1. The newsletter for British Red Cross volunteers and staff
in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset & the Channel Islands
Advocacy in action:
Our team have continued to embrace the ‘difference
our voice makes’ strategy, by lending our experience
to support a new British Red Cross report ‘Not so
straightforward: the need for qualified legal support
in refugee family reunion’ in Parliament.
On 15th July the CDDSCI refugee support
services team helped launch a new report, calling
on government to reinstate legal aid for refugee
family reunion and calling for a simpler refugee
family reunion process. The launch at the House
of Commons, hosted by Daniel Kaczynski MP,
brought together colleagues from the refugee
sector, legal practitioners, MP’s, Lords, and other
key stakeholders to discuss the report findings
and critically, recommendations. A key part of the
launch was an emotive speech by Tanya Nana, a
user of our services in Plymouth.
Jonathan Ellis, head of policy, research and
advocacy thanked Service Manager Rupert
Blomfield: "A big thank you for your great support
for our Parliamentary launch of our new refugee
family reunion report. We are so grateful to you for
your support in working with Tanya so that she
could deliver such a powerful speech at our event
and show the human need for the changes that
we are promoting. I know that this took a lot of
your time but we really value your support”.
Alex Fraser, head of refugee support and
international family tracing, added his
appreciation: "just wanted to say a huge thank
you to you and the amazing Plymouth crew.
Yesterday was the organisation at its best - true
collaboration. Tanya is one of most courageous
people I have ever met - the power of her brave
testimony cannot be described in words - but
Daniel Kaczynski's commitment is evidence of the
impact it had on those present."
Family reunion work has been getting busier by
the day and the team have been successfully
bringing families back together by helping them
navigate the complex paperwork and supporting
them throughout the process.
Meanwhile in Jersey, following a successful on-
going Advocacy project lead by Karen Painter at
Le Rocquier Secondary School, the Year 9
students collaborated with A level media students
from Jersey College for Girls, producing a film to
raise awareness of the work of the Red Cross
both globally and locally.
This film demonstrated a clear message to
audiences, which have included local politicians,
the Lieutenant Governor (Queen’s representative)
and the Bailiff of Jersey, that young people are
engaging in our resources and developing skills
that will enable them to become more active
humanitarian citizens. Please take a look at the
resulting video which can be viewed online at
https://vimeo.com/127936766.
The project on Jersey has been supported by UK
based refugee service volunteers, staff and
service users who shared their experiences.
Like all our operational teams, a huge amount of
effort and expertise from a small team of people,
is making a massive difference to many people in
crisis, so a big thank you to everyone involved.
On page 2, read about how the team are
supporting people facing ‘indefinite
detention’ in Dorset...
August2015
Above: The launch team included the CDDSCI refugee support
services team and service user Tanya Nana, who talked about
her personal experience of the family reunion process.
For more info and to read the report visit: http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Advocacy/Refugees/Legal-aid-and-family-reunion
2. Welcome to the summer
edition of CDDSCI Local Life.
As ever we are extremely busy
with all sorts of exciting and
valued work taking place – and
once again we have had to
produce a 12 page magazine
just to try and fit everything in!
Reshaping Our Work: Since the 16th June myself and various
members of the Area Management Team (the AMT
Roadshow) have visited some of the core offices to meet with
staff and volunteers to talk about the Strategic Change
Programme that is taking place in the British Red Cross.
This work is fast moving and has the potential to significantly
change the way the Red Cross looks and feels and it’s really
important that people keep up to date with it and take the
opportunity to get involved when that becomes an option later
in the year. I fully appreciate it’s not always easy to get to a
single planned event but am committed to coming out and
talking to people whenever and wherever I can. If you’d like
me to come to your office, your team/group meeting then
please let me know. I’m also planning to revisit the offices,
probably early in September, to update everyone, so keep an
eye out for dates and times.
In the meantime we are sending out email updates every
Friday, if you aren’t receiving it please let Stephen know. If you
are receiving it please share the content with your Red Cross
colleagues and get in touch if you have any points to make.
In the meantime I can only thank you for all your hard work
and say well done for making a difference to so many people
here in the South West and the Channel Islands.
