Coached by ex-skillstepper Kurt Mackin, the team were ready and raring to go even after a 4 hour trip down to Birmingham first thing. After a tense first match losing 3-2, the team went on to win the second game 5-2 which was enough to get through to the grand final for the overall trophy!

One of our players, Mikey Bauchan was also named player of the day for his contribution to the game. Henshaws would like to express special thanks to all that made the trip possible in particular Kurt and Philippa for looking after the team so well throughout the day and for cheering them on from the touchline!

Neil Winskill Football Development Manager at Newcastle United Foundation commented on the players remarkable achievements over the weekend;

“Philippa Taylor, Reggie Dorman and the team only got this group together 4 months ago and have progressed to be able to take them to a national tournament. This really speaks volumes of their dedication, commitment and ability to inspire those they work with.

I always say never let anyone tell you that winning doesn’t matter either! Whilst never our No.1 objective, the trophy that now sits proudly on Reggie’s desk is a symbol of the qualities and effort of the team and the players. I am very proud of them, and I want to thank them all for their hard work as part of our Foundation team.”

Read about Coach Kurt Mackin’s achievements and ambitions on the BBC website.

Well done Team Henshaws and fantastic win!

Fanni Loves Fufu presents…over 30 stalls – featuring retro, vintage, homewares, clothes, art, craft, face painting and many more!

Open 10 – 4pm, our onsite licenced cafe will also be open for drinks, snacks, and refreshments.

Mark’s work is bright and beautiful, showcasing a fresh use of colour, and featuring bold graphic prints, shapes and energetic abstract patterns.

The Exhibition runs until 1st June 2012, and is open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm.

Kez spoke about her inspiration for the exhibition:

“My name is Kerry Marshall, everyone who knows me calls me Kez. I went to a Main Stream school in the Telford area, then I went to college in Hereford. I now live in Harrogate and I have worked at the Arts and Crafts Centre for nearly 7 years.

I have a love of hands, which I find fascinating and comforting. I can recognise some people by the shape and size of their hands. I also have a love of music. I like to imagine celebrity’s hands – how big they would be? If they were tall, would they have big hands? Is it true? Most men have bigger hands than women.

Recently, I joined a mixed choir in Harrogate and I also like going to the pub, especially Karaoke Night.”

Dan Walsh and Jamie Carbet

We met a few of our runners after the race, Dan Walsh said:

“It was the first marathon I did in25 years, the conditions were terrible and it was the wind and the rain, more than the actual race that caused the pain! But It was worth it in the end as we raised loads of money for Henshaws!”

Rob Garner

And another runner Rob Garner, said;

“This was my first marathon for 20 years, I managed to run 26 miles in the atrocious wind and rain, It was a hard slog but I did it and raised about £1200 for Henshaws society for the blind! I feel quite proud of myself now!”

Running a marathon is such an achievement. And we couldn’t be more proud of our runners, Glen Lockett, Head of Fundraising at Henshaws was there to cheer on Team Henshaws “It’s been an amazing event, we hope that it continues year after year – all credit to the runners who completed the course in the wind and the rain, and the volunteers who cheered them on!”

We also want to thank Physio World for supplying advice and support to our runners at the end of the race, as well as ASDA for donations of food and drink – which were much appreciated by the runners.

Well done to all who took part!

If you fancy signing up for a challenge event (there are many different challenges for all interests and skill levels if you don’t want to take part in a marathon!) then visit our challenges section for more information or get in touch with our fundraising team fundraising@henshaws.org.uk 01423 814501

Richard is a keen fundraiser and loves testing himself with new adventures. He has volunteered for many international charities such as International Aid and Development and Human Rights and now he wants to raise funds and awareness a bit closer to home.

“A while ago I remember ‘accidently’ doing a fundraising bungee jump and this time I like to think I have come up with another interesting, engaging and exciting challenge!”

This autumn, Richard aim’s to travel using surface transportation only; i.e. no flying, from our Arts and Crafts office in Knaresborough to the summit of Volvan Chimborazo in Ecuador. At 6,310 metres the peak of Chimborazo is high enough, but because of the bulge of the equator it is also the highest point on the planet from the centre of the earth, meaning it is also the point in which tobe closest to space, the stars and beyond – it is literally on top of the World!

“As well as my work overseas I have always enjoyed high level mountaineering and travel in general, I celebrated my 40th birthday recently by hitching around the world on freighters and cargo ships so I am doubly excited about this challenge. A basic outline of the journey as it stands now is to sail from Europe to West Africa, on to Brazil, down the coast to come ashore proper at Buenos Aires before travelling up through the continent, acclimatizing to altitude and having adventures as I go before finally climbing Chimborazo.”

Richard hopes to complete his challenge in approximately 3 months fundraising along the way via http://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Fountain. En route he will also be publishing a blog of his progress, featuring pictures, video clips and maps of where he is up to.

All monies raised in the run up to and during Richard’s challenge will go directly to Henshaws, even some of the small administration fees justgiving charge he will reimburse himself. His target at the moment is set at £6,310, £1 per metre above sea level to the summit of Chimborazo.

Richard’s blog will be up and running soon and we will let you know when it does, in the meantime please support Richard in this amazing challenge and donate to Henshaws here http://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Fountain.

What an amazing challenge! Good Luck Richard!

Liam has suffered from poor sight since he was born, is partially deaf and was diagnosed with a rare disease Alstrom Syndrome at the age of 10. Over the years he has been supported by us through mobility training and attending holiday clubs. Recently he was accepted at the New College Worcester to study A-Levels after Henshaws wrote letters of support describing how his disability should not affect his eligibility to attend mainstream school.

