Thomas Pocklington Trust, a national charity dedicated to supporting blind and partially sighted people, has just awarded the membership organisation, Visionary, £1.3m as part of a three-year agreement.
Charles Colquhoun, CEO at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “We are pleased to be able to make this substantial investment into this important organisation that represents so many other charities and local societies in this sector. Visionary shares our ambitions in supporting blind and partially sighted people to live the life they want to lead”.
The two organisations have a history of close collaboration, working together for the benefit of blind and partially sighted people, with TPT providing grant funding, support services and seconded staff, since 2015.
Michael Conroy, Vice-Chair of Visionary, said: “I would like to thank TPT for its generous support to date and for the coming three years. Its support has allowed us to expand our activities, grow the Visionary membership and strengthen our collective voice which will have a positive impact on the lives of blind and partially sighted people”.
Visionary’s CEO, Fiona Sandford, added: “This funding will ensure that Visionary can connect with local sight loss organisations, work alongside them to develop services and share the success of local, community-based organisations to improve the sight loss sector”.
The agreement, which came into effect on 1 January 2020, includes funding and other resources for a three-year period, with a view to an extension after this period subject to Visionary successfully achieving the objectives outlined in the agreement.
Visionary supports a national network of sight loss organisations, local societies and charities. Established by its members as The National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People almost three decades ago, it changed its name to Visionary in 2010.
TPT is expected to announce further updates on funding to its close partners in the coming months.