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History Of The Association
1907
Since 1905 Miss Haigh and two or three sympathizers who she influenced, were entertaining the blind people of Keighley each week, in a small room of her home.
Founded in May 1907 as Keighley Town Mission to the Sick and Needy at 1, Rook Street (opposite Eagle street off Highfield lane now Rosemount Walk Flats) then the home of Miss Haigh.
1908
In the Keighley News of Saturday, 31st October 1908, Page 5 - Headline:
"Keighley Mission to the Sick and Needy caring for the Blind, an interesting meeting"
"On Thursday afternoon in the Mayor's Parlour at the Keighley Town Hall, a meeting was held to consider what could be done for the local blind in connection with Keighley Town Mission to Sick and Needy".
1909
Moved to premises at 13 & 15 Scott Street owned by the well-known architect, Wilson Baily.
1910
The Mission moved to 13 Scot Street, Keighley which was rented from Mr Wilson Bailey. Help and hospitality was offered to all blind persons resident in the Worth Valley, Silsden and Cross Hills district.
1911
A lady health visitor was appointed with permission to visit the blind in their own homes
1915
Blind persons in the Skipton area became part of the organisation
1919
Number of blind was 50 including one soldier blinded in 'The Great War'. Appeal for funds launched to buy the premises at 13 & 15 Scott Street and 4 Spencer Street. £1,000 required plus £500 to develop work.
Appeal signed by: -
Mayor of Keighley
Chairman of Keighley R.D.C.
Skipton U.D.C.
Haworth U.D.C. (T.Duerdon)
Silsden U.D.C.
Resident was Alice Clough of Haincliffe.
The house on Spencer Street was let and Herbert Smith a blind man became caretaker at Scott Street.
On November the 20th the title of the Town Mission was changed to Keighley and District Institution for the Blind.
1920
November 20th The Institution was established with the Department of Health.
1924
112 Blind people registered with the Association.
1948
Registered under the War Charities Act 1940 and National Assistance Act 1984.
1949
Total of blind people cared for was 367.
Officers were: -
President Miss A Scatterty
Chairman Mr Norman Walls
Treasurer Miss Dixon (named as Treasurer in the 1919 appeal and carried on until she resigned in 1952. She remained the Committee and died in 1972 after 61 years service).
1950
List of donations include many names now part of Keighley's history.
Prince Smith's Social Club
Keighley friendly Society Gala
Keighley Conversazione Committee
Bowcock (or Boocock's) Charity
West Riding County Council Grant for Sunday Cinemas
Anonymous - one shilling
1951
Keighley home for the Blind opened with 9 ladies in residence. Mention of Mr. John Smallwood and Honorary Survey work. Special donations include £10.10.Od. From Sir Bracewell Smith. Every donation was listed under the name of a collector with a total for that collector. This method of recording donations continued until 1972.
1955
Committee accepted its strangest ever gift - a GRAVE in Keighley Cemetery.
1961
Bingley Home for the Blind opened for 16 men only. There were 28 ladies in the Keighley Home for the Blind after an extension costing £6,500.
1963
Registered as a Charity under the 1960 Charities Act.
1966
£20,000 appeal launched by the Chairman, Mr Frank Shackleton, to develop the premises on Scott Street of the Social Centre Offices and flat from McBains Funeral Business.
The appeal was launched from the Mayor's Porlour and Wildfred Pickles broadcast an appeal for funds on the radio.
1972
Cottages in Scott Street and Albert Street bought. One had to pulled down and the others were intended to be converted into three flats for blind people. The Keighley and Bingley Homes became mixed sex.
1973
Mr Norman Walls resigned after 27 years as Chairman and 33 years on the Committee. Unfortunately, Mr Walls died later in the year.
1975
Tommy Holmes opened the three flats for blind people in Scott Street and Albert Street. Purchase price of £3,750 plus conversion costs of £18,390.
1988
Bought former hairdressers premises in Albert Street for conversion to ground floor office and two flats.
1990
In May the annual holiday to Halifax Society Holiday Home at Fleetwood commenced.
1991
In January the office moved from 31 Scott Street to 1 Albert Street. March so the closure of Keighley Home for the blind due to a change in social policy and funding.
1992
September saw the formation of the Silsden Social Centre. The Association large print quarterly newsletter ‘Insight' was introduced.
1993
In November the Bingley Home was sold with the residents remaining in the Home.
1994
In August a planning sub-committee of Blind Committee members was set up to form the first stage consultation process with 114 members on their needs and what services the Association could best provide to meet those needs.
"WHICH WAY FORWARD"
1. Vision Resource Centre
2. Craft Classes
3. Volunteer Visiting or Befriending Scheme.
1995
In April the Association left the RNIB Partnership in Fundraising Agreement to form a fundraising Sub Committee.
In September a benefits information service started in collaboration with the RNIB and the "IN TOUCH WITH ART" Classes started.
1996
In April the committee gave approval to proceed with the Vision Resource Centre.
1997
Association 90th Anniversary year. In June the Vision Resource Centre opened.
1998
In June the computer studies classes started.
1999
In March 774 people were registered with the Association and in April the Association became a company limited by guarantee.
2000
January
Mary Arnold Volunteers and Keighley Centre Organiser died after serving the Association since 1947.
13 Scott Street, Keighley formerly Known as Keighley Home For The Blind sold to the Cellar Project Of Shipley.
2001
August
Holidays at Halifax Society Holiday Home in Fleetwood finish through lack of a volunteer activities organiser.
2002
March
UK Online Centre Opens.
September
Mr Martin Leathley. Town mayor of Keighley Town council became patron of the association. The last time the local mayor was patron was 1973. Between 1974 and 2001 the patron had been the lord mayor of Bradford.
October
The board took the decision not to organise day trips as a measure to save costs following a 106% increase in insurance cover for the charity's work.
2003
November
Official opening of the refurbished flats by the association patron Mrs Nancy Holdsworth town mayor 28 years to the day since the flats were originally opened by the late Tommy Holmes.
2004
May
Five flats in Keighley refurbishment completed at a cost of £70,000 funded by £10,000 from trust and £63,000 from reserves.
January
Barnoldswick Social Centre merges with Skipton Social Centre to form Skipton Social Centre with West Craven.
September
First Annual General Meeting to be held at lunchtime. All previous AGMs have been held in an evening.
2005
February
The Association Appointed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) as a distributor of devices for visually impaired people.
May
The late Mrs Lena Anderton formerly of Farish House, Keighley left the Association its larges ever legacy in its 98 years of existence.
August
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire kindly accepted our invitation to become Honorary President during the Associations Centenary year in 2007
October
Paul Hudson the BBC weatherman who was born and raised in Keighley has kindly accepted to be your patron for the Associations Centenary year.
The Charity Commission granted permission for the communities of Ilkley, Burley-in-Whafedale and Menston to be included in the Association's beneficiary area.
The Upgrade of the computer suite was completed due to the generosity of the late Mrs Lena Aderton.
2006
January 2006
Launch of Braille Transcription services at a cost of £6,000 funded by public subscription
July 2006
At the Annual Conference of the National Association of Local Societies for the Visually IMpaired (NALSVI) held in chester, the SeeFact Newsletter picked up two Awards. A second place certificate for presentation and a second place certificate for content.
2007
April 2007
- Completion of the refurbishment of the former Social Centre for the Blind now known as the Lena Anderton Meeting Room and the Vision Resource Centre building now known as the Sight Centre.
- In the Sight Centre, the Vision Resource Centre is now named the Daily Living Shop
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