Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter,
bringing you up to date with news and information

Please let us know if you’d like your information in an audio or Braille format. We’ve been working closely with Garth Prison to produce booklets and recipe books in Braille for people. Please do let Kevin Lonergan know if you are a Braille reader as they may be able to help you.

Our Heritage

As part of the Heritage Lottery project, Galloway’s would like to invite you on Tuesday September 25th when Howick House steps back in time to VE day 1945 and celebrates the role played by blind and visually impaired people in the 2nd World War. During the war years Howick House served as the HQ of the Home Guard. Blind and visually impaired people, whilst not able to fight, made significant contributions working at the Society’s Workshops or being involved in concerts entertaining the troops at many of the local bases.

The day starts at 11am and you are welcome to join us at any time, but you may be challenged to produce your ration book to get some Hot Pot. There will be displays of War time memorabilia and prizes for the best period dress. Remember “Careless Talk Costs Lives”, but in this case, please tell your friends!!

Sight Advice Day - Thursday 15th November

Galloway’s would like to invite you to our next Sight Advice Day which will be held at the Preston Minster, Church Street in Preston between 10am and 4.00pm on Thursday 15th November. These events are always popular. If you need help to manage everyday tasks, then you may find the day helpful. We hope you will be able to join us.

Concerts - Book your seats early!!

Come and join us at either of our two concerts. The first is being organised by Chorley Building Society. They have chosen Galloway’s as their charity of the year and organised a Last Night of the Proms concert which takes place at Chorley Town Hall on Saturday 24th November.

The second is our annual Christmas concert at St Mary’s Hall in Chorley and led by the popular Leyland Parish Band on Friday 14th December. Please contact Linda at Howick House on 01772 744148 or Christine at Chorley 01257 275160 to book your tickets.

Keep up to date

We know from the letters and phone calls we receive that the tapes and talking newspapers produced by Galloway’s are much appreciated. Over 3500 tapes and CDs are recorded each week from our 3 studios involving around 200 volunteers. Galloway’s also organise holidays, courses and trips out and much more. Our monthly Lancashire Eye magazine is available on tape or CD and keeps you up to date with what’s on. We also have a talking book catalogue and extensive tape list. Radio cassette machines can be issued to you, free of charge. For further details concerning our Social Centres, activities and interest groups, please phone the Society on 01772 744148

Please contact Paul on 01772 753705 should you like to receive any of the tapes, or find out more about the service in general.

Morecambe and North Lancashire

The Galloway’s Community Choir is held at the Morecambe Centre on Monday afternoons for sighted and visually impaired people together. The Tenpin Bowling Group meets fortnightly on Monday mornings at Morecambe Superbowl, 10.30 a.m. Gentle Exercise will start on Wednesday, 12th September, alternating with Craft. The History Group will start again on Tuesay, 18th September. Microwave Cookery has yet to be confirmed for Wednesday mornings. Phone the Centre to Register your interest. Transport is available for most of the above. Social Afternoons are also held at Lancaster and Over Kellett on Wednesdays and on a Friday at the Morecambe Centre.

Advice and Information

Advice, information and equipment is available from Galloway’s. Visit the Sight Advice Centre to look at items of equipment. You may wish to request a copy of our Talking Book Catalogue. The weekly programme gives the interest groups at the Centre. Ask for list of newspapers, church publications and magazines. These services are available, we are only a phone call away. In order to keep fully informed with what is going on, request our “Lancashire Eye” monthly tape, also available on CD.

Refuse Collections

You can now get your refuse collection calendar either in large print or in Braille and there are also signs available for your bins. We would like you to take advantage of this new service. Phone Abi at the City Council on 01524 582475.

Hospital Support Worker

Audio Described Performances at the Duke’s Theatre

• 5th October – “Jane Bond”
• 26th October – “An Inspector Calls”
• 14th December – “The Twits”

Holidays, Courses and Trips Out

• November 5th/7th – Open Doors, Lancashire College, Chorley - Phone Lorraine Richardson 01257 516303
• November 9th – Oswaldtwistle Mill, including Lunch, £16.95
• December 3rd/7th – Turkey & Tinsel Holiday, Llandudno – £185.00 – Contact Maddie, 01772 753704
• December 10th – Lunch and entertainment at the Poachers, Cleveleys, £15.95

Welcome Information Days

Forthcoming Fund-Raising Events

• Sunday, 28th October, Book and Audio Sale, Morecambe Centre
• Saturday, 3rd November, Autumn Fayre, Morecambe Centre

For anyone living in our Morecambe and North Lancashire areas please contact:

Tony Kimpton, Development Officer
Galloways Society for the Blind
Morecambe Centre, 91 Balmoral Road,
Morecambe, Lancs. LA3 1SS
Tel: (01524) 414846
email gallowaysmorecambey@tiscali.co.uk

Chorley and West Lancashire

As you may know, Dorothy Crean our Development Worker at Chorley decided to retire earlier this year after 33 years service with the Society. We are pleased to report that Dorothy’s involvement with Galloway’s still continues as in recognition of her service and experience she has now been appointed as a Trustee of the Charity. Due to the growth of the work in and around Chorley, the Trustees took the decision to make the position full time and we are pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Crankshaw to the position of development worker for the Chorley and district area.