Sarah Gibson
Operations Director, CDDSCI
IN THIS ISSUE
Page 4
Over £27k
raised by
London
Marathon
runners
Pages 6 & 7
Pictures and events from around
CDDSCI in 2015
Pages 8 & 9
Special poems, events and
fundraisers help mark Channel
Islands Liberation 70.
Page 10
Staff newcomers and some fond
farewells..
Page 11
Trainers see things
differently… how some
expert advice can help
us be more inclusive.
Welcome to the August 2015 Edition
of your Red Cross Local Life
Page 2
ThankyoutoallvolunteersandstaffwhosuppliedimagesandcontentusedinthiseditionofCDDSCILocalLife.
SGibson@redcross.org.uk T: 01823 273721
Are you a tweeter? Follow:
In June, Dorset Refugee Support volunteers were
nominated for the Mayor of Bournemouth’s ‘Volunteer
Group of the Year’ award.
It was a hard choice as there were many amazing
volunteer groups nominated and sadly we didn't come out
top, but all nominees were recognised with a certificate for
their amazing contributions.
Pictured left is lead volunteer Usha Khatun (centre)
receiving her certificate from the Mayor of Bournemouth
Chris Mayne. Well done Usha and thanks again for all that
you do to support people in crisis.
3. Page 3
In October 2014 a new Immigration Removal Centre, housing over
500 men, opened on Portland (Dorset), at the site of The Verne
prison. With a throughput of over 10,000 vulnerable people per
year, the humanitarian action team is piloting several projects to
improve the emotional and physical wellbeing of those detained,
as well as advocating on their behalf with the authorities on
humanitarian grounds where appropriate. We also provide the
International Family Tracing service, and have run training sessions
for 140 prison staff.
The detainees are not criminals and yet face harsher conditions than prisoners as they face an uncertain
future and do not know how long they will be detained. Whilst the majority spend less than 3 months
inside, some are detained for much longer and in some cases, for years. The UK has the worst record in
the EU in its practise of indefinitely detaining people for the purpose of immigration. As one detainee
reported “I am not the one suffering, it is my wife and children that suffer most, as I cannot see or support
them, and have no idea whether I will see them again or be deported”. There were 160 suicide attempts
across the 11 detention centres in the first quarter of 2015. This is one of the most demanding and
challenging pieces of work undertaken by the Humanitarian Action Team to date in CDDS, but we have a
dedicated team of trained staff and volunteers who are refusing to ignore people in crisis.
Back in February we reported about the work of
volunteers Diana Webb and Shirley Wallace in
administering and looking after the interests of a
legacy left by Webber Andrews, that has been
benefitting Minehead residents for over 45 years.
In May, Diana and Shirley were nominated to attend
a garden party at Buckingham Palace with the
Queen in attendance. Diana describes their Royal
day out…
“Never did we imagine that the 20th May 2015,
would be such a day to remember!
With our outfits chosen and train tickets bought,
myself and Shirley were on our way to enjoy an
early lunch and to join several thousand other
invited guests queuing outside the gates of the
palace. The day was sunny, warm and breezy
which were ideal conditions for touring the gardens.
There were numerous scented shrubs to admire
accompanied by the royal ducks and ducklings
waddling around our feet.
The tea, served from a large marquee, was
delicious, dainty and copious in choice. At 4pm the
Queen arrived, together with the Duke of
Edinburgh, the Duke of York and several other
members of the royal family. We were perfectly
placed for a close view of them all as they paraded
across the terrace, with the Queen looking her
usual radiant self in her oatmeal outfit.
The bands of the Royal Marines and the Royal
Artillery played musical selections which completed
the perfectly magical atmosphere. The Queen, and
her entourage, left their Royal Tea Marquee at
5.45pm affording us with yet another close view of
them all. The spectacle was further enhanced by
the presence of colourful uniforms of the Queen’s
Bodyguard of the Honorable Corps of Gentlemen-at
-arms and the Yeomen
of the Guard.
Shirley and I are so
grateful to have been
given the opportunity to
represent Somerset.
