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Building gives boost to blind - Oxford Mail - 19th January 2012
 Up to 10,000 people with sight loss are just weeks away from being able to benefit from new state-of-the-art facilities.
The Oxfordshire Association for the Blind has spent two years raising £600,000 for a brand new building in Gordon Woodward Way, off Abingdon Road, South Oxford.
And it is a far cry from the portable cabin people have visited before now.
It will be equipped with everything from talking watches to electronic magnifiers and kitchen equipment.
The outside of the building is now complete and builders are busy working on the electrics this week. The new building will include a reception area, IT training suite, a ‘life skills’ demonstration area and a space for assistance dogs.
Fundraiser Ben Allcock said: “It is really exciting, I have been here for four years and the basic idea was around then.”
There will also be scope for training employers, retailers and other companies on how to deal with blind and partially sighted employees and customers.
The charity still needs to raise £130,000 reach its Future Vision Appeal target of £600,000 to cover the full building and equipment costs.
Mr Allcock said: “We have had so much support from everyone – people giving £10 or £20, and others giving thousands.”
The fundraiser himself ran nine marathons in nine days last year – raising £5,000 for the project.
He said: “For years, visually impaired people and their carers have been asking us for more equipment and more space.
We will now have a warm reception area to welcome people and listen to what they need.
“We’ll offer face-to-face counselling for the first time and will be teaching kitchen skills and IT skills so people can carry on with their lives.
“It will revolutionise what we can do.”
There are 4,000 people registered as visually impaired in Oxfordshire and 6,000 others who are not registered.
OAB director Colin Cure said: “This building will increase our space by two-and-a-half times. People are often stressed when they come to us, so this will help us help them. It’s so exciting.”
 Oxford Mail - 8th November 2011
"Revolution ahead for county's blind!"
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/oab/
RNIB Radio - 13th April 2011
Simon Pauley Show - Interview with Chair of Trustees David Warr about the new building development and fundraising drive.
Oxford Mail - 12th April 2011
"Morse author lends support to charity's drive to boost lives of Oxfordshire's blind"
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/headlines/
BBC Radio Oxford - 21st March 2011
Malcolm Boyden Show - Interview with OAB Director Colin Cure about the new resource centre.
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Oxfordshire Association for the Blind
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Oxford Journal - 11th April 2011