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Charities
National Doodle Day link is: www.nationaldoodleday.org.uk |
Charities
RLSB - Royal London Society for the Blind July 2006 ...Anita attended 'Star for a Night' when she went to the school a couple of days beforehand to give the children some coaching which the children loved and then she attended in the evening of the show. The BBC were in attendance and filmed it. Then at the end of July, Anita was back at the school for their Annual Prize giving and presented awards for drama. September 2006 ...Anita met blind and partially sighted factory workers during a special visit in Brent, where she visited the Old Oak Lane factory, near Willesden Junction Station, which is run by the Royal London Society for the Blind and spent several hours chatting to the workers. Anita said "Today has been a real revelation for me. It's so inspiring to see first hand just what blind and partially sighted people are able to do when given the opportunity by organisers such as the RLSB". Inspired by the workers, Anita now plans to create some marketing ideas to publicise the factory's existence. November 2006 ... A Letter from Anita .... Somewhere along the the road to becoming an established actress, I was given another role: that of 'celebrity'. There are many privileges this status gives me; one of the most moving of all was being asked to become Vice-President of The Royal London Society for the Blind. And it was in my capacity as the RLSB's Vice-President that I was recently able to introduce to the media a remarkable young student - Kyle Jones. You may have seen Kyle on BBC Breakfast TV with me recently. He was born totally blind, but he was fortunate enough to have been referred to the RLSB's Dorton House Nursery at the age of two and later to progress through the school there. Kyle became interesed in the media when, at the age of ten, he discovered the Dorton House radio studio, available to all the RLSB's pupils. He never gave up this interest and, with the help and encouragement of staff at Dorton House, he has now realised his dreams - having left school this year with the grades he needed to study media and music technology at college. Everyone is so proud of him. His mother explained to me: 'The opportunities that Kyle has had at Dorton House School would never have been available in a mainstream environment to someone with no sight'. I have supported the RLSB since 2002, but it is stories like this that inspired me to take that support one step further and become their Vice-President. As an introduction to my new role at the charity I volunteered to take part in 'sight-guide training' wearing a blindfold. This enabled me to experience first-hand what it is like to need to be guided around without the gift of sight.. Of course, I was able to remove the blindfold when I wanted but it made me realise how difficult it is simply to get about if you can't see - a challenge the RLSB's pupils and students are presented with every day. This is why I am so determined to help more pupils like Kyle, who refuse to allow their blindness to hold them back. However, despite the spirit and determination these young people display, there is one shocking statistic that has stuck in my mind: 75% of people in the UK who are blind or partially sighted are unemployed. In most cases this isn't a reflection of their abilities. In truth, it is an indictment of a society that doesn't adapt to individual needs so that all young people starting out in life are given a fair chance. This is one of the things the RLSB is striving to change, through their Workbridge employment service, so that pupils like Kyle can make full use of their skills when they leave college. I intend to do whatever I can to help. Anita also chose a Christmas card - which was one of many that the children drew - that appeal raised over £39,000. January 2007 ...another appeal Anita did was for BBC Lifeline (this was transmitted on 16th and 18th March) and this was about work placements for their college students. March 2007 .... Anita (with Cheryl Baker also a vice president) launched Dorton House's brand new soft play and sensory theatre. The RLSB raised £35,000 funding with the Primary Club, which aims to fund sporting and recreational activities for blind and partially sighted children. New equipment includes fibre optic curtains, a surround system, projector, ultra violet lighting and glow in the dark stars, to name but a few. The room is one of the largest in the country. It is designed to allow the user to use individual parts of the equipment, or combine various elements to create a multi-sensory experience. Anita said 'You only need to see the delight on the children's faces to know that this facility will bring some very happy and educational times for all it's users. We are so grateful to the Primary Club for making it happen.' 22 July 2007 ...Thousands of balloons filled the sky in London for the Royal London Society for the Blind's Family Fun in the Sun Day. Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins presented a cheque for £65,000 to the charity's vice president Anita Dobson, with South Harrow's Specsavers contributing £750 raised during the month of June with in-store sight test donations, fundraising events and customer donations. *************
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