How Henshaws used an inclusion grant to help people with sight loss

In November 2022 GMCVO launched a grants fund that awarded 8 Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations working in Greater Manchester a total of £78,350 to develop strategic pilot projects that raise awareness of, and lead to change in the way that services, policies, practices, activities and events are created for Deaf and disabled people. 

Funded by Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership as part of the implementation of the recommendations from The Greater Manchester Mental Wellbeing & Disability Report, the projects were delivered during 2023.

Henshaws staff make outbound calls to people recently
diagnosed with eye conditions​​​​​​

One of the grant recipents, Henshaws, used their £9,170.00 grant to develop their First Step Telephone Helpline service, an outbound proactive rather than reactive telephone service that works with the NHS and other referral partners to contact people newly diagnosed with an eye condition and provide holistic, specialist support in a timely manner. 

The impact of this service on one project beneficiary is detailed in the case below:

F was diagnosed with Macular Oedema, a degenerative eye condition that causes fluid to accumulate in the macula, impairing clear and sharp vision. As a result, she was registered as sight impaired and faced numerous challenges in her daily life.

F received her Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) in early 2023 but had been hesitant to seek help until a pivotal moment – our 3-month follow-up call. During this conversation, our  team member had a detailed discussion with F about her experiences and challenges. All staff on the project are trained to provide emotional support at the same time as trying to help people practically to improve their lives. 

It quickly became evident that F was struggling with her mobility, both outside and within her own home. Her confidence and independence had disapeared as she hesitated to venture out independently, because when she did try to leave the house she frequently colliding with people and obstacles. F also revealed that her vision had deteriorated further, intensifying her difficulties at home.

If we had not followed up with F, we would not have known her needs had changed and that we were able to offer more support.  We discussed how both Henshaws and other organisations could help her. We were also able to make a referral to the sensory team for a white cane and a comprehensive assessment of F's needs. F shared her gratitude for the help when we rang her at the 6 month point, telling us:

"I feel so lucky, like the chosen one and privileged from everyone else who are in the same boat as me. You guys, the CVI Team, did the referral for me to the sensory team. Thank you so much for this. I have received my cane from them now.

"It makes life a lot easier now with this. When going out with my family to the shops/park. Before the cane, I used to bump into people; it was not nice. I was stopping, letting them go past me, then I used to continue my walk.

"Since receiving my cane and going out now with it, I don't bump into people anymore. It alerts them, they just move out of my way. They give me more room/space to walk. I feel more comfortable, confident, and independent now”

Henshaws now plan to document the learning and impact from this project - particularly in relation to how a proactive approach to helpline style services is more effective than a reactive approach - and share it both through their own networks and throughout the Deaf and disabled sector across Greater Manchester. 

Find out more about the GM inclusion grants to support Deaf and disabled people.

Find out more about Henshaws

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