The magazine for staff of the RNIB group of charities

Engage Issue 11 March 2016

Legacy receptions

‘See and plan’ campaign

RNIB Life store

Welcome

Welcome to the March issue of your staff magazine where Colin Whitbourn, Director of Partnership talks about partnership working, which is an integral part of the Customer Change Programme and recent developments to make a difference at both a local and national level.

Find out more about the exciting plans to create a new hub in Judd Street that will put people first with plans for a relaxing café experience for customers, an events space, a shop with live product demonstrations and the opportunity to learn and a working studio to include live broadcasts.

You can also get an important update on our campaign to protect Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and our rehab campaign calling for all local authorities in England to ‘See the plan’ within 28 days.

Best wishes,Steve GriffinEditor, Engage

Volunteer to be part of our Cheer Squad for the London MarathonSunday 24 April is your chance to be part of our fantastic cheering squad for the Virgin London Marathon (no running involved!). All we ask is you volunteer a couple of hours on the day and give the runners an extra boost. Our runners have been training hard and raising valuable funds for the work we do supporting people with sight loss.

Please bring with you lots of enthusiasm, smiles and a good set of lungs for cheering. It would be fantastic if you could also bring friends and family with you.

We’ve two cheering points at mile 12 and 22 (Tower Hill and Shadwell). It would be fantastic if you’d like to be part of the UK’s largest fundraising event and support RNIB runners. We’ll ensure you’re fully equipped for the day!

Email internalcommunications@rnib.org.uk or call 020 7874 1369 to discuss your ideas for Engage magazine.

Please email events@rnib.org.uk with your details and any requirements you have.

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London marathon

Dan’s marathon story: Life‑affirming and unforgettable experience “I ran the 2014 London Marathon as a co-runner with a lady called Agata, who is blind. We were paired up after Agata’s usual co-runner had become injured, just four weeks before race day. It was very little time to train for a marathon, particularly when co-running, as you need to become attuned to one another’s running styles and speeds.

“As Agata is based in Edinburgh and I’m in London, we only met for the first time, the night before the marathon. We were about to share one of the most exhausting experiences, both mental and physical, of our lives – shedding blood, sweat and tears – with a complete stranger... It turned out to be an incredible, life-affirming and unforgettable experience, for us both.

“As we ran, Agata and I were tethered and, at some points, held hands. I described the sights to her as we went along, which was challenging at times, as you do come across some strange things en route (such as a man dressed as Superwoman running hand in hand with a church steeple). Being able to share this incredible experience with someone else made it even more special.

“We ran all the way to mile 16, before run/walking the rest. Agata inspired me to complete the race. The way she rises above the daily challenges in her life, with grace and humour, is a constant inspiration to me. ‘Co-runner’ is a much more adequate term than ‘guide runner’, as we were a real partnership that day, supporting and encouraging one another.

“The London Marathon is the greatest running event on earth, but it’s so much more than just a race. It’s a rolling carnival of joy and hope that sweeps through London, breaking down barriers and bringing people together. What makes it particularly special is the camaraderie amongst the runners, willing each other on, and the constant encouragement from the crowds of supporters, from start to finish. By volunteering at the London Marathon, you would be a vital part of something really special.”

Agata and Dan

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Campaigns

See and plan campaignAs you may recall, in November’s issue of Engage we highlighted the importance of vision impairment rehabilitation. This service provides crucial training and advice to blind and partially sighted people on how to maintain and live in their home safely, and how to negotiate the many obstacles and risks outside of their house.

We’ve launched the next stage of our campaign – ‘See and plan’ – and talk to Tara Chattaway, Campaigns Officer, Social Care to find out more.

Rehabilitation provides people with the skills and confidence they need to maximise independence, to access and participate in their community.

“ Long waits can mean that people are left to struggle on their own. They may give up work or stop the activities that they love to do”

Tara Chattaway, Campaigns Officer

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Campaigns

RNIB is calling for all local authorities in England to see and plan. Every person with a visual impairment must be seen and have a plan in place within 28 days of first contact with their council. No one should have to sit at home and put their lives on hold.

See: every person should be seen by someone who is experienced, knowledgeable and competent in understanding the difficulties that blind and partially sighted people can face.

Plan: every person should be seen, have an assessment and a plan in place within 28 days. A plan of action must be discussed, agreed and recorded. The plan should be tailored to reflect the level of support needed.

Our recent research shows people have to wait unacceptable amounts of time to receive support, and shockingly many people are simply not being referred on to the support they need. This is unacceptable. Long waits can mean people are left to struggle on their own. They may give up work or stop the activities they love to do, and can often become isolated at home.

We can report that 48 per cent of councils do not specify that visually impaired people must be assessed within 28 days from the point they first have contact with the local authority.

Local authorities that do not specify a 28 day timeframe for assessments, combined with only carrying out a general assessment have the lowest number of people in receipt of rehabilitation. One local authority reported that 88 people with a visual impairment had been in contact with the local authority between April and

November 2015, but only seven people were referred for a rehabilitation assessment. Another local authority reported that 251 had been in contact, but staggeringly only four people were referred for a rehabilitation assessment.

