Hello and welcome to the website of Oxfordshire Association for the Blind (OAB). The Oxfordshire Association for the Blind was formed in 1877 and has been supporting visually impaired people (VIP) in Oxfordshire ever since. We have a proud record of service and support. OAB advises on services and equipment that enable visually impaired persons to live independent lives.

Recent history has radically re-shaped the structure and activities of the association. Important recent history includes relocation in 1995 from rural Charlbury into central Oxford and an ongoing expansion in the capacity and scope of the services we provide.

In just ten years, this small and entirely independent charity has seen its client numbers increase by 110%. Modern technology and greater awareness has encouraged a generation of blind people to seek out new and innovative ways to overcome the restrictions of sight loss – and OAB has moved to respond to these exciting challenges.

OAB has a small team of staff supported by a number of dedicated volunteers. Despite being few in number we are in regular contact with over 2,500 visually impaired people and aim to support any of the estimated 10,500 people in Oxfordshire with sight loss. A volunteer executive committee manages OAB policy and includes a number of visually impaired people. The trustees of the charity are unpaid volunteers who bring their professional job skills to aid OAB's development.

With the support of a private charitable trust, OAB has completed the purchase and establishment of a new permanent home for its work in Oxford. From this base of operations, we have ambitious plans to expand and enhance the support services we provide for clients countywide – these plans include an extension to our new premises, additional staff and new equipment.

From our long experience in the county, we know that as our profile increases, so does the numbers of visually impaired people and their carers seeking our help will increase. Our ongoing ambition and challenge is to respond to need free of charge to anyone who needs us, using the latest innovations and technology.

As with many small local voluntary associations, raising the necessary funds in a way that is sustainable in the long term is the key to helping many more blind and partially sighted people.

We thank you for taking the time to visit the site and trust that you will find the information contained within useful. We look forward to welcoming you to OAB.