News - In the North East
Team Henshaws wins British Blind Sport National 5-a-side Football Championship!
What a great start to the week! Following on from all the exciting end-of-season Football celebrations, the NUFC Foundation VI Children’s team from our Newcastle centre has won the British Blind Sport National 5 a-side Football Championships on Saturday in Birmingham…..and it came down to Penalties as well!
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!
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Henshaws staff member will travel to ‘Top of the World’ for 175th anniversary!
Richard Fountain is reaching for the stars in his new challenge to thank Henshaws for the opportunities the work has given him and to celebrate our 175th year anniversary!
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!
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Are you willing to put your shirt on it?
Henshaws has been selected to be the charity partner in a new fundraising intiative “I put my shirt on it” launched earlier this month, and it all started as friendly banter between football fans.
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!
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Anyone for a round of Golf?
We have a fantastic opportunity to play at the impressive Harrogate Golf Club this Summer on 28th June.
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.
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Henshaws Celebrates 175th Anniversary!
It is an exciting year for us here at Henshaws as it marks 175 years since the foundations were laid and an ‘Asylum for the Indigent Blind’ was created.
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!
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Henshaws 175th Anniversary Ball was a swinging hit!
Last Saturday night Henshaws kicked off the 175th Anniversary celebrations with a fantastic night at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel in Manchester. The evening was well attended by members of the city’s business community and an amazing night was had by all, and with their support Henshaws raised over £6000!
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!
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Great North Run ballot ends this Friday!
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Henshaws is looking for enthusiastic runners to take place in the world’s biggest and most iconic half marathon.
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
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Henshaws Receives £30k from Heritage Lottery Fund!
After a nail biting wait, Henshaws are pleased to announce that we have been successful in securing £30,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to hold a heritage exhibition ‘Thomas Henshaw: One Man’s Vision.’
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!
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You can help Henshaws raise £3000 by Shopping Online
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.
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Henshaws and Theatre Royal both celebrate 175th anniversary this year!
Last weekend, Henshaws and cast members from the Theatre Royal’s panto came together for a special celebration as we are both celebrating our 175th anniversary this year.
Children aged from 6 to 17 who use our services in the North East were invited to meet stars Clive Webb and Danny Adams, ahead of attending the Theatre Royal’s Panto Sleeping Beauty. Service Manager, Philippa Taylor said the night meant the world to the 21 children who were invited along. “We go to the panto every year and have done for the past seven years. The charity is all about working with children with sight loss. We are 175 years old this year and so is the Theatre Royal, so we thought it would be a nice celebration for both and for the children to meet the cast,” she said.
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.”
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Causing a splash
Our children and families service specialises in working with children with sight loss, often with complex needs and additional disabilities aimed at supporting anyone where visual impairment has an impact on their life.
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
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Do you want to run in the Manchester Marathon for free? We’re giving away 6 places!
Do you need a little push to run for Henshaws in the Greater Manchester Marathon? Well we are giving away 6 free marathon places to the first 6 people to get in touch!
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!
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Donate to Henshaws for free by shopping online!
Planning to hit those January sales? Have Christmas money to spend? Why not do it online and avoid the mad crowds and long ques. Henshaws has signed up to Give as you Live which allows shoppers to turn every pound spent online into a free donation for the charity!
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!
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Henshaws to start a football team for visually impaired children in Newcastle
Kurt Rossin, a visually impaired 19 year old, who has just completed the Skillstep course for Henshaws, has always been passionate about football. He has completed his level 1 in coaching, and is now working on his level 2 at NUFC, when after speaking to them about his dream to set up a football team for visually impaired children, the NUFC foundation agreed to fund the venture.
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:
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Skillsteppers go on an Adventure Holiday with the Calvert Trust
A group of our Newcastle Skillsteppers have just returned from their trip to the Calvert Trust in Kielder.
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/
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Bike for Sight event went down a Storm
The team in Newcastle organised a Bike for Sight event in celebration of World Sight Day, to raise awareness of sight loss and to raise money for Henshaws. The idea, which came from one of the Skillstep students, was to set up in the Metro Shopping Centre with exercise bikes and cycle the distance from Lands End to John O’Groats.