Those closest to him will know him for his tenacious fundraising achievements and his wide range of skills, he supports many charities who have helped him including Alstrom Syndrome UK, Living Paintings and the Children’s Society. He began attending New College Worcester Sixth Form in January this year, studying a wide range of subjects including A-Level German using German braille. In February he was nominated by the Assistant Principal for his determination and inspirational charity work and was awarded the Young Citizen of Worcester Award by the Rotary Club of Worcester.

Liam’s Mother Liz is particularly proud of the way Liam has taken to every challenge, “Liam is amazing and the best son ever. Even at his College his teachers tell me that he creates activities and clubs for the other students, he goes out of his way to support new students. But best of all we love his witty and articulate nature, he never fails to make us laugh!”

In addition to his charitable and academic achievements, Liam knows how important it is to raise awareness of blindness and visual impairment. After completing his work experience at Cherry Orchard Primary School, he was invited back by the school to set up a programme which helps educate students and staff in main stream schools about visually impaired people and the challenges they may face, including teaching them about braille. After the summer months, Liam hopes to take this programme forward into secondary schools and more colleges.

Liam is also an aspiring poet and champion scrabble player. Liam has written many poems inspired by his love for music and everday experiences. He loves the way language can invoke different emotions. He has written two poetry books at the age of 11 and 13 which have both been published. He was also taught by the team at Henshaws how to play Scrabble using braille tiles, which he loved to do. He has set up a Scrabble club at his college and has being crowned Scrabble champion on more than one occasion! Recently he has been entered into the British Scrabble championship to be held in Bradford.

He has now turned his fundraising efforts to raise money for Henshaws and hopes to take part in the Great North Swim  and speak at our luncheon club sharing his experiences and raising awareness about the work that we do.

As we not only work with people suffering from sight loss but their families too, Henshaws has a Parent Support Group which Liam’s parents attend, Liam’s Mother says, “Whenever you ring Henshaws, there is always something or someone at Henshaws that can help. It is the staff at Henshaws that really make the charity what it is, there is no better place to go to for the support we have needed.”

You can see Liam in action below, reciting one of his poem’s he has written about being blind.

Manchester based entrepreneur James Lindemann and founder of “I put my shirt on it” developed the idea when having a chat with fellow football fans on Facebook, ”It all began when we started chatting about who we thought was going to win the Premier League, one of my friends said “Man City will win the Premier League, and I’ll put my shirt on it.” and another said, “No they won’t; Man United will, and I’ll put my shirt on it.” It was here on in that the idea grew to today’s vision; a company dedicated to bringing an extra element to sporting and non-sporting events, making money for worthy causes along the way.”

The concept is really simple and is a great way to get everyone involved, whether you are a fan of football or not, a red or a blue, wear the T-Shirt and support Man Utd or Man City to win the league over the next few weeks.

If you are willing to put your shirt on your team, then head to the website “I put my shirt on it” and buy a t-shirt for just £10 plus postage, simple as that.  All funds raised will be split evenly between the chosen charity partners - Henshaws and A School under the Tree.

Keep your eye on the ball follow their progress on twitter – @iputmyshirtonit and like their facebook fanpage!

The event will begin with bacon sandwiches in the morning with a shotgun start at 10:15am to begin play. Teams will be competing for prizes as well as taking part in a number of fun events, and a BBQ will be provided afterwards with a prize giving.

Entry fee for teams of four is £250.

For more information contact fundraising@henshaws.org.uk or call Faye Wilson on 0161 786 3693.

Tracey who has struggled with her eyesight since she was a child wants to share her story and express how Henshaws has helped her in her adult years.

At the age of 8, Tracey lost her sight for 2 years due to cataracts in both eyes; she then had an operation to remove the cataracts when she was 10 years old and unfortunately lost her sight in her left eye. Since then she has regularly suffered from setbacks and lives week by week travelling to and from the Royal Eye Hospital in Manchester for procedures.

Tracey has been visiting Henshaws’ Manchester Resource Centre since August last year after she had further operations to try and stabilise her sight. As well as learning to read Braille, Tracey is now embarking on the Skillstep course, which has already enabled her to meet new people and build her confidence. She is currently the only person that visits the centre with the combination of eye conditions she has, which she says makes it difficult to talk to people about it.

However, from meeting with people that also go to Henshaws, Tracey has been slowly building her confidence and now feels more comfortable talking to people about her experiences. She has a passion for fitness, particularly running and can’t wait to put her training into practice by running the Blackpool Half Marathon.

Before her eyesight began to deteriorate, Tracey ran the Race for Life and really enjoyed the challenge, now because she has been supported by Henshaws she is confident that she can run harder and further with the help of a friend to guide her. She is currently training at the Winton running track for a warm up run – the Bolton 10k – in preparation for the half marathon.

“I can’t say enough good things about Henshaws, and the difference the support and services has made to my life. I am now feeling more and more confident every day and some people have said it is like a light has switched on in my personality, that they can see the old Tracey again. Doing this run makes me believe I can be me again, despite my sight conditions!”

Good luck Tracey!

Hosted in our on-site Gallery at Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre.

The exhibition runs 5th March – 13th April 2012. We are open Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm.

For more information, call 01423 541888 or email arts&crafts@henshaws.org.uk

The establishment of the charity was from the generosity of Oldham businessman and philanthropist Thomas Henshaw (1731 -1810) who left a legacy of £20,000 which is equivalent to £1.1 million today.

