The new centre will accommodate the predicted increase in visual impairment, thus allowing us to meet the needs of current and future local blind and partially sighted people living in the Black Country.

This multi-million-pound development will deliver:

  • Extra Care apartments
  • Activity Centre
  • Recreation hall and gym
  • Visual aids resources shop
  • Secure fenced guide dog run
  • Sensory garden and greenhouse
  • After school club
  • IT suite and much more


Why have a new centre?
Currently our services for people with sight loss are housed in eight separate buildings scattered over a seven-acre site. Some of these are in a poor state of repair and all are expensive to maintain.

In addition, the population in the UK is ageing, and as people get older they’re more likely to experience sight loss. Combine these facts and it’s easy to see that the number of people with visual impairment is going to increase. The government estimates that visual impairment will grow by 35% to the year 2020. That means many thousands more people with sight loss in the Black Country.

The new Beacon Centre will cater for the growing needs of visually impaired people for the next 40 years and beyond. It will be more economic in utilities and maintenance, thus enabling us to extend our work to the wider public.

So, this is an exciting time for everyone associated with the centre. We have already secured £3.9 million out of the total of £6.2 million, which leaves £2.3 million to raise.


How you can help

We have already raised nearly £950,000, but we cannot raise the rest without your help. There are lots of ways you can join in:

By donating money
You will help change lives by giving even a small amount. If everyone in the Black Country gave £2 we would reach our target straight away!
Why not...

  • Buy a brick for £10 by clicking here
  • Fund a specific capital item, for example £2,500 would pay for work-benches in the wood-work room and £3,250 will pay for the computer workstations in the IT suite
  • Donate online by clicking here
  • Or give us your donation in person
  • Or donate by post – write to: Beacon Centre for the Blind, Freepost, Wolverhampton Road East, Wolverhampton, WV4 4BR
  • Or call 01902 880111 and ask for the Second Site Appeal Team or send an email to kfletcher@beacon4blind.co.uk


By taking part in a Second Site Appeal event
There are lots to choose from – for example...

14 November  2008 - Fashion Fantasia at the Ramada Park Hall Hotel >

9th - 10th January 2009 - 24 hour Blindfold 

12th February 2009  - Celebrity Dinner at ICC Birmingham.

By organising a fundraising activity
Fundraise with friends or colleagues – we will provide you with the ideas, support and materials as well as publicise your event. Call 01902 880111 or send an email to kfletcher@beacon4blind.co.uk and ask for a Second Site Appeal fundraising pack.
 
By making us your charity
Why not ask your company, organisation or school to make us your charity of the year.

By volunteering your skills or lending us your time
Time and skills are as valuable as money. We need people who can spare a couple of hours to fundraise with us, help us to organise or publicise events and share expert skills like IT, art, music, DIY etc. 

By publicising the appeal
We will only succeed if as many people as possible know about the Second Site Appeal. Could you:

  • Write a piece in your parish magazine
  • Write a piece in your company magazine
  • Put a link on your website
  • Distribute appeal materials


To find out more, call 01902 880111 and ask for the Second Site Appeal Team or send an email to kfletcher@beacon4blind.co.uk