Henshaws staff, skillstep students and volunteers, shoppers and even a Storm Trooper pitched in with the cycling on the day and so far they’ve raised £874 which is the same as the amount of miles cycled! But the pledges keep coming in, so we’ll keep you updated with the final total. A massive well done guys!
Philippa Taylor Henshaws Service Manager said “The day was loads of fun, everyone pitched in to help including shoppers and it’s fantastic that we were able to raise so much money and awareness for Henshaws”
If you want to make a donation, please get in touch with our Newcastle Team on 0191 2759417 or email newcastle@henshaws.org.uk
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Bid for Henshaws
You can now donate to Henshaws through eBay! If you have an eBay account, you can now donate all or a percentage of your final selling price of your unwanted items to Henshaws and its entirely up to you how much you wish to give.
eBay for Charity listings are the same as any other eBay listing, except for the blue and yellow eBay for Charity ribbon 
in search results and your chosen charity’s mission statement and logo in your listing. This means your listing can be seen by everyone who searches through eBay.co.uk. It’ll also get extra visibility through the eBay for Charity pages.
It’s the perfect way to support Henshaws – while doing what you do every day on eBay, whether you're selling old clothes, mobile phones or you're a big business trading electronics.
Earn a bit. Give a bit. Everyone benefits.
Click on the link for more information on how to support Henshaws through eBay http://pages.ebay.co.uk/ebayforcharity/sell.html
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Optelec day a success
The team at Newcastle held their very first Optelec day – an open day, supported by Optelec, providers of access software.
Philippa Taylor, Henshaws Service Manager, also got to catch up with one of the very first Skillstep students.
Eamonn Dunne, Northeast Development Manager said “as our first go at this type of event, it was a great success. It’s a great way for us and other relevant organisations to meet local people experiencing sight loss, and to show them what we have available, as well as meeting potential referrers in the area. We hope to hold more days like this in the future.”
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Wear Bright for Sight 2011
Get on your Glad Rags and Brighten Up for Henshaws!
Dust off your brightest clothes and join in with Wear Bright For Sight, our flagship fundraising event! For 2011, our annual, fun event will take place in the week of World Sight Day – the 10th to the 16th October – although you can, of course, celebrate at any time to suit you.
To take part, all you need to do is donate £2 (£1 for schools and colleges) to wear your brightest, wildest and wackiest clothes for the day. You can fundraise in other ways too – how about a sponsored chest wax? If that sounds too painful you could try a baby photo competition or a cake bake!
What will you be wearing…?
If you live in the Yorkshire or North East region, call us on 01423 814501 to register your interest or to request Wear Bright For Sight stickers.
If you live in the North West area, call us on 0161 8721234.
For all enquiries, you can email us on fundraising@henshaws.org.uk
2011 Literature now available!
To see our 2011 literature and get some bright fundraising ideas, click on the links below:
If you would like more information or fundraising ideas (including our exciting fundraising pack), please contact us: fundraising@henshaws.org.uk
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Great North Swim – free places!
Henshaws will pay the entry fee for enthusiastic swimmer who wish to take part in the Great North Swim, to be held on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June 2011 at Lake Windermere.
The Great North Swim is the UK’s biggest swimming event. You can experience the thrill of a 1 mile open-water outdoor swim, safe in the knowledge that expert kayakers and safety boats are with you every stroke of the way.
For a chance of a free place participants are asked to commit to raising £150 in sponsorship (as a minimum – of course we'd be delighted with anything more!)
By joining Team Henshaws you will receive:
FREE beautiful orange t-shirt to wear over your wetsuit
Fundraising support and encouragement from our dedicated team
Fundraising pack, including fundraising ideas, help and support, and general information about Henshaws
Regular email updates and race information
The chance to feature on our website!
For further information click here to download our flyer, or call or email the fundraising team:
01423 814501 or fundraising@henshaws.org.uk
To join Team Henshaws, click here for an application form.
If you already have a place, but you would like to raise money for Henshaws, get in touch and we will send you a fundraising pack and a snazzy orange t-shirt!
