THE Scotsman today launches its Christmas fundraising campaign, Light Up Lives, to raise money for the work of the Royal Blind in Scotland.
The appeal supports the wide-ranging work of the charity, which is based in Edinburgh but helps blind and partially-sighted people of all ages from across Scotland and beyond.
Although the Royal Blind School is supported by local authorities and the Scottish Government, the charity needs to raise an additional £2,300 every day to carry on running.
Another £1,000 a day is needed to meet costs at Braeside House, which provides residential and nursing care to blind and visually impaired older people. It has 70 residents with an average age of 89.
The charity also needs support for its pioneering work for young people with multiple disabilities at its Canaan Lane base, Morningside. Between Canaan Lane and its main base at Craigmillar Park, Newington, the school helps 105 pupils.
The story of one former pupil, Paralympic silver medal-winning sprinter Libby Clegg, is featured today – and over the next few days we will examine the work done to improve the lives of children and elderly people.
The Light Up Lives campaign aims to ensure this vital work can continue.
Over the next three years, the charity wants to raise £6 million to redevelop the Royal Blind School, to rebuild the school swimming pool, improve accommodation and modernise the Scottish Braille Press.
Richard Hellewell, chief executive of the Royal Blind, said: "We are proud to have been chosen by The Scotsman for its Christmas appeal. In the past, we have been described as one of Edinburgh's best-kept secrets – perhaps not ideal for a charity.
"I am delighted this appeal will bring a renewed focus on our work while raising essential funds for Royal Blind."
Mike Gilson, editor of The Scotsman, said: "We are very pleased to join with Royal Blind for our Christmas campaign this year. I know budgets are tight, but I hope readers can find even a small amount to give to this extremely worthy cause. Just a few pounds can go a long way to pay for a piece of equipment that really could change a life.
"The work of the Royal Blind is often unheralded, but as Libby Clegg's story shows, it can have a dramatic effect. So we hope our readers will do their bit and help us Light Up Lives this Christmas."
The origins of the Royal Blind stretch back more than 200 years to 1793, when the Edinburgh Blind Asylum was established by Dr David Johnston, David Miller and Dr Thomas Blackwood, a close friend of Robert Burns. At that time, help for the blind was in its infancy – only Paris and Liverpool had foundations dedicated to the welfare of blind people.
Now a range of sophisticated services in Edinburgh provide specialised help to young and old alike. The Royal Blind is also a big employer, keeping 500 people in work in Scotland. Of those, 40 staff – 23 of whom are blind, visually impaired or disabled – work at the Scottish Braille Press. This provides services for thousands of people, producing six million pages of Braille and five million pages of large print each year and issuing about 13,000 audio tapes.
The charity also provides grants to support research into improving life for blind and visually impaired people.
A Scottish Government grant helps with running costs for the Royal Blind School, and local authorities pay a fee towards the cost of each child or young person attending. But developing and equipping the school depends on public help.
Braeside House charges nursing home fees, but the support of donors means the Royal Blind can go the extra mile for its residents and truly make it a home from home.
The Scottish Braille Press has income from the services it provides, but needs support to provide magazines and books in Braille and to keep going when times are tough.
Mr Hellewell explained: "We deliver services which lie in the heart of Scotland, but never forget this work is only possible due to the generosity of others.
"Christmas is an important season for fundraising for many charities, and this year every penny really does count.
"Your donation to Royal Blind will have a real impact on the lives of those who are blind, helping them to lead their life the way they want to."
Click here to download a donation formRelated articles and linksToday The Scotsman joins forces with the Royal Blind to launch a Christmas appeal. Claire Smith talks to someone who has reason to be thankfulwww.royalblind.orgThe full article contains 788 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
