To read previous issues from 2022, select our Archive page

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KAB Eye Opener

Issue 35
22nd March 2023

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Website: www.kingstonassociationforblind.org

Sheila, who is grey haired with glasses and smiling, is sitting to the left of Monique, who has dark long hair and wearing a golden scarf. Sheila is holding her iPad and Monique is helping her to use it with her.

Ina, with dark hair is on the left sitting next to Liz with light hair on the right. Liz is smiling and holding her phone and Ina is demonstrating to her how to use it with Voiceover.

Participants in our recent KAB digital drop-in session at the Quaker Centre, on how to use accessibility features on an iPhone and iPad.

News for our Members

KAB Notices

Office Hours: 10am - 4pm
KAB Office Telephone Number: 0208 605 0060

KAB Activities
Weeks 22nd March - 5th April

For more details and to book call 0208 605 0060
or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org

Thursday 23rd March 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Thursdays, dates TBC 11.00am – 1.00pm
Indoor Bowls. King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Jubilee Way,
Chessington, KT9 1TR.

We are recruiting new volunteers to run Bowls. As soon as arrangements are confirmed we will announce future arrangements.

Friday 24th March 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Yoga for the visually impaired. 60 Minute Yoga session for people with visual impairments (and their carers where required). Sessions are on Fridays, at the Quaker Centre and must be pre-booked. Please bring your own mat, water and hand wipes. If you are feeling unwell, it is important that you do not attend this session. Sessions are free, for enquiries please call 0208 605 0060 or email adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org.
Or book on the website:  tinyurl.com/mt7t2crt

This is the last yoga session in this series. It will be back after Easter during the daytime – more details will follow.

Saturday 24th March 10.30am – 11.30am
Football – special free offer.  Two sessions run during term time.
Try a Blind and Partially Sighted Football Session with Fulham for free!

There are 2 Groups (5-16 years and Adults 16+ years), at Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT

Use the code 'VIPGuest' when booking onto the weekly sessions from this date to claim your free session.

Fulham have a number of adult players who have expressed a wish to attend on the Saturday 25th March so it would be a great opportunity to get a group together and look to build a group of regular players from here.

To find out more or book your place click the link: tinyurl.com/2p8u796u. If you need support to book please call and speak to one of their wonderful Customer Service Advisers on 0203 871 0811 and they will be able to support you booking over the telephone.

In addition, for those who require it, they will be offering a ‘meet and greet’ option from Motspur Park Station, with a volunteer supporting those who need it to walk from the station to the training ground. Normally around a 10 minute walk.

They will be at Motspur Park Station to meet those arriving in the morning and will leave the station at 10:15am to walk to the training ground. If you would like to take up this option please email: disability@fulhamfc.com to confirm.

A Google maps link for the training ground can be found below: tinyurl.com/yrch8k75. For more info and to book: tinyurl.com/2p8u796u .

Saturday 24th March 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Absolute Beginners Swimming lesson. For our members who are new to the sessions, you will need to fill out a form and please ensure that your GP feels you are fit to join the sessions. Places are limited for the teaching, so please pre-book on 0208 605 0060. Sessions run in association with Spartans. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Monday 27th March 11.00am – 1.00pm
Ten-pin bowling. Hollywood Bowl, Charrington Bowl, Kingston Rd, Surbiton KT5 9PB.

Monday 27th March 2.00pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre, Jack Goodchild Way, 422a Kingston Road, Norbiton, KT1 3PB. There is a big free car park. Buses 131 and K5 both stop at Kingsmeadow, which is the football ground next door. Please pre-book by calling 0208 605 0060.

Thursday 30th March 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Lunch Club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Thursday 30th March 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 1st April 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Absolute Beginners Swimming lesson. For our members who are new to the sessions, you will need to fill out a form and please ensure that your GP feels you are fit to join the sessions. Places are limited for the teaching, so please pre-book on 0208 605 0060. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA. Sessions run in association with Spartans.

Saturday 1st April 10.30am – 11.30am
Football. (last session then break for Easter). Two sessions run during term time.
•  5 to 16 Years Junior Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 2.
• 16+ Adult Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 2.
Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT.
For more info and to book: tinyurl.com/2hms4zkr.

Monday 3rd April 2.00pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre, Jack Goodchild Way, 422a Kingston Road, Norbiton, KT1 3PB. There is a big free car park. Buses 131 and K5 both stop at Kingsmeadow, which is the football ground next door. Please pre-book by calling 0208 605 0060.

Tuesday 4th April 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Social Eyes Club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

KAB Concession Policy
In recognition of the high cost-of-living currently experienced by
many members of the Kingston Association for the Blind, the Board of Trustees of KAB has instituted a concessions policy. Members of KAB who are in financial distress can apply for a concession which will exempt them from paying the £5 fee normally paid at all KAB activities.

For more details phone 0208 605 0060 or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org

KAB News

A group of three participants sitting around a wooden table. John, who is sitting on the left has grey hair, glasses and is holding his phone and listening to Monique, who has dark long hair and is sitting on the right. Sheila, who has grey hair is sitting in the middle, listening carefully with her iPad.

Apple Digital Device Demonstration

On Monday 20th at the KAB office Ina and Monique ran a demonstration on how to use Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads. The session was a success: the room was full of members eager to learn how to use technology.

It was such a success that we decided to run one to one sessions in order to meet members’ specific needs.

If you are keen to learn a few useful tips on using your Apple products, you can book a one to one session by calling the office on 0208 605 0060 or email: admincab@kingstonassociationforblind.org and we will be more than happy to help you.

Free Football Session for Blind and Partially Sighted Footballers (or would-be players!)

Saturdays during term time 10:30-11:30am
2 Groups: 5-16 years and Adults 16+ years
At Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT
Use the code VIPGuest when booking onto our weekly sessions from this date to claim your free session.

Fulham have a number of adult players who have expressed a wish to attend on the Saturday 25th March - so it would be a great opportunity to get a group together and look to build a group of regular players from here. To find out more or book your place click the link below: tinyurl.com/2p8u796u

If you need support to book please call and speak to one of their wonderful Customer Service Advisers on 0203 871 0811 and they will be able to support you booking over the telephone.

In addition, for those who require it, they will be offering a ‘meet and greet’ option from Motspur Park Station, with a volunteer supporting those who need it to walk from the station to the training ground - normally around a 10 minute walk.

They will be at Motspur Park Station to meet those arriving in the morning and will leave the station at 10:15am to walk to the training ground.

If you would like to take up this option please email: disability@fulhamfc.com to confirm. A Google maps link for the training ground can be found below: tinyurl.com/yrch8k75.

How different is football for the visually impaired player?

While the core game and principles remains the same as in sighted football, there are a few alterations to make football accessible to people with visual impairments:

There are normally 5 people per team: 4 blind outfield players and 1 sighted goalkeeper.
Ball bearings are placed in the ball and make a noise when moving to allow players to locate the ball.
The game is played on an indoor pitch so that the sound of the ball is more distinguishable.

From Saturday 25th March 2023 you can try a Blind and Partially Sighted Football Session with Fulham for free!

Getting to KAB's office

There is a new link on our website that could be of interest to all our members when you intend to visit the office. We have uploaded instructions on how to get from Kingston station to our Kingston Quaker Centre office for people with visual impairments.

We undertook a risk assessment to choose the best and safest routes for cane users. The instructions are on the website, under the ‘Contact’ section of the main menu: kingstonassociationforblind.org/contact and can be read using screenreaders.

We will also publish a version read by a human voice that can be downloaded as a file on MP3 format so that it can be heard in the street.

Directions to KAB from the nearest bus stops will be coming soon.

Black and white image of Helen Keller, with short wavy hair sitting on a day chair reading a braille book. She has her Alsatian dog lying down by her feet patiently.

An Inspirational story: Helen Keller

The 8th of March was International Women’s day. This day was dedicated to all the women who have done remarkable things in history, reminding us how strong women are.

A very inspirational blind and deaf woman was Helen Keller, a political activist and lecturer, who showed the world that, despite extremely difficult circumstances, where there is a will, there is a way.

Helen was born deaf and blind at the end of the 19th century in Alabama, USA. Her disability completely shaped the way she lived. By the age of 7, Keller had already developed more than 60 home signs (self-developed gestures created in order to communicate) that she could use with her family.

