A BERKSHIRE sight loss charity, Berkshire Vision, has received a brand new minibus following an anonymous donation.
Clare Matthews, marketing and communications officer at Berkshire Vision, said: “We’ve been given a big nine-seater minibus, gifted to us by an anonymous donor.
“Somebody got in touch and said that their father sadly died and they wanted to make a donation in his name.
“Their father was called Pete, and so the bus is called Pete in his memory, too, but the donor themselves asked to remain anonymous.”
She said that transport is a vital part of the services Berkshire Vision provides to those with sight loss.
“If you’re visually impaired, if you haven’t got somebody to drive you places or enough confidence to get on a bus or a train, you’re stuck at home.
“So a lot of our members only get out when we go and pick them up in the minibus or in our new people carrier – it’s just a vital lifeline to people in the community.”
While the charity already uses three vehicles to transport those it supports, Clare said that the new addition to the fleet was particularly welcome.
“Not only can we help more people by adding a fourth vehicle, that it being a people-carrier means that more of our team are able to drive it.
“We have two twelve-seaters and a sixteen-seater, but the new nine-seater is easier for children to hop on to, and our children’s officer will also be able to drive it.
“It’s making everything we do as part of our services easier, and it’s amazing to receive such a kind gift.”
The charity has put the new vehicle straight to use, with Clare saying: “Today it’s already gone to pick up a few of our older members for a park-walk, so we’re using it already.”
Berkshire Vision’s new bus has been decorated with colourful livery, with a dedication to Pete printed on the rear of the vehicle.
The charity also received a short message from the donor, which said: “I’m so pleased to be able to make this donation to such a wonderful and worthwhile local charity.
“Pete would have loved it.”
Berkshire Vision has been selected as one of The Oracle’s Charities of the Year and will be visiting the shopping centre to provide information about the services it provides.
“We’ll be popping up in The Oracle outside Next Home once a month and available for people really struggling with their sight loss or who just want to know more about our support services.
“They’ll be able to come and talk to us and come find out more about how we can support them.”
Berkshire Vision will post further details of when they’ll be available on their social media accounts.
For more information about Berkshire Vision’s services, and links to their social media, visit: www.berkshirevision.org.uk.
