Princess Anne opens new centre for visually impaired (23/05/2008)

23.05.2008

HRH The Princess Royal today opened new headquarters for Foresight – a charity providing training and learning opportunities for the blind in North East Lincolnshire – made possible with the help of an investment package from Futurebuilders England.

Foresight provides a range of information, signposting, support training and learning opportunities for sensory impaired and physically disabled people. The new centre will provide additional capacity to expand the range of services Foresight provides within a fully accessible building, including a kitchen and lounge area, lift, and additional space for training and adaptive equipment.

The £282,500 Futurebuilders investment supported Foresight to purchase and refurbish the new site in Grimsby. It also helped fund staff and trustee training, and supported the organisation to undertake a financial management review and strategic income planning.

It is estimated that over 1,000 people in the North East Lincolnshire region will benefit from the improved services in the near future. Service users will have the opportunity to learn new skills such as pottery, maths, Spanish, archery and sailing; while also benefiting from the incorporation of social skills such as personal development and independent living.

Foresight already has a range of contracts within the public sector, including a befriending service contract with North East Lincolnshire Council.

Paul Silvester, Chief Officer at Foresight, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to celebrate the centre’s opening in such esteemed company. We’re the only centre of our kind in the North East Lincolnshire area, with our services accessed by over 200 sensory impaired and physically disabled people each week. The Futurebuilders investment is allowing us to ensure we reach even more people, and the enhanced services will help combat any isolation, depression and loneliness that they may feel.”

 

Jonathan Lewis, Chief Executive of Futurebuilders England said: “Many congratulations go to Foresight for the opening of the new facilities which will be of huge benefit to the North East Lincolnshire region. This is another example of how Futurebuilders is committed to providing financial and practical support to assist third sector organisations to win and deliver public service contracts.

“We hope that success stories like these will encourage TSOs who wish to win contracts and deliver public services to come to Futurebuilders for financial and practical help.”

Ends

*photos are available upon request

For media enquiries please contact James Smith at Futurebuilders on 0207 927 6356.

Notes to Editors

About Futurebuilders

• Futurebuilders England is a unique £215m government-backed fund offering support and investment to third sector organisations to deliver public services.
• Since April 1 2008 Futurebuilders England has been under the management of the Adventure Capital Fund.
• To date, Futurebuilders has offered over £121 million in investments to more than 270 organisations.

About the investment

Futurebuilders invested £282,500 in Foresight. This comprises:

• a £214,000 loan to purchase and refurbish the building;
• a £42,000 revenue grant to fund staffing and rental costs;
• a £16,000 capital grant to fund removal costs and project management expenses; and
• a £10,500 capacity building grant to fund trustee and staff training, a financial management review, and strategic income planning.