Welcome to ELVIN
On this website you can see the services we offer people living with sight loss in East Lancashire. You will also be able to find out how you can support our work by making a donation or volunteering.
We are a local independent charity providing a service for local people. We receive no government funding so we depend on your generosity to support our work.
Support Us
Find out about how you can support us by making a donation or volunteering. You can also see how we use donations we receive to support people.
Our Events
Check out events that are coming soon and how you can attend them.
Who We Are
Our Vision
Our vision is to live in a world where all who battle sight loss are living fulfilled lives by destroying the perceived barriers of visual impairment.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to enable people living with limited vision in East Lancashire to thrive at home, in education, at work and socially.
Our Values
Our values are caring, innovative, professional & quality focused.
Caring – Delivering a holistic service which demonstrates empathy with a focus on individuals needs regardless of circumstances.
Innovative – providing products and services which are at the cutting edge of supporting people living with sight loss.
Professional – a commitment to demonstrate to our employees, volunteers, users of our services and partner organisations the highest standards of conduct in all we do.
Quality focused – to intentionally monitor the impact of, and review the services we offer and how we deliver them so they remain accessible and relevant.
Our History
The Society was formed in 1875 by local people who were concerned about the plight of blind people living in and around Accrington. The charity provided support to these people who experienced poverty and isolation.
Since then, the Society has done many different activities and has always tried to bring the latest ideas to help people. The charity has been supported over time by many people who have acted been Trustees, volunteers and employees.
Around 2014 the Society opened a professional resource centre offering the latest equipment and information to support people.
Since the end of the COVID lockdown the Society has expanded its opening hours, launched a home visiting service, and supported the launch of a new social group in the Pendle area.
In recognition of the development of the work of the charity throughout East Lancashire the Trustees have launched ELVIN (East Lancs Visual Impairment Network) in the spring of 2022. This better reflects the footprint of the area we work in and our desire to support and work in partnership with other sight loss charities in the area.
Read more about our history here
Our Supporters
We thank the following who have recently supported our work.
