Can I still register if I’m 30?

Yes. An individual may receive a maximum of 50 1:1 swimming, music or similar lessons.

Yes. In most cases your home contents insurance will provide adequate cover for the equipment. However, you are obliged to inform your insurer prior to the equipment being used at your home.

Yes. Unfortunately, we’re not able to keep a large stock of equipment for demonstration purposes. However, if you are interested in trying a specific device, please contact us so that we can attempt to arrange a trial and/or demonstration with our suppliers of technology.

Any equipment solely funded by Blatchington Court Trust is intended for use at home. However, in some cases a special arrangement is made with the local authority and/or the school to allow the equipment to be used within school/college.

Successful applicants will be asked for a contribution towards the grant – generally, this is 10% for most equipment and 20% for iPads or 50% if the child is under the age of 7. However, this can vary at the discretion of the Trustees and will be different when equipment is joint funded by the local authority/sensory needs service and Blatchington Court Trust.

We offer up to sixteen sessions and each session can last up to one hour. It is your choice as to how these sessions are spread out. For example, some people opt for weekly sessions and others prefer biweekly.

Yes. After sixteen sessions it is possible to re-refer. Your counsellor or coach will reassess your needs and consider offering further sessions if appropriate. There is generally a waiting list for both services and it’s important that everyone’s needs are met.

The location of your session is dependent on how appropriate the environment is and how comfortable you feel. Generally, most sessions take place at our office in Hove, within school/college or at your home.

Yes. Our waiting list fluctuates throughout the year and it is unknown at any given time how quickly people are able to be seen. Please contact us if you feel counselling or coaching would be of benefit to you or somebody that you know or care for.

We encourage anybody who feels unsure or apprehensive about counselling or coaching to contact us so that we can advise and signpost appropriately.

We support parents through the process of negotiating maintained and independent specialist education; this may require an appeal at Tribunal.

Only if you move out of your current local authority, when the new local authority may want to carry out a new assessment of needs

We can facilitate meetings with you at school, at formal mediation and during negotiations with your local education authority.

No, as above, we can support you without the need of legal professionals. We do not get involved at Second Tier Tribunals when you would need to pay for legal advice in the event your original appeal had been unsuccessful.

Yes, we can support you up to and including a First Tier SEND Tribunal

Yes, provided their VI has a significant impact on their learning as well as their other additional needs.

No. You will not need a DBS check as you will be accompanied at all times by another member of staff. However, if your role requires you to work alone with a client, the costs of a DBS check is covered.

You must be 16 years or older to become a volunteer. If you’re not 16 yet, please contact us as we can add you to our waiting list.

No specialist training is provided but can be arranged if necessary.

Any time spare that you are able to donate is helpful. We will contact you prior to any arrangements to check if you have availability. You are not obligated to make any commitment, other than to remain contactable and engaged.

As a volunteer you can choose from a wide range of work ranging from gardening to driving. Our downloadable handbook outlines some of the types of work you can undertake as a volunteer.

Yes. However, on some occasions it is not possible to attend with siblings due to availability of spaces. Please refer to specific event details for further guidance.

No. You will not be penalised or charged if you do not attend or cancel your booking. However, please bare in mind that many of our events have limited spaces, so we would ask that you notify us of any changes to your booking in advance of the event date.

Our events primarily cater for the needs of people with sight loss, however the majority of our events inclusive and accessible to everybody. Please enquire in advance of your booking if you require additional support.

The provision of transport is dependent on the event. Please check the event details for more information.

On some occasions we do invite people over the age of 30 along to our events. However, please enquire in advance before booking.

To ensure that everyone who needs support can benefit, a Friend can be paired with a client for up to six months, at which point a new pairing can be arranged if requested.

Our befriending service is offered to people aged 14 and over who are registered with us. For the most positive outcomes, you must be willing to commit to the support being offered and be active in communicating with your Friend when making arrangements.

Some pairs attend pub quizzes, workshops, concerts and trips to the cinema and others go out for coffee, shopping and cocktails. Each pairing aims to work towards agreed goals, such as building confidence on public transport or adapting to different environments by discovering new places to eat and drink.

A Friend’s travel expenses are covered by Blatchington Court Trust and a contribution towards food costs. Please refer to the handbook for more information.

A Friend is able to provide up to 16 hours of support per month and it is up to the Friend and the person being supported how this time is apportioned each month.

Blatchington Court Trust have made sure there are various opportunities that cater to any needs. Some roles require certain levels of ability such as our mini-bus drivers. But other roles such as the allotment have wheelchair access and opportunities for all abilities to be of assistance.

We are insured for volunteers between the ages of 16 and 85.

We are extremely flexible with our expectations. We will invite you to join a group chat and post any volunteering opportunities in the group and it is up to you if you wish to assist.

We offer a range of roles you can part take in. We are looking for people to assist us when we go to trips such as the theatre or to water sports activites. We are also looking for allotment volunteers to help us maintain our allotment based in Hove. We have an array on different choices so check out our downloadble volunteers handbook to find a role well suited to you.

Volunteers will be invited to an induction here at the Trust based in Hove. The induction will also include sighted guide training.

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Unfortunately, we are only able to support people with sight loss under the age of 30. However, please feel free to get in touch as we are always happy to help, advise and signpost. Please also refer to our Useful Links page for other services that may be able to help you.