Here's what the money you raise could do:
£5 could pay for a swimming lesson for a visually impaired child
£10 could help pay for materials a student needs to take part in a weekly Arts & Crafts Centre workshop
£25 could pay for route or long cane training for someone who is isolated
£45 would allow a whole family living with sight loss to enjoy a tobogganing trip
£125 would pay for the monthly travel costs of all students attending IT courses in Liverpool.
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How Skillstep Can Change your Life
There is no doubt that Henshaws has been fundamental in giving me back my life.
My eyes have been subject to a multitude of complications from birth, including congenital cataracts and glaucoma, and by the time I was 4 years old I was registered blind. I remember being confused and asking my dad what was wrong with my eyes, to which he replied ‘Just about everything.’
In December 2007 I suffered from a detached retina which I had surgery for. As part of the recovery process I had to sit with my head down regularly during the day, known as posturing. At the time, my sight was the most important thing to me and I was determined to save it. I became desperate to protect the sight that I had left. I would sit for 50 minutes every hour posturing, with only 10 minutes to eat, wash, change etc. I even timed it to the last second. I cannot begin to describe how torturous this time was. Nothing else mattered anymore. I suffered from sleep deprivation and was exhausted to a crazy level, but I didn’t care. Every part of me was silently screaming out for help. The fear of going blind, and the misery of spending up to 20 hours a day in this position consumed me; it led to severe and acute depression that came on suddenly and without warning. It lasted a whole year and was as if I had been hit by a train. I started to have hallucinations and was convinced my wife would tell me to go outside and lie down on the road to die, and my mother would say I should be the first one in my family to commit suicide. After everything I put myself through to save my eyesight, my retina became detached again and everything went dark. I’ve never felt more lonely and broken.
Philippa, the Skillstep Team Leader of Henshaws in Newcastle, was referred to me. She came to my house but I wasn’t interested. She was very patient and persevered with me to get the help I needed. When I had the appointment with the doctor he realised that I had to be committed as I was becoming a danger to myself and others. I was admitted into hospital and treated with electronic shock therapy for three months. Philippa trained the nurses and doctors to deal with my unique case of depression and blindness, which helped a lot. I became better, and decided to give Henshaws a try.
It was a breakthrough. On my first day at Henshaws I loved how everyone was so committed to helping me. I underwent the Skillstep course, which simply left me astounded, as I never believed I could use a computer again. Thanks to Philippa and Henshaws I am now able to take up my love for computers and surfing the Internet again using specialist screen reading software. What I enjoyed most about Henshaws was their dedication in treating me as an individual and I feel very fortunate to have discovered them.
My Henshaws journey has been a short but life-changing one. I now have so much newfound enthusiasm for living that I don’t feel like my blindness can hold me back anymore. Of course I still have days where I miss seeing my wife’s face or am disappointed that I won’t see the world the way I should, but it hasn’t stopped me from loving every minute of life.
With my new skills I decided to set up my own business called G Wizz Couriers, acting as freight forwarders to collect parcels and deliver them around the world. I don’t believe anything is impossible now; my ambition is to become a millionaire so that I can be a source of inspiration to others and show that it can be done. It might not happen, but that doesn’t matter. After all, it’s the journey that counts. And you never know if you keep aiming high in life one day you might just get there.
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What Skillstep Can Do for You…
Before Henshaws became part of my life, I was a very different person.
I have been visually impaired from birth in that my eyes cannot focus on any object, and I am also severely short sighted.
This meant I grew up feeling like I wasn’t worth anything. Sometimes I felt like the loneliest boy in school. And then one day, as I was walking home from school, I was run over by a car at a zebra crossing because I couldn’t see it. As if things weren’t bad enough, I now had to deal with walking difficulties and memory loss, as well as severe scarring on my body.
It destroyed any confidence or self-esteem I had left about myself. I was convinced that I wouldn’t achieve anything with my life. As the years went on I became severely depressed, and was taking medication just to cope with every day life.