She also learned how to tell which person was walking into a room from the vibrations of their footsteps. Her family were determined she have the same opportunities as everyone else and so they sent Keller to The Perkins Institute for the Blind, where she met her instructor, a former student 20-year-old Anne Sullivan who was visually impaired herself. It was the beginning of a 49-year-long relationship, where Sullivan grew from governess to companion.

Anne's teaching began by showing Keller to communicate by spelling words into her hand. The first word was “doll” for the doll Sullivan had bought Keller as a present. At the beginning, it was hard to show Helen that there was a word for each object in the world. An example of this was when Keller realised the motions Sullivan made on her one palm, while cool water ran over her other palm, symbolising the idea of water.

From then on she continued her education, gaining admittance to Harvard University. We could assume that her lack of vision and hearing was very isolating, but she was actually very in touch with the outside world. She was able to enjoy music by feeling the vibrations of the beat and she was able to have a connection with animals through touch.

At the age of 24, Keller was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and throughout her education she had learnt to speak out loud, leading her to give speeches and lectures on aspects of her life. Keller also learnt to “hear” other people’s speeches, by reading their lips with her hands. She also became proficient at using braille and reading sign language with her hands.

She used her experiences and channelled them into becoming a speaker and author, and she became an advocate for people with visual impairment.

Her story shows that her disability never stopped her from having a voice. She was a strong woman who overcame her obstacles with ease thanks to her resilience. we can learn much from her and get inspired whenever we face a challenge in life.

A softly focused image of a male chess players hands, he is playing chess and holding a King chess piece.

Braille Chess Association

Many people think that playing chess is impossible for the visually impaired, as the board cannot be seen and you do not know where the pieces are - and therefore you cannot plan a strategy to achieve a checkmate. However the Braille Chess Association demonstrates this is not the case.

How the game is played
The dark squares on a tactile board are slightly raised above the light squares and the black pieces are capped with a small spike or pin. The pieces are all secured in place by pegs that fit holes drilled into the centre of each square. A more expensive option which has recently become popular is to have pairs of magnets, one in the base of the piece and the other in the centre of the square.

Two boards are used if either player has a vision impairment. This is because a visually impaired player needs to feel the board at all times and this would prevent their opponent from seeing or feeling the position. Each player moves all of the pieces on their own board – including their opponents – so that both boards always reflect the same position.

When a player makes a move, they speak the move aloud so that their opponent can copy the move on their own board. The name of the piece is spoken and followed by the square it is moving to. For pawn moves only the square is spoken. The squares are described using the modern algebraic notation found in chess books. Many chess boards now have the coordinates printed around the edge of the board and fully sighted people can make use of this when playing against a person with a vision impairment.

The Braille Chess Association meet-ups both in live and remote matches and tournaments.

If you would like to be part of this incredible club, visit their website braillechess.org.uk.

KAB vacancies

Could you – or someone you know be our new Chair or Trustee?
Are you passionate about volunteering and want to make a difference in someone's life? Then this opportunity may be perfect for you. KAB is looking to recruit a chair and new trustees to ensure our Association remains sustainable, relevant and effective in a rapidly changing landscape in the economic, societal and technological aspects, so that we can continue to serve and be the voice of the visually impaired.

For the trustee roles we are particularly keen to hear from people whose specialisms are Equality, Diversity and inclusion, Finance, Legal, IT, Digital Communications and HR. We’re also interested in reaching out to younger people who could bring new ideas into the organization by being trustees.

If you are interested please email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org attaching your CV and a completed equal opportunities form which you can find on our website www.kingstonassociationforblind.org. We will assess and interview prospective candidate on a rolling basis.

If you would like to have an informal chat about the roles of Chair and Trustees then contact the CEO Antony Bewick-Smith on 07985 283079 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information, or to request an application form, please call the office at 0208 605 0060 or email: ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

IT Volunteering
We are looking for more volunteers who can support us in the technological aspect. If you are an expert on technology or know someone who can help please contact us by email at ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Could you be an Eye Buddy?
Sometimes visual impairment makes people feel lonely and trapped, especially if they also have limited mobility. People might know certain routes to get where they want to, but not to access other places they are interested in visiting or shopping. The fear of going out can also leave people with sight-loss feeling isolated and depressed.
That is why we have the Eye Buddy scheme. Eye Buddies are sighted volunteers who simply chat to people with sight loss in their own home, help with paperwork, take people out, for example going shopping together, describing objects at a museum, or simply having a drink together at a coffee shop.
If you are sighted and keen on helping the visually impaired, please contact us and we will introduce you to someone who needs a buddy to join them in their adventures.

Indoor Bowls, Volunteers needed
Could you help people with sight-loss play Indoor Bowls?
We support a group of visually impaired people to play indoor bowls from October to April on Tuesdays 10am-12pm at King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Tolworth and we need sighted volunteers to make that happen.
Why not give it a try?

For more information email
ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org or call 07985 283079

Work Seeking Support - Free Weekly Seminars from RNIB and Blind Ambition

Are you visually impaired and looking for a work opportunity? Sometimes it's difficult for people with sight loss to find the right job. Not only is it hard to find the job itself but also the necessary resources on how to create your own CV, how to be confident and have good self-esteem despite your disability, how to face an interview and how to request your legal rights to have extra support due to your visual impairment.

This is why RNIB and Blind Ambition invite you to a series of free weekly webinars to support job seekers. There are many sessions as part of the employment webinar programme, here’s the upcoming dates:

28th March 7.30pm, Digital Skills, part 2
How to use Indeed, Facebook and Work and Health programme to look for jobs. To book: tinyurl.com/3aszk3dz

25th April 7.30pm, Preparing for an interview, part 1
Including virtual interviews and role plays. To book: tinyurl.com/bp8sb76n

Fundraising Notices

Are you planning to take part in a Challenge?
Do you have a place in a marathon, cycle race, or other similar event this year? Please consider using your entry to help KAB. Challenge Fundraising can be a very rewarding way to generate income for charities. So, if you have a place in such an event, please let us know. Together we can use your place to fundraise for KAB. Please call us on 0208 605 0060 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Co-Op Charity of the Year
And another reminder: KAB is one of the three Local Charities of the Year of the Co-Op. For us to get the highest benefit from this, all our members with Co-Op cards can select KAB as their favourite charity. You can do so by either calling 0800 0234 708, choosing option one and asking for help in choosing your favourite charity, or doing so through the Co-op App which can be found by following this link:
tinyurl.com/download-co-op-app.

Kingston Lottery
The Kingston Community Lottery is an exciting weekly lottery that raises money for 'good causes' in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, and you can now support KAB as your 'good cause', by visiting the following link: tinyurl.com/58fp3jvp.

If you find the link inaccessible, or you do not have internet access, and you would like to play, and support KAB, please contact the office for assistance by calling 0208 605 0060. Tickets cost just £1 a week. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £25,000. That's a much better chance of winning than the National Lottery, or the Health Lottery. Each ticket has six numbers, and each number is between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a six-digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2 to 6 numbers from the winning combination. All 'good causes' supported by the lottery will benefit the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and its residents. We hope you'll support us in making KAB even better and have some fun along the way!

Find Out More

FaceBook: facebook.com/people/Kingston-Association-for-the-Blind/
Twitter: twitter.com/kingston_blind
Instagram: instagram.com/kingstonassociationforblind
Website: www.kingstonassociationforblind.org

Copyright © 2023 Kingston Upon Thames Association for the Blind, All rights reserved.

Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 2PT

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KAB Eye Opener

Issue 34 – 8th March 2023

News for our Members

KAB Notices

Office Hours: 10am - 4pm
KAB Office Telephone Number: 0208 605 0060

KAB Activities
Weeks 8th - 22nd March

For more details and to book call 0208 605 0060
or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org

Thursday 9^th March 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Thursdays, dates TBC 11.00am – 1.00pm
Indoor Bowls. King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Jubilee Way,
Chessington, KT9 1TR.
We are recruiting new volunteers to run Bowls. As soon as arrangements are confirmed we will announce future arrangements.

