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Shire View Centre

Shire View is a city-wide resource centre run by and for blind and partially sighted people. It comes under the umbrella of Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People; a Blind Services Committee heads the Centre.

The publication A new deal for blind and partially sighted people states: ‘People losing their sight have five particular needs: information, specific skills training, special equipment, skilled help, self-help and mutual support, and there is a greater chance of full rehabilitation if the five needs are tackled in one place.’

Shire View aims to do this by providing:

• A display of daily living equipment

• A display of low-vision aids and a low-vision service

• Information and information packs in appropriate formats

• Meeting space and the facilitating of meetings for groups, classes and activities

• An outreach service which includes the gathering and dissemination of information, supporting and facilitating community-based groups, and offering training to local groups and businesses on visual-impairment issues.

Services on offer at Shire View

Shire View can offer the following services:

Equipment Room

Our equipment room offers the opportunity for individuals to view and try specialised daily living equipment before purchase. Here you can view anything from cheque-book guides to talking microwave ovens.

Low Vision Aids

A low vision room is available for people to try various types of low-vision equipment. This ranges from magnifying lenses to electronic magnification equipment.

Computers

The IT department offers not only training in the use of computers, but the opportunity to try various speech and vision enhancement packages before purchase. We can also offer training in word processing, internet access and e-mail.

For appointments for the above services, please ring 0113 214 4544 before your visit to ensure that someone is available to assist you.

Information Room

The information room has leaflets, pamphlets and catalogues on all subjects that may be of interest to visually impaired people. They are available in large print, Braille or on tape. Please ring 0113 214 4544 if you require this service.

Outreach

We are available to visit any establishment to talk or give advice to visitors, staff or groups about issues that effect blind and partially sighted people or services on offer through Shire View. We can also provide training in visual awareness and sighted guiding techniques. Anyone requiring further information please contact Heather Moore on 0113 214 4544.

Volunteers

A number of our registered volunteers are available to work in the community offering support to individuals in many ways. Examples of this are a reading service, one-off shopping trips, hospital visits, medical appointments etc. For further information please contact Tracy Fernyhough on 0113 214 4544.

Meeting rooms for hire

For details of available rooms and prices, please see our current price list.

Other facilities

Other facilities available within Shire View include:

• A Braille and tape library where you can use a CCTV for assistance with reading, or the Easyreader which can scan and read documents. You can borrow Braille books or books on tape. There are also facilities available to use a Perkins Brailler or to record onto tape.

• A craft room where we have a thriving craft group who meet weekly.

• A training kitchen where individuals can re-develop lost skills or learn new ones.

• Our café is open from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm for a wide range of food and sandwiches; all are welcome to use this facility.

• The Children's Corner. This provides childcare 5 days a week for under-5s. If any visually impaired parents wish to make use of any of the groups or services on offer at Shire View, they can have up to four hours free within the unit.

Groups

There are a number of groups who meet each week at Shire View, offering education, advice, support, training, information and counselling. These include Braille classes, computer classes, craft groups, a women's group, support groups, social groups and interest groups. For further information ring 0113 214 4544.

At Shire View are a number of other agencies that provide services to visually impaired people; these include:

• Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

• Royal National Institute for the Blind, who provide advocacy, housing and benefits advice

• The North Regional Association for Sensory Support, who offer advocacy and support services to deaf and blind people

• The Association of Blind Asians, who offer support, advice and education to those of Asian ethnic origin

• The Braille and Large Print Unit, who offer a transcription service to Leeds City Council and other agencies

• The Joint Mobility Unit, funded by RNIB, who offer advice and information on all aspects of building work and access

Talking newspapers and magazines

There is much information that is now available on tape from both local and national organisations. Most of these services are free and not only include tapes but talking books. Here are just a few of the local tapes; if you would like fuller information, please ring Shire View on 0113 214 4544.

• Leeds Talking Newspapers: this is a free service offering a weekly tape of news items from the Yorkshire Evening Post, keeping listeners in touch with local news and events. The tape is sent out on a Friday morning and should be returned by the following Wednesday.

• The Sports Echo: this again is a weekly tape keeping you up to date with items of local and international news in the World of Sport. This tape is sent out on a Tuesday morning and should be returned by the following Monday.

• Leeds Cassette: a monthly magazine of topical articles for magazine enthusiasts. Please return within the next 3 weeks.

• Monthly Newstaper: keep up to date with what is happening at Shire View. Also includes news items of interest from local and National Societies and Associations for Blind and Visually Impaired People. Please return within the next 3 weeks.

All the above services are provided free by local charities. The tapes are sent to individuals in a returnable wallet. After you have listened to the tape, just put it back into its wallet, turn the address label round and pop it back in the post. For further information, or to register for any or all of the above, ring Shire View on 0113 214 4544 and leave your name and address.

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See also Dealing with sight loss.