NEWSLETTER JUNE 2006

h.a.u.g.b.p.s.

held a forum for

organisations

involved with

visually impaired

people across

southern

Hampshire. Those

invited included

Shearwater, the Four Cs, Out of Focus,

Guide Dogs, Andover Association for the Visually

Impaired, Fareham Access Group, Southampton

Voluntary Services and the Talking Echo.

Those attending were able to ascertain what

each group or organisation did and to discuss

common concerns such as Transport, Health and

Discrimination.

H.A.U.G.B.P.S's aim was not only to get to know

others working for similar goals but also to

investigate what potential exists in co-operation

between such groups to progress the well being of

blind and partially sighted people.

The participants agreed to keep each other

informed of initiatives and campaigns in order to

maximise their effectiveness. A further meeting

will be held in due course.

DVD Breaks

New Ground!

Exon Mobil were

so impressed with

our DYD `Coping

With Sight Loss'

that they have

requested to draw

up a transcript of

the presentation

and publish it in

- their `in-house'

newsletter which

goes out to 20,000

of their employees.

FREE BUS TRAVEL -

WHO GETS WHAT?

In Portsmouth,Gosport, East

Hampshire the blind persons bus

pass entitles a registered `Blind'

person to free bus travel at all

times on all journeys that start

and finish in Hampshire. Havant

is similar except for;the time

restriction of only after 9 am

In-Southampton register blind

people are entitled to free fravel.

on buses at any time throughout

the County as long as they start

and finish the journey in

Southampton.

Partially Sighted people qualify

for the standard Smart Cities

card. They can travel free after 9

am and up to midnight only

within the City boundaries.

The 4 exceptions to this are

ASDA at Totten

Moor Green Hospital

Chartweil Green

The Airport

Extensions to these restrictions

are under consideration. The

definition of `partially sighted'

needs clarification.

The good news is that in 2 years

time bus travel will be free nation

wide for blind and partially

sighted people. Let's hope they

have decided the full dfinitions by

then!

Southampton's

Smart Cities Card

From lstApnl 2006,

Southampton's new `Smart CitIes

Cards' will not only cover the free

bus pass for senior citizens and blind

people but users will also be able to

have incorporated the new `Leisure' card, their library card and ~

and organ donor card.

Southampton's New

Leisure Card

The free leisure pass for residents that receive benefits

willdiscontinue This will be replaced

by the Bonus Pass.

The Bonus Pass wilt offer holders a

maximum charge of £2 for non

instructed off peak activities. Peak

use will still be charged at the

standard rates.

The leisure pass which offers 10%

discounr will bw discontinued

but current leisure pass holders will

still receive this discount until it's

expiry date. I

If anybody wishing to comment on

the above they can write to the:

The Leisure Card Manager

The White House

Sports Centre.

Thornhill Rd

Bassett S016 7AY