PLEASE READ
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I am writing to you as a Trustee of Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind to ask for your help with a difficult cashflow situation.
Based in Earlsdon, CRCB is a truly valuable resource for visually impaired people in Coventry and the surrounding area providing essential support beyond diagnosis. Without such support, sight loss almost invariably leads to loss of confidence, loss of independence, social isolation and an increased risk of deteriorating physical and mental health.
As an independent charity, CRCB combats all of these consequences through its wide range of volunteer-supported activities that help visually impaired people adapt and learn new skills such as computing, how to use smart phones, cooking and braille. It offers access to hobby activities including creative writing, music, craft, allotment, bowls and T’ai Chi as well as social clubs and outings. Its minibus service allows people from all over the city to get to the centre without having to rely on family, taxis or public transport.
This friendly, much valued charity celebrates its tenth anniversary this year: in its first decade it has grown hugely and is now a vital part of the support network for your patients and their families. Around 120 individuals now attend each week but it supports many more with telephone and drop-in advice. It has achieved all this with no public funding of any kind.
About 18 months ago, the charity bought its premises and an adjacent former care home, Boston Lodge: Sense, the previous owners decided to sell and the choice for CRCB was either to buy or, frankly, close. While this gives it an opportunity to create a gold standard of support in the future, the high cost has caused a temporary but fairly serious deficit which I am asking for your help in plugging.
I am asking for a one-off donation as soon as possible, as an indication ideally £1000 per company or any amount per individual would be most appreciated. If you wish, we will advertise the donations on our website and within our support groups and circulars.
Thank you for kind consideration at this difficult time. I cannot emphasise enough how valuable this charity is to the visually impaired community in Coventry and how much so many of our patients rely on it. Please help.
If you have any questions or would like to see the facility in action, please feel free to contact me on 07971 207776 or by email on suresh.munyal@nhs.net.
Kind regards and thank you in advance.
Suresh Munyal MSc MCOptom Dip Tp(IP)
Here’s how you can donate:
Send a cheque payable to Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind
33-35 Earlsdon Avenue South, Coventry, CV5 6TH
Make a bank transfer to:
Bank: Co-operative Bank
Sort Code: 08-92-99
Acct Number: 65371978
Acct Name: Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind
Coventry and Warwickshire LOC 