Seescape in the community

Tue, Feb 15th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Speaker will be Kirstie Henderson from the Seescape Community team


Kirstie Henderson from Seescape outlined the charity's work.

Fife Society for the Blind (FSB) was founded in 1865 to teach blind people to read in Braille. In September 2018 they changed our name to seescape to reflect our aims - enabling people with sight impairment lead as independent life as possible.


Seescape hold the register for people in Fife who are diagnosed by the NHS as sight impaired or severely sight impaired. Seescape’s 4 core functions: Sight Support, Access Technology, The Optician and Community Engagement.

Visual impairment includes

Some eye conditions that are hereditary or acquired through injury or illness. With increasing age, our sight deteriorates. Common conditions are - Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Cataract & Diabetic Retinopathy.

Neurological visual impairments often involve the loss of central vision, one side of the visual field, or a loss of the entire visual field.

Sight Support will phone the person following referral to arrange a home assessment. Talk about the benefits of registration and ask how they are coping or what may help them manage
Help identify other areas of support, including aids and equipment i.e. magnifiers, low vision aids, canes, liquid level indicators, getting around, independent living skills including recreation.

Refer for rehabilitation, access technology or community engagement.

Access Technology can help when optical magnifiers are not strong enough.
Electronic magnifiers up to x25 magnification can be tested with advice from expert.
Text to speech devices.
Smart Devices: Tablet, iPad or iPhone or Android devices.
Accessibility features on computers and devices, including voice recognition and Apps.


The Optician can provide
 
Free NHS eye tests
 
Eye tests carried out by an optician who specialises in low vision
 
Products for more complex conditions which includes hands free magnification and medical filters
 
Latest scanning technology including 3D imaging of the eye
 
Low vision clinics (NHS)

Fundraising
seescape delivers services on behalf of Fife Council for which they receive grant funding.
Health and Social Care Partnership.
 They need to raise additional funds to maintain and develop their services e.g. Trusts & Foundations, Corporate, Community, Legacies Individual donations

Community Engagement
Social Groups in Cupar, Glenrothes, Leven, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline
Befriending - individual clients all over Fife
Volunteering supporting above services.
Community Activity Pilot

Emotional Impact of Visual Impairment
Grief
& trauma can comes with loss of vision.
Unable to do the things they used to i.e. their driving licence means a big loss of their independence and increased reliance on others
Loss of independence unable to do the things they used to do
Social
 isolation and loneliness – around two-thirds of people with a visual impairment experience loneliness.

Kirstie explained the importance of volunteers. 
Volunteers are vital to seescape and their clients.
Volunteers are welcomed from all ages and all walks of life
Approx.  40 Volunteers who are involved with Groups, Befriending services, as well as supporting admin and fundraising activities – they are part of the seescape team.
Training depending on role may include: Sight Awareness, Guide Techniques, etc.
Volunteers are highly valued and respected by all for their dedication and commitment.

Social groups 
Meet on a weekly/fortnightly basis.
Value in bringing people together - offering mutual support and friendship.
Offers a range of activities for example: guest speakers, access technology updates, singers and musicians as well as outings to various places that the group are able to access.
Run by volunteers.
CE
C monitor/develop groups - Kirkcaldy.

Befriending
Befriending at home or within the local community, distance/telephone befriending.
Support to engage in interests, hobbies, provide connection and company.
The befriender may be the only company the client has all week
Helps to reduce isolation and loneliness
Can lead to increased confidence and well-being as well as making and re-establishing connections


'What We Do' Main Pages:

Members allocated for reception and vote of thanks duties

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Information and application form. Scroll down to see who has benefited from our grants programme.

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Rotary in our Community

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International Service Projects

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Primary Schools linked to Rotary Club of West Fife:- Blairhall, Cairneyhill, Carnock, Crossford, Camdean, Culross, Inzievar, Holy Name, Limekilns, Milesmark, St Serfs, Saline, Torryburn, Tulliallan. Secondary Schools:- Queen Anne and Woodmill

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Oiling the West Fife Club's Rotary wheel

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Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

The Entertainment Agenda

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The club has a varied and interesting sports programme incorporated under the Entertainment Programme. .

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Filed Audited Accounts

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Paul Harris Fellowship Awardees

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Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment.

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Newsletters detailing projects undertaken by all Rotary Clubs in Fife in partnership

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All the club’s policies covering Equality & Diversity and GDPR

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A Rotaract and Rotary GB&I Collaboration in District 1010

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