Cardiff Institute for the Blind and RNIB Cymru join forces
30.09.09
2 June 2009...... RNIB Cymru(2) and Cardiff Institute for the Blind(1) are delighted to announce that they are joining forces to develop and expand services for people with sight problems.
Cardiff Institute for the Blind will be an Associate charity of RNIB. Whilst RNIB Cymru and Cardiff Institute for the Blind will retain their separate identities they will, from today, be united in developing services and expanding the support provided to people with sight problems.
Richard Evans, Director of Cardiff Institute for the Blind, commented, "This exciting move will enable us to extend the range and reach of services and support for people with sight problems. Working together we will be able to provide more support, not only for people who live in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, but also for people living in the South Wales Valleys. In many of these areas there is currently very little local support and help. We will be able to ensure services such as emotional support and befriending, computer training, welfare rights advice and access to a wide range of products and adapted technology will be accessible to more people than ever before."
Sarah Rochira, Director of RNIB Cymru, commented, "Together we can build on the strength of both of our respective organisations by joining forces to be stronger and more effective. As a result of our joining forces we plan to develop a new flagship centre for people living in South Wales and extend the reach of the services we offer. This will provide a place where the 60,000 people in South Wales who live with sight problems can access a wide range of practical support and assistance, helping them to live independent and full lives. This is at the heart of our work and I am delighted that RNIB Cymru and Cardiff Institute for the Blind are now working together in support of people with sight problems."
Further information
1) Cardiff Institute for the Blind
Cardiff Institute for the Blind enables people with sight problems to live full and independent lives. It seeks to change the public's perception of sight loss and influence policies and practices of other organisations, individuals and service providers, as well as providing direct services to people with sight problems.
Call Cardiff Institute for the Blind on 029 2048 5414 or visit Cardiff Institute for the Blind or email postmaster@cibi.co.uk
2) RNIB Cymru
Every day another 5 people in Wales will start to lose their sight. RNIB Cymru supports around 115,000 people in Wales with sight problems.
RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight problems. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem, RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit RNIB Cymru.
On 1 April 2009 Action for Blind People become the first Associate charity of RNIB. The Association allows the organisations to share resources, skills and expertise across England to engage and reach more blind and partially sighted people with even better services, whilst maintaining their individual identities, boards of trustees and strategic management teams.