Partnering with The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association’s CustomEyes project, the Medicash Foundation has funded the creation of 45 large-print, bespoke books for young people living with impaired sight, helping ensure they can enjoy reading the same well-loved books as their friends and classmates.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is one of the UK’s leading disability charities, providing life-changing services for people living with sight loss, ensuring that they enjoy full, independent lives. Started in 1931, Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond trained the first four guide dogs, right here in Medicash’s home of Merseyside. Three years later, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was formed.

One crucial initiative that runs as part of the Guide Dogs charity is the CustomEyes service.

little girl sat next to woman reading a book with large text

CustomEyes has been running for over 10 years and provides close support to children living with vision impairment. CustomEyes recreates existing books, while accounting for the unique needs of every single person who reads them. This includes different font sizes, paper colours, and formats, making sure they can treasure the same beloved stories as their sighted friends.

With a wide range of over 6,000 titles ranging from fiction to non-fiction, as well as textbooks and revision guides, this amazing service provides essential access to literature for those living with a sight deficit. The donation of £2,160 from The Medicash Foundation allows the service to continue its vitally important work to ensure that no child is left behind in literacy. The donation directly impacts those in the North West of England, where there are approximately 3,180 young people under the age of 25 living with some degree of sight loss.

Andrew Healy MBE, chief executive of Medicash said: ““The work of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association’s CustomEyes initiative provides vital resources for those under 25 living with vision impairment. I am extremely proud that The Medicash Foundation is actively helping these young people experience the magic of reading.”