Launch of 2020 Vision Campaign
This fundraising campaign is to establish an Island wide Sight for Wight Education Programme and commission a bespoke outreach vehicle. The KS1 Education Programme will link sight, sight loss and promoting avoidable sight loss, to the national curriculum across a range of subjects. The outreach vehicle will support the education programme, outreach to visually impaired Members right across the Island and fundraising events and activities. Learn more about 2020 Vision.
New Name & Logo
Sight for Wight was adopted as our new, more positive and inclusive working name and celebrated with a new logo.
Members Survey
To become more responsive to the needs of our visually impaired Members and to inform our strategic planning, a detailed survey was undertaken inviting all visually impaired Members to identify the support, activities and services provided by the Charity that they most valued and to suggest support, activities and services desired by Members that would have the greatest positive impact on their lives. The results of this survey have driven all our subsequent plans.
Millbrooke House
In 2006, the Society purchased Millbrooke House, a fine Victorian building in Carisbrooke, as the Society’s headquarters and from where the Society continues to operate.
Talking News
In 1975 the Talking News service began and the first tape went out in August of that year.
Funds Raised
The Society was originally run from the home of the Secretary but, by the mid 1960’s, sufficient funds had been raised to build a centre in Newport and all work relating to the Society was carried out from Wallace Court, in Staplers Road.
Blind Persons Act
In 1920, the Blind Persons Act laid responsibilities on local authorities to provide services for blind people. This responsibility was delegated to the Society on the Isle of Wight. The Society then became the sole provider of specialist services to people with visual impairment on the Island until 2014 when a new dual sensory contract was created and the service transferred to a new provider.
Established
Established in 1865 the Isle of Wight Society for the Blind is one of the oldest independent charities on the Isle of Wight. It was set up following the amalgamation of two other charities, to provide practical help and emotional support to blind people who lived on the Isle of Wight, enabling them to live independently.
Our ethos is still to provide practical, emotional and educational support for visually impaired Islanders, their families and carers.
We strive to help people maintain independence, learn new skills, participate in social, physical and educational activities to reduce loneliness and isolation and to promote wellbeing.
Our most valued service is the provision to VI (visually impaired) Members of a free, high quality, Quarterly Newsletter, packed with useful information. The weekly Talking News service is also free to VI Members. We are valued by Members for providing telephone information, support and, where appropriate, signposting to others who offer specialist support and services for those affected by sight loss. Amongst the regular activities we provide or facilitate for Members are book groups, walking groups, singing, swimming, golf, bowling, coffee mornings, educational talks and a host of one-off activities and outings – all promoted via our website, the Talking News and Quarterly Newsletter.
Membership is free to all Islanders affected by sight loss.
We offer:
Information & support to Islanders affected by sight loss.
Weekly Talking News
Low vision aids & equipment drop-in days
One-off events, activities & outings
Quarterly Newsletter
Audio Library – books on CDs
Regular social and sporting group activities