Henshaw wanted “to maintain and afford such instruction to the indigent blind of both sexes capable of employment as will enable them to provide, either wholly or in part, for their own subsistence and to afford asylum to the impotent and aged blind”. As Manchester’s oldest charity and as a society as a whole, we are proud to have been helping blind and visually impaired people lead independent lives for over 175 years.

It took over 26 years to set the charity up because of circumstances surrounding Thomas Henshaw’s death – he was found drowned in a reservoir near his factory. The Will was contested by his Wife on the grounds that at the time of his death  “the Cause of his having so drowned himself was his insanity.”

In September 1834, after the final verdict was given by the Court of Chancery, a plot of land was bought next to the botanical gardens in Old Trafford and the ‘Asylum for the Indigent Blind’ opened its doors for the the first time in 1837.

Over the years, the name of the charity has changed three times from the ‘Asylum for the Indigent Blind, to Henshaw’s Institution for the Blind in 1921, Henshaw’s Society for the Blind in 1971 and Henshaws Society for Blind People in 2000.

In a tribute to our founder, Henshaws is still growing today and in 1971 we opened Henshaws College and in 1998 Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre. We like to think Mr Henshaw would be very happy with what we do today; we employ over 400 members of staff across the North of England, who each year help to support thousands of visually impaired and disabled people and their families, and all thanks to the generosity of one man back in 1810.

We will be celebrating the anniversary throughout the year with special events, including a heritage exhibition, “Henshaws: One Man’s Vision…” opening at Gallery Oldham, where you can find out more interesting facts and about Thomas Henshaw and the charity and an exclusive Anniversary Ball in Manchester, the city where it all began.

To keep up to date with the latest on what we have planned for our 175th celebrations then please keep checking our events pages and news feeds!

Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre are hosting a Pampered Chef evening to raise money for Henshaws.

From 7pm there will be the chance to try high-quality kitchen tools that fit any budget, and learn tips to make cooking and entertaining easier.

There will also be the opportunity to see how to prepare a simple yet impressive recipe in no time at all. Why not double the fun and bring a friend? Our licensed bar will be open, and we’re providing nibbles too.

For more information visit the Pampered Chef website or RSVP to Maria Dawbarn, (01423) 799605.

Guests were greeted with a champagne reception and Nick Marr, Henshaws CEO, started off the birthday celebrations with an inspirational welcome speech featuring a few highlights from 1837, the year Henshaws opened its doors.  In the same year Henshaws opened in Old Trafford as an ‘Asylum for Indigent Blind’, Charles Dickens published Oliver Twist and Queen Victoria ascended to the throne. A fact particularly notable is that the charity is older than the invention of the first car!

“I am delighted with the success of the celebrations on Saturday night, and the impact it has had.  As well as having the opportunity to cultivate relationships with potential corporate partners, I found Andrew Rose’s story particularly moving.  He shared his experiences of becoming blind in today’s world, and how being helped by Henshaws has now put him in the right place to help others who need support.” Nick Marr, Henshaws Group CEO.

Coronation Street star Paula Lane also helped get the celebrations in full swing by singing the Frank Sinatra classic ‘Somethin’ Stupid’ with The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular; the evening’s entertainment. Solo artist Maria Jordan and BBC’s Becky Want and Mark Edwardson also supported the evening’s events which also included a live auction and chances to win other prizes.

Glen Lockett, Head of Fundraising said of the night “I am absolutely delighted that the efforts put in by the fundraising team turned into an amazing event.  The night brought together past, present and new supporters who will now endeavour to ensure that Henshaws gets the opportunity to celebrate in another 175 years. We’ve already started planning next year’s event!”

Well done and thank you to all involved, the Henshaws team can’t wait for the next year’s event!

“Hello, I am Sophie. I live in Leeds with my Mum, Dad and two brothers. My brothers are called Richard and Sam. I also have two dogs and a cat. My dogs are a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Meg and a chocolate Labrador called Penny. My cat is called Jess and he’s a black and white cat.

I have Mitochondrial disorder which effects my speech and mobility. I have had three Lightwriters and the Lightwriter SL40 Connect is the best one for me because I can make phone calls to book taxis. It’s a lot better than the SL39 which didn’t do texts messages and phone calls. I am a lot more independent with my Lightwriter SL40 Connect because I can book taxis by myself now to go out shopping and buy sweets. I can now check my balance which on the Lightwriter SL40 I couldn’t.

I am very sociable so I needed my system volume turning up so people could hear me in busy places. I am in my second year at Henshaws College and have grown in confidence and independence. Last year with my Lightwriter SL40 I started using my talker with Windows speech recognition to write documents in Word and use the Internet.

I have a load of gadgets which include; my iPod Touch, my Kindle, my Bluetooth enabled wheelchair, a tripod with a camera on it and my talker of course! Peter at Leeds Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre is the best because he gets me stuff like my talkers. He even came to college to lend me a brand new SL40 before I got my Connect when my old SL40 broke. I am the only one who has a Lightwriter in college. I was also the first in Leeds to get a Connect because I can use it so well and am very lucky. I keep finding stuff I didn’t know I had; like if you press ‘Shift’ + ‘Pick’ it comes up with punctuation, symbols and accents. I love my talker. I can do jokes. I have also written this article on my talker’s notepad.”

Held in Newcastle on Sunday 16th September, we have been lucky enough to secure 25 places for the 13.1 miles run. Entry fee is £48 and minimum sponsorship is £300.