The turning point came when I met someone who gave me contact details for Henshaws. I used to attend a sight service at my local hospital in Gateshead, but I wasn’t aware of any service out there that offered practical help as well as emotional help and guidance. Making that first call was incredibly difficult, but when I spoke to Philippa, the Skillstep co-ordinator, she immediately made me feel at ease. Philippa got me onto the Skillstep course in Newcastle, and since then, I’ve never looked back.
The thing that I loved most about Henshaws was the way the staff were so friendly and helpful, I knew I could contact them at any time if I needed to. Also, it was comforting to meet people like myself and know that I was not alone in my condition. But it was when I met people who were totally blind and yet so positive that I realised I was the lucky one, and that if they could be so happy and content with life then so could I.
I decided that I wanted to get back into work. Henshaws supported me every step of the way, and even helped to find placements suitable to my needs. They got me onto a charity called Acorn Computing, where I refurbish and recycle outdated computers. I have now been kept on as a permanent volunteer, and am absolutely thrilled. For the first time in eight years, I came off my antidepressants, a big achievement for me. My confidence has increased massively; and I have no doubt that it was all down to Henshaws.
Thanks to Henshaws I’ve realised that here is help out there; you just have to be brave enough to ask for it.
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Take Part in the Great North Swim
We're looking for people to take part in the Great North Swim this year to raise money for Henshaws. The event will take place in Lake Windermere on the 18th and 19th June 2011 and the swim entry fee is £37. We ask that you raise at least £150 (but of course we'd be delighted with anything more).
The Great North Swim is the UK’s biggest swimming event. You can experience the thrill of a 1 mile open-water outdoor swim, safe in the knowledge that expert kayakers and safety boats are with you every stroke of the way.
For further information click here to download our flyer.
To join Team Henshaws, click here for an application form.
You can contact Hannah Saxon in our Fundraising Team on (01423) 814501 or email hannah.saxon@henshaws.org.uk
If you already have a place, but you would like to raise money for Henshaws, get in touch and we will send you a fundraising pack and a snazzy orange t-shirt!
Good luck!
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Greggs Foundation funds adventure holiday for children
We were delighted to find out that our bid for £2000 to the Greggs Foundation was successful and we were able to take 8 children on a three-day holiday to the Calvert Trust activity centre in Kielder.
Activities were arranged by the Calvert trust for the children to participate in, including Canoeing; zip slide/indoor wall climbing; the Velcro Olympics and the King Swing, a swing that can be raised to around 10 metres in the air and its descent controlled by the individuals on it, the favourite activity by far! Each activity aimed to improve confidence and independence in a fun yet challenging way. 
The children, four from Newcastle and four from South Tyneside have all been part of our Children and Families Service, which provides support to families where a child or parent is blind or visually impaired.
For some children this was their first trip without their parents or carers, which added a new dimension to their development of independence and confidence. With the support of the excellent staff from the Calvert Trust, the children were able to tackle the activities, which for some had never before been attempted, and all felt they had triumphed by being able to scale an indoor wall or boulder or man a canoe on their own or as part of a team. As well as physical achievements, the children also developed essential skills in managing their free time and maintaining friendships.
Alex Woods aged 7 said ‘I have enjoyed coming to the Calvert Trust and taking part in activities, I feel proud of myself and the others’.
The whole experience has been one that everyone is eager to repeat and Emma Croft, Support Officer here at Henshaws said ‘The trip to the Calvert Trust has been fantastic, not only have the children had a unique and exciting break, but have gained confidence and built upon their independence in a safe and secure environment, our thanks to the Calvert Trust and to the Greggs Foundation for making this trip possible’
Visit http://www.calvert-trust.org.uk/ for more info on the Calvert Trust.
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We get in the festive spirit with a trip to the panto!
Our Children's services in Newcastle got in the festive spirit this week and took 20 children to see Robin Hood at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday 1st December. Families who use the charity’s services had a great evening out and thoroughly enjoyed the performance, which starred Coronation Street’s Tupele Dorgu as The Sorceress and the North East's own Chris Hayward as Nurse Rita. The children also had the opportunity to go backstage and meet the cast of the pantomime after the show, including Danny Potts and Phil Corbitt, who played the Henchman with the Sherriff of Nottingham and has starred in Emmerdale.
