Providing telephones for the benefit of blind UK residents

Activities

Widening our Client Base

We have also decided to extend our help to a wider client base and will now assist not only the registered blind but also anyone who is registered as partially sighted.

The application process will work in the same way in that all applications will need to be through the client’s social worker.

Mobile Phones

We have recently launched a new initiative to offer mobile phone handsets to our clients.  We have teamed up with Doro, manufactures of easy-to-use mobile phones, especially designed with partially sighted people with in mind.

They will provide the handsets and we have an arrangement with Connevans Ltd, a firm specialising in the distribution of disability equipment, to despatch the handsets direct to clients and to provide an on-going support services.

We believe that this is an important step in our strategy to meet the needs of our client base, expand into new areas where appropriate and to explore all technologies available.

On going

As well as providing mobile phones we will continue to pay £30 per quarter for telephone line rentals for all our present clients. Any donations in excess of this sum will help our clients in future years.  We have to remember that our younger clients may still need our help in forty years’ time. Any donation, large or small, is gratefully received.

We believe that the Fund has identified those clients whose needs are greatest, and our strategy is to concentrate on providing maximum financial help to them with this essential lifeline.  All of our clients are registered blind or partially sighted and on low income.  The majority are elderly.

Financial

On December 31st 2011 the Fund was paying rental contributions for approximately 310 needy blind people throughout the United Kingdom (2010 = 320). 

During 2011 the Fund paid for the installation of a telephone line for 6 new clients, and gave a grant to 7 new applicants.

The rental contributions paid to each of our clients during that time was £25.00 per quarter and the charity pays 100% of the cost of installing a telephone line.

Total income during 2011 was £37,407 (2010 £44,999) and the surplus for the year was £237 (2010 surplus £4,587). 

We have now created a page on the Just Giving Charities Website to enable an easy means of donating to the charity on our Donate page.