The ballot will be called this Friday 30th March, so don’t miss out, register your place by downloading this form and sending to Hannah Saxon Great North Run Entry Form 2012 or contact her on (01423) 814501 /  hannah.saxon@henshaws.org.uk

Tom Clark and Dave Stanley

When local Business owner Dave Stanley wanted to do something for charity after reading the story of three year old blind Oscar in the Advertiser, he thought about what skills he could provide and came up with the idea of offering annual maintenance and repair for our Manchester Resource Centre Mini bus at his Garage, DP Stanley Specialist Cars.

He got in touch with Tom Clark, legacy manager at Henshaws, who suggested he could use his skills to service the Renault 14 seater mini bus, which is used to transport people to and from groups at our Old Trafford resource centre.  Tom said “I’m always telling my friends about the work that Henshaws does, and when Dave mentioned he wanted to help in some way, I thought we could really use his skills, as our mini bus was looking a bit tired”

Dave said “This is the first thing I’ve done through my business for charity, and I’m really pleased that I’m able to help.  I see this as a longer term partnership, as I know that the mini bus plays a huge part in allowing people to access services.”

As part of this fantastic partnership, Dave will continue to work with us, by providing an annual safety check, maintenance and repair, servicing, MOT, paint & body work as well as cleaning and valeting – to ensure that it gets people to our services safely and saving us over £1500 a year at the same time!

If you or your business think you might be able to offer your skills to Henshaws, please get in touch on 0161 872 1234 or info@henshaws.org.uk

Exhibition runs 5th March – 13th April 2012.

We are open Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm.

Gill Jennison, Principal of the college said “I’m delighted that once again, we have gained a positive report from Ofsted, my thanks to everyone who contributes at the college, and also to the students themselves for their hard work.”

The CQC reports covering all of our community housing across the society were also very positive, providing no recommendations or statutory requirements from the inspectors and being judged compliant against all aspects including; respecting and involving people who use the services, care and welfare of people who use the services and safeguarding them from abuse, supporting workers and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

Frank Ward, Director of Community Housing said “The hard work and dedication of the staff has been a major factor in gaining these successful reports. Many practices and procedures which we have developed have contributed not only to gaining positive reports, but most importantly, to the happiness and wellbeing of our residents”

The reports are an excellent reminder that Henshaws remains to this day a caring organisation, helping people to live independent and fulfilling lives, something which Thomas Henshaw would have been proud of.

After the discovery of a tea chest with artefacts and objects pertaining to the legacy of the charity, the team at Henshaws knew that we had to share share the history and interesting stories found in an all-sensory exhibition. The display will trace the story surrounding Thomas Henshaw’s legacy and the rich history of Henshaws. It will explore the charity’s history and the history of visual impairment as well as commissioning new contemporary artworks. It will feature the fascinating stories from people who have been part of Henshaws throughout the years.

The exhibition is planned to open at Gallery Oldham later this year and will then tour regionally. By touring the exhibition we will be engaging with a much wider audience in the legacy, sharing our history and fostering a greater understanding amongst sighted people of the challenges faced by those with visual impairment.

You can read more on some of the interesting stories and history about Thomas Henshaw and Henshaws here. We will be keeping you all up to date with our progress, but do keep an eye out in the press and media!

This spring on 24th March, we are hosting a Henshaws’ Anniversary Ball, featuring a fabulous stage show performance from The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular!

For one night only, you are invited to enjoy an evening of live swing music performed in the intimate dining room at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester where, in the company of no more than 200 guests you will help us celebrate our 175th Birthday.

On arrival you will be greeted with champagne and canapés followed by a three course dinner served in the Radisson’s elegant ballroom. After dinner our celebrity compere will host an auction featuring a wide selection of exclusive lots. The evening’s celebrations will climax with a stunning Vegas Spectacular performance from The Rat Pack, certain to get you all on the dance floor!

Established in 1837 by Oldham businessman Thomas Henshaw, we thought it only fitting to celebrate our 175th Birthday in style by hosting this celebration in the city where we were founded.

Tickets are available at just £75 per head, giving you the chance to join us on what promises to be a glorious night of entertainment and celebration.

We also have other packages and sponsorship opportunities available. For tickets and further information please contact Faye.wilson@henshaws.org.uk or call 0161 786 3693.

]]> http://www.henshaws.org.uk/north-west/news/2012/02/29/anniversary-ball-with-the-rat-pack-vegas-spectacular/feed/ 0 http://www.henshaws.org.uk/yorkshire/news/2012/02/17/you-can-help-henshaws-raise-3000-by-shopping-online/ http://www.henshaws.org.uk/yorkshire/news/2012/02/17/you-can-help-henshaws-raise-3000-by-shopping-online/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:20:42 +0000 Tori http://www.henshaws.org.uk/?p=2590 Did you know that you can support Henshaws by shopping online – at no extra cost to you! The Give as you Live techonology is currently used by more than 1,300 leading retailers including John Lewis, M&S and British Airways.

Powered by Everyclick, which since 2005 has raised over £2 million for charities, Give as you Live gives online shoppers the opportunity to donate to Henshaws when they check out, a percentage of the price will then go straight to Henshaws paid for by the retailer. The site also allows you to make wish lists for yourself as well as friends and family.

And this month Give as you Live have launched a new scheme in order to help Henshaws and other charities earn at least £3,000 this year!  If you sign up by 31st March 2012, Give as you Live will donate an additional £5 to us after you spend £10 or more through Give as you Live. This means that if we get at least 100 new shoppers, we could raise £3000 towards our services! But we need to get at least 25 shoppers before 31st March 2012, so to help Henshaws be in with a chance of raising £3000 please visit our page here on Give as you Live.

Ann’s commitment didn’t stop there, after deciding that she wanted to get more involved with the groups she was helping to transport to Henshaws, she was asked if she would like to take over the lead role in organising the groups and the activities.