Friday 10^th March 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Warm Space Lunch Session. We are hosting an extra Lunch Club session in the Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Friday 10th March 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Yoga for the visually impaired. 60 Minute Yoga session for people with visual impairments (and their carers where required). Sessions are on Fridays, at the Quaker Centre and must be pre-booked. You can be seated or bring your own mat. Please bring a water bottle. If you are feeling unwell, it is important that you do not attend this session. Sessions are free, for enquiries please call or email: adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org. Or book on their website: tinyurl.com/mt7t2crt

Saturday 11th March 10.30am – 11.30am
Football. Two sessions run during term time.
• 5 to 16 Years Junior Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 2.
• 16+ Adult Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 2.
Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT.
For more info and to book: tinyurl.com/2hms4zkr.

Saturday 11th March 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Absolute Beginners Swimming lesson. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Monday 13^th March 11.00am – 1.00pm
Ten-pin bowling. Hollywood Bowl, Kingston Road, Tolworth.

Monday 13th March 2.00pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre. Please pre-book.

Thursday 16^th March 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Friday 17th March 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Yoga for the visually impaired. 60 Minute Yoga session for people with visual impairments (and their carers where required). Sessions are on Fridays, at the Quaker Centre and must be pre-booked. You can be seated or bring your own mat. Please bring a water bottle. If you are feeling unwell, it is important that you do not attend this session. Sessions are free, for enquiries please call or email: adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org. Or book on their website: tinyurl.com/mt7t2crt

Saturday 18th March 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Absolute Beginners Swimming lesson. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 18th March 10.30am – 11.30am
Football. Two sessions run during term time.
• 5 to 16 Years Junior Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 2.
• 16+ Adult Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 2.
Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT.
For more info and to book: tinyurl.com/2hms4zkr.

Monday 20^th March 10.00am – 12.00pm Apple Ipad/Iphone session with Ina and Monique. Suitable for people with sight loss. Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT

Monday 20th March 2.00pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre. Please pre-book.

Tuesday 21st March 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Social Eyes Club. Fortnightly on Tuesdays. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Thursday 30^th March 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Lunch Club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

KAB Concession Policy
In recognition of the high cost-of-living currently experienced by
many members of the Kingston Association for the Blind, the Board of Trustees of KAB has instituted a concessions policy. Members of KAB who are in financial distress can apply for a concession which will exempt them from paying the £5 fee normally paid at all KAB activities.

For more details phone 0208 605 0060 or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org

Soumia, our wonderful Support Worker

Some of you may already know Soumia Poll through her volunteering at our fortnightly Lunch Club. She is now working as a member of KAB’s team as our freelance Application Support Worker. Her role is to reach out to our members and offer support in applying for the Household Support Fund, other benefits (or signposting to agencies that can do this), assisting with applications for dial-a-ride and much more. This support can be at our members home, at the KAB office or community venues.

“My job is very rewarding, I am very happy to work here”, Soumia says. She helps our members and treats them with kindness, patience and always with a big smile on her face.

To access the benefit application support service or find out more contact the office on 0208 8605 0060 or email: adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Yoga for All

We are running yoga lessons every Friday from 6.40pm to 7.40pm at the Kingston Quaker Centre until March 24^th.

It is a very inclusive type of yoga that consists of gentle poses and deep breathing, ending each session with a relaxing meditation. The yoga class can be done sitting on a chair or using a mat on the floor, it is up to each individual participant to decide what style is more convenient for them, mindful of the fact that some of us cannot do all poses because of our health issues.

Natalie, the teacher, is very happy to run inclusive yoga sessions, “I give everything I have wholeheartedly”, she said enthusiastically before starting a lesson. She describes each movement carefully so that people with sight loss can understand how to perform them.

Overall, yoga is a very unwinding and relaxing way to start the weekend!

Tandem Cycling

This article has been written from Ina's perspective (Ina is a fully blind member of KAB and our Communications and Marketing Officer).

I recently had the pleasure to attend a tandem cycling lesson. Saying that it was an exhilarating experience does not do it justice! It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life, and I am not exaggerating.

Riding a tandem bike as a passenger is very like riding a horse: both parts of the team, the passenger and driver, work and pedal together to go forward.

You have to put your full trust in the driver's skills. It is all about surrendering the control of your life to a cyclist who will keep the balance and will turn left and right when necessary.

I am not going to lie: I was a bit apprehensive at first not knowing what to expect, but when we began cycling I noticed how experienced Josh, my guide volunteer, was, I felt much more confident.

Similarly to riding a horse, you wear a helmet for security, but you still feel your hair flying in the wind as you go faster.

Another option within the session is to ride a tricycle which you steer independently. Eric, a volunteer, went along side me and told me where to go and when to turn. Tricycles have a more comfortable seat and feels like driving a car, you don't have to worry about the balance and you are in control. The experience was amazing, and it is definitely worth trying at least once in a lifetime.

Football for Everyone

KAB has its own football club for people with visual impairment, for children and adults. How is visually impaired football different from sighted football? While the core game and principles remains the same as in sighted football, there are a few alterations to make football accessible to people with visual impairments:

There are normally 5 people per team: 4 blind outfieldplayers and 1 sighted goalkeeper.
Ball bearings are placed in the ball and make a noise when moving to allow players to locate the ball.
The game is played on an indoor pitch so that the sound of the ball is more distinguishable.

Let's Go Swimming

This is what Heather Lodge, one of our members, has to say about her
amazing progress at the swimming lessons:

‘I don’t know about you but my bucket list has been getting longer with every passing year. I thought it was about time I tackled the things that have been sitting at the bottom for too long. Such as learning to swim. Family finances combined with poor sight meant that it never happened as a child. Five decades later, I am finally putting a toe, or ten, in the water - thanks to Kingston Association for the Blind and even more thanks to my brilliant swimming tutor, Emily. It is an understatement of epic proportions to say I was petrified. I can feel like I’m drowning in the shower after all. But the good staff of a local sports department fitted me with a suitable swimming costume, as well as setting up lessons with Emily, found me Inhae, a lovely KAB volunteer, to help me negotiate the changing rooms, and there was no ducking out.

Five months later, it is a transformative, energising, scary, frustrating, rewarding, and thoroughly enjoyable experience. There are weeks when I think the Titanic probably has better chances of sailing again than I will to swim unaided. And yes, there was one week in December when I confessed to Emily that maybe I was wasting her time.

But these times are completely outweighed by the other weeks when I “swim” the width of the training pool with just one float, or when I roll from my back to my front and back again without my feet touching the bottom, or when I can stand up from floating on my back without shrieking that I’m stuck. I am never going to swim for England but that’s not the point. Swimming is excellent aerobic exercise and, as I’ll be 60 this year, it’s finally time to prevent my muscles from deteriorating along with my sight.

Week by week Emily is building confidence and changing the way I think about being in water. Without my glasses I can only see blocks of colour so we both wear brightly coloured pool shoes to see feet in the water. The floats are bright red and two huge yellow cones help to mark the width of the pool. It takes concentration, trust, determination, a willingness to learn, and above all a sense of humour as, inevitably, I get everything pear-shaped at some point during the lesson. But I’m looking forward to the day when I say yes, I can swim. And if I can do it, you can too. Give it a go.’

Sessions run every Saturday from 6.00pm - 6.30pm at the New Malden Leisure Centre, New Malden, KT3 4TA. Fun is guaranteed.

Malden and Coombe Lunch Club

The Club meets fortnightly throughout the year on alternate Wednesday afternoons between 2.00pm - 4.00pm at Christ Church Hall, Coombe Road, New Malden. Membership is available to registered blind or partially sighted persons who live in New Malden, Kingston, Worcester Park and surrounding areas. Members pay £20 per year which helps towards the cost of a home-made afternoon tea and entertainment. Outings are reasonably priced as they are subsidised from club funds. Mini bus transport makes it possible for all who need transport to be brought to meetings.

The Clubs upcoming dates are:
Wednesday March 15, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Wednesday March 29, 2.00pm - 4.00pm, with guest entertainer Ralph Bailey.

If you wish to attend contact David Robson on 0208 546 9662 or 07881 348360.

Surbiton Club for The Blind

Surbiton Club for the Blind has served the visually impaired for more than 70 years, meeting fortnightly at and the only requirement to be part of the Club is to be registered blind or partially sighted.

