2011 Festival Charity

For 2011, the nominated charity is St Dunstan’s in Ovingdean.

For almost a century, St Dunstan's has been giving invaluable physical and emotional support to blind and impaired ex-Service men and women. Today, demand for the charity's services is greater than ever as they help over 5,000 beneficiaries including those injured in the current conflict in Afghanistan.

The charity is there for St Dunstaners for as long as they need support, helping them adjust to their loss of sight and learn new skills – and the support lasts a lifetime. The charity helps families too, as they adjust to their changing needs.

This support helps St Dunstaners become self-sufficient, regain their optimism and make the most of opportunities. On a practical level, services include:

• Rehabilitation
• Teaching new skills
• Resolving housing issues
• Help with benefit claims
• Access to sporting facilities and social activities
• St Dunstan’s promotes and enables beneficiaries to regain their independence, meet new challenges and achieve a better quality of life
• St Dunstan’s supports anyone who has served in the Forces who has lost their sight due to war, age, accident or illness and the charity’s duty of care extends to all beneficiaries and their families for life

More details are available from their website.

Thanks to the generosity of the festival goers who donated unused tokens, the festival charity for 2011, St Dunstan’s based at Ovingdean, benefited by £1,500, with an additional £711 collected in cash boxes. The cheque was handed over during Blind Heroes Week at an event called “Memories from the Dark”. The picture shows festival organiser Ingrid Sharp with Melinda Dixon who organised the stall at the festival and Betty Chalmers, one of the St Dunstaners speaking about her experiences at the event.

Ingrid Sharp
Festival Organiser
May 2011