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Read stories about the people we support, find out what’s coming up, and useful contacts and information in our Winter 2025 newsletter.
Winter 2025 Newsletter
Contents
– Upcoming Events
– A Message From Mark
– Winter Appeal – Read Robert’s Story
– Green Walks
– Social Groups
– How to Save Energy this Winter
– Children and Young People Update
– Introducing Liz Stone
– Volunteer With Us – Why Does Maureen?
– Tech Update
– Get Online, Get Connected Workshops
– How to Stay Safe this Winter
– Museums and Touch Tours
– Thank you to MQF
– Download the Winter 2025 Newsletter
Robert with his thumbs up, wearing a MyVision t-shirt and a medal after just completing Walk Oxford in support of MyVision.
“Going to MyVision just feels right”
Upcoming Events
Museums and Touch Tours
- Ashmolean Museum: 13th November.
- Blenheim Palace: 5th December.
- Creation Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’: 6th December.
- Touch Tour and Pantomime: Didcot Cornerstone – 27th December.
- Weston Library: 8th January.
- Weston Library: 10th February.
ActivEyes Events
Pub Social:
- 20th November, 18th December, 15th January, 19th February, 19th March.
Visually Impaired Tennis:
- 27th November, 18th December, 22nd January, 26th February, 26th March.
In the Community
- Oxford Get Connected: 11th November.
- Himalayan singing sound bowls session: Abingdon – 18th November.
- Faringdon Audio Cinema: Corn Exchange – 26th November.
- Nuffield Place: 11th December.
- Gaining Confidence Workshop: Didcot – 7th January.
- Transport Workshop: Didcot – 11th February.
- Woodstock Get Connected: 24th February.
A Message From Mark, Our CEO
Recent feedback from our Green Walks has shown that 96% of participants felt their mental health had improved, and 92% said they felt less lonely after attending. Loneliness has become something of an epidemic in recent years; I was recently told that its impact on our mental and physical wellbeing is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day – a truly harrowing thought.
Many blind and visually impaired people are feeling the effects of loneliness, and I’m so proud that our work continues to bring people together, build confidence, and improve mental health and wellbeing. If you’re feeling isolated, or simply need someone to talk to, please do reach out – we’re here for you.
A big thank you to everyone who took part in our Life With Sight Loss survey. We’ll be sharing the results with you next year, along with how your feedback is helping us improve outcomes for blind and visually impaired people across Oxfordshire.
One of the people we’ve supported recently is Robert, whose story you can read about in our Winter Appeal. I hope you find it inspiring – and if you’re able to, we’d be so grateful for your donation to help us continue our vital work.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas – and I look forward to seeing you in 2026!
Mark.
Green Walks Groups
Didcot – Cornerstone Arts Centre at 11am.
- 14th November, 27th November, 12th December, 9th January, 29th January, 13th February, 26th February.
Abingdon – Coffee Aroma at 11am.
- 10th November, 12th January, 9th February.
Banbury – Mill Arts Centre at 10:30am.
- 19th November, 3rd December, 17th December, 7th January, 21st January, 4th February, 18th February.
Witney – Waitrose at 10:30am.
- 20th November, 4th December, 18th December, 8th January, 22nd January, 5th February, 19th February.
Bicester – at 10:30. Location changes monthly.
- 10th November, 8th December, 12th January, 9th February.
East Oxford – Flo’s Café in the Park at 10am.
- 26th November, 27th January, 22nd February.
Oxford – Meeting at 1:30pm.
- University Parks – 11th November, 9th December.
- Bradbury Lodge – 13th January, 12th February.
A lady on one of our Banbury Green Walks, walking on a path in a park with cane.
“Green Walks have helped me gain confidence using my cane and realise I’m not the only visually impaired person around.”
Social Groups
We have loads of groups meeting up this Winter. From coffee and catch ups, to well-being sessions and VI tennis, there is something for everyone. Click the button below to find a group near you.
How to Save Energy this Winter
Our Top 6 Tips for How to Save Energy In Winter
Tip 1: Check for Draughts
Draughts are a major cause of heat loss, making your home feel cold even when the heating is on. For instance, check for gaps around windows, doors, and even letterboxes. You can use self-adhesive foam strips or fabric draught excluders to block these gaps. Use the back of your hand to feel for cold air coming from gaps. This is a very effective way to find them. You can get a draught excluder from Amazon for under £10.
Tip 2: Get to Know Your Heating Controls
Adjusting your thermostat by just one degree can save you money. Also, using a timer to heat your home only when you need it is a great way to be more efficient. Don’t forget that using your smart meter can help you monitor usage.
