Brighton Society for the Blind has been helping blind and partially sighted people since 1860. We provide some of the best services for the visually impaired in the country from our new centre in Brighton. With up-to-date equipment and experienced staff we help people cope with loss of sight and gain as much as they can out of life.

We offer some of the most advanced Children’s Services in the country. We help all ages of children, with services matched to the needs of every age group. For those under five we have regular ‘drop-in’ sessions, and for school age children there is a fortnightly educational club, and activity playschemes during the school holidays. We offer support to the parents and carers of the children with staff contact, group advice sessions and helpful information on anything from benefits to holidays which cater for visually impaired children.

Within our children’s department we have a wide range of specialist therapeutic equipment, which the children can use to enhance any sight they may have, and stimulate their other senses. We try to make learning and therapy as much fun as possible, so the children are always ready to enjoy learning some more.

Employment Training teaches visually impaired and physically disabled people to use computers and gain additional skills which will help them find employment. As well as teaching clients how to use software used in offices, they learn how write a CV, apply for jobs and handle themselves in interviews. The department has a very good employment record, with over 80% of clients finding work within two months of finishing the course.

We have a variety of adapted computer equipment to help the visually impaired, including magnifiers which make the text on screen several inches high, and synthesisers which read what is being typed. We also advise local companies on adapted equipment they need when employing someone with a visual impairment.

From the earliest days of the Society, a central tenet has been care for the elderly. To ensure the elderly visually impaired of Brighton are cared for we run a variety of Day Services combining social, mental and physical activities to help keep body and mind as lively as possible. We serve two hot meals a week, and a local hairdresser attends to help members pay attention to their appearence, a vital aspect of their self esteem.

Many of our elderly members have only recently become visually impaired, which can be a very difficult time in their lives. To try to make this as easy as possible for them our staff are very reassuring and we make our day centre as friendly and open as possible. For the newly impaired we offer retraining, including cooking, which can be a very dangerous activity after losing ones sight.

Our Hydrotherapy Pool is open to anyone with a disability or injury. Through gentle exercise in very warm water it gives relief from pain caused through damaged muscles and joints, and is a great help in regaining mobility. The pool helps over 100 people a week, a number which is growing all of the time. Many people come in groups from other charities for the disabled and local voluntary groups.

Our Library has books in large print, Braille and audio tape. As tape is the most popular format we now have over one thousand titles for people to choose from. People can visit the library at any time during the week, but for those who find the journey too far or difficult to make, we also have a postal library. After making selections from a list we can provide borrowers with regular sets of tapes through a freepost system, expanding the operating range of the library across the whole of Sussex.

The Equipment Shop gives visually impaired people a chance to try out a range of specialist equipment before they buy it. We hold a wide variety of daily living aids for people to try, including talking watches, games with tactile enhancements, and a number of different magnifying lenses. In the no-pressure atmosphere and with help from our staff, customers find they can make an informed decision and get just what they need, without the frustration and expense of choosing equipment that is of no use to them.

Within the Art & Craft groups members can paint, create collage, knit and sew. We are continuing the tradition of basket weaving, which we have been teaching for almost 140 years. The groups give our members a chance to learn new skills, and practise old ones, at the same time as acting as a social group with time to talk and gossip during the classes.

The Braille / Tape translation service offers individuals and companies a way to convert their printed material in to one visually impaired people can access in a quick and confidential service. As well as our usual work converting local council minutes and members letters, we have the occasional marathon task such as translating an entire GCSE German course in to Braille for a local pupil.

The Society produces its own magazine, the Moonlight Tape which gives information about local events, interviews and news which can affect our members. Delivered bi-monthly on cassette tape, it helps us keep in touch with members who do not wish to use our other services, or that we only see rarely.

Our Home Visiting service ensures that we can be of help to members who are unable to visit our centre. A home visit can fight the feelings of isolation of a house bound person and allows us to ensure they are healthy and getting the care they need. It is a vital community service for those who need our help the most.