RNIB NI Children and Families Service Events October – December 2016

Working in partnership with Angel Eyes NI

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EventsAngel Eyes NI Glitter Ball Date: Saturday 24 SeptemberVenue: Ramada Plaza Hotel, 117 Milltown Rd, Old Shaw’s Bridge, BT8 7XPTickets: £45 per head

Get ready for some glitz and glamour at our Glitter Ball. This wonderful evening will include a Prosecco reception, fabulous four-course dinner with a choice of red or white wine, photo booth and a disco!

Booking is simple, through the following link: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AngelEyesNIGlitterBall2016

Maiden Voyage Dance Company Performance of ‘Quartet for 15 Chairs’ – audio description available (ages 3 to 8)Date: Saturday 8 October 2.00pmVenue: The MAC, 10 Exchange Street, Belfast, BT1 2NJ Tickets: £6.00 eachFamily Tickets: £20.00 for four people

For more information please contact the Maiden Voyage Dance Company on 028 9033 0925

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Parent’s Information Evening – NewryDate: Wednesday 12 October 7.00pm – 9.00pmVenue: Ballybot House, 28 Cornmarket, Newry, BT35 8BG

Contact Roisin for more information

Family Bowling outing – Dundonald (ages 5 to12)Date: Saturday 15 October 11.00am – 1.00pm Venue: Dundonald Ice Bowl, 111 Old Dundonald Road, Belfast, BT16 1XT

A great day out for the family with a good old game of bowling. Lunch provided.

For more information or to book please contact Charlene or Laura

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Parent’s Information Evening – DungannonDate: Tuesday 18 October 7.00pm – 9.00pmVenue: Ranfurly Arts and Visitor Centre, 26 Market Square, Dungannon, BT70 1AB

Our Realise Project Coordinator Donna McNicholl will be coming along to talk about the opportunities with the project, including IT/careers support, one-to-one lessons in music/swimming and more. If you have previously been in touch with the project we would also love to hear your feedback and views on how we should shape future services.

Contact Roisin for more information

Maiden Voyage Dance Company Performance of ‘Quartet for 15 Chairs’ – audio description available (ages 3 to 8)Date: Tuesday 18 October 10.00am or 11.15am. Venue: Theatre at the Mill, Mossley Mill, Carnmoney Road North, Newtownabbey, BT36 5QATickets: £4.00 each

For more information please contact the Maiden Voyage Dance Company on 028 9033 0925

Realise Project IT Workshop (ages 8 to 16)Date: Saturday 22 October 10.30am – 12.30pmVenue: RNIB Derry Office, First Floor, Embassy Building, 3 Strand Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 7BH

Come along and learn about assistive technology, new apps for iPad, Zoom text, or have a go at touch typing. Parents/carers/ classroom assistants/teachers welcome to observe.

For more information or to book please contact Donna

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Family Insight Education Workshop - Supporting your child’s learning at homeDate: Saturday 22 October 12.00 – 4.30pm Venue: Rosspark Hotel, Kells, Ballymena, BT42 3LZ

This exciting event will include practical ideas on how to best support and extend your child’s learning at home. Speakers will include professional teachers, a classroom assistant and a parent’s perspective. We will discuss practical tips on supporting numeracy and literacy including ‘Tools for School’. There will be an opportunity for parents to share their ideas and a question and answer session.

Hot lunch served at 12.00pm, event followed by refreshments.

Spaces are limited so booking is essential. Please contact Karen at Angel Eyes NI

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Parent’s information evening – PortadownDate: Wednesday 26 October 7.00pm – 9.00pmVenue: Cherrytrees Resource Centre, 1A Edenderry Gardens, Portadown, BT63 5EA

Contact Roisin for more information

Halloween Play TimeDate: Saturday 29 October 11.00am Venue: Castle Island Enniskillen, Carron House, Quay Pass, Enniskillen, BT74 6AG

“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.” Kids soft play, talk and tea, dress up and party with RNIB.

For more information or to book please contact Charlene or Laura

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Halloween Family Festival (for all the family)Date: Monday 31 October 10.00am – 4.00pmVenue: Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, 153 Bangor Road, Holywood, BT18 0EU

Magic shows and fancy dress competition. Sample traditional fayres and learn more about how families celebrated All Hallows’ Eve in the early 1900s. Be wary of the witch around the railways and the old hag that haunts Ballycultra town! Visit the owls who have taken up residence in the Rail Galleries surrounded by majestic trains. Their infamous drama finale will end the day and is not to be missed! Transport may be available.

For more information or to book please contact Charlene, Laura or Roisin

Parent Information Evening - Support in the eye clinic and benefits supportDate: Monday 2 November 7.00pm Venue: Cookstown Leisure Centre, 78 Foundation Road, Cookstown, BT80 8QF

Laura Irwin, RNIB NI Welfare Rights Officer, will provide information on benefits available for your child with sight loss and you as carers.

