BlindAid

Registered charity 262119 · since 1971blindaid.org.uk·Greater London·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

£3,000

Annual giving, year to 31 December 2024

From filed accounts

Up to £400

Grant range

From the funder's website

4 weeks

Typical decision time

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.

Key takeaways

BlindAid suits a small nonprofit whose client is a blind or partially sighted person on a low income in Greater London who needs an essential item, such as equipment, white goods or an accessible computer, to keep living independently.
Its eligibility rules are narrow: the recipient must be a permanent resident in one of the 12 inner London boroughs or the City of London, be certified or certifiable as sight impaired or severely sight impaired, be 18 or over, be a UK citizen or have Home Office permission to stay, and receive a statutory means-tested benefit, so do not apply for anyone who does not meet these.
Only an employee of a registered charity or statutory organisation can make the application, so individuals cannot apply for themselves, and no more than one application per person or household can be considered every 2 years.
Grants are typically up to £400, so a modest, specific request is most likely to fit, and a high-value request needs evidence of other funding before an award is made.
The annual report records £3,000 paid, and the charity says it decides within 28 days; it lists application by invitation only, yet its how-to-apply section asks for the form to be emailed to referrals@blindaid.org.uk, so confirm with the charity before sending anything.

Overview

BlindAid is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 262119).

BlindAid seeks to alleviate loneliness and social isolation affecting sight impaired and severely sight impaired people, and aims to empower service users to encourage and support independent living. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 262119, and its geographic focus is Greater London. Its two core services are the Sight Support Service and the Community Project, supplemented by Share London and Grants. Grants are typically up to £400, and the annual report records £3,000 paid.

What they fund

Priority Areas

BlindAid’s grants support blind and partially sighted Londoners on low incomes with essential items that help them maintain independence. The published list includes equipment and gadgets, white goods, accessible computers and domestic items. Applications are made on behalf of recipients by employees of statutory organisations or registered charities; the recipient must meet the residence, sight-impairment, means-tested-benefit and age criteria. Grants are intended for essential rather than luxury items, and items are selected for suitability and value for money. BlindAid also reports grants to small charities whose services are vital to local visually impaired communities, supporting community activity and equipment. Its approach includes purchasing awarded items directly from preferred suppliers and checking that awards are used for their stated purpose.

Themes

Independent living aids
Local VI community services

Geographic Focus

Greater London.

What they don't fund

Payment of outstanding debts
Smartphones/tablets
Non essential furniture or home goods
Payment of council tax or mortgage/rent arrears
Legal fees for insolvency/bankruptcy
Payment of utility or other household bills including internet connection
Deposit payments for rented or leased accommodation
Garden fencing or clearing
Modification/adaptation of homes either local authority or privately owned
Education or occupational training
Medical treatment/alternative therapies or equipment required to support/manage medical conditions
Funeral expenses
Removal expenses
Motor vehicle purchases or maintenance and expenses
Fines or arrears
Pest control
Fixtures and fittings including carpeting, curtains and blinds
Holidays
Applicants must be UK citizens or have been granted permission to stay in the UK by the Home Office
Applicants must be permanent residents in one of the 12 inner London boroughs or the City of London
Applicants must be certified (or certifiable) Severely Sight Impaired/Blind or Sight Impaired/Partially Sighted
Applicants must be in receipt of statutory means tested benefit(s)
Applicants must be aged 18 and over
Grants only: BlindAid does not award grants retrospectively

How to apply

Download the grant application form, complete it and email it to referrals@blindaid.org.uk; forms are not accepted by post.

Who can apply:

Grants
- Applications can only be made by an employee of a statutory organisation or registered charity.
- The person nominating a recipient should be an employee or officer of a registered charity or statutory agency.

What to send:

Grants
- For white goods applications, accurate measurements for fitting must be supplied.
- For a high value grant, evidence of other funding availability is required before the award is finally made.

Applying again: Grants: No more than one application per person/household can be considered every 2 years.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

The foundation aims to provide essential items that support independence, selecting items that are suitable and good value for money.
The nominator should understand the recipient’s circumstances.
A supporting letter about the request and its benefits may help in complex cases; insufficient information may result in rejection.
For a high-value request, evidence that other funding is available is required before the award is made.
BlindAid may contact the applicant, recipient or coordinating person and may carry out a home visit as part of assessment.
BlindAid seeks feedback from individuals and agencies about the process and the effect on recipients’ quality of life.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Greater London

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to BlindAid.

Combined Relief of Poverty CharityRolling The Victoria FoundationFixed deadlinesGave £12,000 North London Welfare and Educational FoundationNo public processGave £2.1M Birmingham Royal Institution for the BlindRollingGave £972k London CatalystFixed deadlinesGave £322k Charity of Sir Richard WhittingtonNo public processGave £5.3M Middlesex Association for the BlindNo public process The Royal Victoria Trust for the BlindRollingGave £268k Drapers' Charitable FundFixed deadlinesGave £2.6M London Freemasons’ CharityRollingGave £920k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2020	£580,846	£810,484	£2,000	Accounts for year to 31 December 2020
year to 31 December 2021	£285,012	£729,622	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£223,012	£747,271	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£344,182	£969,997	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£407,700	£682,712	£3,000	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2020

£2,000 grants

YE 2024

£3,000 paid

Grants paid stayed within income across the 2 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2020: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
Grants paid, year to 31 December 2024: grants paid out in the year.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.