“After working for the Health Service for most of my career, I knew that I would need something to not only occupy my time but which would also be helping others too, that’s why when I saw the advert in the local paper for Henshaws Volunteer Drivers I decided to apply.”

The group, which gives members an opportunity to meet and find out more information about the kinds of support they can access for their visual impairments, it is also a great opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences peer to peer.

Ann will be sad to leave her post, but retiring will mean that she has more time to dedicate to her family and endure less of a commute to Henshaws every week from Sefton. This won’t however, stop her from visiting the group, “It’s the members of the group that keep you coming, I’ve made some great friendships over the years and will be sure to pop in every now and again to see how they are getting on. Some of the group members only venture out once a week for this opportunity and really look forward to it, an

Date: Thursday 16 February

Time: 7.30

Price: £14.50

There are over 50 nesting boxes to chose from which are all handmade by Art Makers as part of our Social Enterprise Handmade at Henshaws.

Themes and styles Include homes for Blue & Great Tits, Fly Catchers, Sparrow Terraces and Towers; houses for hedgehogs and lots of our famous Bug Boxes made from recycled/reclaimed timber and bamboo from our own gardens!

To find the perfect box for your garden visit the exhibition from 16th january to 24th February in the Main Gallery and Cafe.

Held in Newcastle on Sunday 16th September, we have been lucky enough to secure 25 places for the 13.1 miles run. Entry fee is £48 and minimum sponsorship is £300.

To register your place the download the Great North Run Entry Form 2012 or contact Hannah Saxon on (01423) 814501 or email  hannah.saxon@henshaws.org.uk

Nick Marr, Henshaws Chief Executive, said: “We are shocked that someone would steal from a charity.”

Detective Constable Stephen Mathias, said: “It is shocking to think that burglars would go to such lengths to steal computers which that play a vital role in the education of blind children.”

If you or a company can help Henshaws replace these invaluable pieces of equipment so we can continue in our work to support people with visual impairments, then please contact us on fundraising@henshaws.org.uk or call 0161 872 1234.

Danny Adams, member of the cast said: “It is always lovely to meet people from the community in Newcastle, especially when they have seen the panto every year over the past seven years – it is just really lovely to meet them and put a smile on their faces.”

The CD has been named in honour of John Metcalf, arguably Knaresborough’s most famous character. As well as being a renowned civil engineer and horseman, Blind Jack Metcalf was also a fiddle player. He  became completely blind at the age of 6 following small pox. The CD features a range of singers and musicians from across Yorkshire with all the tracks having relevance to Harrogate, Knaresborough and the surrounding area.

The CD was the brainchild of band member Mark Ellison who was so impressed by the services offered to visually impaired people by Henshaws that he decided to raise funds for the charity. Said Mark, “John Metcalfe  never let his disability shape his life- his achievements were truly remarkable by anyone’s standards and his triumph over adversity is an example to us all. Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre is very close to Jack’s birthplace in Knaresborough, and Henshaws College is in the Harrogate area where he played his fiddle at dances. The Blind Jack Band CD features the sort of music that would have been familiar to Jack and is in aid of a charity that I’m sure he would have approved of. Henshaws is well known for their good work with visually impaired people, helping them gain self-confidence and independence.”
 
The last remaining CDs are available from Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre in Knaresborough at the bargain price of £2. All profits will go to Henshaws Arts & Craft Centre.

Many people spoke very movingly about how Gary had touched their lives. The stories of how he overcame the challenges of his sight loss with such courage and energy and went on to gain his degree at Bolton University and to volunteer at the Imperial War Museum and Manchester Art Gallery were inspirational.  Other people talked of Gary’s great sense of humour and of the kindness and generosity that he showed to other people. His achievements are a fantastic role model, and show just exactly what people can achieve despite the hurdles that they face.

This short video shows Gary leading a group at Manchester Art Gallery, discussing the Holman Hunt painting, The Hireling Shepherd.

The collection from the memorial is very kindly to be donated to Henshaws.

Nathan is 9 years old, when he was born he was like any other child but as he grew up he started displaying signs of a disability and unfortunately even now, doctors have still not managed to diagnose his condition. He has been termed as having Cerebral Palsy and is a wheelchair user; he is also partially sighted, deaf and has learning difficulties.

None of this stops Nathan or his mother Julie from interacting with other children and being involved in all the activities that Henshaws has to offer. Nathan and his mum Julie love coming to the Henshaws resource centre where Nathan is the centre of attention; he is a social butterfly and hates missing out on anything. He is fiercely independent so refuses any help from his mum Julie. ‘ I am always on hand to help and support Nathan twenty four hours a day but most of the time he refuses to let me, he will never let his disability get in the way of him having a good time with his friends’.

Nathan recently attended a Flow Riding event run by Henshaws where he and other took to the water to learn how to surf. ‘Nathan has always liked being in the water, he was the first one up on the board and he loved every minute of it, it gave him the freedom from the confinement of his wheelchair, it can be very restricting for an active 9 year old boy’. Julie tries to do as much as possible with Nathan to ensure he is kept occupied however it can be hard ‘Without the great team and support network that Henshaws offers i would not be able to do many of the things i can now do with Nathan. We have been involved in a variety of activities from day trips locally to 3 day camping trips, just knowing that the team are on hand to support both myself and Nathan is priceless’.

If you want to find out more about our children and families service in the North East visit the web page or contact 0191 2759417

Henshaws was recently announced as one of the charity partners for the brand new Greater Manchester Marathon in Trafford, Manchester’s first marathon for more than a decade, alongside local charity The Christie.

