From its Resource Centre in Balham, south west London, Thomas Pocklington Trust works daily to enable blind and partially sighted people to live independent and fulfilled lives. To celebrate Thomas Pocklington Trust’s 50th anniversary year, a special celebration event is being held at the centre, at which a range of new low vision aids will be made available to centre users for the first time.
Date: 6 November 2008
Time: 1430 -1630. Photo call at 1515: see below
Venue: Pocklington Resource Centre, Balham, SW12 (For full venue address and directions, please see “Notes to editors” below.)
Cutting a ribbon at 1515 hours to officially launch the resource centre’s new low vision aids facility will be London Borough of Wandsworth Mayor, Councillor John Farebrother. (Please see “Notes to editors” below for full programme of events, with timings.) Low vision aids are equipment that has been specially designed or adapted to help blind or partially sighted people with everyday tasks and in their work and leisure. Examples will include talking watches, scales and microwave ovens; telephones with large-size buttons and keypads, and liquid level indicators which can be hung on the side of a mug or glass when liquid is being poured into it, and which prevent over-filling.
The Pocklington Resource Centre offers a wide variety of activities and
services. These include art classes, IT courses, sewing and music jamming sessions. The resource centre provides specialist IT equipment that allows people with sight loss to check emails, search for jobs, do course work and shop online. It also produces a free, fortnightly Wandsworth Talking News audio tape. It has been run by Thomas Pocklington Trust since 2002 and is funded by Wandsworth Council.
The mayor will also meet staff, volunteers and resource centre users, including:
- Joanna Mason, 59, who attends art workshops at the Centre, having initially been referred by Wandsworth social services. “The workshops are excellent,” says Joanna, who became blind suddenly nine years ago, following a brain aneurism. “Having become blind overnight, I had to get myself very quickly back into the outside world. From the moment I arrived at the Centre, I felt a real sense of safety and security. It is specifically designed so that blind and visually impaired people can find their way around easily and safely, and it’s a very friendly place, with lots of different activities on offer. At the same time, however, you aren’t molly-coddled – the Centre’s staff and volunteers enable you to be independent, and they are always interested to learn what people using the Centre want from it”.
- Jason Beal, 34, who is partially sighted. Jason helps to compile the Wandsworth Talking News, and has attended courses at the Centre including IT and photography. “On the photography course, it was great to meet and exchange ideas with people who were so open-minded about what blind or partially sighted people might want from photo-graphy and art in general,” he says. “For me, the Centre is a great place to go and meet people, catch up with friends, use the IT facilities and find out about the very busy programme of events they put on. I then spread the word to friends – it’s a very enabling thing.”
Both Joanna and Jason are available for media interviews.
A low vision clinic is held once a month at the Pocklington Resource Centre, funded by Wandsworth Primary Care Trust. A macular disease self-help group meets regularly to share advice and information, such as the latest medical developments. A home visiting and reading service is offered for house-bound people with sight loss living in Wandsworth, and there is a social group for older people. The resource centre also offers regular IT and art classes which are run by South Thames College, as well as one-off social events throughout the year such as talks, trips and taster activities.
The Pocklington Resource Centre is currently keen to recruit volunteers, particularly for home visiting and telephone befriending, which offer social and emotional support and more to local people with sight loss. Anyone interested in finding out more can contact the Centre Manager, Odette Battarel: please see “Notes to editors” for contact details.
Thomas Pocklington Trust was founded in 1958, and is the leading provider of housing, care and support services for people with sight loss. A registered charity, it also funds research and development on sight loss issues, and publishes reports and guidance to support people with sight loss.
This event is part of a 12-month programme of 50th anniversary celebrations. Photos will be available by email on request after the event.
For press passes and more information please contact Debbie Hyde (debbie.hyde@oasismedia.co.uk, 07956 320 486)
Notes to editors:
- Pocklington Resource Centre address: 1c Yukon Road, Balham, London, SW12 9PZ. Tel: 020 8675 4246. Centre manager; Odette Battarel: odetteb@pocklington-trust.org.uk Directions: the resource centre is situated between Balham and Clapham South underground stations.
- Timetable of events:
1430: Mayor arrives, refreshments served and guests mingle
1500: Ron Bramley, chief executive of Thomas Pocklington
Trust formally welcomes guests + speech from Mayor
1515: photo call: Mayor invited to cut ribbon to formally open the centre’s new low vision aids room/service
1530: Mayor moves to Wandsworth Talking News studio to record message. Second photo opportunity.
1600: refreshments & mingling
1630: Mayor departs - As a young person, Thomas Pocklington experienced temporary blindness. When he recovered, he vowed to make housing and care service for provision for adults over 16 years who were blind and partially sighted. From a legacy left by him in 1935, Thomas Pocklington Trust was created. For more general information about its work, please visit: www.pocklington-trust.org.uk.
