Vision UK, the independent partnership organisation that supports blind and partially sighted people, their communities and the general population, including those at risk of sight loss, will close its doors on 31 July 2020.
In a statement, the organisation said: “It is with great sadness that I inform you of the closure of Vision UK as of 31/07/2020.
“We have come to the point where we do not have the resources to continue and are closing while we still have the funds in the budget to do so in as elegant a manner as possible. We are extremely grateful for the support of all our members and completely understand that further resources cannot be spared to fund the umbrella organisation, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis.
“Thanks to all for your support over the years and we hope that the collaboration we have always worked to engender will carry on in different formats and processes. We have often worked in the subtle and delicate world of diplomacy and facilitation to achieve ends which were maybe lost beneath the loud guns of excellent member campaigns. However, we hope you will agree that things have been achieved for blind and partially sighted people and member organisations, under the collaborative banner over the years.
“We wish all our members, friends, associates and all blind and partially sighted people – and those at risk of sight loss – all the very best and all success for the future.”
The organisation placed its work in abeyance in April, at the same time as furloughing all of its staff. It had hoped to reopen.