We will be engaging in a programme of work over the coming strategy year to ensure everyone in contact with their local authority is seen and has a plan within 28 days.

To read the full briefing and to find out more about the campaign please visit rnib.org.uk/rehabcampaign

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Life store

will bring together our support services alongside our product range into one seamless service.

As a team we’re passionate about delivering a new RNIB experience designed with the customer in mind. We want the design of RNIB Life store to become a model for all of our customer-facing sites and services so we’ve created a design which can be applied

This month work will begin to transform the ground floor of our office in Judd Street, London into a modern and accessible space that puts people at the heart of everything we do.

We’ve been working with our customers on some very exciting plans to create ‘RNIB Life store’ which will deliver a unique and rewarding experience for everyone who visits Judd Street. The RNIB Life store

Launching the RNIB Life storePutting people first in Judd Street…

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Life store

just as effectively in smaller spaces as well as our biggest office in London. We’re working closely with the Visibly Better team to ensure we create a welcoming and accessible space for all of our visitors and especially those with sight loss.

Surprisingly different…The project to create RNIB Life store has covered all aspects of the experience you have from the moment you walk through the door. We’re creating brand new areas that are friendly, warm and sociable to make sure people feel comfortable and at home.

We’re delighted to give you an exclusive preview of what the finished space might look like in this edition of Engage, although we’re still finalising plans with all the teams involved. The work will be carried out in phases, starting this month, and we hope to have completed it by September 2016. We’ll be working as hard as we can to keep disruption to a minimum but inevitably there will be some inconvenience during this huge transformation. We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.

We’re extremely excited about this project and the difference it will make for our customers and colleagues.

New areas that are being created include:• a relaxing café with fresh and

tasty products

• an events space for all types of events including fundraising

• private and semi-private areas for customers, visitors and staff

• a shop with products to test and opportunities to watch demos and find out more

• state-of-the-art broadcast studio.

If you’ve any comments or questions about the project, or would like to get involved email lifestore@rnib.org.uk

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We talk to Julia Barrand, who has been at RNIB for nearly 10 years and regularly presents at legacy receptions

My role has changed from a health and social care trainer to being the older people’s impact officer. My new role has involved working with the European Blind Union on a project empowering older people across Europe and my present project is to project manage the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) Clinical Priority for Eye Health.

I feel motivated to present at legacy receptions. The work we’re doing to train care staff, sensory teams and housing associations in sight loss is invaluable and Legacy Receptions are a great way to show our supporters just one of the ways their money is being spent. When I speak about eye conditions, I explain it in a way everyone will understand. Supporters have told me they never really understood what a cataract was – just that they had one and it may need to come out. I feel I can reassure supporters who already have worries about their eye conditions.

I talk about the main causes of sight loss. I put into context how the eye works and what happens to ageing eyes, as well

Legacy receptionsIn April, we’ll be hosting our first supporter reception of the year and we have been busy revitalising the programme to make these events even more engaging.

These invitation-only supporter receptions help us to promote the importance of people leaving a gift in their Will and help bring our work to life. Last year our Legacy income was a huge £33.5million, around a third of our total income. Our receptions play a vital role in showing supporters just how important legacies are in making sure our services continue.

They give us a unique opportunity to bring supporters and service users together, bringing to life their donations in very special venues. On the day, guests hear inspirational talks about RNIB and Action for Blind People.

We’re calling for staff to volunteer their time in delivering a presentation on their role and demonstrating the impact RNIB makes to the lives of people with sight loss.

Legacy receptions take place between April and October across the UK. View 2016 legacy calendar for receptions dates at rnib.org.uk/receptions

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Fundraising

as drawing on my own experience of dry AMD. I also talk about other eye conditions including wet AMD, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Finally, I talk about the importance of retinal screening and what the ophthalmologist is looking for. I’m always asked questions about eye health and living with sight loss after the reception, where I advise some people to go to eye clinics. I also present a series of booklets and RNIB products about making living with sight loss easier.

I love the atmosphere and enjoy time catching up with the Wills and Legacies Advisers. We all help set up the room to display products and publications. I usually help with registration as it’s lovely to have a quick chat with the attendees, as they’re waiting to come in. I always find the receptions enjoyable as I can hear about the work of other teams in RNIB Group.

I’m always amazed at the wide range of services we offer. It’s great I can pass this information on to the older people I work with so it may be of benefit to them.

It’s fantastic to meet staff members at a reception, as it’s easier afterwards if you have a query on behalf of a customer.

I always have great feedback from attendees who like to know where their support is going. Whether it’s in a monetary way or as a volunteer, they’re interested I’m now working with GPs to further their knowledge of recognising sight loss amongst older people.

Sometimes, they even line up to talk to me afterwards, when they have a particular eye health problem. So I always try and point them in the right direction, which is very rewarding.

If you’d like to showcase your work at a reception we’d love to hear from you. Call 020 7391 2058 or email legacyservices@rnib.org.uk

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Partnerships

• The project group is responsible for piloting a customer referral model which will be integral to building a seamless service.

• A new model for product distribution that allows both RNIB Solutions and local societies to break even while still providing affordable products to the end customer. This is currently being tested in Sheffield.

