BSVI History

Founded in 1911, BSVI is the oldest established charity in Bournemouth. Formerly known as Bournemouth Blind Aid Society, it came into being following the launch of a nationwide campaign by the National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) to raise funds for its new buildings in Great Portland Street. Public records show that at this time there was already talk of unrest within Europe and this may well have been the catalyst for the RNIB raising the profile of blindness.

Three public spirited local sisters, the Misses Rooper, together with a blind solicitor, Mr L C V Homer, felt they would respond to the request, but before sending donations away from the Borough, they would address the needs of blind people known to them locally in the first instance. There was obviously a need locally as the old records show how the formation of the Society brought the problem of local blind people to the fore. The founders initially knew of ten blind people in the areas who they felt would benefit directly from assistance, and within three months a further seventy had been identified.

The current building was built in 1927 with the purpose of being used as a social hall and residential home for blind women. The recession of the early 1930's put a halt on progress but finally in 1937 the home and hall were opened in memory of the founders. The building and services offered became so popular that in 1950 another storey was added in addition to a second social centre, Hannington Hall, being opened.

In the late 1980's the establishment was changing primarily through the Community Care Act, where changes in social services meant that more and more people were being cared for in their own homes. The Bournemouth Blind Aid Society closed as a residential home and a new direction had to be sought.

After a short period of closure for refurbishment, Max Bygraves reopened the Bournemouth Blind Aid Society in October 1998 as a new activity and social centre for visually impaired people. The response from the local community was overwhelming and membership rocketed to six hundred registered blind and partially sighted people living within the Borough of Bournemouth.

In September 2000, the Bournemouth Blind Aid Society moved into the new millennium with a restyled name of Bournemouth Society for the Visually Impaired and new BSVI logo. The new Society took delivery of its own minibus providing subsidised transport and offered its members a full programme of activities and social events including a cafeteria providing hot meals. In conjunction with Bournemouth Social Services, BSVI set up a Sight and Hearing Resource Centre, fully equipped with items designed to assist visually impaired people with independent daily living. More recent developments include the provision of a Floating Support service, Counselling and Transcription Services.

BSVI aims to continue to strengthen and develop its services to visually impaired people living in Bournemouth and the surrounding area.

Bournemouth Society for the Visually Impaired 5 Victoria Park Road  Bournemouth  BH9 2RB Tel: 01202 546644/522184   Fax: 01202 519006 Charity No: 1114570    Company No: 5792657