Our Paediatric Eye Care Liaison Officer Andie Morrow will also be on hand to go through the registration process and give a general overview on the QTVI assessments for your child. Andie works with the Children’s Consultants at the Royal Victoria Hospital referring into Sensory Support and Vision Support Teachers.

For more information or to book please contact Charlene

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Movie and Munchies Night Date: Friday 11 November 6.00pm Venue: Ballymena IMC, Larne Road Link, Ballymena, BT42 3HA

Movie TBC. We will be going for food in Frankie and Benny’s afterwards.

For more information or to book please contact Charlene

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Family Weekend (children with standalone sight loss) Date: Friday 11 – Sunday 13 November Venue: Lusty Beg Island, Enniskillen, BT93 8AD

Tailored for families of children with sight loss, this is a fun weekend for the whole family, whilst offering a break to parents. As always, places for this weekend are in demand. Priority will be given to those families who have yet to attend a weekend.

For more information or to book please contact Laura

Realise Project Weekend Away (ages 17 to 20)Date: Friday 18 – Sunday 20 NovemberVenue: Lusty Beg Island, Enniskillen, BT93 8AD

A free weekend away to experience some off-road driving, archery, speed boating and team work. You can also chill out at the pool or sauna or just relax in the beautiful surroundings of Lusty Beg Island.

For more information or to book please contact Donna

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Angel Eyes NI Gourmet Evening Date: Friday 2 December 7.00pmVenue: Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office, Corporation Square, Belfast, BT1 3AL Tickets: £100 per person

Join us for a unique celebration of local food and drink in a beautiful historic setting as the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink draws to a close. Signature dishes from leading chefs, auction and much more.

Contact Frances or visit campaign.justgiving.com/charity/angeleyesni/harbour-commissioners-evening

Meet Santa and Travel on the Winterland Express at W5Date: Saturday 3 December 11.00am Venue: Odyssey Pavilion, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ

It’s the most wonderful time of year and something mystical and magical is happening at W5. From a miniature train ride to seasonal crafts and a magical Santa experience, unwrap a festive adventure for all this Christmas at W5. Please bring a packed lunch.

This is sure to be a popular event so book early to avoid disappointment. For more information please contact Roisin, Charlene or Laura

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Santa at the Folk ParkWhen: Saturday 10 December 11.30am Where: Ulster American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Road, Omagh, BT78 5QU

Back by popular demand. We are off to take a turn of Christmas past, have story time with the mummers, visit the toy maker, feed Santa’s reindeer and visit the man himself. He might have a little something for you!

For more information or to book please contact Laura

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Pantomime Time – The Gingerbread Mix-Up Date: Sunday 11 DecemberTimes: 12.15pm – Touch Tour, show starts 1.30pm Venue: Lyric Theatre, 55 Ridgeway Street, Belfast, BT9 5FBTickets: £5 each, please email or phone Frances at Angel Eyes NI.

Meet Primrose: apple of her Dad’s eye, bane of her Mum’s life, all-round little monster. Cast out in the forest with only her Nintendo for company, Primrose meets Pardon – cool cat turned witch’s assistant, with a promising sideline in Big Bad Wolf impersonations. Can Pardon save Primrose from the evil old witch’s cooking pot? Will the witch find out who’s been eating her gingerbread house? Will Primrose ever finish level 4 of Bandor, Master of Neverworld? Find out in The Gingerbread Mix-Up, only at the Lyric this Christmas.

Places are limited. A refundable deposit will secure your place.

Please contact Frances at Angel Eyes NI

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Cinderella Pantomime – Derry/Londonderry (relaxed performance)Date: Sunday 18 December 5.30pm Venue: Millennium Forum, Newmarket Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6EB

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!! Come and have a ball at the biggest panto in the North West! Step into Christmas and have a truly magical family experience at the Forum with the fun-filled pantomime, Cinderella.

Tickets are limited. For more information contact Laura

Cinderella Pantomime – Belfast (relaxed performance)Date: Wednesday 11 January 6.00pm Venue: Grand Opera House, 2-4 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7HR

RNIB have reserved front row seats at the Grand Opera House’s annual pantomime performance of Cinderella. Packed with all of the traditional pantomime ingredients Grand Opera House audiences expect, Cinderella features laugh out loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses. Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very ugly sisters and meets her dashing Prince Charming. The clock is ticking, so book your tickets now!

As always priority will be given to families who were not at last year’s Panto. Contact Roisin, Charlene or Laura to book

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Ongoing activitiesRNIB Realise project one to one support • One-to-one taster sessions in extracurricular activities such

as swimming, music, horse riding etc for ages 8 to 16 years.• One-to-one taster sessions in technology support for ages

8 to 20 years.• One-to-one guidance in subject choice or career support for

ages 13 to 20 years.

