Surrey Association for Visual Impairment. Making a visible difference in Surrey.
SAVI Time Line
Time line of SAVI’s life
1920 - Blind Act of Parliament. Major milestone in blind welfare.
1922 - The Surrey Association for the Blind formed. At that time the known number of blind persons in the County totalled only 496 and no details of those who were partially sighted were available. The Almoner (Greek for one who has compassion’) of 1922 needed all her compassion in deciding how to share out that first year's total expenditure of £30.
1923 - SVAB Honorary Representatives role in 1923. Honorary Representatives were voluntary workers living in various districts and parishes of Surrey. They would report their blind cases quarterly to the Honorary Secretary as well as make special enquiries when a district in County had no Visitor working there.
1927 - There were nearly seven hundred Registered Blind people in Surrey, although as is true today doubtless others not yet registered. The annual old age pension for a blind person at the age of 50 was £26 in old money. There was sickness benefit and disablement benefit if the person was incapable of employment until 70 years old. SVAB's role was to ensure visually impaired people got these benefits as they do today. SVAB expected to spend £4150 to cover grants and loans to clients, maintenance at Convalescent Homes, and training expenses for clients not obtaining payments by Education Committee. Miscellaneous expenses, extension of Home Teaching Service, and Reserve for capital purposes.
SVAB had Home Teachers who were qualified persons whose salaries were paid by the County Council with a grant from the Ministry of Health. Their role was to visit blind people in their own homes and teach them to read and write using Braille type or Moon, so the VIP could enjoy books from the National Library for the Blind. The would also teach occupations such as netting, knitting, raffia work, and basket work. The Teachers would also teach card and board games that could be adapted to play with their friends. The teachers taught Deaf/Blind finger alphabet.
The Chairman of SVAB was The Reverend W. A. E. Austen, CC,at Sunbiggin, Haslemere, Surrey.
1935 - On 7 November 1935, the RNIB Talking Book Service distributed its first players and records to blind and partially sighted people.
1939 - 3rd September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany.
1944 - The Disabled persons (employment) Act was introduced. DPEA register of disabled people, which imposed a statutory duty on employers with 20 or more employees to ensure that 3 per cent of workforces were registered disabled people. For many reasons the DPEA ultimately proved unworkable and ineffective.
1945 - The second World War ended. Germany surrendered unconditionally on the 7th May and the following day was celebrated as VE day. The war in Europe was over. The Japanese surrendered on the 14th August.
1948 - National Assistance Act saw the beginning of registration of technically blind people.
From this date Home Teachers for the blind were first employed by the Council and to hold a certificate of the College of Teachers of the Blind or other qualification as may be prescribed by regulation by the Minister of Health, or the Council to provide training leading to qualification within two years of employment. They worked with SVAB to support visually impaired people in Surrey.
1952 - King George VI died on 6 February. Queen Elizabeth II began her long reign.
1955 - RNIB introduced the first Cassette talking books.
1961 - There was 2,688 blind and 462 partially sighted people registered in Surrey.
Insight Magazine was published by SVAB, for the first time in December 1961 as a quarterly issue and could be purchased for 9 d (4p). It was expected to only run for 12 months, but continued till September 1965 with 16 issues. It ran informative and entertaining articles for and sent in by visually impaired people of Surrey. The Editor was Eric H Tucker of Coulsdon.
The Honorary Secretary was Frank J Stevens. This role changed during the years and was later known as the General Secretary and then the Chief Executive.
1963 - The London Government Act was introduced 32 new boroughs of London. This reduced the administrative area of Surrey.
1966 - Saw the end to Home Teacher, when the tasks required staff to either be qualified Social Workers or Rehabilitation Workers.
1970 - The chronically sick and disabled persons act was introduced. It stated local authority must provide services to substantially and permanently disabled people.
1) Practical help and adaptations in their homes
2) Radio, TV, or similar facilities in home.
3) Outside recreational education facilities and help in making use of them such as transport.
4) Holidays.
5) Meals
6) Telephone and special equipment needed to use it.
1972 - SVAB tried to find it's own office space but was unsuccessful.
1974 - SCC offered a room in the OT specialist unit based at Rentwood as a temporary measure until Guildford Borough Council built offices.
1974 - 31 July 1974, SVAB's Camden House closed as the last resident left and was sold off. The money was invested to support People with Visual Impairments.
1975 - 7th April, David A Holder was named as General secretary. He was also the specialist officer for the Blind with Surrey County Council.
At that time Surrey County Council employed four Home Teachers and a mobility instructor was recruited.
Surrey County Council provided SVAB with a room at Rentwood, School Lane, Fetcham, near Leatherhead with the Blind Welfare Department of Surrey County Council.
SCC also gave a grant, which SVAB used to pay one full-time and one part-time member of staff. Wing Commander Frank Pusey was the full time member of staff, the Secretary.
1976 - Rentwood becomes permanent base for SVAB. It was felt that working in the same building as the Surrey County Councils Occupational Therapist blind specialists was to everyone's advantage.
Two new Rehabilitation workers recruited by Surrey County Council, making three in total and staff in the SCC Blind Specialist unit now totalled eight.
1983 - In January, Mr Pusey, the General Secretary and Organiser employed a Volunteer Co-ordinator. She was based at Rentwood Headquarters in Fetcham. The aim of this scheme was to organise Volunteers to visit house bound VIPs who would mainly be elderly. at some period, continued to visit clients and was managed by 1997.
1986 -The Disabled persons (services consultation and representation) Act was introduced.
