Bradbury Fields

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Bradbury Fields is a charity in Liverpool, England that helps blind and partially sighted people across Merseyside. It runs social groups and support services, including a tandem riding club that was featured on BBC’s You and Yours, an art group with exhibitions at Liverpool Central Library and online with National Museums Liverpool, and a climbing club for visually impaired teenagers started in 2012 with OnThisROC. The charity has about 28 staff and many volunteers.

A short history
Bradbury Fields began in 1857 as a group called The Society For Supplying Home Teachers And Books In Moon's Systems to help blind people read. In 1861 it joined with Liverpool Workshops for the Blind and became the Liverpool Society for Promoting the Welfare of the Blind. It went through several name changes and became the Liverpool Voluntary Society for the Blind in 1970. In 1995, local charities formed the Merseyside Forum for Local Providers. In 2003 the charity bought part of the building it shared with Guide Dogs, and the building was renamed the Bradbury Centre. In 2006 the organisation was renamed Bradbury Fields. Since 2012 Bradbury Fields has shared the Bradbury Centre with Guide Dogs, and the site also hosts an artificial eye unit and counselling from Action for Blind People. Funding changes in 2006 reduced support from the RNIB, and the Centre began focusing on helping people into work, with involvement from local colleges, universities and large companies.

Community and impact
The Bradbury Centre has hosted events to help blind and partially sighted people find work. It has drawn visits from local politicians, including in 2010 and 2012, to show support for community groups. In 2011, Bradbury Fields was mentioned in connection with Sainsbury’s trial of Braille signage in a nearby Woolton store.

Leadership
Jim Moran led Bradbury Fields for 19 years and retired in March 2013. He was succeeded by Philip Longworth, a former RNIB employee.

Notable supporters
Roger Phillips, a well-known BBC Radio Merseyside presenter, has been a trustee of the charity.