An organisation which specialises in assisting visually impaired and blind people in the region has celebrated reaching a major milestone in dramatic fashion.
Warwickshire Association for the Blind (WAB) has marked 100 years since it was formed in exactly the same way it began - by re-enacting the organisation’s inaugural meeting at the original venue.
A full transcript of the first ever meeting in 1911 was uncovered thanks to media coverage at the time and members of the charity decided to celebrate the 100-years anniversary by performing a play based on the meeting at the Assembly Room in Leamington Town Hall, The Parade.
The dramatic performance was delivered by the Amateur Community Theatre Group (ACT), a small not-for-profit member-run organisation which supports amateur drama across Warwickshire, and was followed by afternoon tea.
Around 150 people attended the celebration including members of the charity as well as Cllr Phillip Morris-Jones, leader of Warwickshire County Council, Chris White, MP for Leamington Spa, and mayor of Leamington Spa Alan Wilkinson.
John Davis, WAB manager and senior rehabilitation officer, said: “This was a wonderful occasion with a real feeling of celebration. Visually impaired people representing WAB`s Clubs from every part of Warwickshire attended and were thoroughly entertained by the ACT performance.
“The Warwickshire Association has changed so dramatically since its original conception. Today our services are led by the demands of visually impaired people and WAB attempts to make itself as accessible and responsive as possible. We are all looking forward to the further celebrations planned for 2011.”
WAB, based in Budbroke, Warwick, aims to provide support to the estimated 16,600 Warwickshire residents with a visual impairment as well as their friends and families.
The organisation’s centenary celebrations also coincide with another major anniversary after Leamington and Coventry-based financial experts Harrison Beale and Owen (HB&O) marked a decade of working with WAB.
Mark Ashfield, director at HB&O, said the firm was delighted to support an organisation which provided a valuable service to so many people.
“This charity has helped countless individuals over the years we have been involved with them – so to think of the numbers it has helped over the past 100 years is mind boggling.
“The value of the work that they do should not be underestimated and to be given a glimpse into the very beginnings of the charity was fascinating.
“We hope to become even more involved with the organisation going forward and we are confident of an exciting future for us both.”
WAB offers a range of services including drop-in centres, advice and information, community services, access to clubs and groups, equipment services, rehabilitation and registration, talking newspaper services, visual impairment awareness training and transcript services.
If companies or individuals want to become more involved in supporting WAB, find out more about their visual impairment awareness training or any other area of the charity’s work, visit www.wa4b.org.uk or call 01926 411331.
ENDS
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