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Focus Birmingham | Charity for sight loss and complex needs

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  • The difference we make
  1. Our impact
  2. The difference we make

The difference we make

Making lives better is at the forefront of what we do. 

Our purpose is to provide high quality, innovative services to blind, visually impaired and those with profound disabilities across the West Midlands. We aim to fulfill this objective by:

  • Providing expert care, support, advice and information to people living with sight loss or complex disabilities in a number of specialist fields including optometry, rehabilitation, community support and direct care. 
  • To enhance lives through multi-disciplinary approaches and by involving and supporting their families and carers. 
  •  Raising awareness of the issues people with a visual impairment or profound disabilities may face and to campaign for change when appropriate.

Sight Loss Support 

We understand to suddenly lose your sight is a very frightening and isolating experience. One of the ways we support people in the local area is by our befriending and welfare service. The below quote is from a client of our service: 

Sight loss support impact statement which reads "1,500 clients this year have been supported by our sight loss support services team. Our new optical coherence tomography machine will ensure sight problems are detected even earlier.

“I was referred to the Focus Birmingham telephone befriending service by another sight loss charity, Birmingham Vision. It's been a godsend. I was paired up with volunteer befriender, Andrew and I look forward to Tuesday mornings because Andrew will be calling me and we will have our weekly catch-up. It has had such a positive impact on me, I have something to look forward to, my anxiety levels have gone down and I don’t feel so lonely anymore”.

We have partnered with RNIB to implement a new Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Service. Our impact data shows how this service has significantly increased our clients’ understanding and the ability to better manage their sight loss condition.

Find out more about our sight loss support, by calling our supportline on - 0121 393 4849 or email:[email protected]

Complex Needs Support

Our day service for people with complex disabilities has been rated 'Good' by Birmingham City Council, the highest rating that can be achieved. During our inspection we were highly commended for our approach to supporting communication and personalisation. Our team support over 95 clients in the day centre and provide engaging activities during the day to provide learning and development opportunities. See the below story of the positive impact our day service has had upon a  family whose son attends Focus: 

Image of focus impact statement which reads 95+ clients in our complex needs day centre have been provided with expert care and have enjoyed an engaging programme of activities.

"Within a couple of months of our son attending the Focus Day Service we couldn’t believe the difference in our son. He was communicating using small sentences and trying to use Makaton (a communication aid that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate).

He has started to complete small day-to-day tasks like taking dirty cups and plates into the kitchen and wiping tables after meal times. He will approach staff to communicate what he would like and is able to independently make a choice. We have never seen him so happy and wanting to go to the day service". 

Find out more about our complex needs support, by calling - 0121 393 4849 or email: [email protected]  

Supported Living

We provide a care and support to 14 tenants at our Supported Living Scheme - Millward Place in Kings Norton, Birmingham.  Working in partnership with Bromford Housing we help our tenants to live independent lives in their own self-contained apartments providing them with a safe and secure long-term home.  We have been rated ‘Good’ for this service following our last CQC inspection 

Image is a impact statement fro Focus which reads 14 tenants have been supported by our carers to live independent, healthy and happy lives through our supported scheme.

As a charity, being able to make a difference to the lives of those who live at Millward place is very important to our staff/management team. See below quote from a tenant living at Millward Place: 

"I feel safe at Millward place and the staff help me when I need it". 

Call us on - 0121 451 1131 or email [email protected] to find out more about our supported living. 

Published: 17th March, 2020

Updated: 28th March, 2025

Author:

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    For help call our SupportLine on 0121 393 4849 Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 4:30pm Email us at [email protected]

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Registered Office
48-62 Woodville Road
Harborne
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B17 9AT

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© Focus Birmingham | Registered Charity No. 1065745 | VAT Registered No. 395 2068 75 

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