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Sight impairment charity in Jersey | EYECAN

EYECAN supports Islanders of all ages in Jersey, Channel Islands, with sight impairment. Previously known as Jersey Blind Society.

World Diabetes Day

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WORLD DIABETES DAY

Today, Wednesday 14th November is World Diabetes Day, it’s a day when millions of people around the world come together to raise awareness of diabetes.

This World Diabetes Day we are raising awareness of eye conditions related to diabetes. All of which, if caught early can be prevented!

Diabetic eye disease can affect many parts of the eye, including the retina, macula, lens and the optic nerve.

Diagram of the eye, depicting all of the different areas

 

Diabetic eye disease is a group of eye conditions that can affect people with diabetes.

  • Diabetic retinopathy affects blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue called the retina that lines the back of the eye. It is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetes and the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness among working-age adults.
  • Diabetic macular edema (DME). A consequence of diabetic retinopathy, DME is swelling in an area of the retina called the macula.

Diabetic eye disease also includes cataract and glaucoma:

  • Cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. Adults with diabetes are 2-5 times more likely than those without diabetes to develop cataract. Cataract also tends to develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes.
  • Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve—the bundle of nerve fibers that connects the eye to the brain. Some types of glaucoma are associated with elevated pressure inside the eye. In adults, diabetes nearly doubles the risk of glaucoma.

All forms of diabetic eye disease have the potential to cause severe vision loss and blindness.

 

How can you reduce the risk?

You can reduce your risk of developing retinopathy, or help to stop it from getting worse, by:

  • Controlling your blood glucose level (also known as blood sugar level).
  • Tightly controlling your blood pressure.
  • Controlling your cholesterol levels.
  • Keeping fit and maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Giving up smoking. Nerve damage, kidney and cardiovascular disease are more likely in smokers with Diabetes. Smoking increases your blood pressure and raises your blood sugar level, which makes it harder to control your Diabetes.
  • Getting regular retinal screening. The most effective thing you can do to prevent sight loss due to diabetic retinopathy is to go to your retinal screening appointments. Early detection and treatment can stop you from losing sight. If you’re pregnant and have gestational diabetes, you will have retinal screenings more often during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.

 

If you, or anyone you know have diabetic eye disease, we are here to help support you.

Press Release: EYECAN launches corporate accreditation scheme in response to Disability Legislation

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EYECAN launches corporate accreditation scheme in response to Disability Legislation

 

EYECAN Accreditation Logo

In response to the introduction of the Discrimination (Disability) (Jersey) Law, Jersey’s leading charity supporting blind and sight impaired Islanders has launched the EYECAN accreditation scheme for Jersey businesses of all sizes. Successful completion of the accreditation will give employers, businesses and staff the knowledge and skills to comfortably engage with people who are living with blindness or sight loss and ensure they meet the requirements of the new legislation.

EYECAN is committed to changing the perception of sight loss to give those affected by it more opportunities and support, while increasing the inclusiveness of work and public places Island-wide. The new accreditation scheme is a key pillar of this commitment, providing a framework for Jersey’s business community to engage with.

Central Vision Loss Representation

“One in five people over the age of 65 has sight loss and this ratio increases significantly with age.

Businesses are highly likely to encounter a member of staff, customer, or client who suffers from sight loss or impairment,” says Jane Vincent, Operations Director at EYECAN. “Our new corporate accreditation scheme will help local businesses improve their accessibility and service for those with sight impairment and give people with sight impairment the confidence that their additional needs can be catered for and met by that organisation.”

 

The EYECAN Accreditation has been specifically designed, based on the requirements of the new Discrimination (Disability) (Jersey) Law. The training explains the relevant areas of the law in jargon-free terms to the participants. Through audits and workshops, it provides useful specifics on how each business can enhance the experience of sight-impaired clients, employees or customers in realistic and achievable ways. Participants will also gain a valuable understanding of the impact that inaccessible information and environments have on people living with sight loss. Businesses who have completed the accreditation will be awarded the EYECAN Accreditation Marque certificate and stickers to display on their premises making them easily recognisable as an organisation well-equipped to cater for the needs of sight impaired islanders.

EYECAN has ambitious targets for 20 local businesses to be accredited in the next 12 months. Further information about the EYECAN Accreditation scheme can be found at www.eyecan.je.

Tickets now for sale for EYECAN’s quiz of the year!

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EYECAN’s Quiz of the Year!

Come test your general knowledge at EYECAN’s quiz. A pub quiz without the pub, but you can BYOB!

This is no ordinary quiz, with two rounds and some food in the interval this quiz is aimed at challenging those brain cells while having some fun and raising money for one of Jersey’s oldest charities.

Held at our centre in St Martin, the quiz has room for 62 people with a maximum team size of 6. Don’t have 6 people in a team or think that the brain power of 4 is better than 6? You can still enter!

Teams need to be either 6 people per team or 4 people per team.

Tickets at £15 per person and there will be a raffle at the end of the night.

