News

25 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Case study, Challenge, Disability Support, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

East Anglian blind veterans learn how to sail in Levington

Six blind veterans from East Anglia have been taking to the waves and learning a new skill during a sailing taster day, provided by Blind Veterans UK and The East Anglian Sailing Trust.

Through the use of audio navigation units, tactile charts and Discovery Pens, the vision-impaired ex-Service men were able to fully partake in the exciting day of sailing in Levington, near Ipswich.

The blind veterans, who hail from Ipswich, Colchester, Ely and Southwold, fulfilled a variety of roles on the yacht, including: navigator, helmsman, mainsheet trimmer and grinder.

Tackling Veterans’ homelessness: A Call to Action – pledge your support

We asking you to pledge your support and to update you on some very positive developments on our quest to eliminate Veterans’ homelessness following our reception at the House of Lords in March.

The University of York research that we launched at the reception highlights how some ex-Service personnel slip through the net and end up homeless after leaving the Armed Forces. Evidence suggests that well over a thousand ex-service personnel each year require urgent support to find accommodation.

On the back of this research we developed a Call to Action to help tackle this important issue.

23 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Challenge, Disability Support, fundraising, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Surrey blind veteran to take on 22-mile walk along D-Day beaches for military charity

A blind veteran from Surrey is currently training to take part in a 22-mile walk along on the Normandy coastline to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.

Chris Kennedy, 58 and from Guildford, will take part in the event alongside five other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. The challenge will take place on 6 June, the anniversary of the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France.

Chris says: “As soon as I heard about the event I knew I wanted to take part. I think it’s going to be a unique experience, and I very much believe that sight loss shouldn’t stop me from taking on a challenge.”

22 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Events, Research, Support, Veterans, Welfare

US and UK veterans’ charities to host research seminar bringing world-renowned experts together to tackle sight loss

Media Invite – Photo and Interview opportunity
When: Wednesday 23 May – 12:30
Where: University of Manchester, Theatre A, University Place, M13 9PL

A research seminar bringing world-renowned experts together to discuss sight loss will be taking place in Manchester this week (23/05). The “Sight loss as a consequence of traumatic brain injury and mental health implications” seminar is the second in a series looking at various research and innovation ideas in relation to blind veterans.

The seminar is part of an exchange programme called Project Gemini where members of the US organisation the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) will be visiting Britain to join Blind Veterans UK this week.

18 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

America, Event, Veterans, Welfare

US and UK blind veterans to take part in week-long exchange in Wales

Blind military veterans from the US will head to Wales to join national sight loss charity Blind Veterans UK for an exchange week beginning on Sunday (20/05).

Members of the US organisation the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) will be visiting Britain through an exchange programme between the Association and Blind Veterans UK called Project Gemini.

Now in its eighth year, Project Gemini enables Blind Veterans UK and the BVA to share experiences and knowledge about matters such as blind rehabilitation and readjustment training, vision research and adaptive technology for the blind. This year the group will be based at the Blind Veterans UK training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno.

16 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Challenge, fundraising, Remembrance, Veterans, Welfare

Conwy blind veterans to take on 22-mile walk along D-Day beaches for military charity

Two Conwy blind veterans are currently training for a 22-mile walk along on the Normandy coastline to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.

Carl Adamson, 44, and Steve Thomas, 46, will take part in the event alongside four other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. The challenge will take place on 6 June, the anniversary of the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France.

Carl, originally from Widnes but now living in Llandudno, says: “We’ve been training on the North Wales costal path, which I think should put us in good stead for the Normandy beaches.

14 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Events, Remembrance, Veterans, Welfare

Northampton blind veteran to take on 22-mile walk along D-Day beaches for military charity

A blind veteran from Northampton is currently training to take part in a 22 mile walk along on the Normandy coastline to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.

Peter O’Malley, 61 and from Duston, will take part in the event alongside five other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. The challenge will take place on 6 June, the anniversary of the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France.

Peter says: “I know that it will be hard work, particularly as I am vision-impaired and the course takes in rough terrain, but I don’t think sight loss should stop you taking on a challenge.”

10 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Charity, Remembrance, Veterans, Welfare

Longest serving blind veteran’s remarkable life celebrated at charity chapel as he passes away at 98

The long life of a remarkable blind veteran was celebrated on Tuesday at a funeral service held at the St Dunstan’s Chapel at the Blind Veterans UK training and rehabilitation centre in Ovingdean.

Norman Perry, who lived at the Blind Veterans UK centre for more than 18 years, was the longest serving beneficiary of the charity having received support for over 76 years.

Norman, who died on 16 April aged 98, insisted that guests were not to wear to wear black to his funeral. The service, which was attended by friends, family and other blind veterans, was much more a celebration of life than a sombre affair.

8 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Challenge, Disability Support, Funding, Health, Remembrance, Veterans, Welfare, WW2

Widnes blind veteran to take on 22-mile walk along D-Day beaches for military charity

A blind veteran from Widnes is currently training for a 22-mile walk along on the Normandy coastline to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.

Carl Adamson, 44, will take part in the event alongside five other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. The challenge will take place on 6 June, the anniversary of the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France.

Carl says: “I’ve been training on the North Wales costal path, which I think should put me in good stead for the Normandy beaches.

3 May 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Challenge, fundraising, Support, Transition Welfare, Veterans

Brighton blind veteran joins 130 others in Royal Marines zip wire

A blind veteran from Brighton took on a great challenge by riding a Royal Marines zip wire and descending 120 feet from the top of Blind Veterans UK’s iconic building in Ovingdean earlier in April (21-22/04).

Tony Harbour, who turns 83 in June, was joined by 130 other daredevils, including blind veterans supported by the charity, in taking part in the challenge which has seen nearly £12,000 raised and pledged so far.

Tony says: “This is my third year taking part in the zip wire challenge and the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant yet again. The fear soon turned into exhilaration as the adrenalin kicked in and I sped 30mph towards the ground.”

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