Community committees
Community committees and member support groups are, in many ways, our local face.
Community committees and member support groups are made up of our members and sighted people from the local community. They may include families of members, volunteers, local health professionals or anyone who has an interest in supporting our aims and work.The committees undertake a wide range of activities to support our work and lobby for the needs and rights of blind and partially sighted people.
What do community committees do?
Community committees and member support groups:
- Complement the delivery of services to blind and partially sighted people
- Raise awareness of the needs of blind, and partially sighted people in their local community
- Assist with fundraising activities
- Liaise with consumer organisations and community groups
- Liaise with local authorities
- Provide direct support to members
- Coordinate, deliver and maintain talking-book machines
- Help organise recreational activities
- Help organise peer support opportunities for members which may include a 'telephone tree'
- Record local newspaper content on to the Telephone Information Service
- Hold regular meetings and functions for members
How does it work?
In addition to meetings throughout the year, each community committee holds an annual meeting in or around July. This is when committee members are elected for a three year term.
Committee members receive regular and ongoing support from us, invitations to recognition functions, vertificates for training and long services, refresher training and the opportunity to further participate inour work as an associate member
If you would like more information about your local community committee, or would like to join, call 0800 24 33 33 and ask for your locality coordinator
