Information
Oldham Society for Blind & Partially Sighted People is a local charity based within the borough of Oldham. Our aim is to meet the needs of and provide support for visually impaired adults and children and their carers and families in the borough of Oldham.
The Society is divided into various areas in the borough of Oldham and these are referred to as "Vales". The Vales are as follows:
Roysha Vale - covers Royton, Shaw & Crompton.
Spring Vale - covers Chadderton, Coldhurst.
Old Vale - covers Fitton Hill & Hathershaw, Glodwick & Clarksfield, St. Mary's, Derker & Sholver.
Pennine Vale - Saddleworth, Waterhead, Lees & Holts.
Roman Vale - Failsworth, Hollinwood & Werneth.
The Society relies heavily on fundraising and grants to ensure it can continue to serve the people of Oldham. The Society now employs a dedicated person as a Development Officer with the intention of developing the Society and the services it offers even further so that nobody with a visual impairment is left to feel alone and without support.
We do this by offering a variety of social activities, advice & guidance, regular coordinated trips and other services.
History of the Society
The Home teaching Society for the Blind was first formed in 1878 and the Blind Women's Industries was founded by Miss Marjorie Lees in 1904. Following the passing of the Blind Person's Act in 1920 The Home Teaching Service became a charity and amalgamated with The Blind Women's Industries in 1921.
The area covered by this Society in 1921 included Oldham, Chadderton, Royton, Crompton, Lees & Springhead; Saddleworth was not included at this time as it was part of Yorkshire. In 1928 further changes were made when other voluntary organisations working in these areas amalgamated and The Blind Women's Industries came under the control of The Workshops for the Blind, this being transferred to the Welfare Department of the Local Authority in the early 1960's.
Reorganisation of Local Government in 1974 resulted in a steering committee being formed to look at forming an entirely new Committee for the blind and eventually the new Society evolved from this and was known as Oldham Metropolitan Society for the Blind. It was agreed that the new Society would consist of a Management Committee and five Sub Committees which covered the whole of the new Metropolitan Borough of Oldham.
The Welfare Department was housed in a building called Vale House and, following its demolition, a new building was erected nearby to be used as a day centre for blind & disabled people named "New Vale House", this gave rise to the decision to name the different areas of the Society "Vales", so that there was some association to this building.
The Society has, in the past, purchased specialist equipment for use at the Royal Oldham Hospital which has benefited a great number of people and also supports The Talking Newspaper Service by paying for the maintenance of their equipment each year and purchasing new equipment as and when required.