Join our 100+ Club for the chance to win £15 in our monthly prize draw and support local people living with sight loss. Membership costs £10 annually, renewable each October.
Your subscription includes one club number, with the option to purchase more. We conduct monthly prize draws at our board meetings, with a special larger draw at Christmas. Winners are notified.
Of your £10 subscription, £7 supports our funds, while £3 contributes to the prize pool.
Welcome to the November 2024 edition of seefact. We hope you have all had a good summer.
Our 2025 Large Print Calendars and Diaries are now available. We now have a VIP Lanyard to help let people know that you have a visual impairment. See Page 2 for more details.
With the changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance, we look at what help you may be able to get with your energy bills on page 5.
Although we’re not having a Christmas Open Day this year, you can still order items from our daily living shop. Our shop is open until 3 pm so call the helpline for more details.
On these cold, dark Winter evenings, there is nothing better than a good book; learn about our USB Audiobook Library on page 4.
Airedale NHS Trust wants to know your views on the new Airedale Hospital. Find out how you can have your say on page 3.
That just leaves us to say thank you to everyone who has supported sight airedale this year and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Registered Office: sight airedale, 1 Albert Street, Keighley, BD21 2AT.
We are now taking orders for 2025 large print Calendars, Date Planners and Diaries.
The Calendars are available in A3 size, (the size of this newsletter open) and are available in two styles a calendar grid style with a column for each day and each row representing the weeks or in a two-column format with the day name and number and a large space to write in your events. In both formats, each page represents a month.
The date planner isn’t tied to any particular year. Each month has a dedicated page that displays the dates of that month. Next to each date is a large blank space where you can write important events or notes about that particular day. Ideal for recording events that happen every year on the same date such as Birthdays, Anniversaries etc.
We also have a range of large print diaries, with sizes ranging from pocket diaries up to desk diaries. For more information call the helpline
Our new VIP lanyard alerts people to the fact that you have a visual impairment. The Lanyard is Yellow with black text that reads “Please be patient I am Visually Impaired” and cost £2.95.
Do you run, or are a member of a WI, Church Group, or other social group that might be interested in our work? If so, we’re happy to come and give a talk about sight loss, our work and bring along some aids from our daily living shop for your members to look at.
We do not charge for talks, though a voluntary donation would be appreciated. If you think your group members would be interested, please get in touch with the helpline or email us at enquiries@sightairedale.org.uk
Have your say in the future of Airedale Hospital. Airedale NHS Foundation Trust wants to hear your views on the new Airedale Hospital. To get involved, either email nhsft.yournewhospital@nhs.net or call the hospital on 01535 294013 (answer machine available).
In May 2023, Airedale General Hospital received the news that it would be included in the previous Government’s new hospital programme. However in July 2024 the new Government announced that all projects in the new hospital programme were on hold and subject to review.
In September, the Government confirmed that Airedale Hospital and six other hospitals constructed from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) could proceed. This means Airedale Hospital can move on to the next stage, which is getting the site ready to build the hospital.
The new hospital is due to be constructed by 2030 and will be built behind the existing structure. During construction, structural work on the existing buildings will continue to ensure they can be safely used until the new hospital is ready.
To learn more about the new hospital, visit https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk/about-us/securing-the-future-of-airedale/. Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has produced an audio booklet about the journey to the new hospital. We have included a copy on the CD and Audio editions of the newsletter.
Visit our Daily Living Shop and discover over 150 items availble to order to simplify life with sight loss.
Open from till 3pm Monday to Thursday - Call the helpline for more details
In July the government announced changes to who can receive Winter Fuel Payments. In this article we’ll look at the changes and discuss what financial help you can get with your heating costs.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off annual payment made to people of state pension age towards the cost of heating. It is worth £200 for those under 80 and £300 for those over 80. The payment is made per household and not per person. So, if you’re a couple and one is 70 and one is 80, you will get £300 between you.
In previous years, the Winter Fuel Payment was paid to all households where someone was over state pension age, regardless of income or savings. In July 2024, the Government announced that only those receiving pension credit or another qualifying means-tested benefit would qualify for the payment.
If you already receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, or Income-Based ESA/JSA, you don’t need to do anything; you will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment. If you’re not sure if you are eligible, you can call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 or contact them online at https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/contact-winter-fuel-payments-centre/date-filter.
