Charities - blind and visually impaired

‘Knowledge is power’ is a well-known adage. It sums up the work of our charity, for the knowledge we help to acquire through research, and spread through teaching and publications, is a powerful way of preventing blindness. Scientific research has led to many breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of the conditions that cause blindness, but there is still a great deal we do not understand.

Fight for Sight is the leading UK charity dedicated to funding research to prevent sight loss and treat eye disease. We rely on donations to fund over £3m of eye research every year into conditions including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy.

Jewish Blind & Disabled is unique as it is the only charity in the community providing purpose built mobility apartments to people of all ages who are physically disabled or vision impaired. We currently have six apartment blocks across North London and are looking forward to the opening of our seventh development in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire toward the end of 2012. This will provide an additional 39 state-of-the-art mobility apartments for people with a real and urgent need plus two apartments for resident on site house managers.

Listening Books is a UK registered charity providing thousands of fantastic audiobooks on three easily accessible formats: downloads, internet streaming and MP3 CDs. We have some 23,000 members and our service is available to anyone who has a disability or illness which makes it difficult to hold a book, turn its pages, or read in the usual way. We cater for both adults and children and we provide audiobooks for leisure as well as supporting the National Curriculum. We also have many members under hospice care.

Moorfields Eye Charity raises funds, above and beyond those normally provided by the NHS, to enable Moorfields Eye Hospital to continue to provide the highest quality care for its patients and their families and to help ensure it remains a world-class centre of excellence for ophthalmic research and education.

The gift of sight is precious. It enables us all to enjoy many beautiful things in our world. But our eyes are easily damaged and, young or old, may result in loss of sight. Imagine being able to shed a little light into that darkness. You can!

We are an independent charity working exclusively in Northamptonshire to help blind and partially sighted children and adults lead full and rewarding lives. Since we were formed in 1896, we have helped thousands of visually impaired people improve their quality of life through support, information and advice.

RNIB is the leading UK charity offering services, information, advice and support to anyone with a sight problem. We campaign on issues that matter to blind and partially sighted people, help them regain their independence and stop them becoming isolated. The RNIB Helpline handles more than 1,000 calls a week and our Talking Book Service ensures that people can carry on reading for enjoyment and education. It was our successful campaign that led to the reintroduction of free eye tests for people over 60 and we continue to work hard to eliminate avoidable sight loss.

Telephones for the Blind Fund exists to help to provide BT telephone service for those who are registered blind or partially sighted, live alone and are not able to meet the cost themselves.

We pay for the whole cost of telephone installation and a large proportion of the rental costs. We provide a vital lifeline for more than 300 blind people throughout the UK who are unfortunate enough to meet the three criteria. That lifeline to the outside world enables many of them to continue to live in their own homes. We support clients living in their own rooms in Care Homes and young families with blind parents.