Royal Blind chief hails Scotsman readers as donations pour in for charity campaign

SUPPORT from readers of The Scotsman has made a real difference to the Light Up Lives campaign, the chief executive of Royal Blind said yesterday.

Richard Hellewell thanked the newspaper for helping to draw attention to the work of the Edinburgh-based charity.

About £5,500 has been donated to Royal Blind, which supports the Royal Blind School, Braeside House for the elderly and the Scottish Braille Press, and money is still coming in.

Both the Rebus author Ian Rankin, who has a child at the Royal Blind School, and Alex Salmond, the First Minister, are supporting the campaign.

Next year, Royal Blind plans to launch a major appeal to raise £6 million over three years. The money raised will go to improving accommodation at the Royal Blind School, rebuilding the school swimming pool and sports facilities, and modernising the Scottish Braille Press.

Mr Hellewell said: "We would like to thank The Scotsman for everything it has done for Scotland's awareness of people with a visual impairment and the kind of services we can provide.

"The support in terms of donations from readers has been fantastic. The work of charities in Scotland can only go on because of the help of the people of Scotland and the generosity they are able to show.

"The stories that have been featured in the newspaper are just a few examples of the ways in which people can fulfil their dreams."

The Scotsman launched its campaign with an interview with blind Paralympic silver medallist Libby Clegg, who described how her time at the Royal Blind School had helped transform her from a shy and awkward 11-year-old to a confident, record-breaking young adult.

Libby has been chosen as one of the faces of the Light Up Lives campaign because, in the words of Mr Hellewell, "she is truly inspirational".

The Scotsman also took a tour of the Royal Blind School, where Stefan Nelson and Christina Tytler were taking their first steps towards learning Braille. And we visited the Scottish Braille Press, where David Moodie, a former Royal Blind School pupil who has worked at the press for 38 years, explained how vital it is for blind and visually impaired people to have access to Braille books, magazines and bank statements.

We also visited Braeside House, where Archie Watt, a retired lab technician and Second World War veteran, told us how grateful he was to have a home where he could live alongside his beloved wife, Nan, who has Alzheimer's.

At the Canaan Lane campus, The Scotsman saw the work being done with children who as well as being blind have multiple disabilities. The school has pioneered the education of children with multiple disabilities and has developed a special form of sign language which uses air currents and rhythm.

Mike Gilson, editor of The Scotsman, said: "A huge thank-you to our readers who have helped raise an impressive sum, especially during this tough economic climate.

"When we launched the appeal, I said that just a few pounds could go a long way to pay for a piece of equipment that really could change a life. With the fantastic sum raised, Royal Blind will truly be able to Light Up Lives and make a difference to many, many people.''

Although both the Royal Blind School and Braeside House have support from local authorities and from the Scottish Government, the charity needs to raise an additional £2,300 a day to support the school and an additional £1,000 a day to support Braeside House.

Royal Blind, which changed its name last year from the Royal Blind Asylum and School, was one of the first organisations in the world to devote itself to the care of blind and visually- impaired people. Founded in 1793 by a friend of Robert Burns, the charity has been at the forefront of care and education for blind and visually impaired people for more than 300 years.


Focus on 'extremely worthy cause'

THE Scotsman has chosen the Royal Blind's Light Up Lives as its Christmas charity appeal for 2008. The campaign, which has already raised more than £5,000 from Scotsman readers, puts the spotlight on work done by the charity, which runs the Royal Blind School, Scottish Braille Press and Braeside House.

The Royal Blind School is supported by councils and the Scottish Government, but needs an extra £2,300 a day to carry on running. It has 105 pupils split between its centre for young people with multiple disabilities at Canaan Lane, Morningside and main base in Craigmillar Park, Newington, both Edinburgh.

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.

Over the next three years, the charity wants to raise £6 million to redevelop the Royal Blind School, rebuild its swimming pool, improve accommodation and modernise the Scottish Braille Press. SBP has 40 staff and helps thousands of people, producing six million pages of Braille and five million pages of large print each year and issuing 13,000 audio tapes.

Richard Hellewell, chief executive of the Royal Blind, said: "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 know budgets are tight, but we are delighted that hundreds of readers have already helped this extremely worthy cause."


WHAT YOUR MONEY CAN BUY

HERE are some of the items the Royal Blind in Scotland hopes to buy with money raised from its Light Up Lives campaign:

• Soft surfacing for one of the inner courtyards at Canaan Lane, where pupils with severe disabilities are taught: £14,000

• One smart electronic wheelchair: £12,000

• One wet-floor shower for Braeside House, the Royal Blind's home for older people who are blind or who have a visual impairment: £12,000

• One standing frame for Canaan Lane: £1,400

• One specially adapted posture chair for the residents of Braeside House: £258.50

• One set of talking kitchen scales to help blind people to prepare food: £47

• One speaking sign to help blind people find their way around: £35

• One talking clock to help blind people tell the time: £32

• One ultra-light cane to help blind people's mobility: £29

• One adapted plate: £10