Visually impaired children can benefit from audio equipment which has been specially adapted for easier use by those with sight loss.
National charity British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) provides a range of radios on free loan to visually impaired people who meet its criteria.
Recipients need to be over the age of eight, registered blind or partially sighted and in receipt of a means-tested benefit.
The equipment is also available to purchase from the charity’s marketing arm BWBF Direct if the criteria is not met, and a VAT exemption applies for anyone who is registered blind or partially sighted.
British Wireless sets are easy to use, with strong colour contrast and tactile buttons, which are well spaced to help the user differentiate between them.
With almost 90 years’ experience of supporting visually impaired people, BWBF understands the importance of radio to those with sight loss, many of who cannot watch the television or read a book.
The equipment provides a lifeline to the outside world and a simple way to play audio files such as books or magazines.
There are 40,000 people across the UK who currently have one of the specially adapted radios but the charity is keen to reach out to even more and particularly to younger people suffering with sight loss.
The sets are a huge benefit to youngsters, as Jacqui, whose son and daughter both have one, will testify.
She says BWBF is a charity which has changed her children’s lives and they both use their radios every single day.
She said: “British Wireless is such an amazing and life changing charity.
“Having two children who are totally blind, the Concertos which BWBF gave to them have been such a big part of their lives for many years.
“My daughter listens to many stories from the various audio libraries she’s enrolled in and my son regularly listens to away football matches of his local team as well as Talk Sport and 5 Live as he’s mad on football.
“They both have lots of tapes they recorded of themselves when they were younger and it’s fun for them to listen back several years later as to what they said and sounded like then.
“They would be totally lost without these valuable units.”
You can find Imogen and Declan’s story on BWBF’s website here, where you’ll also be able to read about some of the other people the charity has helped.
Imogen said: “I am very pleased with my Concerto. I use it every day and I love it a lot.
“I like all the feely bits on the buttons so I know which ones to press and I think it’s clever you can plug a microphone into it. The sound is very good.”
To find out more about the work of British Wireless, go to www.blind.org.uk
You can also like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BWBF0 or follow them on Twitter @BritishWireless
If you think you or someone you know would be eligible for a radio, you can phone 01622 754757.
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