There are heating controls and thermostats that you can operate with your voice using a smart speaker. This means you can easily change the temperature without needing to see a display.
Tip 3: Layer Up with Warm Clothes
This simple tip is often the most effective. Put on an extra jumper or a pair of thick socks. The more layers you wear, the less you’ll need to rely on the central heating.
Tip 4: Make Your Radiators Work Better
Ensure furniture isn’t blocking your radiators, as this stops heat from getting into the room. Also, you can easily check if a radiator is working correctly by touching it. If the bottom is warm but the top is cold, it needs bleeding, which requires a radiator key to do so. When you bleed it, listen for the hissing sound of air escaping. The sound will stop when the water starts to come out. Only do this when the heating is turned OFF. Furthermore, you can add reflective foil behind the radiator, which reflects the heat back into the room. Finally, adding a radiator valve can help by adjusting the temperature of each individual radiator in your home.
Tip 5: Insulate Your Home
Proper insulation in your loft and walls will trap heat inside your home, keeping you warmer for longer. Moreover, it’s a great long-term investment that will help you save energy in winter.
Tip 6: Close Your Curtains at Dusk
Closing your curtains as it gets dark acts as an extra layer of insulation, trapping the heat inside your home. It’s a simple trick that can prevent a significant amount of warmth from escaping through your windows.
Click the image link below to read the full article.
Children and Young People
Our Children and Young People’s (CYP) group has had an incredibly busy and fun-filled summer. We’ve organised a range of engaging events designed to provide diverse, accessible and enriching experiences. It’s been great to see everyone so involved and enjoying themselves.
Our recent trips have included:
- A visit to Lush for a bath bomb making workshop, where we got to mix ingredients and experiment with different scents.
- An educational trip to Crocodiles of the World to learn all about reptiles and crocs in their natural-like habitats.
- A walk through Boundary Brook nature reserve to connect with nature, listening to the different species of birds and smelling the various plants and flowers.
- A narrow boat trip on the ‘Dancing Duck’ near Banbury on the canal, which was a very relaxing and enjoyable journey.
- An immersive experience at the Oxford Story Museum, which brought stories to life while exploring different themed rooms and getting to interact with the exhibits.
Here are some upcoming CYP events:
- Harry Potter studios: 30th November at 4pm. This is a Christmas themed tour of the studios.
- Dear Santa Aylesbury Theatre: 23rd December. This is a live show, where you can even meet Santa.
A girl at a CYP trip to Lush holding up a bath bomb she made.
Contact Info@MyVision.org.uk for more information
Introducing Liz Stone: Our New Volunteer Coordinator
Hello, I am Liz and I am very excited to be joining the team at MyVision. I have worked in the charity sector and supported volunteers for a number of years and am excited to use my experience in my new role as Volunteer Coordinator. I have benefitted personally from the work of volunteers, have been a volunteer myself, and for the last 5 years have worked as Volunteer Coordinator at Dogs for Good in Banbury. I am passionate about bringing people together to make life more possible for others in their local community and I am looking forward to working with the staff and volunteer team at MyVision Oxfordshire, to continue the great work of the charity.
Liz Stone smiling at the camera in front of a tree
Volunteer With Us – Why Does Maureen?
Maureen smiling at the camera
When Maureen moved to Oxfordshire, she wanted to make a meaningful difference, but she soon discovered that the rewards of volunteering go both ways.
Maureen started by providing practical support, helping people with sight loss get out, socialise at groups, and enjoy day trips to places like Blenheim Palace.
As Maureen put it, the people she met “helped me more than anything.”
If you’re looking for an opportunity where your time truly makes a difference while enriching your own life with unique experiences and friendships, we would love to welcome you to the MyVision volunteer team.
Tech Update
The world of accessible technology is constantly improving, and we have two exciting updates in this Winter 2025 Newsletter, that promise to make your daily life and online experiences much simpler. From getting immediate help with physical objects to enjoying clearer websites and powerful new screen reader features, here is the latest news.
Be My Eyes: Faster Help is Here
The Be My Eyes Service Directory is expanding in the UK, offering much quicker and clearer support for everyday problems. This feature connects you instantly from within the Be My Eyes app to a trained agent at a participating company via a secure video call. The agent can see exactly what your phone’s camera is pointing at, eliminating the frustrating guesswork often involved in describing cables, confusing labels, or complicated self-service machines.