The Club has a varied programme of activities including speakers who talk about interesting topics, music, and day trips. At each meeting, a good old afternoon tea is served. Each activity costs £5, not including day trips which are costed depending on what they consist of. Transport can be provided to those who live in Surbiton and Chessington, for people who live outside these boroughs, please arrange your own transport.

The Clubs upcoming dates are:
Tuesday 14th March, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Tuesday 28th March, 2.00pm - 4.00pm

The lunches take place at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church, on the Ewell Road, near Kingston Fire Station. For more information or to arrange to visit, please contact Mike Bibby on 0208 399 8596.

KAB vacancies

Work Seeking Support - Free Weekly Seminars from RNIB and Blind Ambition

Are you visually impaired and looking for a work opportunity? Sometimes it's difficult for people with sight loss to find the right job. Not only is it hard to find the job itself but also the necessary resources on how to create your own CV, how to be confident and have good self-esteem despite your disability, how to face an interview and how to request your legal rights to have extra support due to your visual impairment.

This is why RNIB and Blind Ambition invite you to a series of free weekly webinars to support job seekers. There are many sessions as part of the employment webinar programme, here’s the upcoming dates:

14 March 7.30pm, CV Preparation
How to build your CV, adapt it for the role, find the right format and show your skills. To book: tinyurl.com/56udmds2

21 March 7.30pm, Digital Skills 1
How to use LinkedIn to look for jobs. To book: tinyurl.com/bdenrtvb

Fundraising Notices

Find Out More

FaceBook: facebook.com/people/Kingston-Association-for-the-Blind/
Twitter: twitter.com/kingston_blind
Instagram: instagram.com/kingstonassociationforblind
Website: www.kingstonassociationforblind.org

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KAB Eye Opener

Issue 33 – 22nd February 2023

Cycling on a 2 seated tricycle and riding around an orange surfaced athletics track is Volunteer Michael, who has a grey beard and is wearing a wooly hat and is smiling. He accompanies Sheila who is partially sighted, she is wearing a pink top and sunglasses and is smiling and waving at the camera.

Ina, who is blind and volunteer Josh cycling together on a tandem bike around an orange athletics track. Ina is wearing a cycling helmet and a black top and is cycling in the rear. josh is wearing a beanie hat and blue top and is smiling at the camera.

News for our Members

KAB Notices

Office Hours: 10am - 4pm
KAB Office Telephone Number: 0208 605 0060

Lets go cycling!

This article has been written from Ina's perspective (Ina is a fully blind member of KAB and is the Communications Officer).

On Monday I had the pleasure to attend a tandem cycling lesson. Saying that it was an exhilarating experience does not do it justice! It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life, and I am not exaggerating. Riding a tandem bike as a passenger is very like riding a horse, both parts of the team, the passenger and driver, work and pedal together to go forward. You have to put your full trust in the driver's skills. It is all about surrendering the control of your life to a cyclist who will keep the balance and will turn left and right when necessary. I was a bit apprehensive at first not knowing what to expect, but when we began cycling I noticed how experienced Josh my guide volunteer was, I felt much more confident. Similar to riding a horse, you wear a helmet for security, but you still feel your hair flying in the wind as you go faster.

Another option within the session is to ride a tricycle which you steer independently. Eric, a volunteer, went along side me and told me where to go and when to turn. Tricycles have a more comfortable seat and it feels like driving a car, you don't have to worry about the balance and you are in control.

Overall, I would say that the experience was amazing, and it is definitely worth trying at least once in a lifetime, I fully recommend it.

Image above left: Shows Sheila a KAB member, waving and smiling while riding a tandem tricycle side by side with Michael the sighted volunteer. Image top right: Ina, who is blind, enjoying her first ever ride on a tandem bike with sighted volunteer Josh.

New Yoga sessions for the visually impaired

60 Minute Yoga session for people with visual impairments (and their carers where required). Sessions are on Fridays, 6.45pm - 7.45pm at the Quaker Centre and must be pre-booked. Please bring your own mat, water and hand wipes. If you are feeling unwell, it is important that you do not attend this session. Sessions are free, for enquiries please call 0208 605 0060 or email adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org.
Or book on the website: tinyurl.com/4p4x4e83

Football for everyone

KAB has its own football club for people with visual impairment, for children and adults. How is visually impaired football different from sighted football? While the core game and principles remain the same as sighted football, there are a few alterations to make the game more accessible to people with visual impairments:

There are normally 5 people per team: 4 blind outfield players and 1 sighted goalkeeper.
Ball bearings are placed in the ball and make a noise when moving to allow players to locate the ball.
The game is played on an indoor pitch so that the sound of the ball is more distinguishable.

Officially, there are two different versions of football for people with sight loss, namely, ‘totally blind football’ and ‘partially sighted football’. However, KAB football is so inclusive that anyone can play, no matter the percentage of sight you have.

Taking part in visually impaired football is a great way to be active and meet other people with sight loss. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, the football club will be happy for you to join.

To book: Two sessions run during term time. Term 2 begins on 25th February:
- 5 to 16 Years Junior Blind / Partially Sighted Football.
- 16+ Adult Blind / Partially Sighted Football.
Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT.
tinyurl.com/2hms4zkr

Work Seeking Support - Free Weekly Seminars from RNIB and Blind Ambition

Are you visually impaired and looking for a work opportunity? Sometimes it's difficult for people with sight loss to find the right job. Not only is it hard to find the job itself but also the necessary resources on how to create your own CV, how to be confident and have good self-esteem despite your disability, how to face an interview and how to request your legal rights to have extra support due to your visual impairment.

This is why RNIB and Blind Ambition invite you to a series of free weekly webinars to support job seekers. There are many sessions as part of the employment webinar programme, here’s the upcoming dates:

28 February 7.30pm. Goal setting
Where I've come from, where I am and where I am going. The importance of goal setting. Why we need it, how to effectively set SMART objectives, determine your objectives, are you on track?
tinyurl.com/4hje5dn8

7 March 7.30pm, A skills audit
SWOT analysis. Evaluate your strengths, and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats, identify gaps and plan to address them. tinyurl.com/ydjycppm

KAB Activities
Weeks 21st February to 7th March

For more details and to book call 0208 605 0060
or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org

Thursday 23rd February 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Friday 24th February 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Yoga for the visually impaired. 60 Minute Yoga session for people with visual impairments (and their carers where required). Sessions are on Fridays, at the Quaker Centre and must be pre-booked. Please bring your own mat, water and hand wipes. If you are feeling unwell, it is important that you do not attend this session. Sessions are free, for enquiries please call 020 8605 0060 or email adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org.
Or book on the website: tinyurl.com/4p4x4e83.

Saturday 25th February 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 25th February 10.30am – 11.30am
Football. Two sessions run during term time. Term 2 begins on 25th February:

5 to 16 Years Junior Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Term 2
16+ Adults Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Term 2.

Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT.
For more info and to book: https://soccerschools.fulhamfc.com.

Monday 27th February 2pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre. Please pre-book.

Thursday 2^nd March 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Thursdays. Dates are not currently confirmed, phone for further information. 11.00am – 1.00pm
Indoor Bowls. King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Jubilee Way, Chessington, KT9 1TR.

Friday 3rd March 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Yoga for the visually impaired. 60 Minute Yoga session for people with visual impairments (and their carers where required). Sessions are on Fridays, at the Quaker Centre and must be pre-booked. Please bring your own mat, water and hand wipes. If you are feeling unwell, it is important that you do not attend this session. Sessions are free, for enquiries please call 0208 605 0060 or email adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org.
Or book on the website: tinyurl.com/4p4x4e83.

Saturday 4th March 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Monday 6th March 2.00pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre, every Monday at 2pm. If you want to attend please pre book.

Tuesday 7th March 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Social Eyes Club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Friday 10^th March 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Lunch Club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

KAB Concession Policy
In recognition of the high cost-of-living currently experienced by
many members of the Kingston Association for the Blind, the Board of Trustees of KAB has instituted a concessions policy. Members of KAB who are in financial distress can apply for a concession which will exempt them from paying the £5 fee normally paid at all KAB activities.