Our work administering
the legacy left by Mr
Webber Andrews will
continue, albeit in a
rather different guise as
we progress with the
new emphasis of
helping the elderly of
Minehead with the newly
formed ‘Support at
Home’ project.”
Indefinate detention: James Piriou reports on
our response
Volunteers Diana Webb and Shirley Wallace attend Buckingham Palace
Pic Below: Diana and Shirley
near Buckingham Palace
Contact James Piriou for further information: jpiriou@redcross.org.uk
4. The British Red Cross Dorset Fire
and Emergency Support Service
launched on 20 May 2010 and in five
years their dedicated volunteers
have helped over 350 households
affected by crises such as house
fires and flooding.
Volunteers and staff marked the
occasion with a special ‘birthday’
event at the Springbourne Fire
Station in Bournemouth. Thirty
people attended the event including
representatives from the police, the
Borough of Poole Emergency
Planning Team, Streetwise and
Bournemouth University.
Klara Downing, ER Co-ordinator for
Dorset, explains: “We have an
amazing bunch of dedicated
volunteers of all ages who offer their
services 24/7 to help local people
deal with house fires, flooding and
other emergencies. We also have an
excellent partnership with Dorset Fire
and Rescue Service, other ‘blue
light’ services and the local authority.
Our volunteers offer practical
support but sometimes it’s a
listening ear and a cup of tea that’s
just as important.”
Could you volunteer for the service?
Call Klara on 07702 803585.
Dorset celebrate 5
years of Emergency
Services Support
Page 4
When Rob Barclay
signed up for the
London Marathon
this year as a
personal challenge
to mark ten years in
remission from bone
cancer, he never
imagined he would
raise £27,000 for the
British Red Cross.
But after announcing his intentions Rob, who is originally from
South Brent in Devon, was heartened when wife Carrie, younger
brother Andrew, best-man Rob Speakman, and four other friends
said, ‘me too!’. The ‘Magnificent Eight’ went on to raise more than
£1,000 per mile this April, through a combination of sponsorship
and special events – with the money helping the Red Cross make
a huge difference to people in crisis.
Diagnosed when he was just 22, Rob underwent surgery and
months of chemotherapy treatment to overcome the cancer in his
arm. His mother, Bobbie Barclay, who is President of the Red
Cross in Devon, explains: “It was during that time that Rob set
himself the goal of running the Marathon as something to focus on
and a way of getting through. It was an awful time, but they say
that out of something horrible comes something good.”
“I may be biased, but Rob is a delightful man and in a way I
think that his journey has made him a better person.”
When he completed the race in 2006 Rob raised over £7,000 so
he was astounded and delighted to raise the £27,000 total this
time. He says: “2015 is a big year for me. It represents the ten-year
anniversary of my cancer diagnosis, my chemotherapy and
(thankfully) the start of my ten years (so far) in remission. To
celebrate the fact I’m very much still here, I thought I would once
again run the London Marathon – again for the Red Cross. Thank
you to everyone who donated for this worthy cause. Many people
initially diagnosed with bone cancer don’t get to have ten year
anniversaries so I was running for them as much as for me, my
family and the Red Cross and the people they support.”
Bobbie, who has been a keen fundraiser for the Red Cross for 25
years and Devon President for the last six, is very proud of what
the team has achieved. “Rob has always been very positive and
this is another example of that,” she says. “The amount of money
the team has raised is remarkable and it is going to such a
fantastic cause.”
The team were greeted at the finish line by Red Cross chief
executive Mike Adamson and director of fundraising Mark Astarita
OBE. Congratulations and thank you to the ‘Magnificent Eight’!
Pic: Six of the team members at the start line from left to
right: Adam Rutter, Rob Speakman, Carrie Barclay, Rob
Barclay (with headband), Andrew Barclay and Richard Hull.
‘Magnificent 8’ raise over £27,000
running the 2015 London Marathon
5. Dear Volunteer,
As colleagues working on the front
line, you will be acutely aware that
the current deep financial crisis in the
UK has increased levels of
vulnerability amongst the people that
we support.
