A CHARITY which provides life-changing wireless equipment to the visually impaired has received a £4,000 grant to boost its offering - and is calling on Swindon residents to help deliver it.

British Wireless for the Blind fund was awarded the money by the People’s Postcode Trust, a grant giving charity, funded entirely by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

The charity supplies specially adapted digital radios that also play CDs, cassettes and USB memory sticks to people living with sight loss.

All radios are designed to be easy to use with all recipients receiving a home visit and one-to-one support in order to be able to use their new radios independently.

To qualify for a free set a user must be registered blind or partially sighted, be over the age of eight and be in receipt of a means tested benefit

The British Wireless for the Blind plans to use the money to fund Swindon based volunteers to visit blind and partially sighted people in their homes to deliver, install and provide instruction on how to use the different features of the radio.

David Loveridge, south-west regional manager for British Wireless for the Blind Fund, said: “We are delighted that People’s Postcode Lottery chose to support us.

"Radios are a lifeline to many blind and partially sighted people. Our recipients tell us that their radio entertains, helps to relieve isolation and keeps them in touch with what is going on in the world.

"It’s essential that people living with sight loss have equipment that they are able to use independently and this funding means that our service can reach even more people across the local area.

"We are now looking for volunteers in Swindon to help us deliver wireless equipment and continue the vital services that we provide."

The People’s Postcode Lottery is Britain’s charity lottery where players enter with their postcodes to win cash prizes - and raise money for good causes.

As a charity lottery, £2 from every monthly ticket benefits charities and community initiatives across England, Scotland and Wales, including the People’s Postcode Trust

To find out more about British Wireless for the Blind, visit www.blind.org.uk, to find out more about applying for People’s Postcode Trust funding and the projects the trust supports, visit www.postcodetrust.org.uk.

To sign up for the People’s Postcode Lottery, visit www.postcodelottery.com, or call 0808 1098765.