5 June 2007
Insight for Open Sight
Mary Fagan, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire officially opened the new head quarters & launched the new name & logo of Open Sight (working title still Hampshire Association for the Care of the Blind) at 25 Church Road, Bishopstoke at 12 pm on Wednesday 30th May.
The name change was generated by a recent survey of service users, who felt that the old name was patronising and that the initials HACB sounded too much like the High Street bank!.
Despite the rain, the opening was well attended by the Mayor of Eastleigh, Mr Roger Smith & his wife Sheila, Councillor Mrs Pat Devereux, Coucillor Glynn Davies-Dear as well as other Hampshire notables, who had a tour of the new building which has been designed to be eco compliant, accessible to wheelchair users as well as in keeping with the older style cottages in beautiful Bishopstoke.
All guests were given a tour of the building, which includes a resources Centre which stocks every day aids to make life easier for sight impaired people. Mary Fagan said “The new name reflects the aim of reaching out to all sight impaired people of all ages in Hampshire and opening up opportunities for them to live full lives participate in society and gain employment if they wish”.
Open Sight is run by 12 full time paid staff who offer the following services: telephone help & advice, Volunteer Management support, Outreach services in people’s own homes as well as at the Eye Unit in Southampton, a Resources Centre which also travels around the county holding exhibitions of low vision aids, activities & holidays as well as training courses for sight impaired people & their families or businesses wishing to be disability compliant.
The charity is supported in it’s work by 650 volunteers who run social and craft clubs in the following areas: Aldershot, Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Fareham, Farnborough, Harts, Gosport, Havant, Hayling Island, Locksheath, Lyminton, Netley Abbey, New Milton, Petersfield, Portchester, Ringwood & Fordingbridge, Romsey, Stubbington. Totton & Waterside, Waterlooville and Yateley.