The Government says that a single person of pension age needs £218.15 a week to live on, and a couple needs £332.95. Pension credit tops up your weekly income until you reach these figures. Certain people, such as those with a disability or who are carers, can get extra payments. These are called Guarantee Credits. Pension Credit is a gateway benefit, this means it opens the door to other help which includes:-
Eligibility considers your weekly income, savings and housing costs, disabilities, and caring responsibilities. You can use the pension credit calculator at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator to calculate what you may get. You can claim pension credit online at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim or call the claim line on 0800 99 1234. You can also download a claim form and apply by post.
The Winter Home Discount scheme is a one-off payment of £150 credited to your energy bill through your energy supplier. Pre-payment customers will most likely receive a top-up voucher. It is paid to people on low incomes and with high energy costs.
To receive the Winter Home Discount, you must:-
If you receive a qualifying benefit and your energy supplier is part of the scheme, you should get the discount automatically. The Government will write to you between October and December. If you have not received a letter by January 2025, contact the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322. You must contact them before 28 February 2025
The Cold Weather Payment is an extra payment to people on qualifying benefits when the temperature drops below 0°c for seven consecutive days. You will receive £25 for every 7 day period of cold weather.
To be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment, you must have one of the following:-
And in receipt of one of the following benefits:-
You don’t need to apply; you will receive the payment automatically if you qualify. However, if you have a Baby or a child under the age of 5 who comes to live with you, you will need to inform Job CentrePlus or add a note to your Universal Credit Journal.
If you are struggling to pay your energy bill, contact your energy supplier to see how they can help. according to Ofgem you can ask for
Age UK can offer help and advice on cutting energy bills, preparing for winter and claiming benefits. visit them at www.ageuk.org.uk or call their Advice Line on 0800 055 6112
Martin Lewis website offers lots of advice on saving money and getting the best deals including energy bills.
The Priority Services Register helps utility companies identify customers who may need extra support in the event of a service disruption, or have additional communication needs. Contact your energy provider to find out more or visit www.thepsr.co.uk.
Our audiobook library has over 2,000 titles. These are available in MP3 format on USB Memory Sticks. Books are available to loan free of charge to friends of sight airedale. To learn more about our library, please contact the helpline or email us at enquiries@sightairedale.org.uk.
You can either search our online database and put a note in the wallet when you return your book. Or you can tell us your favourite authors or choose the type of books you like. We will select titles for you based on your preferences.
Our audiobook library is a postal library, books are sent out and returned for free using the Royal Mail Article for the Blind Service. You will receive your book in a red reusable plastic wallet. Once you have finished listening to the book, put the book into the wallet along with a note saying what you would like next. Turn the label on the front of the wallet over and drop it into a post box. You do not need to pay any postage.
To listen to our audiobooks, you will need a USB memory stick player. These are the same players used by many talking newspapers. If you do not already have a USB memory stick player, we can order one for you. As of November 2024, these cost £40.
Like many charities we have seen a fall in income due to the pandemic
To make a one off or regular donation visit our website at www.sightairedale.org.uk or call our helpline to learn how to set up a standing order
For details on future performances at the playhouse visit
www.keighleyplayhouse.co.uk
To renew you can either:- Renew at our open day on Saturday 26 November Call into the office, Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 12.30pm or Post a cheque made payable to sight airedale Renew via bank transfer - Please call the office for our bank details.
Drawn on the 2nd Monday of the month, winners will be notified.
Small change makes a big difference.
Our three Sight Support Groups in Keighley and Bingley, and Talking book library with over 2,000 titles on MP3/CD and memory stick help alleviate isolation and loneliness.
We provide support to local sight support groups in Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale and the Airedale Macular Society
We help people retain their independence through our daily living shop, magnifier assessments and technology information service*.
We give people the opportunity to learn new skills through our one-to-one computer classes and Braille for Beginners course.
We keep sight impaired people informed about important issues, through our free newsletter, available in five different formats.
We want to be sure that there is someone available to give you the best service we can. Please ring our Helpline to make an appointment for the shop, magnifier assessments and technology information service.
Donations can be made in cash, cheque monthly standing order or Online. You can help your donation go further by signing a Gift Aid form.
Take home, a Home Box and fill it with spare loose change.
Join the 100+ club £10 per year and the chance to win a £15 monthly prize and entry into the Christmas draw
Our volunteers provide an invaluable service in allowing us to deliver our services. We are always interested in hearing from people who want to join our team of volunteers.
Be a Bucketeer at our Store collections
Do you know a business that would take a Humpty Dumpty counter box?
Remember us in your will so that future local sight impaired people may benefit or consider a in “memoriam” donation in remembrance of a loved one or friend.
If you would like more information on any of these groups, please call our helpline.