Page Summary. 
This page contains three sections, which include the First Steps, The formation of CamSight, and Looking to the Future.
Content Summary. Originally called The Cambridge Society for the Blind, CamSight was started in 1912. The Society set up a Blind Workers Shop in 1915, and The Blantyre Residential Home for Blind people in 1946, which eventually closed in 1993 for financial reasons. The Society then chose CamSight as its new working name, and in 1996 Cam Sight raised sufficient funds to buy the freehold property it is now based at. For the future CamSight hopes to expands its services, extend our mission onto the world wide web, and build stronger links with the major national organisations for the blind.
First Steps.
In 1912 The Cambridge Society for the Blind made an informal start at a meeting in St Andrew's Parish Church Room, organised by Mrs Lilley and Mrs Stace. These two ladies, the wives of local shopkeepers, offered to arrange gatherings for blind and partially sighted people. The idea had come from a blind mutual friend, Miss Chandler, who suggested that local visually impaired people should meet to discuss their special problems and enjoy some recreation.
In 1919. Mrs Stace engaged a Home Teacher by raising subscriptions from her friends. The Home Teacher cycled around Cambridge and the local villages to visit every blind person once a fortnight. By 1915, a Blind Workers Shop had opened in Emmanuel Street, later transferred to 28 Regent Street, and sold baskets and other products made by visually impaired people.
CamSight is Formed.
The Blantyre Residential Home (based in Glisson Road) for Blind people opened in 1946 to house 6 men and 12 women who were all visually impaired. The adjoining property was bought in 1954 to take an additional 7 women requiring more individual care. The home was forced to close in 1993 for financial reasons and the Society moved into 'out reach' work in line with the spirit of 'Care in the Community'.
Following the Home's closure, the Society chose CamSight as its new working name and rented premises in Oakington, three miles north west of Cambridge. Social Services Visual Impairment Team moved into the same building to create a unique and highly successful co-working arrangement. A second independent charity, Cam Read, joined Cam Sight providing reading and tape transcription services in Cambridge.
In 1996 Cam Sight raised sufficient funds to buy the freehold property re-named Butler House in Green End Road to the north of Cambridge. The rehabilitation work undertaken by the Society developed even further by building an adapted resource kitchen in the new premises, thanks to a National Lottery Grant. More services have evolved and a network of over 130 volunteers has been recruited to extend the Society's work.
To the Future.
Looking to the future, Cam Sight is actively seeking to provide more choices for visually impaired people of all ages. It is hampered by the lack of funds and is therefore developing links with other statutory and voluntary organisations. As well as Social Services, the Society works closely with Guide Dogs Association, RNIB and Action for Blind People to name just a few. The objective is to provide an independent and accessible central focus for visually impaired people in and around Cambridge with links to a host of other services. By supporting and setting up the CamSight Accessible Web Project, we hope to raise support as an innovative and forward thinking organisation, and extend our mission onto the world wide web to improve the quality of life for visually impaired people across the globe.
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