Henshaws get in the festive spirit with a trip to see Robin Hood in pantomime
Robin Hood runs at the Theatre Royal until Saturday 15th January.
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Henshaws trip to Disney on Ice
Churchill Community College supports Henshaws trip to Disney on Ice
The generosity of the pupils at Churchill Community College enabled Henshaws to arrange for fifteen visually impaired children to go on a magical trip to see Disney on Ice – 100 Years of Magic, at the Metro Radio Arena on 7th October.
Ashleigh Slavin, Children and Family support worker for Henshaws said: “We continue to enjoy the excellent support provided by Churchill Community College, which enables us to provide such wonderful opportunities for visually impaired children who come from all areas of the north east. The children were absolutely thrilled by the show and we had a fabulous day.”
As well as attending the show, the children also had an exclusive meet and greet with the Disney characters themselves!
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Eyesight – fact and myth – the carrot is it really good for your eyesight
Eyesight – fact and myth – Do carrots really improve your eyesight and help you see in the dark?
We’ve all heard that one before, from our parents when we wouldn’t eat our greens at the dinner table, at school when our lunch didn’t look especially appetising (in the days before Jamie Oliver of course), or from the friend whose been converted into a health fanatic over night.
But is it true?
Well … no. Eating carrots won’t improve your eyesight, nor will they correct any existing problems with your vision, but they most definitely do a great deal to help protect your eyes and your general health. Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, which is a precursor for Vitamin A which prevents night blindness and helps maintain a healthy, clear cornea.
This can be vital to good eye health for those who are unusually deficient in vitamin A and sadly in Africa, and elsewhere in the developing world, many thousands of children lose their sight every year because of vitamin A deficiency.
Carrots also contain lutein, which is an antioxidant. Lutein increases pigment density in the macula, the oval-shaped yellow spot near the centre of the retina. This helps protect your retina, and lowers your risk of macular degeneration.
So why then are so many of us convinced that munching on a carrot not only gives us super eyesight but also let us see in the dark?
Well, to answer that we have to go back to the dark days of 1940, when the the common British carrot did its bit to defend the nation and helped us win the Battle of Britain. When the Luftwaffe's first switched its bombing campaign form mass daylight raids to night attacks in the late summer of 1940, comparatively few of their bombers were lost. But, as the night Blitz over Britain intensified there was a sudden sharp increase in the number of German bombers being shot down.
Rumours began to circulate that the Royal Air Force had put our night fighter pilots on a special ‘carrot rich’ diet, designed to load them up on Vitamin A, which it was claimed the boffins had said would radically improve their night vision. Soon these stories began to appear in the press and men like the extraordinary Flight Lieutenant John “Cats Eyes” Cunningham (who brought down 20 German bombers) were said to be so effective at flying at night because their high consumption of carrots had sharpened their night vision.
In fact these stories were complete fabrications and British Intelligence had deliberately circulated the rumours in a bid to prevent the Germans from guessing the real reasons for the dramatic increase in the rate at which their bombers were being shot down. Early in 1941 the RAF began to introduce revolutionary new technology to the battle in the night skies over Britain. Night fighters were equipped with new airborne radar systems that allowed the RAF pilots to pinpoint unsuspecting enemy bombers with lethal accuracy. This was combined with the use of new red light instruments in their aircraft, which did not temporarily destroy night vision in the way that normal white light did.
Unfortunately once the war was won no one in government thought to come clean about use to which the carrot had been put in the propaganda war, and thus the urban legend that carrots improve your night vision became firmly embedded in the national pysche.
Indeed the disinformation campaign was so persuasive that the British public started eating more carrots so they could find their way around more easily at night during the blackouts. Thus the government was able to effectively use glut of carrots and vegetables that the Dig for Victory campaign had produced to help keep the nation healthy and fed. Indeed throughout the war Ministry of Agriculture promoted carrots heavily as a substitute for other more scarce vegetables and as a sweetener in desserts in the absence of sugar, which was rationed to 8 ounces per adult per week.
