Useful Contacts

We’ve compiled a list of telephone numbers for other organisations who can help you through the pandemic.

Whether it’s a talking book or a shopping delivery, you’ll find it here. We will be adding to this list as we hear about new services.

Talking Newspapers

Derby Talking Newspapers: Contact 01283 733356

Buxton Talking Newspapers: Contact 01298 811021

Glossop Talking Newspapers: Contact 07836 726423

Long Eaton Talking Newspapers: Contact 07970 914930

Currently there is no service available for Matlock or Amber Valley.

Audio Books

Derbyshire County Council

The Home Library Service has now resumed. Call 01629 533444

When you apply for the service, they will contact you to talk about your needs and find out what you like to read and listen to. Please bear with them as they do have a waiting list due to the pandemic.

Derby City Council

The Home Library Service has now resumed. Call 01332 640666

Wireless for the Blind

Sight Support Derbyshire can support users with devices to play talking books through the Wireless for the Blind fund. For more information contact us on 01332 292262 or email us at enquiries@sightsupportderbyshire.org.uk.

RNIB Talking Books

The RNIB’s Free Talking Books service offers 32,000 titles in Braille, Giant Print, on CD, USB and in a digital audio format. You can find out more by calling RNIB on 0303 123 9999 or by visiting their website at rnib.org.uk/books.

Voluntary Services in your area

Amber Valley CVS: Call 01773 512076

Open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4.45pm.

They can offer:

• Information on Covid-19 support in Amber Valley.
• Telephone befriending service
• Food Bank information (Rural Action Derbyshire) 01629 592970
• NHS Responder Programme
• Derbyshire County Council Community Response Unit 01629 535091

High Peak CVS: Call 01663 735350

Open Monday to Thursday, from 10am to 3pm

They offer a Coronavirus Support Directory which includes:

• Derbyshire County Council Community Response Unit 01629 535091
• Food bank information
• Support whilst isolating
• List of shops who will deliver food

Erewash Voluntary Action: Call 0115 9466740

Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm

They provide information on shopping deliveries, which can be set up with a referral from a doctor, health professional or social worker.

South Derbyshire CVS: Contact No. 07458 304316 (leave a message)

They can offer:

• Help with food bank information
• Links to local voluntary Covid volunteer groups
• Social car scheme

RVS (Royal Voluntary Service): Call 0808 196 364

They can offer:

• Help with shopping
• Prescription collection
• Hospital transport
• Telephone befriending

Help with shopping and meals

Morrisons offer a doorstep delivery service for vulnerable and/or elderly people. You can choose from a list of essential foods.

Call 0345 611 6111 and choose option 5

Sainsburys offer a telephone shopping service for vulnerable people.

Call 0800 917 8557 and choose option 1

Amber Valley Meals on Wheels provide plated hot means delivered to people living in Amber Valley on a daily basis.

Call 01773 384120 to order meals

Fire Safety

A safe and well visit from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue will provide you with actions and advice to make your home a safer place.  It will also provide you with a fire escape plan to follow should the unthinkable happen.

During the visit you will be provided with fire safety advice within your property, along with recommendations specific to your home and the people who live there. They may also fit smoke alarms and provide additional safety equipment needed. All of these services are provided free of charge.

• Derby City, South Derbyshire, Amber Valley & Erewash: Call 01332 777850
• North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Bolsover: Call 01246 223500
• High Peak, Derbyshire Dales: Call 01298 608720

Other organisations

Hearing Help

There are currently no outreach bases or social groups, but for advice and support including telephone referrals and emergency intervention, please call 01773 570976

Help with technology

Abilitynet supports people with any disability or sight impairment to use technology.  All services are currently still available to provide IT guidance, advice and technical support at home.  This is carried out over the phone or online. Call 0800 048 7642 or email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk

For information about accessibility functions for IOS and Android devices, you may find the following websites useful:

Perkins Learning – getting started on the iPad

RNIB website – making the most of the iPad, part one and part two

Apple website – accessibility for Apple devices

Blindness Support – accessibility for Android devices

USwitch – guide to smartphone accessibility

RNIB

Offers advice with technical support, audio books, welfare benefits, community connecting etc.

Call 0303 123 9999

Macular Society

Offers information about Macular Degeneration, telephone befriending service, free counselling service.

Open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm

Call 0300 3030 111

RNIB Connect Radio

Listen on channel 730 Freeview TV, or online at rnibconnectradio.org.uk

• Guided yoga session on weekday mornings at 7 am – providing soothing music and yoga exercises especially created for blind and partially sighted listeners.
• Early Edition – Weekdays 8 am – RNIB Connect Radio’s morning newspaper review and discussion programme around issues relating to blind and partially sighted people presented by Allan Russell.
• The Daily Connect – Weekdays 10 am – The show that aims to get you talking and tell you what’s happening in the RNIB Connect community.
• The Weekly Connect – Mondays at 1pm – A weekly review of what’s happening in the RNIB Connect community.
• Talking Books – Weekdays 2pm – A daily slice of a classic talking books from RNIB’s vast audio library. Presented by Robert Kirkwood.
• Tech Talk – Tuesdays at 1pm -Discussion of technology that is accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
• Afternoon Edition – Weekdays at 3pm -A look at the day’s news and a mix of songs from across the decades.
• Reflections by Torch Trust – Sundays at 9am – Reflections is a weekly radio programme with a focus on disability and faith in today’s world produced by Torch Trust
• TED hour – Saturdays at 12 noon – Showcasing important ideas and inspiring stories from some of the world’s most remarkable minds.

You can also listen to podcasts and catch up on programmes.