A national programme has been put
in place by the British Red Cross to
help people in financial crisis through
Refugee, Independent Living and
Emergency Response Services.
Across the UK the priority is to
introduce a “national offer” for our
service users in financial difficulty,
enabling them to increasingly and
consistently access:
Food parcels
Free clothes and household goods
Information on benefits and grants
available
Information on the energy grants,
benefits and payment schemes.
The Executive Leadership Team has
approved a national programme in
2015 to build national partnerships
with organisations that can contribute
towards meeting the financial
hardship of BRC service users
through advice, tools and practical
assistance. The key national
partners are:
The Trussell Trust – over 400 food
banks across the UK.
Turn2us – Tools and information
on welfare benefits and grants
available to individuals
experiencing financial hardship
The Home Heat Helpline –
Advises people worried about their
energy bills and keeping warm in
winter.
The British Red Cross has also a
shop voucher scheme to use in
our own retail shops for people
needing essential clothes and
household goods.
Our area team managers and
members will have the necessary
information with regards to our
national partnerships to help
volunteers or staff who have
identified any of our service users
requiring financial help.
Thank you and regards,
John Colverson
OTHER
NEWS
British Red Cross is
voted in as Co-Op
charity partner
A big thank you to all
Co-operative Group
members and staff in
the area for helping
award BRC funding for
2015/16 to help tackle
loneliness in the older
population. We look
forward to bringing you
news of the impact this
partnership will have.
Volunteers needed
for Support at Home
service in Poole.
A new service is
coming to support
people to regain their
ability to live
independently after a
stay in Poole Hospital,
Dorset. We're hoping to
get the service up and
running September/
October so would be
keen to hear from
volunteers now who
could help give vital
support to people in
crisis. If you or
someone you know
could help please
contact 01202 263132
for more details.
Mobility Aids back at
Burnham-on-Sea
Following closure of
the mobility aids outlet
in Burnham-on-Sea,
Somerset, we are now
providing local access
to the community via a
‘pick-up and drop-off’
point in the town.
The service is by
appointment and
accessed by calling the
Taunton service on
01823 273746.
Page 5
Responding to the financial crisis:
A letter to volunteers from John Colverson - Financial Crisis
area lead and Cornwall Volunteer Council Chairman.
Another way everyone can
support people in their
financial crisis, is to help out
at the Food Collections that
BRC support in partnership
with food bank charities.
Pictured left are Fiona
Pearson and Helen Osborn
who volunteered in Dorset at
the Fareshare food drive in
July, alongside Ella Coates.
Helen says: “customers were
extremely generous and we
were able to fill two trolleys in
the two short hours we were
there!”.
6. Page 6
Aroundtheareainpictures... CDDSCI Area Forum 2015….
Above: Taunton staff give a warm
welcome to BRC Nepal Country
Manager, Helen Brown, on her
around the UK fundraising/
awareness motorbike challenge.
Above: Ahead of the general
election the Plymouth office hosted
prospective parliamentary
candidates, to ask them to show
commitment to BRC top priorities.
Below: Helen Osborn and
Ella Coates encouraging
cake sales in Dorset for Red
Cross Week.
Above: Cheryl Murray plays
casualty at a Somerset
Adult Education volunteers
and staff learning day.
Below: Refugee service co-
ordinator Waleed Abdallah, sent
us this picture from the Refugee
Week International Fashion Show
held in Plymouth.
Below: Another from Waleed, taken
at the Calstock Trip and Fun Day for
Refugee Week, which took
attendees from Plymouth supported
by Red Cross volunteers & staff.
7. Page 7
EFAatDartmoorTenTors2015….
Above: Jane Moorshead and Win Willis present an
Outstanding Service Award to Joyce Le Tocq and a
Distinguished Service Award to Sheila Ellis, at the annual
Red Cross Fete on Guernsey.
Above: Gerry Wells-Cole sent us this picture from the
Somerset Red Cross fundraising ‘Musical Steam & Cream
Tea Express’ event on the West Somerset Railway.
