The Leicestershire, Rutland and Wycliffe Society for the Blind was set up 150 years ago to help blind people — mainly by allowing them to become more self-sufficient by weaving baskets.
Nowadays, the charity is called Vista and is unique in that it holds the register of blind people throughout the city and two counties. In most places the register is held by the National Health service. Only about four per cent of people registered blind have no vision, explained Lucy Slonecki when she visited Leicester Novus Rotary.
Lucy showed slides demonstrating how different conditions can leave people with different kinds of partial vision.
She also asked members of her audience to try on doctored spectacles to see for themselves. Among those who tried them on was President Jason Chauhan.
Lucy explained that the charity relies on volunteers to help run community groups, and to assist in GP surgeries. She mentioned day trips funded in part by the Children In Need appeal and also adventure courses. One she mentioned was Calvert Trust, to which Novus Rotary has previously sent candidates with disabilities.
Vista is soon to open its sixth charity shop and works with other charities to help people with disabilities. To read more about Vista and its work, please click here http://www.vistablind.org.uk/about-vista/family-support-services/
