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About Beacon Fab Lab

Our sight is something most of us take for granted – but imagine trying to work without it.

Fixing that leaky pipe isn’t quite so easy when you can’t see it properly, stocking shelves requires you to be able to see what goes where, and typing when you can’t make out the words on a screen – well you may as well forget it.

Living with sight loss affects everything you do. But the Beacon Centre helps people to live fuller, more independent lives regardless of their vision.

From building people’s employment or life skills, to helping them access the latest technology to make the everyday achievable again, our charity has been helping people with sight loss for more than 145 years.

We have a team of trained sight loss advisors who can support someone with sight loss, whether they are newly diagnosed or still struggling to come to terms with the impact of their conditions after several years.

Each person is different, so we provide tailored support. Whether someone needs to find out how they can make a cup of tea for themselves again or just wants to meet others in the same situation, we make sure we get the help they need when they need it.

Despite our long history, we’ve never faced anything quite like Coronavirus. The impact of Covid-19 means we have lost almost £700,000 in income.

Yet our members need us now, more than ever. The isolation many of them feel as a result of their sight loss has been made worse by not being able to leave the house, sometimes for months on end, due to their vulnerability.

They haven’t been able to access their usual support networks of family and friends, either.

We’ve done whatever it takes to make sure no one has been left feeling alone, whether it’s picking up shopping or being there when someone just wants to talk.

We need to be here for them and we’re doing everything we can to make sure we are still here for another 145 years.

But to do this, we need your support - now more than ever. Here’s some simple ways you can help Beacon.

1. Give As You Earn

Payroll giving allows employees to give to any UK charity straight from their salary without paying tax on it.

It makes a huge difference to charities like Beacon as it provides us with a regular income.

If you are an employee and would like to donate to Beacon through Give As You Earn all you need to do is ask your employer and they can set up a scheme.

If you can give just £5 a month it will make a difference helping us to help those with sight loss when they need us the most.  One of the best things about the scheme is that you can give whatever you can afford.

Because you don’t pay tax you’ll also be giving more for less, giving £1 costs a basic-rate tax payer 80p and a higher-rate tax payer just 60p.

You won’t even be asked for your bank details as the donation will come straight out of your salary.

If you are an employer setting up a payroll giving scheme is quick and easy. You just need to contact a payroll giving agency and make the deductions each time you run payroll. The donation will be taken from your employee’s pay before tax but after national insurance. You then just send your donations to your agency and they will pass them onto us here at Beacon.

It’s a simple way to support us that is easy to maintain and it really does make a difference.

Whether you are an employee or employer, if you would like to set up a payroll giving scheme to support Beacon get in touch and we can help guide you through the process. email supportus@beaconvision.org

2. Use our Fab Lab, a digital and manufacturing facility.

Our Fab Lab helps train people with sight loss in new skills such as digital manufacturing.

Profits support the work of our charity, so you'll be helping our vital work with your purchase.

The Fab Lab team can provide personalised items in a range of materials including wood, glass, fabrics such as T-shirts, ceramics and plastics.

To find out more about the work of our Fab Lab or to place an order email fablab@beaconvision.org or ring 01902 880111.

3. Text Donate

A £10 donation could help us provide a session of sight loss advice support that some of our members need more than ever in the wake of the pandemic.

Donating is easy, just text BEACONTEN to 70085 to donate £10.

Text costs £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications text BEACONTENNOINFO to 70085.

4. Shop with us

We’ve got retail stores around the region and if you shop with us then you’ll be helping fund our work. You can find the locations of our shops on our website at www.beaconvision.org/shops.

To find our more about the Beacon Centre give our team a call on 01902 880 111 or email supportus@beaconvision.org.

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