Christine lives in Chorley and has considerable experience working in the voluntary sector, she can be contacted at the office at Crown Street and is looking forward to hearing from you as to the kind of services and activities you would like to see developed. Christine’s new email address at Chorley is gallowayschorley@tiscali.co.uk

Christine’s already been busy making many new contacts and is hoping to recruit volunteers to help develop additional services. One of her main responsibilities will be to develop plans for a new purpose built centre for the area’s 750+ visually impaired people.

Sight Advice Centre - Now for the bad news

Amazingly, our plans for the new Centre have again been thwarted at the 11th hour. We had agreed the purchase of a piece of land in Water Street, negotiations had been proceeding well with the vendors allowing our agents access to undertake surveys and produce plans for the new building. The sale was proceeding without any problem until two weeks ago ‘out of the blue’ our Solicitor was asked to return the contract as the land had been sold to another party. This, we are told is very unprofessional conduct on behalf of the vendors agents, we are presently taking advice regarding our position, as is it disappointing and expensive to be have been gazumped at this late stage, especially as we were not even given any opportunity to increase our bid had someone come with a better offer.

In addition to the expense involved, this set back also means that we will miss the September deadline set to apply for funding for the new building. Over the past two year Galloway’s had been working with a Charitable Trust who were interested in making a sizable contribution to the new development. Consequently, we had just completed the finishing touches to a bid for £350,000 which would have allowed us to start work in early 2008. Now all these plans have been shattered as we find ourselves ‘back to square one’. Therefore the hunt is on again for premises or a development site within the town so we would again appeal for your help to get in touch if you know of any suitable sites within easy reach of the Town Centre. As you know, the activities and events we can hold at Crown Street are limited due to problems with the building and we are really on borrowed time.

And now for some better News

Chorley Street Collection breaks all records

Thank you to all who turned out and helped with our Street Collection in Chorley on Saturday August 11th a fantastic £720.51 was raised. Takings were boosted by the presence of Foxley the Chorley Building Society Mascot and a Rally Car which several local lads are using to take part in the annual ‘Ramshackle Rally’ to raise funds for Galloway’s.

Chorley Building Society

We are delighted that the Chorley Building Society have adopted Galloway’s as their Charity for the year and will soon be launching a Galloway’s affinity account which whilst giving a good rate on your savings will support Galloway’s at the same time, but more of this in our next Newsletter. In the meantime, please make a note of Saturday November 24th as the date for the Society’s ‘Last Night of the Proms’ event at Chorley Town Hall. Tickets will be available from Galloway’s or any of the Building Society Branches.

For anyone living in our Chorley and West Lancashire areas please contact:

Christine Crankshaw, Development Officer
Galloways Society for the Blind
Chorley Centre, 8 Crown Street,
Chorley, Lancs, PR7 1DX
Tel: (01257) 275160
gallowayschorley@tiscali.co.uk

Easy Readers

The Easy Reader machine plugs in to your TV and enables you to enlarge the print from basic items like Bank Statements, letters and even the instructions on Medication. The equipment costs around £300 but Galloway’s can loan one to you for £20 per year. Contact Kevin on 01772 753702 for further details.

Welcome Information Days?

Each month we hold a day to welcome members to the Society and explain how the Society helps; from financial entitlements to specialist equipment to ways of making things easier to making new friends. The days are friendly and popular and for many it’s the start of getting involved with a range of activities. Please get in touch if you would like to join us on one of the days.

Low Energy Bulbs

We’ve still a few packs of Low Energy Bulbs left. The bulbs are free of charge and come in packs of 2 60w and 2 100w. They use around one fifth of the electricity of conventional bulbs and as well as saving energy will help to reduce your electricity bill.

Trolley Token!

Galloway’s have a limited edition trolley token which you can put in your supermarket trolley. Give Linda a call if you’d like to buy one.

Standing Order

Many people like to make occasional donations to Galloway’s and in our 140th year we have set ourselves the target of finding 140 people to make donations by standing order. If you would like to support us in this way please ask for a standing order form and return it to us. You choose the frequency of the donation and the amount. Naturally, we’re always grateful for any contributions to keep our service running.

Free Will Making Service

Should you wish to make a Will, Galloway’s runs a free will-making service with Solicitors throughout the district. The Society has to rely on public contributions and Legacy income in order to continue its work with local blind people.

Christmas Cards

We hope you will continue to support us by purchasing your Christmas cards through Galloway’s. Each card purchased helps the Charity and brings our name to the attention of friends and family.

Grand Raffle

2008 Large Print Calendars

These are now available alongside our normal calendar, at a cost of £2 each. The calendar includes space for you to write appointments. They make good gifts, so make a note to order yours now!!! We also stock easy to see pocket and desk diaries.

Free Easy Reader

Enhanced Vision are one of the country’s leading suppliers of specialist low vision equipment and have kindly donated a Max Mouse Reader for us to raffle. Telephone Linda at Galloway’s to put your name in the raffle to win the Max Mouse.

Please Remember...

Galloway’s is your local Charity and we can only continue to provide our services with your support. Whilst this newsletter gives some general news, it is well worth getting in touch with us to find out what’s happening in your local area. You may be surprised at what we get up to in your district.

Galloway's Society for the Blind
Howick House, Howick Park Avenue
Penwortham, Preston, PR1 0LS
Tel: 01772 744148
email: enquiries@galloways.org.uk.