Words in the darkness
09/04/2009
It is estimated that nearly 100 people in Britain every day will suffer serious sight loss. The British Wireless for the Blind Fund was established in 1928 to help ease the loneliness and isolation of blindness with the simple comfort of radio. Here we How the British Wireless for the Blind Fund works to keep blind people in touch with the world
All of us love the radio. But to someone who is blind or partially sighted, the radio means so much more. It is - literally - their window to the world. And, perhaps most importantly, it provides a friendly voice and constant companionship, 24 hours a day. It really is a lifeline for those in need.
Which is why the work of the British Wireless for the Blind (BWBF) is so important. BWBF provides a choice of specially adapted audio equipment – including pre-set radios (including DAB), radio-cassette recorders and CD-radio-cassette-recorders – to UK-registered blind and partially sighted people, over the age of eight and resident in the UK, who are in need.
Exciting new developments in the pipeline include the introduction of a special set that will enable listeners to receive radio broadcasts and other audio programmes, such as podcasts via a broadband internet connection - without the need for a computer.
As one of the BWBF’s recipients says: “This radio from the British Wireless for the Blind Fund is everything to me. Since I became blind I haven’t been able to cope with anything complicated but this set is very simple to operate as it only has two or three controls. I like listening to classical music and I also enjoy recorded newspapers and magazines.”
This service is offered on free, permanent loan for life and sets are serviced, repaired and replaced when necessary, at no charge to the recipient.
Billy Baxter is a typical recipient of a radio from BWBF, Billy was a staff sergeant and served twenty years in the Royal Horse Artillery. During a tour in Bosnia in 1997 he started having problems with his vision and lost his sight soon after. Although he is totally blind, his visual impairment certainly doesn’t hold Billy back – in fact he has become an icon to many disabled people and currently holds the Blind Solo World Land Speed Record (165mph) on a motorcycle. He also rides horses, has learnt to ski and competed in the Great South Run and the London Marathon.
The fund helps many children too, and young Marla has become something of a ‘face’ for the British Wireless for the Blind Fund as she appears in many of the Fund’s advertisements and promotions.
Marla was born blind and today she relies on the cd-radio-cassette recorder she was given by the Fund for a world of entertainment and information. She especially loves listening to the radio and her audio books which give her a window on a world she cannot see.
How YOU can help
With the number of registered blind people growing steadily, the demand for sets is increasing daily. As a totally independent charity, the Fund exists completely on private donations and bequests.
If you think you can help, you can contact the BWFB at: 10 Albion Place, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5DZ. You can also call them on 01622 754757 and their website is linked below.