Recipes for such delights as such as carrot curry, carrot jam, carrot marmalade and toffee carrots were circulated by the Ministry of Food. A homemade drink called Carrolade, made up from the juices of carrots and Swede grated and squeezed through a piece of muslin appeared and there was even a recipe for a carrot Christmas pudding!
The humble carrot, previously thought to be only good for animal feed had been completely rehabilitated and swiftly earned a place as one of the nations favourite vegetables.
And there is good news for those of you who just won’t eat your carrots (and shame on you!). Sweet potatoes, pumpkins, mangoes and apricots are also rich sources of beta-carotene and Lutein can also be found in spinach, kale and Swiss Chard. The body also gets vitamin A from everyday foods like green vegetables, eggs, milk, cheese and liver.
So there you have it ladies and gentlemen … the humble carrot … it may not help you see more clearly in the dark, but it will improve your eye health … and when it came to the crunch, (the carrot crunch you might say) it did its bit to help our country in it’s finest hour.
Hurrah for the great British carrot … we at Henshaws salute you!
(Check out our facebook page to see an album of wartime carrot related images! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Henshaws-Society-for-Blind-People/39303479566#!/album.php?aid=160868&id=39303479566 )
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It's a small world for Skillsteppers
Henshaws – July 2010
It’s a small world … a phrase often quoted, and last week Phil Craven, a prospective Skillstep graduate from Henshaws North East, was given a reminder of just how small it can be.
Phil is undertaking a Henshaws 10 week Skillstep course, learning new vocational and ICT skills and increasing his employment prospects by enhancing not only his own, and his course mates, personal and social development.
As part of the programme a series of voluntary guest speakers kindly give up their time to facilitate a small group session with the current Skillsteppers, sharing information regarding their own experiences, providing insights into the world of work or further education, signposting to new services and generally enriching the Skillstep experience.
On the day in question, a lady called Ann Ruddick was the guest speaker. The session covered topics such as useful tips to help with personal independence, learning how to deal with negativity and identifying and sharing the group’s positive experiences.
After a positive and productive couple of hours, and a nice little natter over tea and biscuits, there was a moment of recognition between Ann, who has no sight, and Phil who is partially sighted.
Phil’s years as a pupil at the Royal Victoria School in Newcastle for children with Visual Impairment suddenly came back to him. And at the same time Ann, who had taught at the school, realised that Phil had in fact been one of her pupils, some 30 years earlier!
We are pleased to report that Phil was remembered for his good nature and exemplary behaviour, attributes he demonstrated he still possessed by escorting his former teacher to her waiting taxi.
Just goes to show, it is a small world after all!
For more information about Skillstep in the North East contact:
Newcastle Centre
Room 25, Heaton Complex, Trewhitt Road, Newcastle, NE6 5DY
0191 275 9417
0191 265 3132 (fax)
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Barbour Trust supports Henshaws
Henshaws – July 2010
The Barbour Trust announced today that it is donating £1,500 towards Henshaws North East Children and Family Service.
David Mitchell, Chief Executive for Henshaws North East said: “This is great news, Barbour have been very supportive of our work in the North East for a number of years and its wonderful to benefit from their commitment to improving the lives of people in the north east.
With the help of generous hearted companies like Barbour we’ve able to provide a number of services in the community, ranging from our Skillstep to Success course, our community housing program and the rehabilitation services we provide to local blind and visually impaired people.”
The Barbour Trust was formed in 1988, when the Chairman of Barbour, Dame Margaret Barbour and her immediate family, donated approximately 20% of the shares in Barbour to the newly registered charity. The whole of the income of the trust, is distributed to charities and funds within the areas of Tyneside, the Border region of Scotland and other national and international charities for the benefit of the communities within which Barbour works and has associations.
For more information on the Barbour Trust visit: http://www.barbour.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.view&CategoryId=4&ContentID=128&SearchTerm=Barbour%20trust
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Stars of the small screen
We've just lauched a Henshaws YouTube channel – Henshaws1837 – so you can watch videos and films all about our work.
