Blind Awareness Training
Home Visits
The Society visit visually impaired and blind people in their own homes to deliver and demonstrate items of equipment including the Talking Newspaper and Magazine. Demonstrations and assistance is provided on how to use the items of equipment and provide information about other services and also how to access them. We can also assist people with daily living skills equipment including help with completing forms and help reading mail.
Vision Loss Support (VLS)
The Blackburn and District Blind Society hold Vision Loss Support (VLS) sessions to provide advice and information for people with a sight loss, their family members and carers. The sessions will also provide an opportunity to meet people with similar experiences.
The Sessions include topics such as eye health, certification and registration, maintaining and improving independence, benefits and your rights and how to access statutory services. There will be information about how to keep your home safe and where to access services to help with jobs around the home including simple handy person tasks.
There will be magnifiers, lighting and equipment available that may help with everyday jobs and items of technology to look at and try. There will be information about recreation activities, large print and talking books. The sessions will be of interest to you if you have recently experienced a sight loss, have been registered partially sighted or blind or have recently moved to the area and would like updated information on what is available.
The sessions will be held at the Blackburn and District Blind Society office, NJK House, Wikinson Way off Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB1 2EE.
Advice and Signpost
Advice on how to contact various organisations and services.
- Council Services
- Independent Livings Service
- Your Support Your Choice
- Carers Service
- Care Network
- Age UK
- Macular Society
- RNIB
- Talking Newspaper Federation
And many more
Blind Awareness
The society offers Blind Awareness Training to businesses, transport services, shops, public services, clubs, charities, schools, colleges, family, friends and carers.
Please contact the society with your requirements and to discuss the cost for this service if any.
Please note there is no charge for family and friends of people with a sight loss, but the society always appreciates an appropriate donation, please contact us to discuss.
Telephone Befriending
The society operates a Telephone Befriending service to provide contact with our service users who may need help and advice, or specific information about items of equipment or information about other services and how to access them. The service is intended for people who are visually impaired or blind and who also may be isolated or lonely.
This is a free service. Please contact the office on 01254 698683
Our teams of volunteers operate the Blackburn and District Talking Newspaper based on the Lancashire Telegraph.
Information & Computer Training
We can supply information in different formats:
- in Braille.
- in Large Print and appropriate colour contrast.
- in Audio (MP3).
Our teams of volunteers operate the Blackburn and District Talking Newspaper based on the Lancashire Telegraph. We also produce a monthly talking magazine taken from a wide variety of sources. Both are available digitally each week for a small annual subscription.
The society can also arrange appropriate basic computer training using audio software and equipment, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
There is no charge for this service but donations are always welcome.
We can supply DOLPHIN and SUPERNOVA computer systems.
Free trial samples available
Special Tools & Equipment
We have a range of equipment to try or purchase including talking clocks and watches, magnifying glasses, LED and Daylight lighting units, white canes, rollerball and assorted tips, liquid level indicators, bump-ons and writing aids.
We loan Perkins Braille machines to registered blind or visually impaired people for a small quarterly charge. High magnification viewers are also available for our service users to use by appointment.
We have a small number of computers that are audio enabled that allow us to offer basic computer training for our service users.
We will obtain specific items of equipment upon request.
Meetings & Events
We host coffee mornings every 4th Thursday of the month that also includes specialist information talks and trade equipment demonstrations and also hold sales of unwanted or outdated equipment.
We also welcome people with a Macular condition, where they can meet with others who have a similar condition and hear about ways that could improve their experiences and about new developments, treatments and research. The group invites guest speakers from social services, Blackburn with Darwen Council Support Services and other support agencies and also trade equipment demonstrations.
We run a varied number of events and outings for our blind and visually impaired members, shopping trips, Museum visits, canal/lunch walks, fairs and street collections.
We publish a quarterly newsletter containing society news, events, local and national news regarding vision related topics, including the latest developments in treatment and eye care. The newsletter is also available audibly with the talking newspaper and on request.
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