Legacy helps vision impaired people in Brentwood
4th September 2023
Sight loss charities, Essex Sight and BASIS, will be able to increase their support for local people with visual impairment thanks to a funding boost of over £44,000.
Essex Sight holds a regular monthly sight centre in Brentwood Community Hospital and the money means the charity can increase their service to twice each month.
The funding has come from the Malcolm and Beryl Crook Fund which is managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Carol Massey at Essex Sight said, “This funding will make a huge difference to the support we give through our centre at Brentwood Community Hospital.
“Essex has 54,790 vision impaired people, the third highest of two-tier local authorities in England and this number is forecast to rise by 20% in the next ten years, so the increased provision of sight loss support is hugely important.
“Anyone affected by sight loss can come along to the centre for information and support. There is also an opportunity to try out magnifiers and other low vision aids, all of which can help to make life easier.”
Essex Sight will be working in partnership with BASIS who will be offering a home visiting service to clients who are not able to get to the Hospital. During the visits, BASIS staff can provide emotional support, demonstrate equipment, provide details of social activities and signpost to other local support services.
Carol added, “To support the increased service at Brentwood Community Hospital we need more volunteers, so if you have a few hours to spare each month, then please get in touch with us.
“The sight centre operates on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month 10am-4pm in the main reception area of the hospital”.
Beryl was originally a client of Fiona Ashworth, a solicitor with Colchester-based Thompson, Smith & Puxon.
Fiona said, “After Malcolm died in 2005, and having no children, Beryl wanted her estate, on her death, to benefit local charities in the Brentwood area where she and Malcolm had spent most of their lives.
“I suggested ECF could provide the perfect solution to meet Beryl’s charitable wishes, ensuring that local organisations would benefit in perpetuity from her legacy, and through the fund in their names, keep Malcolm and Beryl’s memory alive.
“It is wonderful to now see how their fund is benefitting local people and to know that this will continue year after year.”
Essex Sight has been helping the visually impaired since 1920. The charity holds sight centres across the County providing information on eye conditions, benefits, local services, and registration. They also demonstrate low vision aids and other essential equipment.
BASIS celebrated their 25th anniversary this year supporting vision impaired people across South Essex. Visitors can attend their resource centre in Basildon or receive a home visit from their outreach worker. The charity also runs a befriending service whereby sighted volunteers give face-to-face and telephone companionship to those most isolated.
For more information contact Essex Sight on 01206 548196, email services@essexsight.org.uk or BASIS on 01268 522817, email admin@basissouthessex.org.uk.