Currently, BT and EE are piloting this directory for blind and visually impaired customers, making troubleshooting things like a broadband router much easier. Tesco has also launched a six-month pilot for in-store assistance, allowing you to quickly get help confirming product details, such as ingredients or ‘use by’ dates.
If you plan to use this, a quick 30-second pre-call routine helps. Clear a small space, turn on a nearby lamp, and hold your phone so the rear camera faces what you need help with. Move slowly and let the agent guide you!
Android TalkBack Gets Smarter with Gemini
The latest TalkBack updates, starting with TalkBack 15, introduce richer, Gemini-powered image descriptions. Since alt text is often missing from social media, messaging apps, and shopping sites, this new feature helps fill in the gaps by telling you more about what’s on screen.
On supported phones, you can trigger a description on demand and even ask follow-up questions, such as, “What colour is the jacket?” or “Are there people in the picture?”
Setting this up is straightforward: go to “Settings”, “Accessibility”, “TalkBack”, and then open “Image & icon descriptions” to choose your preferred options. Many people start by selecting “describe unlabelled images only”. This feature provides a powerful new way to understand visual content across your device.
If you would like a hand setting up the new TalkBack features or want to practise a mock Be My Eyes call, please do get in touch.
Call 01865 725 595 or email Info@MyVision.org.uk.
You can also visit Tech News to find the latest in Accessible Technology for blind and visually impared people.
You can also find out more specifically on Be My Eyes and Android Talkback on our AI Accessibility Features for Visually Impaired People post.
Get Online, Get Connected Workshops
Want to feel more confident using your phone or tablet?
Our small and hands-on Get Online, Get Connected Workshops show you practical ways your device can help with everyday tasks.
These include using your iPhone/iPad as a magnifier, reading letters and labels, sending texts and emails with your voice (Siri), trying the Seeing AI app, browsing safely, and turning on accessibility settings like Larger Text, Zoom, and VoiceOver. Sessions are relaxed, jargon-free, and led by our Technology & Equipment team, Jamie or Andreas. Bring your own device if you have one. We will also have demo devices and plenty of one-to-one support.
When and Where?
- Oxford Get Connected Workshop: 11th November, at Bradbury Lodge, 10am – 2pm.
- Woodstock Get Connected Workshop: 24th February, venue TBC.
Jamie showing a lady how to use her iPhone as a magnifier, to read a letter. They are at a Get Connected Workshop.
How to Stay Safe this Winter
Winter brings ice, snow, and low light, creating unique hazards. Being prepared is vital for navigating the colder months confidently.
Here are 8 useful tips to help you stay safe this winter.
Preparation & Gear:
1. Plan Your Route using navigation apps, checking if paths are gritted, or contacting local councils for snow clearing schedules.
2. Use the Right Cane to feel for hidden ice and slush patches. Consider an Ambutech Pharos cane light for better visibility in the dark.
3. Wear Non-Slip Footwear with good grip to prevent slips.
4. Carry a Mobile Phone for emergencies, navigation, and as a built-in torch. A power bank is also useful, as GPS usage drains batteries faster.
5. Dress for Visibility with bright colours or reflective gear so drivers and cyclists can spot you more easily, especially on darker days.
6. Keep Hands Warm with gloves or mittens to maintain a firm grip on your cane.
7. Protect Your Eyes by wearing sunglasses. They reduce glare from the low sun, puddles, and reflective snow and ice.
8. Join a group like our Green Walks or Social Groups, to stay connected, stay confident and share tips with others, in a safe environment.
Click the image below to read the full guide.
Museums and Touch Tours
We are very lucky in Oxford to have some of the most brilliant museum collections in the world. The gardens, libraries and museums department at the University of Oxford offer monthly touch tours for blind and visually impaired people. These range in topics and rotate around various buildings within the department including the Natural History Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, the Bodleian Library and the Botanic Gardens with topics that have included Kafke, Shells, Ancient Egypt and the History of Disability. Events are usually held on the second Thursday of each month from 11-12 and MyVision Oxfordshire usually holds a social group in the nearest university café from 10-11. To find our more go to https://www.glam.ox.ac.uk/touch-tours-blind-and-partially-sighted.
Thank you to MQF Corporate Services LTD for sponsoring our Winter Appeal
*Thank you to MQF, Newmedica Ltd, 001 Taxis, Olamalu, Executive Alarms, Morgan Optometry, and our anonymous donors for providing the £5,000 of match funding for our Winter Appeal 2025.
Download the Winter 2025 Newsletter
Thank you for reading our Winter 2025 Newsletter. You can also download it as a PDF, Text only Word document, or listen to the audio version.
