Good News For Blind & Visually Impaired People In Southport.

THE Henshaws Society for Blind People has appointed an IT trainer to deliver a pioneering specialist training programme for blind and visually impaired people in Southport.

Neil joins Henshaws over four years as a Learning Resource Advisor at Liverpool Community College is now aged 29. He dealt with access technology for blind and visually impaired people so that made him the man for the job that will see him working with more than 40 blind and visually impaired people at the Southport Blind Aid Society in Wright Street. 

The specialist training programme will allow attendees to gain the vital IT skills needed to return to work, or simply to use email to contact friends and family abroad.

Neil said:- “I’m delighted to be working on this innovative project, teaching IT to blind and visually impaired people of all ages across Merseyside. The course aims to build both skills and confidence as well as provide a lifeline to the outside world, thereby removing barriers to social inclusion which so many visually impaired people face on a day to day basis.”

The Barclays-funded initiative reinforces Henshaws commitment to supporting blind and visually impaired people across the north of England and Paula Kirk, Regional Director for Henshaws in Merseyside said:- “With the tremendous support from the Barclays Community Fund we are now in a position to take this essential basic training a step further. We welcome Neil to the team and hope that he has great success in his new role.”

The Southport Centre in Norwood Road, run by Henshaws, provides residential care for 43 visually impaired people aged 19 and over in comfortably furnished self-contained flatlets.

For more information about Henshaws visit the next-generation website at www.hsbp.co.uk, a first in online accessibility. Neil Kynaston joins Henshaws on Merseyside as IT trainer for blind and visually impaired people.

That was not the only good news this week dor the center as it received a £400 donation from the Dulux Decorator Centre on Kensington Industrial Park in Southport to help it redecorate its residents’ living quarters.

As well as paint, the donation included a copy of Dulux Trade’s “Colour and Contrast” CD, which provides guidance on choosing colour schemes for people with sight loss.

The Centre manager Lesley Colby said: “We’re very grateful to Dulux Decorator Centres for their donation, which has helped us to transform the bathrooms into bright cheerful places. We have used fish collages to brighten the rooms, and the residents and staff are really pleased with the finished result!”

Manager of the Southport Dulux Decorator Centre Paul Touhey said:- “We’re delighted to help Henshaws brighten up the surroundings for their clients. This is the second donation the store has made to local community projects through our ‘Colouring the Community’ programme since we opened in March. “But we are still on the look out for more projects to support in Southport, so please get in touch if you would like to nominate a worthwhile initiative for an award. Colouring the Community.” This was part of a nationwide scheme run by Dulux Decorator Centres, and involves local stores donating paint and decorating equipment to transform charities, schools and other community buildings. 

To apply, speak to your local store manager, or write to:- Colouring the Community, c/o Rachel Bloomer, Dulux Decorator Centres, Manchester Road, Altrincham, WA14 5TG.

BRINGING LEARNING TO LIFE IN CLASSIER CLASSROOMS

60,000 CHILDREN in the UK will plant in the grounds of their schools this November and pupils from schools all over Merseyside will be part of the Woodland Trust’s children’s tree planting campaign, "Tree For All". 

The Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, offered 1,000 “hedge and copse packs” to primary schools for autumn, making the the UK’s largest ever children’s tree planting 

The campaign provides 1 million children with the chance to plant 12 million trees, that’s nearly one tree for every child under the age of sixteen.

Each hedge and hazel copse pack has instructions on how to plant and care for the trees, worksheets to help children learn about the trees they are planting and teacher’s notes on the exercises.

All 1,000 hedge and copse packs for autumn have been snapped up by schools, but there are still packs available for spring planting. Interested schools should contact the Woodland Trust before 31 December 2004. For more information please visit www.woodland-trust.org.uk/hedge.

The autumn packs, which contain 30 small native trees, will be sent out to the schools in advance of Tree For All Weekend (18 to 23 November) during which thousands of trees will be planted at sites all over the UK.

Planting and using a hedge or hazel copse can contribute to Key Stage 2 in science, numeracy, literacy and art and design, giving school children “living classrooms”, which they will learn from and enjoy for years to come. 

Since the middle of the 20th century, 190,000 km of hedgerow has been destroyed and the loss of them has been shown to have had a high impact on the loss of wildlife.

Celebrity supporter Ray Mears realises the importance of giving something back to the planet. He says:- “This will encourage children to get out in the fresh air and plant trees and hedges that will grow and provide homes for animals, insects and birds. We need a new generation to grow up and love nature, to care about its future and act on its behalf.”

With care and attention, the trees planted this November will be growing on well into the next century, when the children’s grandchildren will be able to inspect their handiwork.

The Woodland Trust’s "Tree For All" campaign is encouraging people all over the UK to plant trees. For further informatiaon about planting events in your area please visit www.treeforall.org.uk/GetDigging.

Letters to Editor, "Trace my pal please..."

Ken Campbell (Ex Cpl)"

Email Us Your News Now