Timings for the night:

Doors open at 6.30pm

Round 1 of the quiz starts at 7.00pm

Food Served at 8.00pm

Round 2 of the quiz starts at 8.45pm

Raffle at 10.00pm

Winners crowned victorious at 10.15pm

Sign up now, tickets for the best quiz EYECAN has ever held, will sell out quick!

Food options are selected when purchasing tickets, please also ensure you know the name of the team you wish to join at the time of purchasing your ticket.

For more info please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eyecan-quiz-night-tickets-49088730715?aff=EYECANWeb

List of Raffle Winners from Horse Show

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RAFFLE PRIZES

1st Prize Horse & Carriage Ride Mike Wright (5014)
2nd Prize Old Forge Welding £100 Voucher Jane Churchill (5118)
3rd Prize Longueville Manor Lunch For 2 Vicky Hooper (5119)
4th Prize £60 Voucher – Greencliff Zoe Bisson (5005)
5th Prize Fencing Centre £50 Voucher Chris Hamon (5108)
6th Prize Bonny’s Garden £60 Voucher Mr Lee (5115)
7th Prize 5 x Bottles of Wine Nessie Bekusch (5705)
8th Prize 1hr Riding Lesson Hack Louise Le Monnier (5022)
9th Prize Family Aeriel Trekking Voucher Peter Drummond (5029)
10th Prize 4 x Free Entry Vouchers J. Schmidt (5001)
11th Prize 4 x Rounds Mini Golf Sharon Harland (5121)
12th Prize KNEX Remote Control Swing Ride Pauline Bulteel (5120)
13th Prize Ransoms £25 Gift Voucher Alexander Chapman (5029)
14th Prize 2 Hours Painting & Decorating Dulcie Chandler (5721)
15th Prize 2 x Cuddly Toys Izzy Hoffard (5296)
16th Prize Pets Paradise £20 Voucher Lucia Sharon (5034)
17th Prize Bobby’s Florist £15 Voucher Sandra (5009)
18th Prize Horse Glitter & Plaiting Set Haydn Phillips (5724)
19th Prize Breakfast For Two (Tasty Bite) Megan Hughes (5003)
20th Prize Gooey Brownie Bites & Granola Bronwen (5206)
21st Prize Picnic Set Sarah St George (5018)
22nd Prize Cat Bed Cheryl Kineely (5106)
23rd Prize Teddy Daniel Riley (5021)
24th Prize Murphy’s Clothing £10 Voucher Sophie Tanguy (5000)

Annual Horse Show raises money for EYECAN.

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Annual Horse Show raises money for EYECAN.

An annual horse show, held by GreenCliff Stables in St Martin, is holding a raffle in aid of EYECAN.

The tickets for the raffle, which will be drawn at 3.30pm on the 29th July at Greencliff stables, are available to buy from GreenCliff Stables, Seamus Saddlery and EYECAN. Tickets cost £5 each with some excellent prizes to be won.

The Horse Show will be taking place on 29th July from 9am – 4.30pm and is open to the public.

 

RAFFLE PRIZES – Very Kindly Compiled By Seamus Nicolle (Seamus Saddlery)

PRIZE

£60 Voucher – Greencliff Riding School

1hr Riding Lesson/Hack

Teddy

K Nex Remote Control Swing Ride

£50 Gift Voucher

£25 Gift Voucher

Breakfast For Two

Picnic Set

£10 Voucher

£20 Voucher

Lunch For Two

Horse Glitter & Plaiting Set

2Hrs Painting & Decorating

Horse & Carriage Ride (Up to 8 people)

4 x Rounds of Mini Golf

2 x Cuddly Bunny Toys

£15 Voucher

£50 Voucher

Cat Bed

£100 Voucher

4 x Free Entry Vouchers

Family Aerial Trekking Voucher

DONATED BY

Julie Lidgett

East Riding

Bambola

The Entertainer

Bonny’s Country Garden

Ransoms

Tasty Bite

JFTU

Murphy’s Clothing

Pets Paradise

Longeville Manor

David Dumosch Ltd

Paul Cornic

Millennium Carriages

Rocco’s

De Gruchy

Bobby’s Florist

The Fencing Centre

Animal Kingdom

Old Forge Welding

AMaizin Maze

Creepy Valley

 

 

 

Life changing sighted guide scheme launched in Jersey

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Life changing sighted guide scheme launched in Jersey   

Guide Dogs are launching a free scheme in Jersey called My Guide. The scheme matches a person living with sight loss with a volunteer. Together they meet for a few hours every week and work on aims, goals and confidence building.

The scheme is ideal for anyone living with sight loss who would like to improve their independence. Maybe you would like to join a local hobby group but need some assistance familiarising yourself with the area. Or you would like to learn a route to your local shops. With your volunteer you can realise these aims.

Guide Dogs are currently recruiting for volunteer My Guides to support the launch of the service. You could make a real practical difference to someone living with sight loss. This exciting and fulfilling volunteering opportunity would suit someone who likes to get out and about and could spare two to three hours a week. Full My Guide training and ongoing support and supervision are provided.  Volunteers must be 18+ and would require a DBS check.

