Blind and partially sighted people face unique Covid-19 challenge

One of Greater Manchester’s oldest charities, Henshaws, has supported people with sight loss through the Spanish influenza of 1918 and is now supporting its community through the current coronavirus pandemic.

The restrictions required by us all since lockdown began on March 23 have consequences for people already facing challenges in their everyday lives through sight loss.

The charity knew that they needed to establish how their community were being affected, so they surveyed almost 1,000 blind and visually impaired people across GM and beyond in the first ten weeks of the lockdown to evidence the issues they are facing.

This report has now been published and shared with all 10 local authorities and key decision-makers across the region.

Key findings in the report show:

* The overwhelming majority of respondents had not been contacted by their local authority sensory team during the early stages of the pandemic.

* 41% of respondents had not received any of the public health messaging about Covid-19 in a format which is accessible to them (only 21% of respondents across our area had heard from Oldham Council).

* One quarter of respondents had been informed they are at very high risk from Covid-19 (extremely vulnerable and should be shielding).

* There is considerable variation across Greater Manchester with regard to the support people with sight loss received during this time.

Kevin Brady, Chair of the Henshaws Trustee Board, said: “We have shared our findings with our partners across GM, and all local authorities have now agreed to send priority information out to the 11,000+ people who are registered blind or partially sighted in their areas.

"But our findings raise critical questions which we must address to ensure we are better prepared to respond to the needs of our community in the future.”

Robert Cooper, Director of Community Services, added: “Our survey has revealed that many people within the sight loss community had to rely on the support of family, friends and neighbours during the initial lockdown phase.

"We want to ensure that blind and partially sighted people are not the forgotten community across Greater Manchester and the UK - charities like ourselves are playing a vital role in ensuring our community get the support they need.

"We now need an integrated approach between health and social care which fully includes and recognises charities to ensure support is in place to reduce the risks of the longer-term impacts this could have on our community.”

Henshaws have been supporting their service users through this challenging time with telephone advice and welfare checks, remote technology training, specialist counselling, support for children and families, and a volunteer-led befriending service.

Visit the website at: www.henshaws.org.uk or call 0300 222 5555 if you need support yourself or for a family member.

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