For more details phone 0208 605 0060 or email adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org

KAB vacancies

Be our new Chair or Trustee in 2023
Are you passionate about volunteering and want to make a difference in someone's life? Then this opportunity may be perfect for you. KAB is looking to recruit a chair and new trustees to ensure our Association remains sustainable, relevant and effective in a rapidly changing landscape in the economic, societal and technological aspects, so that we can continue to serve and be the voice of the visually impaired.

For the trustee roles we are particularly keen to hear from people whose specialisms are Equality, Diversity and inclusion, Finance, Legal, IT, Digital Communications and HR. We’re also interested in reaching out to younger people who could bring new ideas into the organization by being trustees.

If you are interested please email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org attaching your CV and a completed equal opportunities form which you can find on our website www.kingstonassociationforblind.org. We will assess and interview prospective candidate on a rolling basis.

If you would like to have an informal chat about the roles of Chair and Trustees then contact the CEO Antony Bewick-Smith on 07985 283079 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information, or to request an application form, please call the office at 0208 605 0060 or email: ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

IT Volunteering
We are looking for more volunteers who can support us in the technological aspect. If you are an expert on technology or know someone who can help please contact us by email at ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Eye Buddy Scheme
Sometimes visual impairment makes people feel lonely and trapped, especially if they also have limited mobility. People might know certain routes to get where they want to, but not to access other places they are interested in visiting or shopping. The fear of going out can also leave people with sight-loss feeling isolated and depressed.
That is why we have the Eye Buddy scheme. Eye Buddies are sighted volunteers who simply chat to people with sight loss in their own home, help with paperwork, take people out, for example going shopping together, describing objects at a museum, or simply having a drink together at a coffee shop.
If you are sighted and keen on helping the visually impaired, please contact us and we will introduce you to someone who needs a buddy to join them in their adventures.

Indoor Bowls, Volunteers needed
Could you help people with sight-loss play Indoor Bowls?
We support a group of visually impaired people to play indoor bowls from October to April on Tuesdays 10am-12pm at King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Tolworth and we need sighted volunteers to make that happen.
Why not give it a try?

For more information email
ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org or call 07985 283079

Fundraising Notices

Find Out More

FaceBook: facebook.com/people/Kingston-Association-for-the-Blind/
Twitter: twitter.com/kingston_blind
Instagram: instagram.com/kingstonassociationforblind
Website: www.kingstonassociationforblind.org

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KAB Eye Opener

Issue 32 – 9th February 2023

A lady teaching chair-based exercises to a class of several visually impaired people sitting down.

News for our Members

KAB Notices

Office Hours: 10am - 4pm
KAB Office Telephone Number: 020 8605 0060

Social Eyes

Last Tuesday we had a lovely Social Eyes meeting. As always, members enjoyed time with one another. The Chair-Based Exercise session was very successful, as there were many more participants this week. During the session members enjoyed listening to music and exercising from the safety of their chair. This activity is beneficial for all who feel they want to move but do not know how to access safe exercise classes. If you would like to try a different style of dancing, you are more than welcome to do so in the next Social Eyes meeting on Tuesday 21st February.

Welcome Soumia

A warm welcome to Soumia Poll who has joined the team at KAB as our freelance Application Support Worker. Her role is to reach out to our older members and offer support in applying for the Household Support Fund, other benefits (or signposting to agencies that can do this), assisting with applications for Dial-a-Ride and much more. This support can be in the home, at our office or community venues. Some of you may already know Soumia through her volunteering at our fortnightly Lunch Club.

To access the service or find out more contact the office on 0208 8605 0060 or email adminkab@kingstonassociationforblind.org .

The successful 'Take on 250' campaign

The virtual fundraising campaign 'Take on 250', where members had to participate by taking part on a challenge and be sponsored was a success! The challenge consisted of doing whatever 250 things you wanted, such as baking 250 biscuits, walking 250 steps everyday or singing 250 songs. The result was a tremendous success, with KAB earning £1234. We are extremely thankful for all the members who took up the challenges and for everyone who sponsored their campaign. We could not have achieved such a high figure without you.

Let's go swimming

Have you ever dreamed about turning into a mermaid/merman and explore the depth of the ocean but you don't know how to swim? If that is the case, don't worry, there are many people who don't know how to swim and it's never too late to learn. Our swimming lessons are the starting point, run especially for the visually impaired by an instructor who not only ensures your safety in the water but also gives you detailed instructions on how to move and develop the confidence to relax and make friends with the water. Once that happens, your fins are definitely going to grow and you will become an expert swimmer in no time.

This is what Heather Lodge, one of our members, has to say about her amazing progress at the swimming lessons:

"I don’t know about you but my bucket list has been getting longer with every passing year. I thought it was about time I tackled the things that have been sitting at the bottom for too long. Such as learning to swim. Family finances combined with poor sight meant that it never happened as a child. Five decades later, I am finally putting a toe, or ten, in the water - thanks to Kingston Association for the Blind and even more thanks to my brilliant swimming tutor, Emily.

It is an understatement of epic proportions to say I was petrified. I can feel like I’m drowning in the shower after all. But the good staff of a local sports department fitted me with a suitable swimming costume, as well as setting up lessons with Emily, found me Inhae, a lovely KAB volunteer, to help me negotiate the changing rooms, and there was no ducking out. Five months later, it is a transformative, energising, scary, frustrating, rewarding, and thoroughly enjoyable experience. There are weeks when I think the Titanic probably has better chances of sailing again than I will to swim unaided. And yes, there was one week in December when I confessed to Emily that maybe I was wasting her time. But these times are completely outweighed by the other weeks when I “swim” the width of the training pool with just one float, or when I roll from my back to my front and back again without my feet touching the bottom, or when I can stand up from floating on my back without shrieking that I’m stuck.

I am never going to swim for England but that’s not the point. Swimming is excellent aerobic exercise and, as I’ll be 60 this year, it’s finally time to prevent my muscles from deteriorating along with my sight. Week by week Emily is building confidence and changing the way I think about being in water. Without my glasses I can only see blocks of colour so we both wear brightly coloured pool shoes to see feet in the water. The floats are bright red and two huge yellow cones help to mark the width of the pool. It takes concentration, trust, determination, a willingness to learn, and above all a sense of humor as, inevitably, I get everything pear-shaped at some point during the lesson. But I’m looking forward to the day when I say yes, I can swim. And if I can do it, you can too. Give it a go."

Sessions run every Saturday from 6-6.30pm at the New Malden Leisure Centre, New Malden, KT3 4TA. Fun is guaranteed. To book phone 020 8605 0060 or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Work Seeking Support - Free Weekly Seminars from RNIB and Blind Ambition

Are you visually impaired and looking for a work opportunity? Sometimes it's difficult for people with sight loss to find the right job. Not only is it hard to find the job itself but also the necessary resources on how to create your own CV, how to be confident and have good self-esteem despite your disability, how to face an interview and how to request your legal rights to have extra support due to your visual impairment.

This is why RNIB and Blind Ambition invite you to a series of free weekly webinars to support job seekers. There are many sessions as part of the employment webinar programme, here’s the upcoming dates in
February:

21 February 19:30, How to present yourself
Image, body language and confidence.
Click here to register for Present Yourself webinar.

28 February 19:30, Goal setting
Where I've come from, where I am and where I am going. The importance of goal setting. Why we need it, how to effectively set SMART objectives, determine your objectives, are you on track?
Click here to register for Goal Setting webinar.

KAB Activities
Weeks 9th to 23rd February

For more details and to book call 020 8605 0060
or email kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org

Friday 10th February 12.30 – 3pm
Lunch Club (Warm Space session). Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT. Pay what you can afford.

Saturday 11th February 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 11th February 10.30 – 11.30am
Football. This is the last session in Term 1. Term 2 begins on 25th February:
• 5 to 16 Years Junior Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 1.
• 16+ Adult Blind / Partially Sighted Football - Spring Term 1.
Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT. For more info and to book: https://soccerschools.fulhamfc.com.

Monday 13th February 2pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre.

Thursday 16th February 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Thursdays, dates tbc 11.00am – 1.00pm
Indoor Bowls. King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Jubilee Way, Chessington, KT9 1TR.

Saturday 18th February 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Monday 20th February 2pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre, every Monday at 2pm.