Above: A learner gains new Everday First Aid skills, at a
session arranged by Sara Hodges in Dorset. Muntsy’s
Community Group (for adults with additional needs) said:
‘We’ve never seen first aid delivered in such a creative way’
Above: Deborah Fisher and Torbay service co-ordinators
Sharon Woodhams, Emma Swanton and Caroline Parker
outside the relatively new office base in Torquay.
9. Page 9
The Channel Island states of Jersey and Guernsey have been marking the 70th anniversary of Liberation
with the Red Cross playing an integral part of, and the chosen charity at various events. The communities
are incredible supporters of the British Red Cross. Here’s just a handful of highlights so far in 2015…
Right: In Guernsey, we took part in the
Hafenschloss Re-enactment day, which
demonstrated what wartime life was like for
both islanders and the occupying forces.
Service co-ordinator Jane Moorshead
explained: “We displayed today’s British
Red Cross appeal posters, attached to
suitcases used by Guernsey people
evacuated to the United Kingdom in 1940”.
Jersey and Guernsey mark a special year...
Bev Dallas-Chapman (Senior Community
Fundraiser) delighted with the efforts of St. Helier
Parks and Gardens Team, who created this BRC
flower bed to show us their support.
During the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World
War II, many residents of the islands were arrested and deported to
Bad Wurzach in Germany. Red Cross volunteers accompanied ex-
internees on an emotional visit back to Bad Wurzach which, post
war, formed a twinning with St Helier (capital of Jersey). Our
volunteer team worked so hard to ensure that everyone was where
they wanted to be and were happy and safe, getting people on
board buses, getting their luggage, pushing wheelchairs, assisting
and chatting with everyone (pictured right).
We were honoured to be asked to assist and were thanked by the
Internees Committee, the Twinning Committee and the internees
themselves. We have also received over £600 in donations from
those internees and their families so far, which we really appreciate.
Our colleagues in the DRK (German Red Cross) in Bad Wurzach,
assisted us on a trip to Lindau and helped source wheelchairs for
those who had mobility issues during the trip. We have a fantastic
relationship with our colleagues there, which goes back to our
2013 ‘Bad Wurzach and Back’ cycle challenge.
Left: At the start of Red Cross week, we were the chosen
charity at the Barclays Jersey Boat Show. We held collections
at the major event, with around 30,000 people visiting over
the bank holiday weekend, as well as being the beneficiary of
dinners, events and ‘rubber duck’ sales!
10. Debbie Braiden has joined the
Emergency Planning & Response
team as ER Co-ordinator for Devon
and Somerset. Debbie already
worked for BRC in the Kent &
Sussex area and we’re pleased to
welcome her to the South West.
Mike Ward has joined the
Emergency Planning & Response
team as ER Co-ordinator for
Cornwall, replacing Richard Williams
who left for pastures new at end of
July. Rich will be missed and we
send a massive thank you to him for
all his hard work in Cornwall.
Helen Osborn has moved to a new
role in Dorset as Refugee Services
Co-ordinator.
Maria Stevenson started her role
earlier this year at the busy
Plymouth office as Administration
Assistant alongside Phyllis McNally.
Tim Hills and Steve Williams have
joined the Mobility Aids Warehouse
Team based at Exeter.
Bev Jakes has joined the team
based at Poole Hospital in Dorset
providing assisted discharge
support.
Claire McMahon - joined Mia
Dawson’s Youth Education team in
Spring, as Youth Educator for
Torbay, based in Torquay office.
Sally Venn has returned to BRC in
the Somerset Independent Living
Team as Service Co-ordinator. This
completes the team now that Clare
Meaden is co-ordinating a new
Support at Home service in
Minehead, funded from the Webber
Andrews trust (see page 3).
Sue Ferguson has been appointed
as BRC Vice-President for Cornwall.
Sue is an existing volunteer and will
be a great asset to activities.
Richard Swann has decided to step
down from the Volunteer Council
Chair role in Dorset. Thank you
Richard for all you’ve done.
Newcomers and
changes...
Cliff Sutton retires - his thoughts on 16+
years Red Cross career and the future
Mobility Aids driver Cliff Sutton retired from the Red Cross earlier this
year just short of 17 years. During this time Cliff saw many changes
in the Red Cross and in the changing needs of people in crisis, which
took him down a few different roads (literally!).