To find out more, please visit us on Saturday the 14th of July between 10am and 4pm at the Beresford Street Kitchen (17 Beresford St, St Helier JE2 4WL, Jersey), where you will be able to speak to staff and find out further information.

Alternatively, please contact Katie Loucaides, My Guide Manager or Hazel Kelly, Volunteering Consultant on 01189 838892

A Facebook event page has also been set up for the meeting and can be found by clicking here

Walk in my Shoes 2018 – Thank You!

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Walk in my Shoes 2018 – Thank You!

On behalf of EYECAN we would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time on Sunday 17th June 2018 to participate in our sight impaired walk, in memory of our dear friend Glen Robertson. Glen was such a wonderful man, who took time to work with and advocate for islanders who had various disabilities in addition to sight impairment.

The walk was a great success and a wonderful way of remembering Glen. Furthermore, it encapsulates Glen’s wish for people to have a better understanding of the challenges that sight impaired people encounter on a daily basis. A condition which is very much a hidden disability!

On the day, with your help, we raised the grand total of £2046.60 and much needed awareness!

 

Some snippets from the media:

Channel 103:

Eyecan ‘Walk In My Shoes’ Returns

17th June 2018

Today, islanders are ‘walking in the shoes’ of people suffering from sight loss.

EYECAN’s annual seafront walk is taking place this morning.

Participants buddy up, with one person wearing special glasses that simulate the effect of tunnel vision and the other guiding them.

IMAGE CREDIT: EYECAN.

The event aims to raise awareness of sight loss, and how difficult it is for people to live day-to-day with sight loss.

‘Walk in my Shoes’ was founded by Glen Robertson, an islander who had diabetic retinopath and worked with EYECAN before he died in 2016.

HOW NORMAL VISION COMPARES TO MACULAR DEGENERATION OR RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA.
IMAGE CREDIT: EYECAN/CHANNEL 103.

Jane Vincent from the Charity reminds us why the event is so important:

“Sight loss can make things as simple as walking along a level pavement or pathway very difficult. The whole thing of the walk is about raising awareness of the conditions, as well as what we do at EYECAN to support people in the island who have these conditions.”

 

 

Volunteers Week

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Volunteers Week

 

This week is Volunteers’ Week. Here at EYECAN we recognise the huge contribution that our volunteers make to the service that we are able to offer the sight impaired islanders. Their fantastic contribution touches every aspect of our work and we thank you all will all sincerity

 

Jane Vincent

Operations Director

 

A picture of our Volunteer Frank, helping in the kitchen

Our Volunteer Frank, helping in the kitchen

 

A picture of our Volunteer Spike, helping bring people to the Day Centre

A picture of our Volunteer Spike, helping bring people to the Day Centre

 

A picture of our Volunteer Tanya, helping in our Day Centre

A picture of our Volunteer Tanya, helping in our Day Centre

 

Eisteddfod Wins for EYECAN Artists

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Eisteddfod Wins for EYECAN Artists

Some fantastic work has been entered into the Jersey Eisteddfod by artists from EYECAN. The members, who are all sight impaired, have each picked up an award for their work.

Public Perceptions of a White Cane

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Public Perceptions of a White Cane

Whilst most members of the public are very considerate towards islanders with sight loss we hope the following points will help clear up any misunderstandings:

  • Most people with sight loss won’t look any different from anyone else.
  • Very few people with sight loss are completely blind, most have some useful vision left. Many people with impaired sight use a cane to help them to stay independent.
  • There are several different types of cane which are used for different purposes: a short symbol cane is used to raise awareness of the user’s sight loss. The longer guide cane is used to feel for obstacles and to identify kerbs. A long cane is rolled or tapped from side to side as the user walks to help them find their way and to avoid obstacles. A cane which features red stripes tells people that the user has both sight and hearing loss. Someone with mobility problems might use a white walking stick.
  • All white canes let other people know that the cane user has sight problems. This helps the public to understand that the cane user may not see pedestrians approach until the last moment – so please move out of their way to avoid the risk of accident. Some people use their cane to show that they might need assistance with certain tasks – if you notice someone struggling you could ask if help is needed.
  • Many people with sight loss feel too vulnerable to use a cane. They don’t feel ready to draw attention to their sight loss.
  • There are many different types of sight loss so you may notice things which surprise you – however this does not mean that the person you have noticed is not sight impaired. For instance, you might notice that someone is able to read text – however that person may see only what you would see if you were looking down a narrow tube. People with “tunnel vision” probably won’t notice things to the sides, above or below this limited area of vision, so may well need a cane to help them get around safely.
  • Certain conditions can worsen the sight of people who have sight loss. Here are some examples: Poor light conditions – indoors and out. Glare – a bright day can cause dazzle. Being outside at night. Feeling unwell, depressed or stressed. Moving between different light conditions (we can probably all remember feeling temporarily blinded when moving into a dark exterior after being outside on a bright day). Someone who is sight impaired takes a lot longer to adjust between different light conditions -even moving from a darker to a lighter room can temporarily make their vision worse.

A brilliant video made by the RNIB explains the white cane and why many sight impaired people use them.