Action for Blind People has been offering vital support for blind and partially sighted people for over 150 years. They have been known under different names but supporting blind and partially sighted people has always been at the heart of what they do.
Action for Blind People was founded in 1857 as the Surrey Association for the General Welfare of the Blind and later became the London Association for the Blind. The Association's main activities in the early days were teaching blind people to read and to learn practical trades such as basket weaving.
Opportunities and attitudes towards visually impaired people changed over the years, along with the nature and the scale of their work. As a result their name was changed to Action for Blind People in 1999.
Action is one of the largest sight loss charities in the UK. They have many services which help blind and partially sighted people with different aspects of their lives, from supporting people at the time they are diagnosed with a sight condition to hotels, resource centres and employment services.
They work with other expert organisations to draw on a wide range of skills and resources. Their close relationship with RNIB, with whom they formed a formal partnership in April 2009, enables them to use the combination of their complementary strengths and expertise to help an ever inceasing number of people with sight loss. Working together in this way allows both organisations to share skills and deliver services in line with the UK Vision Strategy and RNIB Group Strategy.
Action works closely with local blind societies, recognising that these organisations provide vital local support to those with sight loss.
"Making every day better for everyone affected by sight loss: by being there when people need them, supporting independent living, creating an inclusive society and preventing sight loss."
This is their ambition and is what drives their work. To fulfill this they have five values that underpin their behaviour.
• Led by blind and partially sighted people: Blind and partially sighted people are at their heart and influence everything they do.
• Collaborative: They work together to make the biggest difference.
• Creative: They understand challenges and find ways to overcome them and move forward.
• Inclusive: They include and value people with diverse experience, abilities and backgrounds.
• Open: They are honest, candid and transparent, challenging themselves and others.
