Galloway's Society for the Blind

Galloway's Society for the Blind
Charity
Founded 1867
Headquarters Penwortham, Morecambe, Chorley
Key people
 Mr John J Ward, Chairman Peter Taylor, Chief Executive
Website www.galloways.org.uk

Galloway's Society for the Blind, also known as Galloways, (reg charity number 526088) is one of Lancashire's oldest charities, established in 1867 following a public meeting in the Corn Exchange, Preston, England. It was originally the Preston Industrial Institute for the Blind, then the Institute for Blind Welfare and until 2000 the Preston and North Lancashire Blind Welfare Society. It is now named after William Wilding Galloway, a cotton merchant from Preston who left £40,000 to local charities including £10,000 to the society when he died in 1936.[1][2] The Society renamed itself in July 2000, to avoid its cumbersome previous name which was commonly abbreviated to the ambiguous "The Blind Society" and to honour its greatest benefactor.[3]

The charity now provides many services to over 7000 blind and visually impaired people across the County and has offices in Chorley, Penwortham Southport and Morecambe. The Charity has developed an extensive programme of Adult Education and works in partnership with Lancashire College, The Adult College, Lancaster, and Lancashire County Council.

The provision of Talking Newspapers and Magazines is another one of its services producing over 3500 USB memory sticks and CDs each week. Current titles include Lancashire Evening Post, Ormskirk Advertiser, Lancaster Guardian & Morecambe Visitor, Longridge News, Garstang Courier, Farmers Guardian, Methodist Recorder, The Catholic Voice, Salvation Army War Cry, and Asian Awaz in Urdu.

The charity provides Blind Awareness training to local organisations and undertakes Braille and CD transcription services.

Galloway's operates 4 Sight Advice Centres across Lancashire at Chorley, Preston, Southport and Morecambe from where a range of specialist equipment is available

The Society relies on legacies and donations to fund its activities and needs to raise over £1 million each year.

References

  1. ↑ "Fundraising and Appeals - Legacies". Galloway's Society for the Blind. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Information about William Wilding Galloway and the first two names of the Society was provided by the Society on its Facebook page 10 March 2012
  3. ↑ "New name for old charity". Lancashire County Publications: News: Preston. 12 May 2000. Retrieved 10 March 2012. available online through NewsBank to subscribers


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