The race will take place in Trafford on 29th April  2012 and will start and finish in Longford Park in Stretford. The five thousand runners expected to take part will pass iconic landmarks such as the Old Trafford football and cricket grounds and Dunham Massey Park over the 26mile course.

To be one of the first lucky 6 to gain free entrance to the Manchester Marathon (normally £48!), minimum sponsorship is £500, contact Hannah.saxon@henshaws.org.uk or call 01423 814501.

Good luck!

The dinner held at The Majestic Hotel in Harrogate was very well attended with over a 100 property professionals dining and chief executive, Gary Verity of Welcome to Yorkshire as the guest speaker.

Mr Alcock said: “The event was a huge success and we are delighted that so many familiar faces could gather together to raise so much money for such a worthwhile cause.”

You can shop at some of your favourite shops online; such as House of Fraser, Debenhams, and Tesco by either shopping at the Give as you Live store or downloading Give as you Live and raise money when you shop on their website directly.

Just follow these three really easy steps and start donating to Henshaws without spending more!

1. Sign up to Give as you Live here and shop online at all your favourite stores.
2. When you make your purchase the stores send Give as you Live a commission on anything you buy, at no cost to you.
3. Once payment has processed Give as you Live then sends that commission to Henshaws – it couldn’t be easier!

Many people suffering from RP do not become completely blind until late on in life, however, Andrew is one of the unfortunate few who, now at 37, no longer has his sight. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most common forms of inherited eye disease with approximately 25,000 people in the UK suffering from it, there is, however, currently no cure.

Andrew’s Journey
When Andrew first learnt of his condition he had just completed his University degree and his unbelievable strength and determination is the only reason he has made it to where he is today, he was told that he would eventually lose his sight but could not be told how long it would be so he decided to take every opportunity he could, “I wanted to do my Accountancy qualifications, so I did, I wanted to travel the world, so I did, I wanted to help others in my situation so I did, I didn’t think I was invincible, I just realised how much I had taken for granted previously”.

After Andrews’s last travelling expedition 2 years ago he returned with almost no sight. He had already given up his job working at Cotrills as Head of Finance, which was a tough decision to take, and had to start facing the fact that normal everyday tasks were going to be a struggle. “I always knew this day would come but i hadn’t really thought about it all that much up until this point”. Andrew had to look for help from others and, after speaking to several organisations and not getting the type of help he needed, his mum suggested Henshaws.

How Henshaws helped Andrew
Andrew enrolled himself on the Skillstep course, a 12 week programme teaching all basic skills from IT to cooking. Andrew then went on to do an advanced IT course and has just started to learn how to read Braille. “I have to admit that the advancements in technology do help immensely, I’m a techno junkie and I like to keep ahead of the game when it comes to innovative new gadgets”.

The achievements he has made from first being diagnosed 16 years ago right up until today are inspiring. He has never let his situation get him down and he owes a lot of this to the people and the support network offered at Henshaws. “The staff at Henshaws would bend over backwards for anyone in need of their help and the people you get to interact with on a daily basis help to make you come to terms with the way your life will change and even offer some helpful tips for day to day life. Without their strength and support i could not have managed to get through this extremely difficult period in my life”.

Get in touch
If you need advice and support to cope with sight loss, please get in touch with us on 016 872 1234/ 0151 708 7055/ 0191 2759417

Alasdair and Jennie had qualified for the final thanks to the hard work of all the Henshaws Bowling Teams on many Tuesday nights in York.  On a weekend of new friendships formed and much fun had (as well as some serious bowling skills put to the test!), Jennie and Alasdair finished an amazing 2nd in the whole of the UK. They collected a trophy each and received a rousing round of applause for having finished so high as newcomers to the competition.

Competitors quickly became friends and all the organisers were thanked for their hard work.  Roll on Crewe 2012!  A special thanks go to Julie Edwards of Henshaws for all her organisational work and enthusiasm and to Sharon Moncrieff of the NBTBA for making Jennie and Alasdair feel so welcome.

If anyone would like to contact the NBTBA directly please phone Norman Greenhalgh on 0151 639 6869 or visit their website on www.nbtba.org.uk

Philippa Taylor, Service Manager at Henshaws said “I have worked with Kurt since he took part in the Skillstep course, and we’re delighted that he’s going to be sharing his love of football with other VI children. We’re so proud that his passion and enthusiasm has enabled him to get funding for the team and hope that this will show other children with visual impairments that they too can get involved in the sport.”

Henshaws are now looking for children between the ages of 6 and 16 with a visual impairment to take part, and the first training session is on Wednesday January 11th from 5pm – 6pm at Benfield Sports Academy.

If you or someone you know want to be involved in the football team, please contact someone from the Newcastle office on 0191 275 9417 or email Newcastle@henshaws.org.uk

Kindly supported by:

David has supported Henshaws since the death of his mother, Constance Burt, in 1996. Constance was a staunch supporter of Henshaws for over 40 years and left a £1000 legacy for Henshaws in her Will. He wished to continue her good work and since her death has been a regular supporter of Henshaws himself, donating over £500 over the last 15 years and now, in her memory, has created the cast copper piece. The sculpture, which he has named ‘Helping Hands’ was created to reflect the spirit and values of Henshaws and features images of people who have used Henshaws services, is accessible and tactile and features the name of the piece in Braille at the bottom.

David says of his sculptures “Creating relief sculpture is a journey which sustains my spirit and gives me the feeling that I am leaving a creative expression of my feelings about a subject, which will be my thumbprint in a hundred years.”