During this time Surrey began to look at the way they provided support in Schools to visually impaired Children. Children needing individual support because of sight loss often had to go to specialist schools outside the county which although there were often excellent schools it mean children being separated from family, friends and their local community and causing a loss of local identity.
1989 - The Children's Act 1989 was introduced.
1990 - National Health Services and Community care act 1990.
1991 - David Jones was recruited as General Secretary. Mary Biggart was made SVAB's Chairman.
1993 - SVAB was given a three-year contract from Surrey County Council Social Services department to provide registration and rehabilitation services and maintains the register. A new team of 15 Rehabilitation Officers and Social Workers were employed by SVAB to fulfil the contracts requirements. This new team's manager is Sandra Gregory.
Some Schools began were set up with specialist units for children with serious sight loss. There are now two Primary School and three mainstream Secondary Schools that have the resources to provide this support.
Sythwood Primary School (Woking), Leading on to George Abbot Secondary School (Guildford) or
Woking High (Woking).
St Stephens Primary School (Godstone); Leading on to Oxted Secondary.
Surrey Voluntary Association for the Blind is very instrumental in this process because they have two Child Mobility Officers that are able to offer mobility and living skills to children in their local schools and the child's home that the Specialists schools offered.
SVAB and the Education Department work closely together to make this new way of working with children succeed.
1995 - Disability Discrimination Act. Many rights for disabled people, but some are not implemented till as late as 2004. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 gives disabled people (including people with mental health problems) new rights in the areas of employment, buying goods and services and buying or renting property. It also enables the Government to set minimum standards for accessible transport (for example, ensuring that all licensed taxis are accessible), and requires schools, colleges and education authorities to provide information about facilities for disabled students.
1996 - In March, sadly David Jones died. His position was covered by Mary Biggart, Chairman of SVAB until a new General Secretary was recruited. In April, the Resource Centre and the Low Vision Aid Centre were born. Andy Cook the Recourse Centre Manager was employed to offer professional expertise on day to day equipment and magnification and lighting equipment. Previously, there had been a cupboard with equipment from RNIB stored in it, for people to purchase and visits from SVAB would be made to take items out to clients. The new service has been a very popular support to clients.
Don MacNab-Stark was employed as SVAB's General Secretary in June. He left SVAB in March 1999.
1997 - Celebrating SVAB's 75th anniversary , the New Home Visiting Scheme and the Information Technology Centre started in May. Don MacNab-Stark, had his title changed SVAB’s Chief Executive to reflect his role, felt these were a good schemes to obtain funding for and with income from RNIB Opportunities for Volunteering and Joint Funding was able to employ two Home Visiting Co-ordinators. He also employed an Access Technology Adviser. Also, a Fund raiser was employed to raise funds for these new scheme.
1998 - The registered figure was around 6000 people. Not every visually impaired person chooses to be registered, so accurate figures of people with a visual impairment will not be available.
At the end of 1998, the Fund raiser left SVAB and was not replaced for a few years.
A new position of Finance Manager was made.
1999 Year of changes
In March, Chief Executive, Don MacNab-Stark, left SVAB, and on 1st April 99, Lance Clarke took over this position. Fund raising was beginning to be required again to support new projects and posts.
A need for a role of community development was show to be needed in the charity and this role was developed.
2000 - A new team the Community Support Team was successfully funded by Health, and Guide Dogs for 3 years as well as the post of Community Rehabilitation Officer, which was filled for VIPs with low to medium risk and the team of the Community Support services. The Craft worker role was seen as a role belonging to Community work and the team began to grow.
At the end of 2000, the Access Technology Advisor moved on to other fields and the Access Technology department was also incorporated into the Community Support team as computer training because of it’s valuable work towards social inclusion for work and leisure. Part time Computer trainers were employed.
Shortly after this the Volunteer Department was also moved into the Community Support team.
RNIB introduced Talking books on CD.
2002 - Queen Elizabeth II's 50th Anniversary.
On SVAB's 80th Anniversary, the Charity change it's name to Surrey Association for Visual Impairment.
A new department was developed for people with combined sight and hearing loss which provides Communicator Guides to give more independence to people with additional communication problems.
A Training team was also developed which would be self funding from income generated by companies purchasing this service to improve their employees skills when providing care and support to customers with a visual impairment.
2005 - Funding was given to SAVI to provide support for people needing to apply for Benefits. A Specialist Benefits Officer was recruited.
2007 - Year of change and restructure.
Mary Biggart, previous chairman and Trustee for 33 years resigns from SAVI.
A Children's Recreation Officer was recruited that was funded by the Mayor of Elmbridge fund.
Restructuring of the roles within SAVI saw the development of the Community Services team, which included a Community Liasion Officer and Trainer, Volunteer Co-ordinator, Community Fund Raiser, Benefits Officer, and Computer Trainers.
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Chief Executive Officer profile
Find out more about Lance Clarke, SAVI Chief Executive Officer.
Who's Who in SAVI
Chief Executive Officer - Lance Clarke
Chief Executive Officer's PA - Elaine Stewart-Morton
Senior Management Team
Head of Community Services - Jason Spinney
Head of Rehabilitation Services - Sandra Gregory
Head of Finance - David Lloyd
Head of Office Services - Lynda Ellis
Charity's Community Services Team
Home Visitor Co-ordinator - Dennis Saunders
Resource and Low Vision Manager - Andy Cook
Community Liaison - Katy Kirton
Children's Recreation Coordinator - Stella Black
Statutory Services
Rehabilitation Operations Manager - Amanda Eves
Combined Sight and Hearing Loss Team
Sight Loss
Learn about the most common eye conditions that can cause visual impairment.
Macular Disease
Cataract
Diabetic Retinopathy
Glaucoma
