Health & Wellbeing Community & Social Justice Free 2025
Beacon Centre for the Blind (Beacon Vision)

Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

Beacon Centre for the Blind (Beacon Vision) is a West Midlands charity founded in 1875, supporting up to 3,000 people affected by sight loss to live fuller, more independent lives across the Black Country and Staffordshire. Services include IT and digital skills training, low vision advice, assistive technology support, social care, employment assistance, health and wellbeing activities, and a door-to-door transport service. In its 150th anniversary year, the charity received £438,506 in National Lottery funding and grew statutory contract income to £892,565.

View Report
Report snapshot
52 Views

📋About

IT and digital skills training; low vision advice; assistive technology; social care support; health and wellbeing activity sessions; employment support; door-to-door transport; Talking News Service; Information and Guidance Service

📊Key Metrics

Up to 3,000 people with sight loss supported across the Black Country and Staffordshire Key Metric 1
£438,506 in National Lottery funding awarded in 2024/25, supporting continued service delivery in the 150th anniversary year Key Metric 2
Government contracts grew to £892,565 in 2024/25, up from £645,640 the previous year, reflecting expanded statutory commissioning Key Metric 3

✅Key Outcomes

  • 150th anniversary year (2025): 150 years of continuous support for blind and partially sighted people in the West Midlands since 1875
  • Bespoke pathways developed for each individual to build independence tailored to their sight loss journey
  • Digital inclusion programme providing access to assistive technology and training, supporting people to build confidence and independence

📍Geography

West Midlands

Related reports

All Health & Wellbeing reports →
2026 Enhanced
DEBRA UK

Impact — Winter 2026

Total income £18,180,000 and total expenditure £18,560,000 (year ended 31 December 2024, charity no. 1084958 England/Wales and SC039654 Scotland); in 2024 spent £3.8m on charitable activities including £1,079,000 on research, £1,366,000 on EB Community Support, £943,000 on public education, £270,000 on EB healthcare and £185,000 on respite breaks
Key Metric 1
700+ members supported through in-person visits and support calls in 2025; 697 support grants allocated in 2025 for essential items including specialist clothing, cooling fans and sheepskin liners; 2 new holiday homes purchased in 2025 with over 700 guests enjoying holiday homes; £34,000 raised through 2025 winter 'The Longest Night' appeal
Key Metric 2
Largest global investment in EB research to date: multi-million-pound drug repurposing trial provisionally agreed with LifeArc partner at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London; EB Priorities Setting Partnership study completed mapping global research priorities for all four main EB forms
Key Metric 3
£34,000 raised in 2025 winter appeal supporting families like Darcie's with specialist items, emotional support and research; 697 support grants delivered in 2025; first Members Connect event in Northern Ireland; EB Priorities Setting Partnership study completed providing global research roadmap
Health & Wellbeing Disability
View
2025 Enhanced
The Royal British Legion

Impact Report 2025

22,507 households helped through RBL casework and specialist support services across 66 countries
Key Metric 1
22,600 grants given to those in need, totalling £11.8 million
Key Metric 2
733 beneficiaries represented at tribunals, resulting in £24.5 million in War Pensions awards
Key Metric 3
1,548 new families living with dementia supported by RBL Admiral Nurses service
Health & Wellbeing Dementia
View
2025 Enhanced
Blind Veterans UK

Our Impact 2024-25

3,600 blind veterans received support across the UK; 447 new blind veterans started receiving support in 2024/25
Key Metric 1
1,598 referrals to rehabilitation services completed; 313 veterans received assistive technology training
Key Metric 2
997 volunteers donated 26,824 hours of support; befriending service awarded Quality in Befriending Excellence — one of only 11 organisations in the UK to achieve this
Key Metric 3
1,831 National Creative Wellbeing Project packs issued to help veterans reconnect with creativity and independence
Health & Wellbeing Wellbeing
View