You can try your hand at archery during a special open day hosted by Manx Blind Welfare Society as part of Vision Awareness Week 2015.

Members of Blind Veterans UK will assist sighted and visually impaired visitors have a go at archery as part of a day of activities at the Society’s Corrin Court centre in Heywood Avenue, Onchan.

The open day, from midday until 7pm on 14th September, is the start of Vision Awareness Week 2015. This is the second year the Society has organised the week, which is intended to promote awareness of the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people, and the need for improved care for eye health.

During the open day, visitors will be given guided tours of Corrin Court and have the chance to try exciting new technology designed to assist visually impaired people.

There will opportunities to chat with Society staff and volunteers about the services and support offered to blind and visually impaired people in the Island, and find out how to get involved with the Society’s work through volunteering.

Representatives of RNIB, Macular Society, Blind Veterans UK and Guide Dogs for the Blind will also be available to chat to visitors.

Manx Blind Welfare Society Chief Executive Ian Cooil said: ‘The aim of Vision Awareness Week is to promote the services and support available to blind and visually impaired people in the Island, and highlight what we can do as a society to ensure everyone has the opportunity and independence to live their life as they choose.

‘During our open day, the first event of Vision Awareness Week 2015, visitors will be able to find out more about the work we and our partner organisations do here in the Isle of Man, how it could help them and how they can get involved.

‘We’re delighted that Blind Veterans UK will be visiting and offering people the chance to try archery. This is a charity which supports former service personnel who are living with sight loss, ensuring they enjoy fulfilling and rewarding lives, and like our Society is determined to give people the opportunities they want.

‘Among the work Blind Veterans UK does is introducing ex-service men and women to sports and pastimes, like archery, which some may assume aren’t for the visually impaired.

‘Come along on 14th September and find out just what people can achieve with the right support.’

Attending the open day with Blind Veterans UK will be Billy Baxter, a former soldier who lost his eyesight in 1997 after contracting a rare disease. In 2003 he set the blind solo world land speed record on a motorcycle with a speed of 164.87mph, and a year later appeared on BBC TV’s Top Gear, driving a lap as the ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’ and beating times set by some fully-sighted celebrities.

In addition to joining the Society’s open day, Billy will be giving a series of talks about his life and experiences during Vision Awareness Week.

Mr Cooil continued: ‘Vision Awareness Week is about helping our Island community to understand the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people, but importantly it is also about highlighting what can be achieved by blind people when barriers to learning, work and social environments are removed.

‘We hope as many people as possible visit our open day and take advantage of this opportunity to find out more about what we do, and what they can do.’

In addition to the open day, Vision Awareness Week will include a series of talks to schools, businesses and local organisations, fundraising events, acoustic shooting and the return of Walk My Way, a blindfolded walk along Douglas promenades.
To find out more about MBWS, visit www.facebook.com/manxblindwelfaresociety.