About Dorset Blind Association
About This Shop
There are now over 5,000 people registered as blind or partially sighted and an estimated 30,000 people living with serious sight loss in Dorset. Around 73% of these people are aged 75 or older and almost 18% are of working age. Dorset Blind Association works to help these people adjust to living with serious sight loss, to still feel their life has a purpose and to enable them to lead full, healthy and socially active lives in their local community, as independently as they choose.
Our support is tailored to each individual’s needs and we regularly help around 1,000 people each month. Our help is not time-limited in any way: we will provide continuous support for as long as people need it because, for most people, sight loss is not curable: also, people’s needs change over time.
We do this with a small complement of staff, supported by over 300 volunteers, who collectively give over 35,000 hours of time each year.
Our principal services are:
Community Support Service – helping people to live independently and remain active in their local community. Initial advice, training and support is given by staff who then link people with volunteer visitors who provide regular, ongoing friendship and practical support with everyday tasks and challenges.
Sight loss advice at hospitals – we work closely with the eye units at both Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Dorchester County Hospital, giving impartial, non-medical advice, information, and emotional support.
Equipment and Advice Centre – providing advice, and sourcing and supplying specialist aids and equipment designed to help people with sight loss continue living their lives with a measure of independence.
Mobile Equipment Service – a fully mobile service delivered directly to people’s homes and the community at large to guarantee full and easy access to essential equipment for everyone who needs it.
Social and Activity Clubs – we have over 20 clubs and regular activity groups across the County for people of all ages, providing a range of invaluable social opportunities and activities which are accessible and stimulating.
Charity Shops – not only an important part of our fundraising work, with all profits generated directly funding our community support services across Dorset, but also an addition to our range of volunteering opportunities. They also act to provide people with a direct and easily accessible link to all of our services.