Blind Life In Durham

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ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2011

Kurling success

On the weekend of the 30th April and 1st May the World New Age Kurling competition was held in Widnes (Cheshire).

Northern teams made a clean sweep in the Pairs competition.

The competition was won overall by Bob Jackson and Alan Gregson from the Wear Valley club after a hard fought 8 end match against the runner's up Simon Newton and Colin Welch from Blind Life in Durham (standing either side of the sport designer John Bennet)

Blind Life had four pairs competing and hope to continue sending groups to competitions.

We have a fun blind awareness fund raising competition taking place on 22nd of June – teams of four are invited to compete against us BLINDFOLD.

The Co-operative, from whom we have had some funding have already told us the name of their team 'The Canny Co-operative Kurlers'.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2010

Blind Life in Durham and the Great North Walk

by our Chairman Jim Welch

2010 is the first time I have taken part, the sounds, smells and atmosphere will be very important to me as I am registered blind. My experience can then be used to encourage others to try similar events in the future

Blind Life was started in 2004 to promote active lives for people with visual impairment. The emphasis has always been on what can be achieved not what can not.

Myself I was in a wheelchair before quite suddenly going blind. There were two ways to go: sink into the black depths of depression (which I could easily have done) or find something I could do which would help me, my family, and others. With the help and support of my family and a few others Blind Life was born.

I have learnt to use a computer since going blind winning learner's awards for this, while other members with the group's encouragement have also completed college courses. We are now building a skype chat group for further socialisation amongst our members.

We also hold monthly social meetings, publish a monthly newsletter, have organised trips including short breaks holidays. A New Age Kurling Group has also been started running successfully for 3 / 4 years, so well in fact that a group have attended the World New Age Kurling Championship. However, we regard it as much a social occasion as a competitive sport.

A survey of needs and desires was conducted in 2008 and we continue to campaign for better treatment for visually impaired people. From access to support when first diagnosed to longer term help as conditions and technology changes. Simply having forms from government departments that are accessible to screen readers boosts the level of independence of someone unable to read forms for themselves ( I recently had point out to a local government department that form specifically directed at disabled people was not accessible – they changed it!)

Our part- time admin worker has done the walk for Blind Life for a number of years now (just last year he found out he is now diabetic) and I felt it was time I had a go.

New Age Kurling World's Competition 1st & 2nd May 2010

Blind Life Kurl to Victory

8 members travelled to East Kilbride in Scotland to take part in the New Age Kurling World Championships. As well as the main event there is a consolation event for those not progressing beyond the round robin stage.

6 of them were entered in the singles competition on the Saturday. After competing in the round robin stage four continued through to the next round of the main event, leaving two in the consolation event, in which one of our members reached the final, where she ended up with second place.

In the main event, two of our players reached the quarter finals, where they had to play against one another. The victor went on to beat the reigning Singles World Champion placing third overall, giving B.L.IN.D. a tally of two trophies in the singles competition, our best result in a competition so far.

The second day of the competition was the pair's event, which we had entered four teams for, two of our members being registered blind and in wheelchairs, assisted by their team mates for direction and guidance. One of our other members also visually impaired reached the second round of the main event with her playing partner.

We only reached the semi-final in the consolation event, so no trophies were to be had, but never the less, we were proud of our achievements and look forward to the next event.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2009

Blindfolded New Age Kurling Awareness Event

Blind Kurlers snack to it!

The 'Real McCoys' our team from Blind Life in Durham beat the Curly Wurlys a team from Durham Councils Physical Activity Group in a thrilling deciding match.

A blind awareness / fundraising challenge took place on Wed 15th July at Wolsingham Community College. The aim was to highlight the difficulties people with visual impairment face in everyday life, so the sighted teams wore blindfolds. Eight teams took part in total which included teams from the police, county courts, chief officials from Durham County Council and teams from Durham County Council Community physical activity groups.

Some of the players remarked how hard it was to judge the speed and direction to send the kurling stones and to hopefully land on the target wearing a blindfold. They realised how hard this must be for a blind person to do and it must take a lot of concentration and practice to master the technique of listening to the noise from the stones to interpret how fast the stones need to run to reach a target.

All teams played each other blindfold, at the end two teams had equally high scores so a play off was needed. The winners on the night were the 'Real McCoys' the visually impaired team. They will have their team name inscribed on the shield kindly provided by Wolsingham Community College for this annual event.

Blind Life in Durham wish to thank all those who took part in this fun awareness event and for raising funds to go towards I.T equipment for our organisation.

Volunteers reap Awards

Blind Life received an award for contribution in the field of health from 2D Volunteer Awards evening on 13th March 2009. A glittering ceremony was held at the Park Head Hotel, Coundon.

Individual volunteer award certificates were also given to Jim Welch our chairman, Elizabeth Newton our secretary, Jack McGrath committee member and his wife Maisie McGrath. These awards were given for their long standing dedication and hard work within our organisation.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2008

During 2008 we not only successfully completed a county wide survey in cooperation with two other charities (see Survey 2008), we also got a CD production facility up and running with funding raised from a charity New Age Kurling night. This means our monthly newsletter and other information can be produced on CD, as well as tape and large print.

The membership has continued to grow with more taking part in activities like the Kurling and trips to various locations, as well as the monthly social meetings.

A number of members successfully completed a 4 day First Aid course, while others completed more coaching to run New Age Kurling. Computer training continues to play a large part in our planning and development; several members are taking college courses.

Our Chairman received a Community Spirit award at prestigious evening event held at the Radisson Hotel in Durham City.

B.L.IN.D. Awards

As well as forming a New Age Kurling group we have placed various members on a number of different courses to enhance our ability to support the organisation and each other.

This year(2007) B.L.IN.D. have received two awards. One from Durham County Council Access + Awards - a commendation in the small and medium enterprises category ( we were given a star shaped silver paperweight).

The second was from 2D voluntary and community support, for the group constantly striving to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of members. We also received a silver tray for this.

Our Chairman and Vice Treasurer both received awards from 2D as well for their commitment as volunteers with B.L.IN.D.. Jim our Chairman also gained an Adult Learners Award through his computer work.

February 24, 2005

Local Durham Blind and Partially Sighted Group Awarded BT Internet-Ready PC

"Local group, Blind Life IN Durham (B.L.IN.D.), has been awarded a NEC internet-ready PC and a 12 month connection to BT Yahoo! Anytime as part of the BT community Connections award scheme."

Blind Life was among hundreds that entered in the North East and impressed judges with its ideas about how an internet-ready PC would benefit its local community.

Jim Welch from Blind Life said: "We are very happy to receive our BT Community Connections Award. The internet-ready PC will help with communications between other organizations and service providers. Creating publications for awareness and giving us a firm foothold in administration aspects of our group whilst maintaining a means of contact with our members. Elizabeth Crammond, our secretary, will benefit greatly amongst others by having access to software to create stationary."