The artwork, which he generously donated to Henshaws, is now on display in the Manchester resource centre for service users and staff to enjoy.

“We want to thank Mr Burt for creating such a unique sculpture for Henshaws. Both he and his mother have offered us great generosity over the years, of which we are immensely grateful.” Nick Marr, CEO of Henshaws

A marathon is a great goal to work towards, and of course a great way to raise money for Henshaws.

This is Manchester’s first marathon for over a decade and as Henshaws was chosen as one of the charity partners for the event, we’d love you to run for us!

The race will take place right on our doorstep in Trafford and will start and finish in Longford Park in Stretford (5 minutes away from our Manchester resource centre) You will be joining the 5000 runners expected to take part and will pass iconic landmarks such as Old Trafford football and cricket grounds and Dunham Massey Park over the 26 mile course.

There’s still plenty of time to start your training for the marathon – Coach Julie Fairclough has put together some fantastic training plans for everyone from beginners to experienced runners. Even if you have just a little experience in running, Julie is confident her training plans will help you to complete the marathon in a good time. http://www.greatermanchestermarathon.com/training/training-plans

We have a limited number of places available, but they’re going fast. If you want to take part in this landmark event and run for Henshaws, please book your place by contacting Hannah.saxon@henshaws.org.uk 01423 814501

Be part of this historic event and run for Henshaws!

 The group of ten visually impaired students who recently  completed their course, were delighted at the chance to go on an  adventure holiday.

 The motto of the Calvert Trust is ‘challenging disability through  outdoor adventure’ and they certainly did that, completing many  daring activities such as climbing and abseiling, high ropes course, zip wire, and canoeing , which they all loved!

“All the skillsteppers achieved something they never thought they would, and they all want to know when they can go again.” Philippa Taylor, Service Manager, North East

http://www.calvert-trust.org.uk/kielder/

The thought of losing your sight is terrifying, but learning that your child suffers from sight loss is indescribable. Our specialist Children and Families team help families to overcome the barriers that sight loss can cause. 

If you want to help, now is the time to do it, as this year for our Christmas appeal, we are teaming up with the Big Give to take part in their annual challenge. If you donate to us between 5^th and 9^th of December online The Big Give will

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!  

If you can help us reach our target of £4,000 by donating during challenge week, the total will be doubled to £8,000 

This will allow us to provide 695 hours of specialist support and care to visually impaired children and parents, and without this support; many families would not know where to turn. 

If you donate £40 we will get £80

This will pay for a family with a VI child to join one of our day activities – which give families with visually impaired children the much needed support to enable them to do activities they wouldn’t ever think were possible 

If you donate £125 we will get £250

Which would pay for a volunteer to be recruited and trained to support our children and families team in the valuable work they do. 

The more you give the higher the final amount will be, so please consider making a donation to help families in need of support. Please visit our project page on the Big Give Website between the 5th and 10th of December to make your donation. 

Your money will help families like Kait’s recive the support they need

“I can’t thank Henshaws enough for what they’ve done for Oscar and our family. Oscar is a wonderful little boy, so full of life, interest and adventure. I know things aren’t always going to be easy for him but we’ve learnt how we can support him and I’m confident that he has a wonderful future ahead.”

Kait Hughes, whose son Oscar is blind.

Save the date!

Remember, your donation will only be doubled if you donate here between 5th and 9th of December – so add the date to your diary and the web address to your bookmarks or please email – fundraising@henshaws.org.uk if you would like to recieve a reminder email on challenge week.

Thank you for your support.

 The students, two of whom are sight impaired, and their  teachers spent the day at the Malham National Park Centre  outlining what they would need to help them and others like  them to enjoy, explore and experience the area more easily.

And they had a chance to try out a range of interpretation equipment being developed including Braille labels and Pen Friends – audio tools that allow people with a visual impairment to independently listen to the interpretation around them in the National Park Centre.

Meghann Hull, the YDNPA’s Access Development Officer, said: “The Authority has made a lot of progress over the years improving the Rights of Way network in the National Park for people with limited mobility.

“The one thing we haven’t done much of, though, is reaching out to people with sensory impairments and providing them with opportunities to enjoy and experience the special qualities of the National Park.”

She and three colleagues have been working on a new project called Sense the Dales that is using Malham as a pilot location.

“If it is successful, we hope to establish it in other areas of the National Park and hopefully at our other National Park Centres,” Meghann said.

The students tested a new sensory audio trail that took them through the village and along the Pennine Way to Malham Cove – one of the most popular and accessible routes in the National Park.

The project aims to develop the trail and possibly to install some small interpretive plaques along the route that have raised images carved into them, representing various features of the surrounding landscape.

Taking place at the beautiful Manchester Cathedral on  Wednesday 14th December from 7:30pm, we are inviting you all  to join us in what promises an evening of magical performances,  mulled wine and mince pies.

In addition to traditional Christmas Carols, there will be performances from Chethams School of Music, Manchester University’s – The Cosmo Singers, Loreto Preparatory School, Soloist Jess Bennett and inspirational words from our service users and special guests to name a few.

Tickets are now available to buy for this year’s event and are priced at £10 for adults and £7 for concessions and OAPs. To book please call 0161 872 1234 or email fundraising@henshaws.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you there!

 The cake was cut by Julie Edwards, longest serving member of  staff in Yorkshire, Debbie Gill, longest serving member of staff at  Henshaws College and Luke Demaine, our youngest student  currently at college.

Ex-staff and students from the college were also invited to the party and asked to share their memories of times gone by. A special exhibition to mark the occasion had been set up at the college and will be added to throughout the academic year.

