Client Services

It's FREE, it's INDEPENDENT and it puts you IN CHARGE.

The Blatchington Promise:

BCT will assist the education and development of each and every young vision impaired person in Sussex

The form of assistance will vary according to individual needs.

The Trust is dedicated to providing confidential and empathetic support to vision impaired young people in Sussex at all stages of their educational development.

 

In addition to providing grants to individuals and organisations, Blatchington Court Trust continues to offer:

Family support

Advocacy

Information and Advice on Further and Higher Education and Employment

Training, Advice and Information on Information Technology

Benefit Advice

Counselling to vision impaired children and young people under 30 years of age living throughout Sussex.

Referrals continue to be made to the Trust on a regular basis coming from the Local Educational Authority's (LEA's) Specialist Teachers for the Vision Impaired, Social Services Rehabilitation Officers for the Vision Impaired (ROVIs), Consultant Ophthalmologists, schools, parents and a variety of other sources.

 

All new referrals should be made direct to Alison Evans, Executive Manager. Once the referral has been made, Alison will contact the individual or his or her parents in order to arrange a home visit. During this visit, Alison will check that all correct benefits are being received and that parents and individuals are aware of their benefit entitlement.

She will also ensure that individuals and their families are aware of the service offered by the LEA's Specialist Teachers and also the ROVIs and make individuals aware that Counselling is available as well as support with any matters linked to a child's schooling.

Alison will discuss the various ways in which the Trust can offer assistance such as help with

Funding computer equipment for home use

Sensory equipment

Activenture holidays or RNIB Vacation Schemes

Spare pairs of spectacles

Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) etc.

General Support

 

Counselling.

Liaison with local Educational Authorities and Voluntary and Statutory organisations.

Attendance with parents at school meetings/annual reviews concerning the educational needs of the student.

Selection, purchase and funding of educational support aids for the home including IT equipment.

Assistance with the provision of leisure and social skills to enhance the lifestyle of the client.

Regular contact upon leaving school with the student to offer practical and moral support in further education and career opportunities.

Awareness training at schools, colleges and with voluntary service providers.

Help and advice regarding Benefit Entitlement, in particular Disability Living Allowance.

We can help you complete forms, help you to Appeal if necessary; represent you at Tribunals.

Advocacy

No-one knows your child better than you do. However, when it comes to getting the best deal from the Statutory services you may need help.

Our Advocacy service offers advice as well as support in those crucial meetings with officials.

John Werner has continued to be kept very busy in his role as Advocacy Officer, assisting parents with various aspects surrounding their child's educational needs.

In October 2007 Dr Clive Phelps joined the Trust in preparation to take over the role of Advocacy Officer in readiness for John's retirement in December 2007. Though the Trust's main geographical area is Sussex Clive, like John, will work as part of a forum of Advocates serving not only Sussex but Kent , Surrey and Hampshire.

Clive will be working closely with all other agencies involved in a child's education. When dealing with complex cases, John continued to call upon the experience of Neil Anderson, formerly Advocacy Officer for the RNIB, who has a wealth of experience in the field of education and vision impairment.

Like John, Neil will be retiring from his work with the Trust at the end of 2007 handing the tribunal work over to Clive. In addition, like John, Clive will continue to offer support to young people wishing to gain a place at a specialist college or a suitable day care provision.

Information Technology

 

Michael Collett is the Trust’s Technical Services Officer and it is his role to provide our clients with IT training, advice and support tailored to their individual needs. Michael is also able to carry out hardware and software maintenance on equipment which the Trust has provided for clients as well as offer IT advice to colleges and other organisations working with vision impaired individuals.

In January 2007 Ansel Pol, who has been a client of the Trust since its beginning, was employed on a part-time basis to assist Michael with the setting up and repairing of client computers.

The Trust is able to provide information, guidance and advice on employment matters and opportunities. In situations where the Trust is unable to provide any direct support, clients are referred to other agencies with whom the Trust has a good joint working relationship.

Education

The Trust continues to offer practical and financial support to students wishing to enter further and higher education and, where necessary, will work with the person’s chosen educational establishment in order to ensure that their needs are fully met.

What we can do

Help with the transition process from school to college.

If the diagnosis is recent, inform you of facilities local and national, within the State System and outside it.

Accompany you to meetings.

Represent you at meetings with the Local Education Authority.

Help make your contribution to a decision on a Statement of Special Educational Needs as effective as possible.

Support you if you appeal to a Tribunal about a decision affecting your child.

Counselling

 

David Best, the Trust’s Counsellor, is able to offer Counselling to any clients who would benefit from this service.

David, who himself is vision impaired and is a former client of the Trust, offers a professional and confidential service and if you would like to know more about the counselling David offers then please contact Alison.

Benefit Advisory

The Trust is also able to offer practical help and advice on benefit matters.

Diane Fazackarley, the Trust’s Benefit’s Advisor, is available to assist parents and individuals in completing their benefit forms and in particular in making an application for Disability Living Allowance.

Wherever possible, Blatchington Court Trust endeavours to work closely with all the agencies involved in the field of vision impairment.

The Trust has a good relationship with all the three Sussex LEAs and Social Services, LOOK Sussex and a variety of other voluntary and statutory groups.

They are relationships the Trust values and seeks to maintain in order to provide a more holistic service to its vision impaired clients.

If there is something you feel the Trust could help with, whether it be in the form of direct support, general advice or financial assistance, then please do not hesitate to contact Alison

The Trust’s main aim is to assist all vision impaired individuals within its age remit to the best of its ability