Take a look at our film about Henshaws Yorkshire… or see our Community Fundraiser, James, talking about our involvement in the Manchester Evening News's Christmas toy appeal.
We'll be regularly updating the site with new videos – and you can subscribe to the channel so you don't miss a thing.
Our YouTube videos are also linked to our Facebook fan page, so if you haven't done so already, become a fan today!
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Do you need VIAT?
Phillip Ward from Stockton is a former Skillstep student, who travelled for an hour and a half to attend the specialist course last year. After 10 weeks of travelling there independently, Phillip had an experience that highlights a real need for Henshaws’ visual impairment awareness training…
Phillip says, “I’m used to it, but travelling to Newcastle for the last day of my course, it seemed everyone I came across wanted to help me!
Getting off the bus, two people grabbed me to help. They held my arms so tightly I couldn’t use my cane properly and I nearly fell off the bus! I broke free from their grip and started following the wall to the bus station, aware that there were pillars to contend with. Before I got to the first one, a man dragged me away from the wall and insisted on guiding me past the rest of the pillars.
A woman started telling me how “remarkable” I was before a group of people started shouting directions to me despite not knowing which way I wanted to go. Then I heard another voice, “You’re at a crossing, do you want some help?” They too insisted on walking me to Henshaws.
About 15 people tried to help that day. I really don’t mind if people offer assistance, but when they insist on helping without asking it actually hinders my progress. They have good intentions, so when you refuse help they think you’re being ungrateful.
I lost my sight 12 years ago, but it hasn’t stopped my success in life. I work as the Activities Volunteer Coordinator for Stockton Blind Voice. I’m also a Trustee of Blind Voice UK. I do all this, but strangers still approach me and ask ‘Why haven’t you got a carer?’”
Henshaws’ Skillstep Coordinator Philippa Taylor says: “Many blind and visually impaired people tell us similar stories. At Henshaws we run a visual impairment awareness course, busting myths about sight loss, and give practical advice on approaching and guiding someone with sight loss.”
For more information on VIAT please contact 0191 275 9417 or newcastle@henshaws.org.uk
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P-p-pick up a rare penquin!
GO PENGUINS online auction
This is a unique opportunity to pick up a rare penguin – and raise money for Henshaws too!
Wednesday 3rd – Friday 5th February
Preview and bid online at www.gopenguins.co.uk
Or preview the penguins in person at St George's Hall, Liverpool
Wednesday 3 February 8.30am – 8.00pm (closed 12.00 – 2.00pm)
Thursday 4 February 8.30am – 8.00pm
After the sensational success of Liverpool's 'Go Penguins' open art event, around 70 of the penguins are due to go to online charity auction.
Henshaws Fundraiser, Nikki Andrews says, “We're so excited and grateful to be one of the few charities to benefit from this unique auction. I would urge all art lovers out there to seize this one-off opportunity to own a piece of inimitable penquin art, and raise cash for charity too!”
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Challenge yourself in 2010
Why not do something exhilarating for Henshaws in 2010?
On Saturday 13 March 2010 we are inviting brave participants to take part in a 10,000 feet free fall parachute jump at Peterlee Parachute Centre, County Durham.
We'll have a group of parachuters from our North East area and also from North Yorkshire coming up for the event.
You will need to pay a registration fee and commit to raising a level of sponsorship.
The costs of the jump will be taken from the sponsorship raised, and the money raised will go towards Henshaws Children and Families Services. Our fundraising team can support you with your fundraising efforts. Have a look at our top tips here on the website.
To find out more about fees and sponsorship, contact our fundraiser in your local area.
North East – Margaret Musgrave, margaret.musgrave@henshaws.org.uk, 0191 275 9417
Yorkshire – Viki Nixon, victoria.nixon@henshaws.org.uk, 01423 814 500
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School choirs raise £1k!
School children from eight local primary schools have raised over £1000 for Henshaws.
Throughout last week, school choirs came down to Newcastle’s Monument Mall to entertain shoppers and raise cash for the charity.
Delighted passers-by enjoyed entertainment from traditional Christmas carols and readings to performances of new Christmas songs and tales!
