Historical Highlights - 50 years in Action

Action for Blind People Historical Highlights during the past fifty years

View pictures from our past

• 1956 HRH Princess Alexandra becomes patron.

• 1963 Action for Blind People opens its first Hotel for blind and partially sighted people, the Lauriston, in Weston-super-Mare.

• 1975 Central office and factory moves to 14 - 16 Verney Road in Bermondsey South London.

• 1991 The charity changes its name from London Association for the Blind to Action for Blind People.

• 1992 The Mobile Information and Advice Service is launched, taking Action for Blind People's services across the country.

• 1993 Action for Blind People opens four Employment Development Centres in London, Carlisle, Liverpool and Preston.

• 1997 Action for Blind People celebrates its 140th anniversary with special events up and down the country and a reception at St. James' Palace attended by the patron Princess Alexandra.

• 2000 Action for Blind People's Chief Executive Stephen Remington wins Chief Executive of the year at the UK Charity 2000 awards.

• 2000 A second Mobile Information and Advice vehicle hit the road, following the popularity of the first vehicle.

• 2001 Opening of Bradbury Oak House in Dulwich. Replacing Adams House, Bradbury Oak House became the first purpose-built accommodation unit that was designed based on suggestions from visually impaired people.

• 2001 Action took on the management of the Windermere Manor and Cliffden (Teignmouth) hotels.

• 2002 The Russell Hotel is completely rebuilt and reopened and becomes the first purpose built Hotel for blind and partially sighted people in the UK, designed by visually impaired people.

• 2002 The first multi-sport club for visually impaired children and young adults (Actionniares) was launched. There are now 15 clubs, with plans to create over 50 more clubs within the next five years.

• 2004 A new way of working with “Action Teams” being created around the country is piloted. Each team can help with a wide range of issues including welfare, employment and housing, rather than having different types of teams in different locations. The pilot is successful and Action develops this new approach by starting to build a network of “Action teams” nationwide.

• 2005 The Visage Development Project in launched. This project is funded by the European Social Fund and is led by Action for Blind People who will be working with seven other partners looking to improve employment rates for visually impaired people by finding new routes into the workplace such as setting up their own small businesses.

• 2006 Action for Blind People launch a new website with a new design which is built around the needs of visually impaired people.

• 2007 Action for Blind People celebrates its 150th birthday!

• 2008 Actionnaires open their first club in Wales at Torwyn.There are now 29 clubs operating across the country.