Our History
Pudsey had a very active “Blind Committee” for the welfare of Pudsey’s blind who benefitted from excursions, monthly teas, free radio licences and from help in marketing goods they made. The establishment of a Residential Home where Pudsey’s blind residents would be well cared for was seen as a logical extension of this work. In 1962 Lynn Wood House was bought by the committee for £5000 and an appeal was launched to include the cost of conversion. Collection boxes were distributed to local churches, mills and pubs with annual prizes for the highest donations. This house was run as a home for the blind for a number of years but a major problem emerged of a lack of applicants so in 1971 the home closed.
Our records show that the charity was originally registered in September 1963 as “Pudsey Voluntary Committee for the Welfare of the Blind” and in due course benefitted from the very generous donation of the house“ Lynn Wood”. In October 1974, following the sale of the house, the charity changed its official name to the “Lynn Wood Appeal Fund”, and drew up a ‘scheme’ for the administration of the charity and its assets. Governance of the charity remained with the trustees of “Pudsey Voluntary Committee for the Welfare of the Blind” in accordance with a constitution that was last amended in April 1998.
The proceeds of the sale were put into an investment fund which still exists today. We believe that this means that the capital cannot be spent without prior permission from the Charity Commission but income generated from interest and dividends can be used for charitable purposes i.e. for the welfare of blind and visually impaired residents in the former borough of Pudsey. For almost 50 years now, all the activities of the charity have been funded from this fund, which continues to be a valuable and much appreciated gift.
Our Services
The Wednesday social and friendship club is held weekly at the Claremont Grove Complex, Pudsey at 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm. Join our friendly group for refreshments, games, entertainment and meals out locally. Travel assistance is offered to anyone who is registered visually impaired.
If the social club is not for you, you can still become a member. You will receive a birthday gift and Christmas gift from us. If you need support to help improve your life with a visual impairment we may be able to offer financial support.
Our Team
Lynn Petty
Chairman & Trustee
Originally I was a volunteer at Well-being Centre in Pudsey and as I had previous experience in banking I was asked if I would consider joining The Pudsey Blind and Partially Sighted Group as their Treasurer. I joined the Charity in October 2013 and took over as Treasurer the following January. Over the years my role has changed and I am now a Trustee and the Chairman of the Charity.
I travel each week from Wyke in Bradford and look forward to spending time with our members. Some members have come for many years and more recently we have welcomed several new members joining. It’s a warm and friendly group who I am pleased to be part of.
Pat Trenaman
Treasurer & Trustee
I joined the charity in July 2017 and, with my background in charity finance, have been the treasurer ever since. I was born in Barnsley but lived “down south” and in Scotland before moving back to Yorkshire with my husband in 2012. With all our children and grand children living close by, we are well settled in Pudsey in happy retirement. My mother, in later life, was registered blind with macular degeneration so I understand the challenges caused by visual impairment and was delighted to be invited to become a trustee of such a valuable charity. For some time, we were short of both trustees and volunteers but now we have a full complement and the charity is going from strength to strength.
Patricia Halliday
Trustee
I have lived in Pudsey all my life, my husband and I have one daughter who only moved out last year, she also lives local to us and the club. I first got involved with the club when my mum started going after covid it's been a life line for her getting out and meeting people again and having now been diagnosed with macula degeneration, i know they are on hand to give any assistance if needed. I was asked to become a trustee back in 2022 and was happy to, I also help put when needed at the club they are a lovely group with varying ages and needs, it's a pleasure to be involved.
Andrea Domenech
Trustee
I’m Andrea Domenech and this is my story. I was born with a visual impairment but, despite this, I was able to have a wonderful career as a special needs teacher. I loved my work but sadly, as my sight deteriorated, I had to take early retirement. However I was fortunate enough to be asked to be a volunteer at Leeds Deaf/Blind Centre. This gave me immense satisfaction and insight into coping with visual impairment. Unfortunately the charity closed due to lack of funding.. After COVID lockdown I was invited to join the Visually Impaired Group, which I enjoy, and am pleased to have been asked to be a trustee. I hope that I can offer some practical help and ideas.
Wendy Sanderson
Trustee
I became involved with the charity in December 2021. At the time, I was working part time in a Pudsey primary school and wanted to support a local charity one afternoon a week and chose the charity due to my experience in supporting young students with a visual impairment. I started volunteering at the Wednesday group soon after! I currently live in Farsley and have just completed Year 4 of a Part-time Child and Family Studies under graduate degree course – with one more year to complete! I recently changed jobs and now work in a post-16 college supporting students with Autism into employment – a role I love – but unfortunately this has made me unavailable to volunteer at the group. I recently became a trustee of the charity and this is a role I am still involved in - currently advising alongside the other trustees with the creation and development of the new website and social media which is an exciting development for the charity and will help to get the word out so more people can become involved!
Beverly Brogan
Charity Coordinator
I was first introduced to the charity in 2019 working a few hours a week. My role is to provide support and active involvement for the Wednesday Group and to reach out and establish contact with the visually impaired within the Pudsey community.
I have lived in the Pudsey area most of my life and was first aware of the charity when my father came to the group over 25 years ago. He looked forward to going every week and thoroughly enjoyed being part of the group. All these years on I’m now enjoying the contribution I can make to help our members feel the same way.