Kent Association for the Blind

02/09/2025

MESS ROOM CIC are working in partnership with Medway Council's Heritage Place Team to ensure voices of marginalised communities and Heritage partners are heard and fed into a new Heritage Strategy for Medway.

They want to find out more about accessibility at Medway's Heritage sites. Please help them, by filling out this survey: https://forms.gle/jSVZcRJwaBcv36Br6

If you have any problems accessing the survey or would prefer a phone call to record your responses then please email: mail@messroom.org.uk

MESS ROOM are working in partnership with Medway Council's Heritage Place Team to ensure voices of marginalised communities and Heritage partners are heard and fed into a new Heritage Strategy for Medway. GDPR STATEMENT This survey is being run by the Mess Room as part of Medway Council's Heritage P...

01/09/2025

The UK’s Emergency Alerts system will be tested on Sunday 7 September at 3pm.

Emergency Alerts is a UK government system that provides warning and advice in a life threatening emergency, such as severe flooding or extreme storms.

The test will take place on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm. The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send you an alert.

When you get an emergency alert, your mobile phone or tablet may make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent, it may vibrate or read out the alert. The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have an emergency alert if accessibility notifications have been enabled on your mobile phone or tablet.

Image description: Screenshot of the UK Gov website on the Emergency Alerts page. The text reads: Emergency Alerts - We are testing the UK's Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September at 3pm.

23/08/2025

Extant Theatre is offering a Thinker-in-Residence (Internship) as part of the Pocklington Trust Get Set Progress scheme. This is a 9-month full time internship with pay at £13.85 per hour. The intern will be an imaginative, dynamic, and articulate visually impaired person with experience of working outside of the performing arts. For this role, there isn’t really a formal job description with a prescribed set of tasks or person specification, because they don’t know what will be different at the end of the internship. They want to meet people who’re excited about this possibility.

Applications close on Wednesday 10th September, 10am.

Full information is available here: https://extant.org.uk/thinker-in-residence-internship

22/08/2025

Play our weekly lottery from just £1 a week to be in with a chance of winning £25,000!

Play now: https://kab.unitypayments.co.uk/play

Our work at this time is as vital as ever, so here is a fun way to give, which is a win for us, and for you! By playing our lottery you are in with a chance of winning every week, while we receive all important funds.

Operated by Unity Lottery, you will be allocated your own unique 6-digit number, selected completely at random. The more numbers you purchase, the more chances you have to win.

The draw will take place every Friday, with winning numbers being selected at random. To win, you need to match three, four, five, or all six of the digits of the winning numbers in the same positions as those drawn.

Players must be 18 or over to play. Winners will be notified by post, and cash prizes will be sent by cheque.

Sign up today: https://kab.unitypayments.co.uk/play

Image Description:
Three circular images. One contains a small child walking on a path with her cane. One shows three ladies outside a shop, holding their canes. The last shows a man holding a shopping bag next to a KAB staff member. The text reads KAB Lottery, with lottery balls dotted around the words. The GambleAware logo appears and the 18+ circular icon.

22/08/2025

As part of our children's activities, we took some visually impaired children and their families to Action Watersports for some fun on the lake. Jen, our Children's Worker, told us: "This was an amazing session and all the families had a good time. The first 50 minutes was spent with the inflatables and the 1 hour spent with the boats riding the banana boat and the couch boat. Di and her staff were amazing and very attentive, ensuring each child and adult had a good experience. For the children who were not sure, she offered reassurance and encouragement. At the end of the session Di spoke to each child to make sure they enjoyed their time."

The video shows a couch boat inflatable being towed to the back of a speedboat, with six passengers.

22/08/2025

"I lost my eyesight in 2024 due to a hereditary condition. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to tackle in my life."

After weeks of delays due to poor weather conditions, Richard finally fulfilled a desire to do a tandem skydive. On Sunday 17th August, he took to the skies and fell from over 10,000ft at up to 125mph.

Richard has raised over £2,000 so far for KAB for this challenge, which is an incredible amount. Congratulations Richard and well done for completing a formidable challenge.

You can still support Richard on his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/richard-pownall-skydive

Image descriptions:
Richard mid fall and smiling to camera. The instructor on his back has his hands outstretched either side of Richard's ears, making the OK sign.

Richard after the skydive, standing with his instructor. Both are wearing their jumpsuits. The instructor is wearing his helmet and glasses. There is a parachute in the background.

The inside of the plane, as Richard is getting ready to make his jump. Richard is already attached to the instructor, who is behind him. Richard is waving. Other skydive participants are present on the plane.

22/08/2025

Huge congratulations to both Hazel, our Chair of Trustees, and to Owen for completing the Superhero Series Triathlon.

Hazel tells us: “It was fantastic meeting Owen and his mum at the Superhero Tri. I also took part and it was such an example of inclusion in action.”

Owen has been fundraising for KAB and you can support him here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/o-west-22?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=EM

Image descriptions: Hazel stands on a beach wearing a black cape. She is standing behind Owen who is seated in his wheelchair with a gold cape and KAB top.  there are lots of participants in the background. yeah, the photo shows Hazel wearing a wetsuit and swimming cap as she is running on the paved area during the race.

21/08/2025

Peer support is about connecting people with shared experience to create an encouraging and understanding safe space.

KAB’s online Peer Support Group is user-led and is a welcoming group for members to share experiences and useful information to support one another.

The weekly group will take place via Microsoft Teams and is open to adults who have received a service from KAB.

If you'd like to find out when the next group is running or want more information, or simply want to sign up please contact counselling@kab.org.uk

Image description: Close up of someone looking at their laptop and on a video call with six people. Text below in a red box reads: Peer Support Group

19/08/2025

Tomorrow (Wednesday 20th August), we'll be bringing our Iris vehicle to the Dartford Masonic Hall, 71 West Hill, Dartford, DA1 2HJ. Come and meet our staff at any time between 10am and 3pm. We'd love to chat to you and find out how we can support you further.

Image description:
Side view of the Iris vehicle parked in the drive of KAB offices. The awning is out, the side door is open with people inside the vehicle and the ramp is out.

19/08/2025

Do you need to chat to the KAB team? Can we support you further? Need help with technology? Come and meet the Iris team today (Tuesday 19th August) at anytime between 10am and 3pm at the East Malling Centre, Chapman Way, East Malling, ME19 6SD, No booking required.

Image description:
The Iris red vehicle parked up outside the KAB office. The awning is out and the side door is open. The ramp is out too.

18/08/2025

We are disappointed by the recent “blind challenge” trend circulating on TikTok, where individuals are filmed with their child, who is pretending to be blind in pursuit of a fictional reward. While these videos may be intended as harmless fun, they are disrespectful to people who live with a visual impairment.

Mocking or mimicking someone who is visually impaired for entertainment reinforces harmful stereotypes and trivializes the real experiences and challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people. Pretending to be blind is neither funny nor appropriate.
We urge content creators and parents to think about the message these videos send.

Please help us teach young people about empathy, kindness and difference. Let’s work together to build a more respectful and inclusive online community.

Image description: Red background and in large white lettering reads: Pretending to be blind is wrong. Our KAB logo appears in white at the bottom.