Deafblind UK Volunteer

Update - June 2025 

Welcome to your Volunteers’ Update, designed to provide you with information and updates to support you in your role!

If you have any feedback about this newsletter, or if there is anything specific that you would like to read about then please contact our Volunteering Team on 01733 973 466 or email volunteering@deafblind.org.uk.

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Next week marks the start of Volunteers’ Week 2025. Every year millions of people across the UK volunteer their time to help causes and organisations and next week is all about recognising the fantastic contribution volunteers like you make to our Deafblind UK family and to say thank you.

All of you, in whatever role you are in, from fundraiser, befriender or trustee, have made a very real impact on what we can achieve and how we can improve the lives of those living with sight and hearing loss. Every day, we hear how people like you are making a positive difference through our contacts with Deafblind UK members, and we’ve been particularly struck by how many volunteers have remained with us since the Covid pandemic. During that first lockdown, we were inundated with offers of help and welcomed a huge number of new volunteers into the charity. I’ve been touched by seeing so many 5 year of volunteering certificates go out in the post just recently. It perfectly illustrates the dedication and commitment of our volunteers.

However long you have been with us, your time is incredibly valuable to us and during Volunteers’ Week we want you to know how much we appreciate everything you do. We will never forget that you give your time freely and that without your continued support we just wouldn’t be able to provide the much-needed help to so many of our members.

So to all of you….thank you!

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Befriending Drop In

On Wednesday June 4th at 2pm, Befriending Officer, Raine, will be hosting an online drop-in session for all you amazing befrienders. This will be an opportunity to meet online and share your feedback and stories around your role but, more importantly, to meet your fellow befrienders! To register for this session, simply click here and you will receive joining details. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87909934332?jst=1

 

 

Introducing the Deafblind UK Rainbow Run!

We’re excited to announce the launch of the brand-new Deafblind UK Rainbow Run, taking place at Nene Park, Peterborough on Sunday 7 September 2025!

The Rainbow Run invites you to join the energetic atmosphere of hundreds of fellow rainbow runners, jogging, walking or wheeling their way around a 3K or 5K course. Along the way, the colourful mayhem will build as participants pass through clouds of brightly coloured powder paint at each of our colour stations, before reaching the finish line as a multi-coloured masterpiece!

Take part or volunteer

Early bird entry is now live, with family savings available, so please do help to spread the word among your networks, family and friends! Let’s get everyone talking about the Deafblind UK Rainbow Run! Click here to sign up today!

We also need lots of brilliant volunteers to help us on the day in roles such as registration, t-shirts and merchandise desk, route marshals, and colour chuckers. So, please do get in touch with Megan in fundraising at megan.evans@deafblind.org.uk or call 07950 033648 to let us know if you can help.

 

Volunteer Information Session – Introduction to Accessible Technology

Many of you have expressed interest in finding out more about what tech support is available to those with impaired sight and hearing. In a start to what we hope will be a series of learning sessions, Digital Inclusion Lead, Tonicha, will be hosting an informative and useful talk, Introduction to Accessible Tech on Monday 30th June at 11am. To register to attend, click on the link below https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kwUu73E6SbCx7WExKrNAtQ

 

 

 

 

New Tech Support Surgery

If you or anyone you support is grappling with a tech related problem, please make them aware of our regular online Tech Support Surgery. These take place fortnightly on a Friday from 2.00-4.00pm for on the spot tech support. Our upcoming dates are:

• 13th June
• 27th June
• 11th July

To find out more about these and other upcoming events go to https://deafblind.org.uk/events/ or email digitalnclusion@deafblind.org.uk. 

 

 

Deafblind Awareness Sessions

Sensory Support Officer, Andrew Barnes, continues his Deafblind Awareness sessions and will be joined by one of our members who will be sharing their story and experiences of their own sight and hearing loss. These sessions are a great opportunity to increase your understanding about the impact of deafblindness and we strongly recommend that all volunteers attend a session if they can.

The next available courses will take place on:

• Monday 9th June 14.00 – 15.30
• Wednesday 9th July 11.00 – 12.30

To register to attend, simply use this link and add your details! https://forms.office.com/e/JQxcHiQJL2

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