HACB is here to help anyone whose eyesight has become a cause for concern whether or not they are registered as having a visual impairment and we make no charge for membership. Most of our services are provided free of charge.
Any person resident in the administrative county of Hampshire can make use of our services and support. If you live outside this area we can give you a contact for services in your local area or please use the links on our Home Page.
HAMPSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE CARE OF THE BLIND was formed in February 1922 with 298 members. By 1927 HACB was helping 485 people with sight loss and 192 volunteers recruited assisting with Braille, handicrafts and living skills.
County Office was then based in Winchester where a shop offered articles made by the blind. In 1982 the Association moved to Leigh Road, Eastleigh. Eight years growth in services and staff led to the move to 25 Church Road, Bishopstoke in 1990.
FOCUS, the Association's quarterly magazine, was first published in 1987 and currently has a circulation of 5,000 of which 800 are recorded on tape and twenty produced in Braille. Focus has been recognised as a winning example of good practice and in 2002 won an award from the Hampshire Chronicle.
In 1995 HACB organised its first major exhibition and conference at the Fernham Hall in Fareham. Eye Contact was then hailed as a major breakthrough in bringing equipment, services and information to large numbers of people in Hampshire and beyond and has become a regular event. Since then Eye Contact has become a major regional showcase for new equipment and services for the visually impaired and is held every two years with an average attendance of 2,000 people and 50 plus exhibitors.
HACB is the biggest organisation dealing with visual impairment in Hampshire with 22 branches and more than 650 volunteers offering club activities, groups, outings and support to around 4,000 sight impaired people registered with us and who use our services.
There are currently 12 full-time employees providing professional services and back up to service users, volunteers and branches.
Services include a Resource Centre, which provides equipment for sale, advice and information on a wide range of aids and technology to assist visually impaired towards fully independent life. Regular visits to branches and groups are organised to display and make available equipment and a series of Resource Days are organised throughout the County to allow people to sample specialist equipment offered by manufacturers and suppliers
HACB's Outreach Team provides support, advice and practical assistance through telephone contact and a visiting service aimed at home assessment, a wide range of advice and referral to appropriate services and agencies. Patient Support is also provided at Southampton General Hospital Eye Clinic to advise and support people as they attend clinic, deal with issues surrounding diagnosis and in the practical help needed to deal with the visually impaired registration system.
Information, advice, training and support to users, volunteers and the infrastructure of branches and groups come from a small Branch Support Team which also employs an Activities Co-ordinator who organises and delivers training for volunteers and branch officers, practical activities for visually impaired people and a range of other events and activities including provision of holidays and residential events in partnership with sister organisations.
The Organisation works closely with Hampshire County Council and Health providers and other agencies involved in visual impairment and is working towards meeting the needs of both current and future sight impaired users which, the Government predicts will increase by 35% by 2020.
HACB is working towards ensuring that it can meet this increasing demand.
Part of this planning process includes the redevelopment of HACB's Head Office site to provide a modern office and resource base and from which to serve the County.
HACB is an incorporated Charity led by a Board of Directors/Trustees and a full time Chief Executive who has responsibility for all aspects of managing the Association, its professional staff and services.
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The Charity and Branches