Henshaws’ Regional Fundraiser Margaret Musgrave said, “Given how tough it is for everyone at the moment, we thought we wouldn’t raise as much as we did last year. But with eight fantastic school choirs, our volunteers and some very generous shoppers we raised a phenomenal amount of money. I’d like to say a big thank you to them all.”
Across the week, our dedicated volunteers collected £1,040.65 from the generous shoppers of Newcastle while the children sang. The volunteers included Cath Scurfield, 90, and Geoff McIntosh who helped out every day in his Santa hat and beard!
The schools that performed across the week were: Thomas Walling, Ravenswood, St. George's RC, St. Paul's CE, Wingrove, English Martyrs RC, Beech Hill and Byker Primary School.
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Medical advances
Sky News has reported a pioneering technique that kills abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eye that cause macular degeneration.
The new treatment – called brachytherapy – needs just a single trip to hospital.
Tim Jackson, consultant eye surgeon at Kings College Hospital in London is coordinating a trial on 363 patients at 15 hospitals around the country.
The Manchester Evening News reports that three patients at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital are taking part in a worldwide trial of a revolutionary 'bionic' eye.
The 'eye' uses a camera mounted on a pair of glasses to send wireless signals direct to the nerves which control sight. The implant is developed by American company Second Sight, and is designed to help people who have lost vision due to advanced retinitis pigmentosa. It aims to restore a basic level of useful vision, in the form of shades of light and dark.
For more information, click on the links below to visit the original news stories:
Read the Manchester Evening News story
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Take a leap of faith
Jumping from a plane nearly 10,000 feet from the ground… It's an experience like no other – and we're looking for adventerous volunteers to do it for Henshaws.
You'll do the full training and skydive in one day. Securely strapped to a professional instructor, you'll jump from the aircraft at 10,000 feet and experience an unforgettable 120mph freefall…
You don't need any experience – just loads of money in sponsorship and a bit of courage! And, if you raise enough in sponsorship, you get to jump for free!
If you would like to take the plunge, call Margaret on 0191 275 9417 or email margaret.musgrave@henshaws.org.uk – we will send you a full information pack and everything you need to take part in the experience of a lifetime.
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Carols in the Mall
School children across the city are set to sing their hearts out for Henshaws at Newcastle's Monument Mall.
From Monday 30th November - Friday 4th December between 11am – 12pm and 2pm - 3pm they'll be singing popular carols to raise money for visually impaired people in Newcastle.
We're also looking for more volunteers to help shake collection buckets - if you can spare any time to help, please contact Margaret on 0191 275 9417 or email margaret.musgrave@henshaws.org.uk
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Shake your buckets!
Thursday 8 October is World Sight Day – and we’re lucky enough to have a street collection in Newcastle Upon Tyne City Centre between 10:00 – 16:00.
It’s also our Wear Bright for Sight Day – so if you fancy getting dressed up in your brightest, craziest attire all the better! Remember, the sillier you look, the more likely people are to donate.
If you can spare anything from an hour to the whole day, please get in touch. We want to make it a day to remember – all funds raised will help support blind and visually impaired children and adults right here in the North East.
Volunteers must be over 16 years of age.
For more information contact Margaret Musgrave on 0191 2759417 or margaret.musgrave@henshaws.org.uk
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Bright for World Sight Day
Wear Bright for Sight is Henshaws most fun filled and outrageous sponsored event – so why not get involved this World Sight Day (8 October 2009)
Get your workplace, school, college, pre-school or family and friends involved – or just do it on your own – and we can help you with organising your day, press and sponsorship.
Let’s face it, the 8 October is bound to be a grey day outdoors – so why not add some colour and help a very worthy charity to boot!
For more information contact Margaret Musgrave on 0191 2759417 or margaret.musgrave@henshaws.org.uk
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We've moved!
Henshaws North East is now all under one roof – at the Heaton Complex on Trewhitt Road in the east end of Newcastle.
The new centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm.
You can drop in to find out about our activities, use our facilities or get involved with volunteering or fundraising.
You can find out more about our centre here on the website. Contact details and a location map can be found on our regional contact page.
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