Featured Local Information and Services
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Featured Local Information
Equipment available for loan
For information on equipment available to loan from North Lanarkshire Council via Making Life Easier please click below:
About loan optionsYour Health
This section provides a range of local services and well-being information for you to find advice or seek further assistance to support your health.
Find out moreVoluntary Action NL
Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire provide a variety of different activities such as fitness classes, arts and crafts, social groups, etc. You can view activities in your local area for free.
Voluntary Action NLLocal Information
Local Information - 'Diabetes UK'
Diabetes UK Support Groups provide support and information to people with diabetes and their families.
Locally there is a group based in Wishaw (01698 748616) and a Lanarkshire Parents Group (01698 322389).
Local Information- Registering a visual impairment
If you have substantial and permanent vision loss in both eyes you may wish to register as blind or partially sighted. Registration simply means having your name added to a confidential list of people who have permanent sight loss.
Keeping this register allows North Lanarkshire Council to meet the needs of people with a visual impairment and it is also required for certain financial benefits and consensus. Registration is entirely voluntary.
If you decide you want to register, you must be referred to the hospital by your GP or optometrist. Your Eye Consultant will decide if you are medically eligible and then certify, using form BP1, that you can be registered as blind or partially sighted.
For further information, contact a Rehabilitation and Mobility Officer at your local Social Work Office.
Local Information - Benefits for the visually impaired
Local Information- Glasses and Magnifiers
The Lanarkshire Low Vision Project provides low vision aids to people with a visual impairment within Lanarkshire. Referrals can be made by your GP or optometrist, and are carried out by named optical practices in each town.
You will be provided with advice and equipment, such as a magnifier to help with reading small print, if the optometrist thinks this will be helpful.
A Rehabilitation Officer from North Lanarkshire Councils Housing and Social Work Services can advise on how to make the best use of remaining vision using lighting, magnification and colour contrast.
If you would prefer to make your own arrangements, you can contact your local Social Work office to arrange an appointment. A Disability Information Officer can also supply information about local and national suppliers of the equipment. For further information, please use the details below.
Contact information
Email: makinglifeeasier@northlan.gov.uk
Phone: 01698 274460
Local Information- Mobility and sight impairment
Local Information - Rehabilitation Training for the Visually Impaired
This service aims to identify practical problems that the person may be having, determine a Rehab Training Programme, discuss any concerns that the person and/or their family/carer may have, as well as make referrals to other Agencies for services and offer advice and information.
This service can also offer Mobility Training, so that you can learn how to use a white cane or other techniques to assist you to get around safely.
Local Information- Large print books
Home Library Services are also available. This is a free service available to all residents of North Lanarkshire who are unable to visit a branch or mobile library because of a disability or long-term illness which normally confines them to their home.
When you apply to join the service, you will be visited in your home by a member of the library staff who will ask a few questions about the type of book you like, such as whether you prefer large print or ordinary print, hardback or paperback, etc. You can also choose to receive talking books, music cassettes and compact discs.
As soon as your requirements are established we will select items for you, which will be delivered to your home every 4 weeks by library staff. At the same time, staff will collect any items you are returning to us. All library staff making visits to your home carry identity badges.
For further details, please get in touch by using the information below.
Contact information:
CALIBRE offers audio books for those who struggle to read due to sight issues or other disabilities. Its library has the largest lending collection of audio books in the UK, including many genres for all ages. For an application form, you can contact Calibre through the information below, and either print off a PDF version or download the Word Document to your computer.
Contact information:
All application forms will only be accepted by post to the address above. For information on membership fees please visit the Calibre website for details.
Local Information- Talking Book Service
North Lanarkshire Councils Library Service provides talking books in a range of formats including cassette, compact disc and MP3.
For further information, please visit their website by clicking here.
Local Information- Talking Newspaper Service
Contact information:
Cue and Review transcribe twenty-two print magazines and newspapers into audio format for the visually impaired. They provide titles for everyone, especially young people. For further details on this Glasgow based organisation, please use the information below.
Contact information:
Cumbernauld Audio News is a talking newspaper service for the visually impaired, producing Cumbernauld News, Celtic View and Rangers News. Based in Cumbernauld, they can be contacted on 01236 610440.
Monklands Talking Newspaper produce a talking weekly newspaper for the visually impaired in the Monklands Area. Based in Coatbridge, they can be contacted on 01236 710911.
Wishaw and Motherwell Talking Newspaper produce a talking version of the Wishaw Press, Motherwell Times, Bellshill Speaker and North Lanarkshire News. They can be contacted on 01698 355075.
Local Information- Equipment for those with low vision or visual impairment
The Lanarkshire Low Vision Project provides low vision aids to people with a visual impairment within Lanarkshire. Referrals can be made by your GP or optometrist, and are carried out by named optical practices in each town.
You will be provided with advice and equipment, such as a magnifier to help with reading small print, if the optometrist thinks this will be helpful.
A Rehabilitation Officer from North Lanarkshire Councils Housing and Social Work Services can advise on how to remain as independent as possible using special equipment, lighting, magnification and colour contrast.
If you would prefer to make your own arrangements, you can contact your local Social Work office to arrange an appointment. A Disability Information Officer can also supply information about local and national suppliers of the equipment.
If you'd like to get in touch, please use the details below.
Contact information
Email: makinglifeeasier@northlan.gov.uk
Phone: 01698 274460
