Meet Christine Durnion

Manager – Christine Durnion 2006

In May 2004 I became a manager for BlindVoice UK. We had a small office and what would be the base for our Communication Centre. At that time I had 5 real objectives in mind; to involve the Trustees in decision making processes that would strengthen our management team, improve and develop quality services, identify gaps in service delivery, strengthen partnerships and make new ones and lastly but most importantly reach new visually impaired or blind people and provide them with solutions to their problems through our services.The last three years has been an incredibly successful journey for all concerned in which all of these objectives have been achieved. Funded mainly by Big Lottery and other grant making trusts we now have a suite of offices in Yarm Road.At BlindVoice UK, we understand that sight loss not only results in loss of confidence, loneliness and isolation, but it can also devastate lives.

We provide information, practical advice, learning opportunities, confidence building, emotional support and social activities and this list of services continues to grow as we identify new and better ways to support the local visually impaired community.

Our aim is to help people overcome the disability of blindness and encourage them to live their lives to the full. Further funding is vital for us to be able to continue the services and support we offer as well as develop the future projects we are so passionate about, and so determined to achieve. We are an organisation that develops individuals and challenge ourselves and others in order to continuously improve.

BlindVoice UK needs to focus on bringing about positive lasting change for blind and partially sighted people. It needs to lead this change by having a strong membership and a deep knowledge and understanding of the diverse life experiences of blind and partially sighted people, the products and services they require and the ways in which barriers to inclusion can be removed.
BlindVoice UK needs to continue to provide high quality services which specifically meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people, but with an emphasis on developing new forms of service and delivering services in ways which spread learning and good practice. It needs to use its charitable resources to carry forward these aims, to structure itself in a way which enables their delivery and to create a culture which supports them.

The development of an exemplary service, building on expertise, will build an effective organisation.

Christine Durnion
Manager

Manager – Christine Durnion 2006 Page 2...

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