For more information please contact Donna

Realise Project Duke of Edinburgh Award The Realise Project is now taking bookings for Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award which is due to start in October 2016.

For more information please contact Donna

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Angel Eyes NI Regular Clubs and Groups The Saturday Club (ages 4 to 18) Date: Every 3 weeks, Saturday 24 September, 15 October, 5 and 26 November, and 17 December (Christmas Party)Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pmVenue: Jordanstown School, 85 Jordanstown Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QE

Our Saturday club is getting bigger and better. The club offers families a chance to come together for an afternoon where the children get a chance to try out new sports, crafts, life skills including baking and have the fun of making new friendships and gaining confidence. At the same time, parents get together to hear a guest speaker or simply to enjoy a bit of peer support and a chance to talk with Angel Eyes NI’s in-house experts.

The first session will have sport from DSNI and a Clayotic Workshop.

Booking is essential to ensure we have the appropriate level of support. To book please email tricia.butler@angeleyesni.org

* If you are new to the club, please contact Frances at Angel Eyes NI on 028 9094 1632 or email info@angeleyesni.org and we will send you a one-off registration form.

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Sunday Sports Club Date: Sunday 25 September, Sunday 6 November Time: 2.30pm – 3.30pm Venue: Foyle Arena, 2 Limavady Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6JY

This is a great way for families to come together for an hour when the parents can catch up over a cuppa while the children have lots of fun trying new sports with trained coaches, with support from DSNI.

For more information please contact Frances at Angel Eyes NI

In Tune workshops with Open Arts (ages 5+)Venue: Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 3AA

For more details on dates and times, please contact Frances at the Angel Eyes NI office on 028 9094 1632 or email info@angeleyesni.org

Parents and Toddler GroupsPlease come and join us at a group nearest you. Have a cuppa and a scone and let the little ones have fun with lots of sensory toys. Open to children aged from birth to four and their parents/carers.

Parent and Tots AntrimDate: Wednesday 12 October, 16 November, 14 December Time: 11.00am – 12.30pmVenue: Funky Monkeys, Junction One, 111 Ballymena Road,Antrim, BT41 4LL

Please contact Charlene to book

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Parents and Tots Jordanstown Dates: Thursday 27 October, 24 November, 15 December Time: 11.00am – 12.30pmVenue: Jordanstown School, 85 Jordanstown Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QE

Please contact Charlene to book

Parents and Tots NewryDates: Friday 21 October Time: 10.30am – 12.00pmVenue: Orana Centre, 2 Warrenpoint Road, Newry, BT34 2PF

This event, in partnership with Surestart, invites parents/carers of children with sight and/or hearing loss and additional needs to come and meet others in a similar situation. Each month we have a set theme and activity for children and parents to have fun with.

For more information contact Roisin

Parent and Tots LurganDates: Last Thursday of each month - 29 September, 20 October, 10 November, 8 December.Venue: The Links, 23A Castle Lane, Lurgan, Craigavon BT67 9BD

We have sessions coming up with Relax kids, Access Technology, Arts and crafts making and much more. The group is in partnership with Splash Surestart and Mencap.

For more information contact Roisin

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Time To Play Groups We would like to make you aware of the Family Focus – Time To Play groups, a new opportunity for children aged from birth to four to come together in a fun environment that provides habilitation assessment and learning through play. The groups will provide the opportunity to access specialist help and advice for you and your child through play, art, music therapy and much more. The Time To Play groups will feed into the parent and toddler groups already in operation, where possible.

These sessions are in partnership with Guide Dogs, Blind Children UK (NI), Angel Eyes NI and Sense and are being facilitated through funding from the Big Lottery.

For more information please contact:Angel Eyes NI – Paula Robson on 028 9094 1633 or email paula.robson@angeleyesni.orgBCUK(NI) – 0845 3727 402 or email northernireland@blindchildrenuk.org Sense – Colette Gray on 028 9083 3430

Funded by the Big Lottery in Northern Ireland, Family Insight is a five-year project led by RNIB NI in partnership with Angel Eyes NI.The Realise Project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Empowering Young People Programme.

Contact usRNIB Roisin Meagher – Southern Trust Family Officer 028 9033 4122 or 07939 300 949Charlene Brunty – Northern Trust Family Officer028 9033 4117 or 07772 693 446Laura McCauley – Family Insight Project Coordinator (Belfast, South Eastern and Western Trust Areas)028 9032 9373 or 07710 066 727Donna McNicholl – Realise Project Coordinator (ages 8 to 20)028 7122 9545 or 07889 301 949

Angel Eyes NI Paula Robson 028 9094 1633 or paula.robson@angeleyesni.orgKaren Wilson – Education Advocate (Family Insight Project)028 9094 1634 or karen.wilson@angeleyesni.orgFrances Boyd028 9094 1632 or 07735 059 763info@angeleyesni.org

© Action for Blind People registered charity number 205913 and SC040050