Published at 19:22, Thursday, 06 November 2008

BLIND and partially-sighted people are benefiting from more than £300,000 of National Lottery cash.

The West Cumbria Society for the Blind runs clubs in Maryport and Cockermouth, and visits people in their homes.

Edward Bebbington, of Riverside Terrace, Cockermouth, was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 2004. The condition affects the central vision, while peripheral vision remains normal, and about 85 per cent of the society’s members are sufferers.

Mr Bebbington, 55, had to give up a management job at Sellafield and was initially unsure about getting help.

He said: “I thought life stopped as soon as someone says that you are going to go blind. The last thing I wanted to do was to get a white stick.”

However, he first attended the Cockermouth Blind Club two years ago, and now benefits from the trips and meetings organised by the society.

He also trains others to make the most of what sight they have left.

A team of staff and volunteers visit members in their own homes.

Helen Robinson, who has worked at the society for eight years and visits people across Allerdale, said: “The grant will help with maintaining the centre’s services for the next five years.

“We spent a lot of time working on the application and it was great when we found out that we had got the money.”

The housebound service can provide specialist equipment to those who are unable to make their own way to the centre.

Mrs Robinson added: “If people are housebound or on their own, I go out to visit them and see if there is any advice or equipment we can offer.”

The society’s main resource centre, in Lowther Street, Whitehaven, is open to the public from Monday to Friday. The Cockermouth club, on Lorton Street, meets on the first Thursday of every month. The Maryport Blind Club, in Solway Court, meets on the second Wednesday of every month.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk