meeting on 01493 301 759.
For those of you who have not sent a cheque and filled in your selection for your Christmas Lunch, this will be your last opportunity as Penny needs to inform the Furzedown Hotel shortly after our meeting. Please remember to bring a wrapped up raffle prize for our Christmas Lunch.
Our meeting in September was very interesting as you will see by the Minutes. It was good to meet our new MP Brandon Lewis.
We look forward to seeing you on 22nd November, 29th November and including on the 13th December at our Christmas Lunch!
Please contact any of us for further information or advice:
David Wilkinson 01493 842 156 chairman@gyvipusergroup.org.uk
Shaun McGarry 01493 60 22 72 vicechair@gyvipusergroup.org.uk
Penny Cox 01493 72 11 67 secretary@gyvipusergroup.org.uk
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Issue 12 of The NEWS — September 2010
by David Wilkinson, Chairman on 20th September 2010 3:53 pm
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 12 the NEWS September 2010
Meet our New MP
World Sight Day
Welcome to the September issue of our News. We hope that you enjoy reading and gain some information to help you. If you have any thing that you would like us to include in future News please call us or email. Our contact details are at the end of this Newsletter. We are all happy to help.
Our meetings take place in the community room at Wherry Way
Which is just off Caister Road when heading towards Caister from Great Yarmouth just past opposite the bus station.
The next meeting is on Monday 27 September at the normal time of 2.30 until 4.30.
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