Get involved as a Grant Making Trust

Action for Blind People has a long history of support from Grant Making Trusts. If you know of someone at a Trust who would like to hear more about Action for Blind People, please contact us with details on 020 7635 4882 or make an enquiry online

In the past, Grant Making Trusts have enabled us to develop many of our most exciting and innovative projects including:

Actionnaires Childrens Sports Clubs
Action believes that blind and partially sighted children should have equal choice in taking part in sport, which is why we run Actionnaires - multi-activity sports clubs for visually impaired children offering a variety of sports including football, archery, scuba diving, athletics, judo, climbing and many more.

Actionnaires clubs are unique.They offer blind and partially sighted children a regular club to attend. We also encourage the children to bring along sighted friends and siblings. This year over 160 blind and partially sighted children regularly attended our 20 Actionnaires clubs operating across the UK. By 2010 we are aiming to increase this number to 56 Actionnaires clubs so that many more kids can "get off the sidelines and onto the pitch."

Find out more about Actionnaires

A new way of working - one call is all it takes
With over 400 different visual impairment organisations and many local providers across the UK, it’s hard for blind and partially sighted people to know where to turn for the right support. We have changed the way that we work so that everyone who contacts us receives all the advice and support they need. One call to our new regional teams ensures that blind and partially sighted people, and their families and friends, receive support with finding a job, applying for benefits, advice on housing issues, aids and adaptations, holiday breaks, or information on local services. Whatever the need, Action can help. No one falls through the net.

Mobile Sight Loss Information Service
Our Mobile Sight Loss Information Service travels to all locations around Great Britain and Northern Ireland, taking the latest aids, equipment, information and advice. The service is also linked to Action’s National Information and Advice Centre which provides up to date and expert knowledge on the spot, wherever the location. From schools to libraries, conferences to shopping arcades, Action’s mobile units were invited to over 150 venues this year and helped 6,806 people.

Find out more about the Mobile Information Service

Visage - empowering visually impaired people to set up their own businesses
Visage is a UK and European employment project led by us, focused on improving employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted people. Over the next two and half years, the Visage Partnership will be investing £3 million in a series of projects designed to support both employers and employees including:

• Research to gain a better understanding of the barriers that blind and partially sighted people face in the workplace,
• Toolkits for employers and employees providing advice and guidance,
• The setting up of small businesses that will directly employ blind and partially sighted people, giving them first hand knowledge and real experience in establishing and running a successful business.

This year, five businesses have been established in London involving Catering, Procurement, Computer Refurbishment, Document Scanning and Storage and Warehouse Distribution. They are the first of their kind to be set up and managed by teams comprised totally of blind and partially sighted people. Practical and financial support are provided, but the aim is to produce businesses that are commercially viable and sustainable.

As a fast paced project with finite deadlines, Visage will deliver real businesses with real work experience that offer true progression into ongoing employment.

Visit the visage website

If you know of someone at a Trust who would like to hear more about Action for Blind People, please contact us with details on 020 7635 4882 or contact us by e-mail