For over 100 years Vision Support Barrow & District has been helping local people with vision impairments across South West Cumbria to live independently and live well.
In 2023, we celebrated our centenary with a variety of events throughout the celebrate our 100th year. These included a Super Day Out at Hawcoat Park, a 100-prize raffle, a 100th birthday party, and a centenary exhibition at Signal Film & Media.
Founding & Early Development (1923-1938)
1923
Vision Support Barrow & District is registered under the Blind Person’s Act with effect from the 1st October 1923.
1924
The charity took over employment of Home Teachers to teach local blind people new skills including knitting and basket making.
1928
88 Duke Street is opened as a social club open 5 evenings each week for social groups, classes, and reading circles.
1931
The charity grows taking over premises at Oddfellows’ Yard in Kendal to open a workshop for blind basket makers.
1933
The charity changes its name to “The Barrow, Furness and Westmorland Society for the Blind” to reflect the charity’s growth and area covered.
1935
88 Duke Street is purchased thanks to a legacy gift of £166 from Mr R Johnson of Broughton along with other additional funds.
1938
The Blind Person’s Act is passed. The age at which a blind person is entitled to an old age pension is lowered from 50 to 40.
Resilience Through War: The World War II Years (1939-1944)
1939
World War 2 starts, knitted articles are sent to the forces rather than being sold. Evening groups are moved to daylight hours due to the blackout.
1939-1942
The charity was given licence to manufacture certain ‘prohibited goods’ keeping workers in employment and the sales depot successful.
To engage in the war effort, blind people then took on factory work, as appropriate.
Barrow centre was described as having an ‘energetic committee’, which was largely formed of blind members. In spite of wartime conditions, 3 evening functions were held successfully.
1943
The charity announces the retirement and subsequent death of Home Teacher, Mr T Hale. Though he was blind himself he had served with the charity in various roles for 25 years.
A memorial to Mr Hale was unveiled at the centre, a braille dictionary housed in a wooden cabinet made by one of our members.
1944
Dual sight and hearing loss was mentioned for the first time, a survey showed that 18 members needed assistance. Hearing aids were provided to 3-4 members free of charge.
Post-War Growth & Community Engagement (1946-1958)
1946
Alderman J Barrington OBE passes after being Chair of Trustees since 1936. His place is taken by Alderman J Miller.
1948
Redecoration and repairs at Duke Street are completed, new groups included dance classes, domino drives, along with other social groups.
1949
The charity has an active year hosting walks and talks. Talks covered a wide range of subjects such as Life in Roman England and Welfare Work in Germany.
1950
Captain F Robinson, secretary to the charity, resigns due to ill health after 25 years of service.
1956
Westmorland withdraws and starts their own charity for blind and partially sighted people in the area.
1958
The idea of opening a residential home in Barrow-in-Furness is mentioned for the first time in the annual minutes.
“We consider our services and amenities are among the best in the country, and the only thing we are short of is a home for the elderly blind who find it hard living alone. Currently they have to go to homes which are 100 miles away, which is a considerable hardship.”
Creation & Expansion of Ostley House (1963-1974)
1963
Ostley House is purchased with plans for the former manor house to be converted into a residential home for the blind with some short stay accommodation.
1964
The charity changes its name to ‘Barrow, Furness, and South Cumberland Society for the Blind’ to reflect service area changes.
1965
Ostley House is opened just prior to Christmas with a small number of residents initially. Mr and Mrs Williamson were matron and assistant matron at the home.
1968
Mr Wilf Proctor replaces Mr Castle as Honorary Secretary of the charity.
An extension is built at Ostley House allowing them to provide short holidays at Ostley House for local blind and partially sighted people.
1974
The charity changes its name to ‘Barrow & Districts Society for the Blind’ as the charity offers its services to all blind and partially sighted people in adjoined areas.
Modernisation & Facility Growth (1984-1999)
1984
69 Cavendish Street is purchased which led to a 50% increase in retail sales due to the more central location.
1994
Further renovations are made at Ostley House including an extension to the dining area and a new wing with 8 beds.
On the 28th March 1944, The Duchess of Kent officially opens the second residential wing, known as The Croasdell Wing, at Ostley House.
Harriet Tyson celebrated 25 years as a volunteer. Harriet was out dining one night and noticed a blind person struggling to eat their meal and was inspired to help people with vision impairments from that day on.
1998
On 30th April 1998, The Harriet Tyson wing is opened at Ostley House after Harriet herself raised over £125,000 to have the residential wing built.
