Useful Vision creates positive opportunities for vision impaired children and their families throughout the North East, and helps them get the most out of life.
“We do this by offering access to a range of unique, imaginative and sporting activities, family trips, and learning opportunities, and by providing information support,” explains Rebecca Wilson, founder of Useful Vision. “In all instances access to these events for the VI child, their siblings and one carer is free.
Useful Vision is the only organisation where my child gets included in all the activities
“Those registered with us range from a few months old up to 18 years, come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and have varying degrees of visual impairment. Whether the events we offer are adventurous, sporting or educational in nature, all aim to push back the boundaries of what the vision impaired child and their family would normally be able to experience.”
Events are designed to appeal to all abilities, to build social skills, self-confidence and self-esteem and lessen the sense of isolation that vision impaired children and their families often experience.
Useful Vision’s attitude is very much that with the right help and equipment, a child with a vision impairment should be able to enjoy the same fun, thrills and sense of freedom other children get.
“The Primary Club kindly donated funding towards trips for three years, previously, 2010, 11 & 12,” says Rebecca, “but we have not run this event since then as we have been developing other activities in the region. However it is a very popular event and we have a been asked regularly by families to run another trip. It is wonderful that The Primary Club have very generously donated funding to enable Useful Vision to run another visit in 2015.
“The Windermere Manor hotel is specially designed for maximum accessibility for vision impaired people, as well as having excellent facilities, a large garden with play area, an indoor pool and light conservatory restaurant. On the Saturday night we have a Useful Vision BBQ followed by a children’s disco, so the parents and children can socialise.
Met some lovely families and my son made more friends in one weekend than he’s made all year! Well done everyone for organising such a lovely break and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The staff are well trained and understand the needs of VI people, always ready to help. During the day the families have an opportunity for kayaking or sailing on Lake Windermere with specially trained staff or for the ‘landlubbers’ we organise a special trip to the Beatrix Potter Experience with a guided touch tour and story telling.
“Vision impaired children and their families enjoy visiting the hotel because of the easy access and the specially organised trips by Useful Vision, enabling families who rarely get away from home to attend in the knowledge their stay will be safe and well organised with the needs of the disabled child always in mind.”