In Touch - 23/11/2010

Sally Harvey, RNIB's Group Director for Independent LIving, tells Peter White about the organisation's plans to restructure and streamline their Braille transcription service. Sally said that this will include some redundancies, but will not result in a reduction in service to customers. The charity is awaiting the fallout of the governments comprehensive spending review, to see how local authorities apportion funding and is fearful that their various funding sources (national and local govt and public donations) will be greatly reduced, leaving them the job of having to find ways of generating income. In a statement, The Guide Dogs for the Blind echoed RNIB's concerns about a shortfall in donations and for them, as a charity relying solely on donations, their financial future is also cause for concern. Mani Djazmi presented a newsround including the saving of Blindcraft, in Edinburgh and an interview with Paul Archer about the benefits of Goalball.