Fellowship Group July Meeting Report

Instead of a visiting speaker, we changed the format of the last meeting of our 36th year before the summer break and encouraged our members and supporters to contribute.

A lady chose a favourite Bible passage, one man sang a solo while another gave a dramatic recitation, and one of our newer members, Freda(above), introduced her favourite hymn.

The afternoon finished with Roy Merton, our regular pianist, giving a brief talk about the Kingdom of Heaven. More time was allowed for fellowship over tea and nibbles before the drivers and taxis arrived to collect their passengers.

Thanks

A big thank you to all those who have supported us in any way this year: drivers, the refreshment team, City Church for providing the venue, visiting speakers, choirs and soloists and those who donate regularly to enable the worldwide work of the Torch Trust amongst blind and partially sighted people to continue and expand.

Advice for Drivers offering lifts to visually impaired people

When collecting visually impaired passengers, please go to the house and knock on the door. Then introduce yourself by name and state your purpose. Blind people have to be sure of their security.

If there is a need, you should guide visually impaired people to a vehicle by allowing them to take an arm. When they reach the vehicle, drivers should carefully open the door themselves. After this, you should offer to guide the hand of whoever is in their care to a safe part of the vehicle entrance. Please be sure to protect the head of your VI passenger as they enter the doorway. Following this, VIP may need assistance with seat belts.

When the vehicle reaches its destination, drivers must not allow people with sight problems to open vehicle doors themselves. They may accidentally open them into the path of moving traffic or pedestrians. The driver must do this himself, then help his passengers out of the vehicle and into the church building.

As you drive along, describe where you are and what you can see