Tuesday 21st February 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Social Eyes Club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Thursday 23rd February 12.30 - 2.30pm
Lunch club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Thursday 23rd January 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Monday 27th February 10.00am – 12.00pm
Ten-pin Bowling. Hollywood Bowl Tolworth, Charrington Bowl, Kingston Road, Tolworth, KT5 9PB.

KAB Concession Policy
In recognition of the high cost-of-living currently experienced by many members of the Kingston Association for the Blind, the Board of Trustees of KAB has instituted a concessions policy. Members of KAB who are in financial distress can apply for a concession which will exempt them from paying the £5 fee normally paid at all KAB activities.

KAB vacancies

Be our new Chair or Trustee in 2023
Are you passionate about volunteering and want to make a difference in someone's life? Then this opportunity may be perfect for you. KAB is looking to recruit a chair and new trustees to ensure our Association remains sustainable, relevant and effective in a rapidly changing landscape in the economic, societal and technological aspects, so that we can continue to serve and be the voice of the visually impaired.

For the trustee roles we are particularly keen to hear from people whose specialisms are Equality, Diversity and inclusion, Finance, Legal, IT, Digital Communications and HR. We’re also interested in reaching out to younger people who could bring new ideas into the organization by being trustees.

If you are interested please email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org attaching your CV and a completed equal opportunities form which you can find on our website www.kingstonassociationforblind.org. We will assess and interview prospective candidate on a rolling basis.

If you would like to have an informal chat about the roles of Chair and Trustees then contact the CEO Antony Bewick-Smith on 07985 283079 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information, or to request an application form, please call the office at 020 8605 0060 or email: ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

IT Volunteering
We are looking for more volunteers who can support us in the technological aspect. If you are an expert on technology or know someone who can help please contact us by email at ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Eye Buddy Scheme
Sometimes visual impairment makes people feel lonely and trapped, especially if they also have limited mobility. People might know certain routes to get where they want to, but not to access other places they are interested in visiting or shopping. The fear of going out can also leave people with sight-loss feeling isolated and depressed.
That is why we have the Eye Buddy scheme. Eye Buddies are sighted volunteers who simply chat to people with sight loss in their own home, help with paperwork, take people out, for example going shopping together, describing objects at a museum, or simply having a drink together at a coffee shop.
If you are sighted and keen on helping the visually impaired, please contact us and we will introduce you to someone who needs a buddy to join them in their adventures.

Fundraising Notices

Are you planning to take part in a Challenge?
Do you have a place in a marathon, cycle race, or other similar event this year? Please consider using your entry to help KAB. Challenge Fundraising can be a very rewarding way to generate income for charities. So, if you have a place in such an event, please let us know. Together we can use your place to fundraise for KAB. Please call us on 020 8605 0060 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Platform Fundraising
A gentle reminder: KAB is registered with both Amazon Smile and Easy Fundraising. By using their Apps to shop and selecting Kingston Association for the Blind as your chosen charity, we will receive a small donation from your purchase.

Co-Op Charity of the Year
And another reminder: KAB is one of the three Local Charities of the Year of the Co-Op. For us to get the highest benefit from this, all our members with Co-Op cards can select KAB as their favourite charity. You can do so by either calling 0800 0234 708, choosing option one and asking for help in choosing your favourite charity, or doing so through the Co-op App which can be found by following this link:
tinyurl.com/download-co-op-app.

Kingston Lottery
The Kingston Community Lottery is an exciting weekly lottery that raises money for 'good causes' in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, and you can now support KAB as your 'good cause', by visiting the following link: kingstonlottery.co.uk/support/kingston-association-for-the-blind.
If you find the link inaccessible, or you do not have internet access, and you would like to play, and support KAB, please contact the office for assistance by calling 020 8605 0060. Tickets cost just £1 a week. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £25,000. That's a much better chance of winning than the National Lottery, or the Health Lottery. Each ticket has six numbers, and each number is between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a six-digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2 to 6 numbers from the winning combination. All 'good causes' supported by the lottery will benefit the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and its residents. We hope you'll support us in making KAB even better and have some fun along the way!

Find Out More

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KAB Eye Opener

Issue 31 – 24th January 2023

monique, a lady with long dark braided hair and wearing a white shirt sitting on a wooden bench with red seats

News for our Members

KAB Notices

Office Hours: 10am - 4pm
KAB Office Telephone Number: 020 860 5060

Welcome Monique

KAB has the great privilege to have a new member of staff, Monique Richards, seen in our image above, who is our Administration Intern. We would like to give her the warmest welcome and hope that she enjoys her time here!

Social Eyes

Last Tuesday we had a lovely Social Eyes event at KAB, where members could talk about anything and everything as well as share some delicious finger food. There was also the opportunity to have lessons to dance in your chair, which many of our members were delighted to follow.

There is something special that makes Social Eyes different from other events: a unique magic where people with sight loss can enjoy interacting with their peers and chat about what they have in common without having to explain their condition to others. Some feel that when talking to someone who is not visually impaired they must explain their condition. At Social Eyes, members say they feel understood and not judged.

It's a warm and friendly place, so if you missed it this time, do feel free to come along next time!

Football sessions

We are pleased to announce that Football returns for the visually impaired every Saturday morning at Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park,10.30am - 11.30am. There are two sessions running alongside each other for: Juniors aged 5 to 16 years and adults aged 16+ years. They are term-time sessions, the next break would be Saturday 18th February 2023.

Session are booked in blocks of half-terms. And can be booked here: https://bit.ly/3ZZj0Sw

Aerial Circus classes

Have you ever dreamed you can fly? Now it's time to make your dream come true - no, we are not joking! You can attend a new accessible aerial circus class for visually impaired people, taking place in Southwark. They work in small groups, adapting movement and teaching through touch where useful. Give aerial a go and feel the sensation of defying gravity!

Ages 16 +, £2 per session. Flying Fantastic, Arch 27 Old Union Yard Arches, 229 Union St, SE1 0LR. Starting 25th of Jan 2023, Wednesdays @ 12.50pm for 10 consecutive weeks. To join or for more information email Amy: amy@flyingfantastic.co.uk. Funded by Access Sport.

KAB Activities
Weeks 26th January to 9th February

Thursdays 10.00am – 12.00pm (starting date tbc)
Indoor Bowls. King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Jubilee Way, Chessington, KT9 1TR.

Thursday 26th January 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming session for accomplished swimmers. New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 28th January 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 28^th January 10.30am – 11.30am
Football (Spring Term 1). Two sessions run during term time:

16 Years Junior Blind / Partially Sighted Football
16+ Adult Blind / Partially Sighted Football

Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT.
For more info and to book: https://soccerschools.fulhamfc.com.

Monday 30^th January 2pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club. Every Monday. In partnership with Wheels for All. Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre, every Monday at 2pm. For details call the office on 020 8605 0060.

Monday 6th February 11.00am – 1.00pm
Ten-pin bowling. Due to an extended half-term in some schools this month the following session will be on 27^th February. Hollywood Bowl Tolworth, Charrington Bowl, Kingston Road, Tolworth, KT5 9PB.

Monday 6^th February 2pm – 2.45pm
Tandem Cycling Club
Every Monday. Wheels for all Kingston, Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre, every Monday at 2pm.

Tuesday 7th February 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Social Eyes Club. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Friday 10^th February 12.30 – 3pm
Lunch Club (Warm Space session). Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

KAB Concession Policy
In recognition of the high cost-of-living currently experienced by many members of the Kingston Association for the Blind, the Board of Trustees of KAB has instituted a concessions policy. Members of KAB who are in financial distress can apply for a concession which will exempt them from paying the £5 fee normally paid at all KAB activities.

