Our Mission
An integral part of the Society's work is helping blind and partially sighted people (and increasingly deaf/blind people) to retain independence by providing help and advice on daily living, finding volunteers for those who require them and signposting them to other sources of help and services.
Through a range of direct and indirect services, Hertfordshire Society for the Blind has the mission to serve the County's estimated population of 17,000 people with severe and permanent sight loss.
HSB is in contact with over 5,000 visually impaired people who receive one or more of its services such as:
- Home Visits by staff and trained volunteers.
- A Hospital Information Service (manned by HSB staff and volunteers) located in eye clinics to support newly visually impaired people from the point of serious sight loss being diagnosed.
- A central and satellite resource centres where gadgets to assist daily living tasks can be demonstrated and purchased
- Information for visually impaired people, their relatives and helpers through a help/advice line
- A regular Newsletter produced in clear print, braille, e-mail and on tape
- Support to local social clubs across the county and for a purpose-built Social Centre.
- Small discretionary grants to visually impaired children and young people in cases where funding may not be available from statutory sources.
Background
HSB has spent the last 90 years meeting the needs of visually impaired people. The Society was formed in 1915 to assist soldiers returning from the front who were blinded by gas. The help given (a bag of coal at Christmas) may seem unusual by today's standards and it is fair to say we have moved on since then.
We remain an independent local charity working hard to raise as much money as we can from a variety of sources for our worthwhile and very necessary services.
Information about HSB
Clients
We have over 5,300 people on the HSB register. The majority are 70+, many of whom have other problems, e.g. hearing impairment and to this end the Society is actively working with the local authority to provide volunteers for deaf and blind people in the county.
We aim to help with reducing the social isolation of this vulnerable group of people and to provide assistance with their daily living needs.
Volunteers
We have a small, dedicated professional team and we work with around 170 volunteers. The majority of our volunteers help to deliver our frontline services of home visiting, hospital information and equipment outreach and a small number help us with office/fundraising and clubs.
We undertake around 2000 home visits per annum.
We provide help and advice in 6 eye clinics throughout the county.
As well as our central Resource Centre, we take equipment out into the community through monthly Sight Information Points and various Equipment Exhibitions.
HSB Information Sources
Sight-Line: Telephone information service based in Leahoe House
Newsletter: This is issued 3 times per year in the following formats:
- Large Print: around 3,400
- Cassette: around 1,200
- Braille: 25
- E-mail: 12
Resource Centre: Our central Resource Centre is in Leahoe House.
Equipment Exhibitions: 4 - 5 exhibitions per annum
Sight Information Points: at 8 locations once every month
Hospital Information: HSB Information Points in 6 Hospital Eye Clinics
Registration
The Society is now both an independent Registered Charity and a Limited Company.
Registered Charity Number: 1047148
Company Number: 03033089
Registered in England and Wales
Address:
Leahoe House, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, Herts, SG13 8DZ