Joyce had to wait several months for Helen Basson the Purbeck Home Visiting Coordinator to find her a suitable person, but Joyce could not be happier now she has Francesca to visit her.
“Francesca is marvellous,” says Joyce. “She is kind, very helpful, and a good friend. I just can’t wait for her next visit. She is full of energy and has made me feel like a new woman. We have such fun, and I would hate not to have her in my life. I think Helen did an excellent job matching us up, and I am so thankful for her organising it all”.
Francesca is just as happy about being Joyce’s visitor.
“It gives me the hugest of pleasure to visit Joyce, and I find her so sweet and very interesting to listen to. We always seem to have fun and Joyce is always so upbeat about things. We have become good friends, and I so look forward to my next visit. Helen has been so supportive and has found us both the perfect match”.
Other Testimonials we have received...
Ruby from Longburton says,
“I was delighted when DBA introduced me to Janet two and a half years ago. I do not live near my son and family, seeing them every 2 months, and although I could call on neighbours to read my correspondence I felt I could not bother them too much. As well as reading correspondence Janet also completes forms for me and addresses envelopes. At Christmas she also addresses my cards and writes labels for parcels. She is not only a great help with small tasks such as threading needles, checking fire alarms, clothes for stains etc. and explaining documents to me, but I also count her as one of my best friends.”
Celia from Sherborne who is in a care home says,
“Janet not only helps with seemingly small tasks such as filing, addressing envelopes, watering plants, posting small parcels etc which are not possible for somebody who is partially paralysed, she also reads books to me and is a bridge to the outside world, providing a snap shop view of it totally different to life in the home.”
Jess Shepherd from Wimborne says,
“I am most grateful for everything the Dorset Blind Association does. I have been given help & advice by two Home Visiting Coordinators & am fortunate to have visits by volunteers. Dave Palmer came out to me quite late one evening & helped me with my telephone. He is very efficient & doesn’t complain.”
May Ogden from Wimborne says
“I would not have been able to cope over the past few months without the help of my Home Visiting Coordinator. I don’t know how I would have managed.”
Daisy Priest from Wimborne says,
“Whenever I call the Home Visiting Coordinator she helps me. Nothing is too much trouble & I can rely on her.”
Mabel Pond from Swanage says:
“My name is Mabel Pond; I am a member of the Dorset Blind Association. Helen Basson who is the local co-coordinator has found me 2 lovely ladies to visit me. They mostly visit once a week each on different days and I look forward to their visits. They phone before hand to see if I need any shopping, and have a chat with me over a cup of tea. It always cheers me up. Helen Basson also visits every few weeks to check up on me and pays bills which have come in the post.”
Recently Joan Maguire purchased a tape head cleaner from the DBA and sent in the following letter:
“Many thanks for tape head cleaner I did not expect anyone to care enough to help. I ma so grateful, makes me fell not quite so isolated to know that there is someone out there I can call on to help. Thanks again.”
Joan Jacobs recently sent in the following letter:
“Dear Mr. Holyhead
I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the amount of help that Helen Basson gave me last year. She was instrumental in me now receiving an attendance allowance which I was refused once before.
I feel she put a lot of time and effort into this and I would like my appreciation noted.
Yours sincerely
Joan Jacobs.”
Brian and Frances Wingfield said in a recent letter:
“We would like to say how please we are with Eddy calling and making tapes for Brian. It has definitely added a new dimension to his life.”
Dennis of Gillingham says:
“His volunteer is a good friend, good company, someone to confide in.”
And
“Since his fall Dennis cannot go out alone but now his volunteer takes him out for a long walk every week so he has fresh air, exercise and feels confident that he will not fall down. This has certainly improved his lifestyle. He would be very sad to lose his volunteer.”
Anna Hallett says:
“Sam has made such a big difference to my life. She helps me with things like paperwork, sorting out my holiday photographs and has become a good friend. I think the work the Dorset Blind Association does is fantastic.”
Joan from Sherborne says:
“I think I would go mad without Rachael. She is a great stimulate and very kind and affectionate and I don’t know what I would do without her.”
Roy Davies said in a recent letter:
“Dear Lorraine,
I wish to express my grateful thanks for all the work carried out by you and all your colleagues at DBA.
I would like to make a special mention to my Home Volunteer Ken McEwan for all his help in my recent house move and continued assistance with a variety of tasks that I am unable to do.
The support hat Ken shows has made an enormous difference to the quality of my life. Please keep up the good work.
Yours sincerely
Roy Davies.”
Joan Jacobs from Wareham says:
“My name is Rosemary (Joan)Jacobs
I am a member of the Dorset Blind Association.
I first met the local co-coordinator, Helen Basson, 2 years ago when she called to see if Dorset Blind could be of help to me, after a referral from Brendon Mulryan from the Sensory Loss Team at Wareham.
She put me in touch with the local monthly blind club, which I am still going to each month in Wareham. They pick me up and drop me off afterwards.
I was soon found a volunteer visitor, Rosemary, who is very kind and has become a good friend to me. She helps with all sorts of things like bringing me birthday and other cards for me to send, checking bank account statements, sewing on buttons and even doing clothing alterations for me.
I look forward to her visits.
Helen recently applied for an attendance allowance for me and although it was at first refused she pursued an appeal on my behalf which was won and backdated. This extra finance has made a great difference to my life, such as being able to buy a ‘friendly’ washing machine for me to use and pay for a gardener.
On the whole I have found the Dorset Blind Association to have been very friendly and useful in helping me cope with my visual disability as I am now registered blind.”