1999
On 7th December 1999, Harriet Tyson is awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Diversification of Services & Infrastructure (2002-2013)
2002
On 29th January 2002, The Nan Tait Suite is opened at Ostley House by the Mayor of Barrow. Nan Tait was later honoured with an OBE.
2007
The Dennis Noall Activity Centre is opened at Ostley House, this would become the base for social clubs and classes. The Centre was also equipped to offer IT courses, cookery classes, and in-house staff training.
2013
The role of Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) at Furness General Hospital begins on a voluntary basis.
Bradbury Village & The Vision Support Centre (2014-2019)
2014
In April, Wilf Proctor retires having been Company Secretary of the charity for 45 years. Carl Hodge is then appointed to the role which is renamed Chief Executive Officer.
2015
Plans are made for a dementia unit at Ostley House and to convert The Blind Shop into a Vision Support Centre.
The Children and Young People’s Project begins with 28 members and a full programme of activities planned for 2026.
2016
On 23rd May 2016, Joan Milburn is appointed as the charity’ President having previously been a Trustee since 2010.
2017
In July 2017, The Vision Support Centre is opened by the charity’s President, Joan Milburn. Funds towards the refurbishment of the building were predominantly raised by then Community Fundraiser, Brenda Walker.
2019
In December 2019, the dementia unit is opened at Ostley House. The Bradbury Foundation donated £100,000 towards the project, as a thank you the unit was named Bradbury Village.
The village includes a shop, cinema, café, and pub to help bring familiarity and the outside world to residents in the home.
Ostley Gardens, which hosts 5 bungalows, also opened in 2019 offering an alternative to living in Ostley House to residents.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response (2020-2021)
2020
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, fundraising took a severe fall, most staff worked from home, and board meetings were held online.
2021
The charity is renamed to ‘Vision Support Barrow & District’ to help reflect the services offered local blind and partially sighted people.
Funding from the Henry Smith Charity and the National Lottery Fund allows the charity to further support their members with the employment of an Innovation Officer to help members with Assistive Technology.
2022
Our President, Joan Milburn, releases a biography of her life titled ‘Seeing Life Through Blind Eyes’ with her story being told by the late author Gillian Ogilvie. Proceeds from the memoirs were evenly split between ourselves and North West Air Ambulance Charity.
Current Day (2023-Current Day)
2023
We kicked off our 100th year by announcing our 100-prize raffle with star prizes including a signed Barrow AFC shirt and ball, £100 cash, and a one-week stay in Portugal.
In May we hosted A Super Day Out at Hawcoat Park, a family fun day which included bouncy castles, dance troupes, and a mini market.
In September our Chief Executive Carl Hodge and member Adrian cycled 104 miles with an elevation of a staggering 8000ft (which is approximately double the height of Ben Nevis), They raised £900.00 for the charity.
We also celebrated our President Joan Milburn’s 90th birthday at our Vision Support Centre.
In October, we hosted a 100th birthday party for the charity at Hawcoat Park with live entertainment, pie and peas, and a cake cut by Chief Executive Carl Hodge and charity President Joan Milburn.
We also invited you on a trip down memory lane during our centenary exhibition at Signal Film & Media which included archive materials and a complete timeline. Rather fittingly 100 people attended the exhibition.
Months of campaigning from ourselves and other sight charities across the country is worthwhile with proposals to remove train ticket offices in England scrapped.
In November, one of our most devoted volunteers, Paul Backhouse, is announced as a finalist for Citizen of the Year in the Love Barrow Awards. During this month we also drew the lucky winners for our 100-prize raffle.
Social groups and activities throughout the year included day trips, yoga classes, and a poetry workshop.
2024
Carl Hodge leaves his role as Chief Executive of the charity in match following 10 years of service. Amanda Bennett is then appointed in the role having previously worked for Guide Dogs UK.
Our Men’s Group enjoyed a private touch tour of The Dock Museum following renovations and improvements to the museum’s exhibition spaces.
We joined forces with Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness to celebrate World Kindness Day imploring locals to pledge their act of #FurnessKindness in celebration.
In December, we said goodbye and send best wishes to our Grants & Legacy Officer Janine Postlethwaite who helped secure over £500,000 worth of funding during her 4 and a half years with the charity.
2025
Amanda Bennett resigns from her role as Chief Executive. Craig Renton is then appointed to the role.
Thanks to funding from Eric Wright Charitable Trust, the charity launches a Working Age Programme to support local people with vision impairments to enter and thrive in the workplace.
The charity transitions to selling all items at the Vision Support Centre at cost to help enable people with vision impairments to get the assistive technology they need without the burden of additional costs.