KAB vacancies

Be our new Chair or Trustee in 2023
Are you passionate about volunteering and want to make a difference in someone's life? Then this opportunity may be perfect for you. KAB is looking to recruit a chair and new trustees to ensure our Association remains sustainable, relevant and effective in a rapidly changing landscape in the economic, societal and technological aspects, so that we can continue to serve and be the voice of the visually impaired.
For the trustee roles we are particularly keen to hear from people whose specialisms are Equality, Diversity and inclusion, Finance, Legal, IT, Digital Communications and HR. We’re also interested in reaching out to younger people who could bring new ideas into the organization by being trustees.
If you are interested please email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org attaching your CV and a completed equal opportunities form which you can find on our website www.kingstonassociationforblind.org. We will assess and interview prospective candidate on a rolling basis.
If you would like to have an informal chat about the roles of Chair and Trustees then contact the CEO Antony Bewick-Smith on 07985 283079 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
For more information, or to request an application form, please call the office at 02086050060 or email: ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

IT Volunteering
We are looking for more volunteers who can support us in the technological aspect. If you are an expert on technology or know someone who can help please contact us by email at
ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Eyebuddy scheme
Sometimes visual impairment makes people feel isolated, lonely and trapped, especially if they have limited mobility. Sometimes people know certain routes but do not know how to get to other places they are interested in visiting, they might need help shopping or simply need company.

That is why there is a very special volunteering scheme at KAB called Eyebuddy. It consists of a sighted person who volunteers to take blind or partially sighted people out of their house to go wherever they like such as describing objects at a museum, going shopping together or simply having a nice cup of coffee together at a nice coffeeshop. If you are sighted and keen on helping the visually impaired, please contact us and we will introduce you to someone who needs a buddy to join them in their adventures.

Fundraising Notices

Take on 250

Take on 250 is a virtual fundraiser that consists of choosing a
challenge to complete 250 of whatever you decide, which is then
sponsored by different people you know like your friends, relatives or colleagues.

The challenge started on Jan 1st, but there is still time to give it a
go. It can be anything you love, such as walking 250 steps, running, swimming, baking 250 cookies. Your imagination is the limit. It could take 250 minutes or hours, involve 250 steps or laps, 250 repetitions or 250 items made; It’s up to you how you fundraise for us. Each donation, no matter the amount, is extremely appreciated, and you will be making a great difference to people facing sight loss.

In order to start your challenge, set up your fundraising page today, just go to justgiving.com/campaign/take250 the quickest and easiest way to start raising money. You can set up your campaign page now and tell people about it. You can raise as much as you can, but why not start with a target of £100? Remember to add a photo to your page if you can, and a few lines about your challenge and why you chose to fundraise for KAB. It is guaranteed to boost your total. And do not forget to share your page with friends and family.

If you do not feel like taking it, why not support another member who is taking it by donating? You can see all campaigns on the website with the same link to create one. Thanks again for Taking on 250 for KAB.

Are you planning to take part in a Challenge?
Do you have a place in a marathon, cycle race, or other similar event this year? Please consider using your entry to help KAB. Challenge Fundraising can be a very rewarding way to generate income for charities. So, if you have a place in such an event, please let us know. Together we can use your place to fundraise for KAB. Please callus on 02086050060 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Platform Fundraising
A gentle reminder, KAB is registered with both Amazon Smile and Easy Fundraising. By using their Apps to shop and selecting Kingston Association for the Blind as your chosen charity, we will receive a small donation from your purchase.

Co-Op Charity of the Year
And another reminder: KAB is one of the three Local Charities of the Year of the Co-Op. For us to get the highest benefit from this, all our members with Co-Op cards can select KAB as their favourite charity. You can do so by either calling 08000234708, choosing option one and asking for help in choosing your favourite charity, or doing so through the Co-op App which can be found by following this link:
tinyurl.com/download-co-op-app.

Kingston Lottery
The Kingston Community Lottery is an exciting weekly lottery that raises money for 'good causes' in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, and KAB is delighted to let you know that you can now support them as your 'good cause', by visiting the following link:
kingstonlottery.co.uk/support/kingston-association-for-the-blind.
If you find the link inaccessible, or you do not have internet access, and you would like to play, and support KAB, please contact the office for assistance by calling 02086050060. Tickets cost just £1 a week. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £25,000. That's a much better chance of winning than the National Lottery, or the Health Lottery. Each ticket has six numbers, and each number is between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a six-digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2 to 6 numbers from the winning combination. All 'good causes' supported by the lottery will benefit the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and its residents. We hope you'll support us in making KAB even better and have some fun along the way!

Find Out More

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

KAB Eye Opener

Issue 30 - 10th January 2023

News for our Members

KAB Notices

Office Hours: 9am - 4pm.
KAB Office Telephone Number: 02086050060

New Year, Fresh Start

As the recently in post Chief Executive, may I on behalf of everyone at KAB wish all our members, volunteers and supporters a very Happy New Year!

My role is to ensure that KAB continues to deliver its services, while adapting and embracing a changing world.

To take us forward in 2023, we are seeking a Chair and new trustees. These will be people who have the vision, drive and skills to help us achieve our goals – there are more details below.

As part of our fresh start, we are growing our team. Our Communications and Marketing team is already in place (hello Ina and Nicola); we hope to announce the arrival of more new colleagues when we are ready to do so. We will also refresh our campaign to attract more volunteers; volunteer recruitment is a key priority as they are vital in helping us deliver our mission.

We are also seeking funding to expand the range of services that we provide, to address unmet and possibly new needs within our local community.

And of course we will keep you fully informed of new developments in Eye Opener and all our means of communication in 2023 and beyond.

Antony Bewick-Smith

Be our new Chair or Trustee in 2023

Are you passionate about volunteering and want to make a difference in someone's life? Then this opportunity may be perfect for you. KAB is looking to recruit a chair and new trustees to ensure our Association remains sustainable, relevant and effective in a rapidly changing landscape in the economic, societal and technological aspects, so that we can continue to serve and be the voice of the visually impaired.

For the trustee roles we are particularly keen to hear from people whose specialisms are Equality, Diversity and inclusion, Finance, Legal, IT, Digital Communications and HR. We’re also interested in reaching out to younger people who could bring new ideas into the organization by being trustees.

If you are interested please email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.
attaching your CV and a completed equal opportunities form which you can find on our website www.kingstonassociationforblind.org. We will assess and interview prospective candidate on a rolling basis.

If you would like to have an informal chat about the roles of Chair and Trustees then contact the CEO Antony Bewick-Smith on 07985 283079 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information, or to request an application form, please call the office at 02086050060 or email: ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

KAB Activities
Weeks 10th January to 26th January

Thursday 12th January 10.00am – 12.00pm (to be confirmed)
Indoor Bowls. The address is King George Field Indoor Bowls Club, Jubilee Way, Chessington, KT9 1TR.

Thursday 12th January 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming for accomplished swimmers. The address is New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Friday 13th January 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Lunch Club. The address is Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Saturday 14th January 10.30am – 11.30am
Football. The address is Fulham FC Training Ground, Motspur Park, KT3 6PT.

Saturday 14th January 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. The address is New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Monday 16th January 10.00am – 12.00pm (to be confirmed)
Ten-pin Bowling. The address is Hollywood Bowl Tolworth, Charrington Bowl, Kingston Road, Tolworth, KT5 9PB.

Monday 16th January 10.00am – 12.00pm
Digital Drop-in Session. We are pleased to invite you to a digital drop-in session which is going to take place on the 16th of January at 10am, when HumanWare will demonstrate their digital accessible products designed specially for partially sighted people, this session is not suitable for the fully blind. If you would like to know more about what they do the link to their website is: humanware.com/en-united_kingdom/home. The address is Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT

Thursday 19th January 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming for accomplished swimmers. The address is New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 21st January 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. The address is New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Monday 23rd January 10.00am – 12.00pm
Ten-pin Bowling. The address is Hollywood Bowl Tolworth
Charrington Bowl, Kingston Road, Tolworth, KT5 9PB

Tuesday 24th January 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Social Eyes Club. The address is Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Wednesday 25th January 1.30pm – 4.00pm
South London Working Age Forum. We are very excited about this event. The speaker will be Mr Liam O’Carrol and he will tell us about his acting career as well as his work running the Working Age group for London Vision. There will be a mini-celebration of Burns Night which will include a wee dram of whisky! Cost: £5 per person. To secure your place please book by calling the Office at 02086050060 or send an email to ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org. The address is MertonVision Guardian Centre, 67 Clarendon Road, SW19 2DX.

Thursday 26th January 12.30noon – 3.00pm
Lunch Club. The address is Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, KT1 2PT.

