EASTBOURNE BLIND SOCIETY
About Us
The Eastbourne Blind Society was founded in 1923 and started with only 8 members. Most of these were war blinded.
Initially members met together at various locations, mainly Church Halls. The Centre in Longstone Road opened in 1963 and was entirely paid for by donations from the general public which were raised in six weeks following an appeal by Beckett Newspapers.
In the early days, Eastbourne Blind Society was run entirely by volunteers. Although we do now have a small, very caring staff we are still very reliant on the services of volunteers.
Members
of staff (pictured left) Senior Welfare Officer Lucy McCance, Resource
Officer David Dick, Low Vision Support Worker Virginie Mullally, Welfare
Officer Jane Masters, Chief Executive Deirdre Dean, Welfare Officer Kath
Leach, Welfare Officer Elizabeth Hayward, Office Manager Graham Rowsell,
Welfare Officer
Denise Dunning.
(pictured right)
Caretaker Syd Hunt.
The Society is an independent registered voluntary charity. We are not part of the RNIB/Action for Blind People although we work closely with them on national and campaigning issues.
The Society is a member of East Sussex Vision Care. This is a consortium of the three societies for blind and partially sighted people which operate across East Sussex. Eastbourne Blind Society is responsible for local support in Eastbourne.
The
Society is a User Led Organisation (ULO) which provides opportunities
for members to influence how we support them.
There are now well over 700 members ranging in age from children to 106.
Facilities
Premises
Administration Offices
Hall
Our social afternoons and arts & crafts afternoons take place here.
During the winter months, the bowls club meet in the hall for short mat bowls, home matches and roll-ups.
The hall is used to deliver a number of various training courses including Enhanced Living Skills course and the EyeT4All computer tasting day.
The hall is also used as the base for our Open Days to which we invite suppliers of equipment designed to aid Sight Impaired people and to show what is available on the market to assist them to maintain a more independent life.
The hall is available for hire. Please contact the Chief Executive for details.
Resource Centre
Our purpose-built Resource Centre houses a wide range of equipment and low vision aids, along with many other aids to every day living. Our Resource Officer, David Dick, is on hand to offer advice and assistance.
We have a drop-in day on Thursdays when anyone can call in for a brief visit. If more time is required, the Centre is also open on Tuesdays and Fridays by appointment.
Click here for more information:
Minibuses
Three minibuses, driven by volunteers,
are in regular use picking up members for
various activities and outings.
Eastbourne Blind Society has a
purpose-built facility in the waiting area at the Eye Clinic in
Eastbourne District General Hospital. The Hospital Desk is manned
throughout each week by both sighted and visually impaired volunteers.
This complements the services offered by the Eye Clinic by providing an
instant contact with the Society for anyone who wishes to benefit from
the support and advice arising from membership.
The desk
also signposts people from outside Eastbourne to their local most
appropriate Society
The formal opening of the Eastbourne Blind Society Hospital Desk