Former carpenter/joiner Cliff explained: “My first role with BRC was
as a minibus driver in Sidmouth (3 days a week) taking elderly
residents to a day centre run by the Red Cross, where they could
have a chat, lunch and much valued companionship. Seeing the
direct impact this made to those people was a highlight of my career”.
When funding sadly came to an end for this service after 2 years, for
a time he worked doing pick up and drop off of donated goods, then
started full time in Mobility Aids. Covering Devon & Cornwall, he
could be covering between 500 and 1000+ miles in any week! Cliff
said “I’d like to see BRC do a lot more visible promotion of the service
such as wheelchair loans. Dedicated buildings for MA storage and
delivery, and better return of loaned items could improve access”.
Cliff also put his driving experience into use during two major
emergency responses in recent years. During the severe Gloucester
floods he helped us reach stranded residents with provisions supplied
by Tesco. Cliff remembered “What struck me is you’d have one side
of a street completely inundated by water, and the other side clear.
People were so grateful for our support so it felt really worthwhile”.
He also got to drive the BRC Unimog during the pro-longed flooding
in Somerset, helping get fuel and provisions to desperate residents.
Cliff has lots to occupy his retirement including a road trip around
Europe commenting “I don’t know how on earth I had time to go to
work!”. Thank you Cliff for the difference you made to people in crisis.
Page 10
Pic: Staff from Independent Living
team wish Cliff well in Exeter. May
2015.
Left to right - Byron Cousins, Cliff
Sutton, Jason Garner, Deborah
Fisher, Claire Tomlin, Judith Badger,
Jane Williams and John White.
With thanks to Jonathan Hill for the update & photo.
Eleanor Morris retires from Sherborne shop
after 15 years of dedicated volunteering
Eleanor Morris joined the Red Cross shop in Sherborne, Dorset back
in 2000 when it opened, and is
one of their longest serving
volunteers.
Eleanor is pictured right with
Sherborne Red Cross manager
Elaine Pitts and assistant
manager Jane McWilliams,
receiving her retirement gifts.
Eleanor is highly regarded and
will be missed in store. Thank
you for all your hard work.
11. Page 11
September is British Red Cross
People Survey time and we really
need your participation, to ensure
the opinions of volunteers and staff
from CDDSCI are well represented.
The survey is an opportunity for you to feedback and indicate your satisfaction levels on subjects
including strategy, management, communication, culture and technology - some of the things that
can affect how well we perform our roles. It’s also important to indicate and highlight the things we do
really well, what things motivate us to work or volunteer for the Red Cross and enable us to give the
best support we can to people in crisis.
Results from the survey are collated and used to help shape the way we work, and try to make things
better if needed. Here’s a couple of examples of how your feedback from the last people survey in
2013 has made a difference at a local level:
People Survey
2015 is coming
14th Sep...
People said we want the “leadership to come and have
conversations with staff” and be “more visible to volunteers”.
This is understandably difficult in CDDSCI, that covers 4 large rural
counties and 2 island states, so what we did was set up ‘roadshows’
across the area, open to all volunteers and staff, attended by our
Operations Director Sarah and other area management, to share
updates, have open conversations and answer questions face-to-face.
We held 7 of these across the area in 2014 and 6 so far in 2015. This
type of event helps people attending get to know the whole team better,
share information both ways and get more accurate information about
changes - find out what’s happening but more importantly help understand
why it’s happening. We also welcomed BRC Chief Executive Mike
Adamson to our Area forum in April 2015, which gave many volunteers
and staff the chance to discuss issues from the wider perspective, as well
as engage with local senior managers and teams.
People said we need to “Provide information to volunteers about
who the managers are, what they do and where they are based, and
to communicate better with staff and volunteers”.
We produced a new CDDSCI Area Guide with information and contact
details for all our managers and teams, as well as key regional staff,
safeguarding teams and retail outlets. This was loaded onto RedRoom
along with updated staffing charts and both are updated regularly. A one
page ‘info-graphic’ was also designed giving a quick reference to facts
about the area and the work we do. More guides are in development.
