Manx Blind Welfare Society has received a donation of ?2,000 from leading security solutions group G4S.

The Society, which provides support and advice to blind and visually impaired people in the Isle of Man, was selected by G4S staff in the Island to be ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2015.

Over the year they raised cash through dress down days, bakes sales and other fun events, collecting a tremendous ?2,000.

G4S HR Manager Mandy Stutt said: ‘Every year we choose a local charity to support through a staff nomination process, and it was decided by the Isle of Man team that Manx Blind Welfare Society would be the recipient of the funds raised in 2015.

‘Through our contact with the Society, we have learned how visual impairment can affect anyone at any age, and can leave people feeling isolated and in some cases afraid for the future. We have seen how Manx Blind Welfare Society provides the support and advice people need, as well as social activities to reduce isolation and specialist equipment to assist visually impaired people with everyday tasks most of us take for granted.

‘The Society is working with hundreds of blind and visually impaired people right across the Isle of Man, providing these services for free, so everyone at G4S is proud to have been able to contribute to helping the Society continue its important work.’

Manx Blind Welfare Society Volunteers Coordinator & Events Organiser Debbie Thomson added: ‘We are indebted to everyone at G4S for choosing the Society as Charity of the Year, and would like to congratulate the team on raising so much money.

‘We rely entirely on bequests and donations to fund our work with blind and visually impaired people in the Isle of Man, so donations like this are vitally important to the Society.’

She added: ‘Part of our mission is also to raise awareness in the community of the importance of good eye health, what visual impairment means and the services we offer. Contact like this, with organisations such as G4S, allows us to explain more about what the Society does, as well as more about what we, as a community, can do to assist people living with visual impairment.

‘I hope everyone at G4S has found working with the Society rewarding, and would like to thank them once again for their support.’

To find out more about the work of MBWS visit www.mbws.org.im. 

Photo - (from left) G4S HR Manager Mandy Stutt, Manx Blind Welfare Society Volunteers Coordinator and Events Organiser Debbie Thomson, and Sarah Air and Kerryann Cassidy from G4S.