The Collins Stewart Charitable Trust has purchased quality-of-life enhancing equipment for the Manx Blind Welfare Society.

?1,500 was donated towards the charity’s stock of specialist equipment, which has now been loaned out to people free of charge to enable blind and partially sighted-people to live more independently.

One blind woman has been able to accept a computer-based job because of the opportunity to have JAWS specialist software installed, which is designed to read the screen of a PC and speak it out loud in a human voice.

Two pocket-sized ‘Pebble’ video viewers - portable electronic magnifiers - have been purchased and loaned out; these can be used to read anything from maps and prices to bus timetables.

The charity has also been able to buy two 'monomouse' units, which look like an ordinary computer mouse but magnify text or photos and display the image on a TV screen.

Technical equipment officer of the Manx Blind Welfare Society, Dave Wilson, said, "It is so rewarding to see the difference that the provision of specialist equipment can make to people with visual impairments.

"All of this equipment will be loaned out free of charge to member of the Manx community. I’m thrilled and am very grateful to Collins Stewart for their generous donation."

The charity looks after over 500 people of all age groups with serious sight problems in the Island, most though not all being registered as blind or partially sighted.

Head of Collins Stewart in the Isle of Man, Dermot Hamill, commented, "The Collins Stewart Charitable Trust was formed five years ago with the intention of benefitting local charities, particularly those who may struggle to find mainstream support.

"I’m really pleased that we were able to help the Manx Blind Welfare Society and its members and hopefully give them back some of their independence."

Pictured: Dermot Hamill (left) with Dave Wilson.