From RNIB News:
This Refugee Week (19 – 25 June) UK’s sight loss charities are working together to provide a combined package of support for visually impaired asylum seekers and refugees arriving in the UK.
According to The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) statistics: as of November 2022 there were 231,597 refugees, 127,421 pending asylum cases, and 5,483 stateless people in the UK.
Advice and information
Blind and partially sighted refugees, their family, or those supporting them, can call the helpline on 0303 123 9999 8am-8pm on weekdays and 9am-1pm on Saturdays, to receive specialist advice and information.
By calling the helpline blind and partially sighted refugees can access:
- Advice and information
- Emotional support
- Sight loss awareness e-learning training
- Access to support and services; free eye tests, employment support, money, benefits and finance, support for children and young people, assistive technology and useful products
- Free specialist equipment
- Advice on assistance dog welfare
- Community connection locally and online
- Connection with any local sight loss organisations in the area.
Interpreters will be on hand to support when required.
Offering Accommodation
Support can be provided for individuals or families who are offering accommodation to asylum seekers and refugees with a visual impairment including:
- Advice and information
- Sight loss awareness e-learning training
- Access to support services
- Free specialist equipment
- Advice on assistance dog welfare
- Community connection locally and online
- Connection with any local sight loss organisations in the area.
Emotional Support
The helpline offers Mental Health Wellbeing Checks for blind and partially sighted asylum seekers and refugees. The service is able to offer an hour’s counselling space with a qualified sight loss counsellor supported by a translator if needed.
Support services
The helpline also offers support to access the following:
- Eye health, including free eyesight tests and help paying for glasses
- To register as blind or partially sighted in the UK
- Employment support
- Money, benefits and finance
- Children, young people and education (including family fun days, pre-school activities and mobility skills training)
- Technology and useful products (including some technology grants)
- Advice on pet welfare
- Community connection locally and online
- Connection with any local sight loss organisations.
Equipment
Free specialist equipment for adults and children can be provided, including canes, eye shields, games, health and mobility items, and technology products.
Sight Loss Charities
The Sight Loss Charities involved in supporting this response are:
Blind Veterans UK, Guide Dogs, Macular Society, Retina UK, RNIB, Thomas Pocklington Trust and Visionary (a membership body representing 118 local sight loss charities throughout the UK).
Contact
Blind and partially sighted asylum seekers or refugees, their family, or those supporting them, can access any of the services above via the helpline on 0303 123 9999 8am-8pm on weekdays and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