Thursday 26th January 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Swimming for accomplished swimmers. The address is New Malden Leisure Centre, Main Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

Saturday 28th January 6.00pm – 6.30pm
Swimming lesson. The address is New Malden Leisure Centre, Training Pool, New Malden, KT3 4TA.

More Lunch Clubs
Thanks to a grant from Kingston Council KAB will offer one extra lunch club per month until the end of March 2023. For more information, you can call the office Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm or send an email to ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

KAB Concession Policy
In recognition of the high cost-of-living experienced by many members of the Kingston Association for the Blind currently, the Board of Trustees of KAB has instituted a concessions policy. Members of KAB who are in financial distress can apply for a concession which will exempt them from paying the £5 fee normally paid at all KAB activities

Finding a work opportunity with sight loss

Are you visually impaired and looking for a work opportunity? Sometimes it's difficult for people with sight loss to find the right job. Not only is it hard to find the job itself but also the necessary resources on how to create your own CV, how to be confident and have good self-esteem despite your disability, how to face an interview and how to request your legal rights to have extra support due to your visual impairment.

This is why RNIB and Blind Ambition invite you to a series of free weekly webinars to support job seekers.There are 16 sessions as part of the employment webinar programme, and you can join any or all of them.
The upcoming sessions are:

10 January 19:30, Your legal rights when disclosing disability
Reasonable adjustments, when to disclose and sharing your needs with employers. Click here to register for the Legal Rights webinar.

17 January 19:30, What support can you get from Access to Work
Click here to register for the Support webinar.

24 January 19:30, How to find a support worker
Agencies you can use, the best place to advertise, and skill sets to look for. Click here to register for the Support Worker webinar.

KAB vacancies

Freelance Worker Opportunity - Immediate Start
15 hours per week
£15 per hour
Kingston Association for the Blind has successfully won funding for a short-term freelance worker to support local people to apply for benefits and services that would otherwise be difficult to do if you have sight loss.

The employee will inform people about the benefits that are available and help them apply. Some of these benefits include the Kingston Council's Household Support Fund, state benefits, blue badges and signposting to activities that may be crucial to people's health and wellbeing.

The worker will also need to be able to travel with a laptop within the Borough of Kingston to client's homes to provide this service, and, when at our base at the Kingston Quaker Centre, assist in the office. Ideally, they will have a current enhanced DBS check or be prepared to undergo a DBS check at KAB's cost. Knowledge or experience of the issues faced, and the needs of people with sight-loss would be an advantage.

If you have relevant experience, please send your CV to
ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

IT Volunteering
We are looking for more volunteers who can support us in the technological aspect. If you are an expert on technology or know someone who can help please contact us by email at
ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Eyebuddy scheme
Sometimes visual impairment makes people feel isolated, lonely and trapped, especially if they have limited mobility. Sometimes people know certain routes but do not know how to get to other places they are interested in visiting, they might need help shopping or simply need company.

That is why there is a very special volunteering scheme at KAB called Eyebuddy. It consists of a sighted person who volunteers to take blind or partially sighted people out of their house to go wherever they like such as describing objects at a museum, going shopping together or simply having a nice cup of coffee together at a nice coffeeshop. If you are sighted and keen on helping the visually impaired, please contact us and we will introduce you to someone who needs a buddy to join them in their adventures.

Fundraising Notices
New Year, New Year Resolutions!

New year resolutions are very popular during this season. If you would like to start this year with a resolution that is also an exciting challenge, why not take on 250 for KAB? According to the Office of National Statistics, 250 people lose their sight irreversibly in the UK every day. This is equivalent to one person every six minutes. In fact, there are many more people who lose their sight every day, but because their condition is considered rectifiable, they are not taken into account within the data.

That is why Take on 250 was created. It is a virtual fundraiser that consists of choosing a challenge to complete 250 of whatever you decide, which is then sponsored by different people you know like your friends, family, or colleagues. The challenge can be anything you love, such as walking 250 steps, running, swimming, baking 250 cookies, singing 250 songs, knitting 250 scarves. It could take 250 minutes or hours, involve 250 steps or laps, 250 repetitions or 250 items made; It’s up to you how you fundraise for us. Each donation, no matter the amount, is extremely appreciated, and you will be making a great difference to people facing sight loss.

In order to start your challenge, set up your fundraising page today, just go to justgiving.com/campaign/take250 the quickest and easiest way to start raising money. You can set up your campaign page now, tell people about it and start your challenge on the 1st of January. You can raise as much as you can, but why not start with a target of £100? Remember to add a photo to your page if you can, and a few lines about your challenge and why you chose to fundraise for KAB. It is guaranteed to boost your total. And do not forget to share your page with friends and family. Thanks again for Taking on 250 for KAB.

Are you planning to take part in a Challenge?
Do you have a place in a marathon, cycle race, or other similar event this year? Please consider using your entry to help KAB. Challenge Fundraising can be a very rewarding way to generate income for charities. So, if you have a place in such an event, please let us know. Together we can use your place to fundraise for KAB. Please callus on 02086050060 or email ceo@kingstonassociationforblind.org.

Platform Fundraising
A gentle reminder, KAB is registered with both Amazon Smile and Easy Fundraising. By using their Apps to shop and selecting Kingston Association for the Blind as your chosen charity, we will receive a small donation from your purchase.

Co-Op Charity of the Year
And another reminder: KAB is one of the three Local Charities of the Year of the Co-Op. For us to get the highest benefit from this, all our members with Co-Op cards can select KAB as their favourite charity. You can do so by either calling 08000234708, choosing option one and asking for help in choosing your favourite charity, or doing so through the Co-op App which can be found by following this link:
tinyurl.com/download-co-op-app.

Kingston Lottery
The Kingston Community Lottery is an exciting weekly lottery that raises money for 'good causes' in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, and KAB is delighted to let you know that you can now support them as your 'good cause', by visiting the following link:
kingstonlottery.co.uk/support/kingston-association-for-the-blind.
If you find the link inaccessible, or you do not have internet access, and you would like to play, and support KAB, please contact the office for assistance by calling 02086050060. Tickets cost just £1 a week. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £25,000. That's a much better chance of winning than the National Lottery, or the Health Lottery. Each ticket has six numbers, and each number is between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a six-digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2 to 6 numbers from the winning combination. All 'good causes' supported by the lottery will benefit the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and its residents. We hope you'll support us in making KAB even better and have some fun along the way!

Find Out More

KAB Eye Openers 2023

To read previous issues from 2022, select our Archive page

KAB Activities
Weeks 22nd March - 5th April

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

KAB Activities
Weeks 8th - 22nd March

Yoga for All

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

New Yoga sessions for the visually impaired

KAB Activities
Weeks 21st February to 7th March

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

Welcome Soumia

Let's go swimming

KAB Activities
Weeks 9th to 23rd February

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

Welcome Monique

Football sessions

Aerial Circus classes

KAB Activities
Weeks 26th January to 9th February

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

New Year, Fresh Start

Be our new Chair or Trustee in 2023

KAB Activities
Weeks 10th January to 26th January

Finding a work opportunity with sight loss

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices
New Year, New Year Resolutions!

To read previous issues from 2022, select our Archive page

Donate!

KAB Eye Openers 2023

To read previous issues from 2022, select our Archive page

KAB Activities Weeks 22nd March - 5th April

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

KAB Activities Weeks 8th - 22nd March

Yoga for All

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

New Yoga sessions for the visually impaired

KAB Activities Weeks 21st February to 7th March

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

Welcome Soumia

Let's go swimming

KAB Activities Weeks 9th to 23rd February

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

Welcome Monique

Football sessions

Aerial Circus classes

KAB Activities Weeks 26th January to 9th February

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices

New Year, Fresh Start

Be our new Chair or Trustee in 2023

KAB Activities Weeks 10th January to 26th January

Finding a work opportunity with sight loss

KAB vacancies

Fundraising Notices New Year, New Year Resolutions!

To read previous issues from 2022, select our Archive page

Donate!

KAB Activities
Weeks 22nd March - 5th April

KAB Activities
Weeks 8th - 22nd March

KAB Activities
Weeks 21st February to 7th March

KAB Activities
Weeks 9th to 23rd February

KAB Activities
Weeks 26th January to 9th February

KAB Activities
Weeks 10th January to 26th January

Fundraising Notices
New Year, New Year Resolutions!