• Partners from Gateshead, Lancashire and Lincoln together with Visionary (the local society umbrella body) are working with our Evidence and Service Impact team to develop a quality framework for service delivery.

We also aim to:

• Develop an effective means of knowledge sharing.

• Develop a stronger joint volunteering offer.

• Develop the role of the Community (membership, networks) in bringing the sector together and shaping local services.

Steve Hambleton of Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind says: “We recognise the working relationship between national and local organisations may not have been ideal in the past, but we owe it to blind and partially sighted people, staff and volunteers to put that behind us and find ways to achieve our collective potential for the benefit of all.”

Working in partnershipWorking in partnership is an integral part of the Customer Change Programme and collaboration is an important value we all share. Action for Blind People’s Partnership team is working both locally and nationally to build mutually beneficial, sustainable relationships.

Our work is driven by:

• Customers telling us that “the sector needs to collaborate to give me what I need.”

• RNIB group of charities cannot be everything to everyone everywhere.

• Having committed partners will help us create a truly seamless service for our customers.

• To reach more people we must support other organisations to provide high quality services both locally and nationally.

Working locallyOur vision is to transform the relationship between us and local sight loss charities. Working within the Customer Change Programme we’ve assembled a project group of 10 local society CEOs. Good progress is being made:

• A joint approach to community fundraising is being designed and tested with Beacon Vision.

• Support for local societies to develop new sight loss adviser services is underway in Sheffield, Dorset, Surrey, South Bedfordshire and South Cumbria.

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Partnerships

Working nationally Action has signed a non-legally binding partnership agreement with Blind Veterans UK (BVUK). We aim to build more consistent links between BVUK Welfare Officers, ECLO services and operational teams.

To date we have focussed on:

• Supporting the BVUK ‘No One Alone’ campaign to extend the reach of their services to more people.

• Ensuring BVUK peer support networks are able to connect with the wider RNIB/Action community.

Lara King of BVUK says: “Partnering with Action and RNIB has been a great way to raise awareness of our services and reach more veterans with severe sight loss. We’ve been delighted with the opportunity to present to the ECLO network as they perform such a vital role in signposting people to support following diagnosis. We’ve already seen an increase in referrals.”

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will soon be finalised with Samaritans. Initially this will enable operational teams in England to refer blind and partially sighted people to the Samaritans national call back service.

This partnership intends to complement our more specialised counselling and emotional support services and gives more blind and partially sighted people access to an established, non-judgemental service when they need to talk to somebody.

Of the emerging partnership Stephen Hall, Functional Lead on Partnerships for Samaritans says: “This partnership helps create a more joined up, complementary and effective service. It is also at the heart of our strategy to work with partners to reach those who might not otherwise consider contacting Samaritans. There is also a wider move to make communities and society more emotionally resilient.”

We want to hear from you:

• What partnerships work well for you?

• What are your views and ideas on working in partnership?

• What priority partnerships do you see us developing?

Contact Colin Whitbourn, Director of Partnership colin.whitbourn@actionforblindpeople.org.uk or Gareth Brydon, Partnership Development Manager gareth.brydon@actionforblindpeople.org.uk

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Project PIP

Help us to defend Personal Independence Payments for people with little or no sightPersonal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit designed to make a contribution towards the extra costs caused by long term health conditions and disabilities. It’s very important to blind and partially sighted people who face a wide range of additional daily living costs. These include, for example, higher food bills due to difficulties cooking, higher heating costs, the cost of house cleaning and maintenance and the purchase of a wide range of aids and appliances.

PIP makes a real difference to blind and partially sighted people’s independence and quality of life but this vital support is under threat. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is consulting on the eligibility criteria and proposing to reduce the significance of aids and appliances in determining who gets help.

All five options set out in the DWP’s consultation paper would be very bad news for blind and partially sighted people (new claimants for PIP and those moving from DLA to PIP). Most currently secure their eligibility for PIP by scoring two points across four or more activities of daily living because they use an aid or appliance. Under the DWP’s proposals this would no longer be possible or would lead to a sharply reduced payment. Some people may lose £55 per week,

potentially more depending on their particular circumstances.

We’ve produced a joint response with the sight loss sector (including Blind Veterans UK, Visionary and Guide Dogs) and encouraged our members and campaigners to write to their MP expressing concern at the proposals. Over 900 have taken the e-action and we’ve had many supportive replies from MPs (including Conservative MPs). We’ve met with the officials leading the consultation exercise and further meetings are planned.

We must ensure people with sight loss continue to receive the support they need. Whilst Ministers and officials consider the proposals, we’re campaigning hard and really need your help to ensure MPs understand the huge impact this would have on their blind and partially sighted constituents.

© RNIB March 2016. RNIB charity nos. 226227, SC039316 Action for Blind People charity nos. 205913 and SC040050 and Cardiff Institute for the Blind charity no. 214131

Please contact your MP to raise your concerns, ask them to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to highlight the impact the current proposals would have on people with sight loss.

There is a campaign action and draft letter on our website from where you can email your MP. Please send us the replies you receive, so we know then which MPs are supportive. bit.ly/1JZNDOG

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