'Action For Blind People', along with other charities, dedicated to the needs for the blind and partially-sighted members of our community (of which there are many) provide an invaluable and necessary service.
I work as an Optometrist in Cumbria and have many patients with visual disabilty for whom a pair of 'stronger glasses' is not necessarily the best option.
A majority of such patients are elderly and have a degenerative condition called macular degeneration in which everyday tasks such as reading, watching television, setting the cooker to the correct temperature, making a cup of tea, etc., etc., are greatly impaired to the extent that a person in this awful situation would likely lose their independence. (To anyone young enough to enjoy good eyesight at the moment and who also thinks such charities are unnecessary, think again, and expect macular degeneration as a highly-likely condition that can occur to you, along with wrinkles, poor hearing and grey hair.)
The reason I refer such patients to 'Action For Blind People' is that this organisation endeavours to show visually-disabled individual techniques that will allow them to perform simple, everday tasks for which the average person takes for granted, with the aim of the patient keeping their independence.
I have regularly advised my elderly patients to seek out the excellent advice that is given by the wonderful staff at 'Action For Blind People' because they are often the difference between someone retaining their independence or ending-up in a very lonely position.

This is such a shame. I know people who are involved with this charity and they are all in shock.
Hopefully something can be done.

Some people really need to think things through before typing the first thing that comes into their heads! How would the Disability Discrimination Act have anything to do with this?

In any case, the Disability Discrimination Act no longer exists; it has been replaced by the Equality Act 2010.

Why should a "discrimination act" stop something from closing?
Funding has come to an end..... Simple as that!
It's comments like, "this is discrimination" that invariably brings us to where we are in all walks of life on a daily basis.
I seriously doubt that the decision to cut funding was purely down to the fact that its folks who have a disability.

Andy Wadeson I'm sure your time is much appreciated & I would like to thank you for your time given to help others. You do make a difference & please don't stop doing what you do. We need more people like you.

" Surely the Disability Discrimination Act should stop this from happening!"

Did you read the same article i did? They received a lottery grant, which was for a set amount of money over a set period of time. That time and money has now finished.

To who should the DDA be targeted at? The lottery for the cheek of giving them a large amount of money? The charity for accepting the money, and then using it as intended?

I shake me head in despair at some of the things written on here sometimes.

Just disgraceful,the staff have always been so approachable, knowledgable and kind in helping me to grasp technology,learn to touch type, use my i-pad for school etc as a deaf-blind pupil, with services being cut at every turn how are we to manage without this exemplary service?!!

I have been giving my time as an office based volunteer for the last three years to help this service run smoothly. Why? Because I think the work being done matters and makes a real difference. I also care about Cumbria and despair about the area losing out over and over again.

Please Plaese Please do not stop funding for this service in Carlisle. They were fantastic at helping my mother as they have so many other people. Where will people get the help they need?

Why does this not surprise me in the slightest? Surely the Disability Discrimination Act should stop this from happening!