The Guide Dog for the Blind Association (GDBA) In order to become a guide dog owner, you must be 16 or over, have a significant visual loss which may be combined with other disabilities, and be fit enough to use and care for the dog. The organisation provides training and support at virtually no cost for visually impaired people who would like to have a guide dog. Tel: 0118 983 5555

Opsis is an association of national voluntary organisations working together to provide service for people who are visually impaired. Opsis partners are Action for Blind People, Queen Alexandra College, The Catholic Blind Institute in Liverpool, Henshaw’s Society for the Blind, The Royal London Society for the Blind, The Royal National College for the Blind, Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool, West of England school for Children with Little or No Sight.

Henshaw’s Society for the Blind provides a range of services, including: education; rehabilitation; independence and mobility training; residential and nursing care; sheltered accommodation; community care; outreach and support; resource and local social centres, for blind and partially sighted people of all ages in the North of England and North Wales. Tel: 0161 872 1234

Scottish National Federation for Welfare of the Blind. Tel: 0131 229 4060

Wales Council for the Blind is an umbrella organisation providing information, training and advice. It maintains a network of organisations and a database of services and can refer inquiries to local organisations and contacts. Tel: 02920 473 954

Other services

The National Library for the Blind operates a free and post-free lending service on over 3,500 volumes in Braille and Moon, including children’s books and music in Braille

Books in Large Print may be borrowed from your local public library.

Radios may be supplied free of charge from the British Wireless for the Blind Fund via your social service department. Tel: 01634 832 501

Telephone rental and installation charges may be paid in part by Telephones for the Blind. Applications must be made by registered blind people via social services.

Talking Newspapers are circulated by over 500 voluntary groups throughout the UK. You can find out if there is one in your area from the Talking Newspaper Association (United Kingdom) which also distributes national newspapers and magazines on tape to subscribers throughout the UK and overseas. Tel: 01435 866 102

The Royal London Society for the Blind provides advice on training and employment for visually impaired people. Tel: 01732 592 500

Local societies

There are voluntary groups in towns and cities throughout the UK. To find out about your local group, ask at your social services department, or public library or contact the RNIB. Tel: 0207 388 1266

NALSVI (the National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People), founded in 1991, is a forum for local societies in the UK. Tel: 01904 671 921

The In Touch Handbook is a guide to services published by BBC Broadcasting Support Services, available in print, Braille or on tape from: In Touch Handbook, 37 Charles Street, Cardiff CF1 4EB