College Prinicpal, Gill Jennison, commented: “It was a wonderful occasion, full of happy memories. I was delighted to be able to welcome back so many ex-students and members of staff.”

Henshaw’s Blind Asylum was established in Manchester  in 1837 but in 1966 Harrogate was selected as the site for the new Henshaws School. The new school was opened in November 1971 by the Duchess of Kent.

In 1985 Henshaws School changed from a secondary school to a college, specialising in visual impairment and offering specialist further education to students with disabilities and learning difficulties aged between 16 and 25.

Other royal visitors to Henshaws College include Princess Dianna in 1989 and Princess Anne in 1992. 

The sessions last for 2.5 hours.  And as well as taking place at the Manchester and Merseyside Henshaws resource centre, take place in the following community venues;

Merseyside:

• Bootle Library, Stanley Road, Bootle, on Monday morning
• Birkdale Library, Liverpool Road, Birkdale on Wednesday morning and afternoon
• Knowsley (Bradbury Centre until New Year) Yuens Way on Thursday afternoon
• Ashville Lodge, Ashville Road, Birkenhead  on Thursday morning
• St Helens Millennium Centre, Corporation Street, St Helens,  on Tuesday morning and afternoon and Thursday morning and afternoon

Greater Manchester:

• Oldham Link Centre, Union Street, Oldham  On Wednesday morning and afternoon
• The Action for Blind people Centre, Albert Street, Eccles on Friday morning
• The Walkden Link, Smith Street, Walkden  Centre on Friday afternoon
• The Methodist Centre in Oldham Street Manchester City Centre on Thursday morning and afternoon
• Atherton House, Talbot Road, Old Trafford on Tuesday morning and afternoon and Friday afternoon

Bill Milner, Merseyside Area Manager, says the courses are great for people who are visually impaired, even those who have never used a computer before. “Being able to use a computer and surf the web is just as important for blind and partially sighted people as it is for anyone else. Whether it’s to look for a job, shop online or keep in touch with friends by email, these sessions will give people all the skills they need to use their computer with confidence.”

Anyone interested in booking a place or finding out more, can do so by phoning Neil Kynaston, Henshaws I.T. Training Manager on 0151 708 7055.

 The campaign which is a year-long event,
 encourages staff, community organisations and schools to don  their brightest clothes to raise money for Henshaws.  

Many businesses across Manchester and Yorkshire arranged events to coincide with World Sight Day on 13^th October, and defied the weary autumn weather by dressing in their brightest clothes.

Specsavers in Sale lit up their branch with vibrant wigs and fluorescent tutus whilst Manchester insurance company CBG donned pink feather boas and balloons. Julia Hamer from Specsavers said: “The best thing about this event is not only are you raising money for a good cause, it is so easy and simple. We found the more creative you are with your outfits the more staff and customers alike can’t help but donate!”

Money has been flooding in and these donations have already made a huge difference so we can continue their work to provide advice, services and support for visually impaired people.  CBG representative Vania Burnell said: “It is great to be involved with something so simple and fun, and for such a good cause as well. It not only raises money but it’s great for team spirit, everyone felt more positive and cheerful. We will definitely be doing it again!”

In Yorkshire alone we have raised over £1019.75 with huge donations from Hunters Estate Agents, Hookstone Chase Primary School and the Christ Church Youth Group.

Faye Wilson, Fundraiser at Henshaws, said: “Wear Bright for Sight is a fun way for everyone to get involved in supporting the work we do at Henshaws, and the campaign is a vital element of our fundraising drive.  The great thing about Wear Bright for Sight is that it is really easy to get involved and, of course, you can hold events at any time of year – not just October. You can fundraise in almost any way imaginable too, such as chest waxes, baby photo competitions or a cake bake.”

If you, your colleagues, friends and family would like to wear bright for sight then contact the fundraising office at Henshaws 0161 872 1234 fundraising@henshaws.org.uk or visit our get involved page.

 Jon Cove, a former student at Henshaws College, now lives in  one of our Harrogate based community houses and works at our  Arts & Crafts Centre four days a week, where he creates large  scale pieces using a combination of papier-mâché and  cardboard techniques.

Now, following the help and generous support of District Councillor Anne Jones, Jon will be able to continue his work at home.

Councillor Jones worked with staff at Henshaws to lead a project which saw the internal adaptation of the garage at Jon’s community house into a custom made studio. As well as making a generous personal donation to help fund the project, Cllr Jones also secured the support of LaRock Electrical who installed a wireless fire alarm system. A donation from Altro Flooring provided a suitable floor covering for the new studio.

Said Cllr Jones: “As the wife to a former Principal of Henshaws I have known Jon for over 20 years, he was one of the first deaf-blind students to come to the College. His disabilities make the intricacy and colour of his work even more remarkable and demonstrate the power of the work at Henshaws, which provides service users with skills and nurtures their creative talents. I am delighted that I have been able to help Jon sustain his raison d'être and his passion for his artwork. There is considerable goodwill for this very worthy charity throughout the District.”

 Andy, who is registered blind and has slight learning difficulties,  first came to “Henshaws School for the Blind” in September  1986 when he was 12 years old. When he left college, Andy  moved into Henshaws community housing and began attending  our Arts & Crafts Centre 4 days a week. At the centre he works in our music and textile production units, takes part in our Workout Wednesday fitness sessions and uses our multi-sensory room.

Andy is a keen cyclist. He owns a tandem and has taken part in marathons with the support of Henshaws staff. He also enjoys crime dramas!

A celebratory tea party, with friends and family, was held for Andy at the Arts & Crafts Centre in September.