We now provide more frequent updates about the work we do and area
developments, producing Operations Director Newsletters, a digital version
of Local Life magazine, posting news on Twitter (@CDDSCIRedCross) and
by sending regular ‘Friday email updates’, which collect both local news
and cascades of information from ‘up the line’. The Roadshows are also
providing more opportunities for face-to-face communication.
Please take part in the 2015 People Survey - your voice matters!
12. Page 12
cddsci@redcross.org.uk Stephen T: 01823 273727
NEXT ISSUE:
Please send us your stories!
Upcoming Dates for your diary
The next issue of Local Life will be in December
2015 - deadline for articles 16/11/2015 please.
If we don’t know about it, we can’t print it - so if
you have any letters, photos, diary dates/reports
or news you’d like to share in the next edition of
Local Life, please send any text and photos to:
Trainers see things differently...
As you know one of the British Red Cross values
is ‘inclusive’ and Somerset trainers and educators
saw life from a series of different perspectives, at
a joint team meeting earlier this year.
Saskia Pearlstone from charity Somerset Sight,
was invited to give suggestions as to how we
could better assist those with visual impairments
in our training sessions. She brought along a
selection of spectacles which could replicate
various sight impairments such as glaucoma,
tunnel vision, and diabetes related eye conditions.
Trying on these glasses allowed our trainers to
understand what it feels like to suffer from a sight
impairment and have to cope with day-to-day
activities. Saskia explained that everyone’s
impairment affects them individually and that
trainers should ask what needs to be done to help
them achieve their learning objectives, before
they begin the training session. It might be
something very simple, such as providing
enlarged photocopies - only the individual would
be able to tell us. She also explained that only 3%
of blind and partially sighted people read Braille.
Pictured above (right) is trainer Richard Hulbert,
trying to sort change for the bus, whilst ‘suffering
from macular degeneration’. In the background
(left), Pauline Harrison tries to read aided by a
magnifying glass to help with tunnel vision, whilst
Alison Tucker (centre) discusses the suggestions.
Open Garden - Poppy Cottage, Cornwall
Sunday 6 September: Poppy Cottage, Ruan
High Lanes, Truro, Cornwall TR2 5JR. 2.00pm
to 5.30pm. £3.50 per adult, under 16’s free.
Homemade cakes and teas will be served.
By kind permission of Tina and Dave
Primmer.
Open Garden - Glebe Court, Somerset
Saturday 12 September: Glebe Court, West
Monkton, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8QT.
2.00pm to 5.00pm. £4.00 per adult, under 16’s
free. Dogs on leads are welcome. By kind
permission of Mr and Mrs Pugh-Thomas.
Volunteer Information Morning, Somerset
Saturday 10 October: Burnham & Highbridge
Community Centre 5, Berrow Road,
Burnham-On-Sea, Somerset, TA8 2ET. 10am
to 12noon. Open to existing and ‘potential’
volunteers. For more details call Sarah
Washington on 01823 273713.
Lulworth Country House Fair, Dorset
Thursday 15 October: Lulworth Castle, East
Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QS.
10th year of this fantastic event - why not get
some great crafts and gifts for Christmas?
With thanks to Patron Sally Weld.
Cornwall Volunteer Celebration, Bodmin
Saturday 17 October: Invitation from the
Volunteer Council to all Cornwall volunteers.
Award presentations, light refreshments
provided. 12.00 to 3.00pm. At Cornwall's
Regimental Military Museum, The Keep,
Bodmin PL31 1EG.
Staff & Volunteer Council Conference
Saturday 24 October: Best Western Hotel,
Tiverton, Devon. 11.00 am start, approx.
4.00pm finish.
Contact cddsci@redcross.org.uk or call
Stephen on 01823 273727 for info.
Bridgwater Carnival, Somerset
Could you help?
We’ll be doing our usual fundraising
collections during this amazing festival of
huge illuminated / animated floats and
incredible costumed walkers on Saturday
7th November. If you could help collect
whilst absorbing the atmosphere, please
contact Sarah Washington on 01823 273713.
