Welcome!
Here at Halifax Society for the Blind we provide regular publications to keep everyone up to date with the ongoings of the society!
HSB Newsletter - Published on a quarterly basis, provides an overview of the achievements and changes achieved since the last newsletter.
Eye Alert - Published on a bi-weekly basis, our Eye Alert keeps our members up to date with everything happening in our groups and provides information about upcoming events.
Calderdale Eye - Our quarterly audio magazine, created to keep our members entertained with stories from the local community, and to keep them informed about the ongoings within the sight loss community. To listen to the most resent issue, press the button below.
HSB Newsletter - October 2024
HSB Eye Alert - October 2024
HSB Publications now available on Alexa!
You can now access the audio versions of HSB publications now on Alexa! All you need to do is activate the Talking Newspaper Skill on your Alexa through the Alexa app.
For further instructions on how to access the newsletter and Eye Alert on the Alexa, click the button below to download a guide.
Talking Newspaper Alexa Skill Guide
AGM Impact Video
Our History
Halifax Society for the Blind is one of Calderdale’s oldest charities and has been supporting people with sight loss since 1888. At this time the Society of Home Teach and Assistance was formed, and a teacher was appointed to visit people in their homes and teach them braille.
The early 1920’s was a busy time for the Society, the name changed to Halifax Society for the Blind and a gift of £10,000 was left by the late J.W. Horsfall. This gift enabled the Society to buy the Crossley and Porter sanitorium and convert it into a home for the blind. This home was called “The John W Horsfall home for the Blind” and Percy Horsfall became President.
In 1926 a premises at 13 Bull Green was acquired and used as a shop where hand knitting, rug making, and piano tuning took place. The shop stayed here until 1937 when a larger building at 14 Fountain Street was built.
By 1964 the Society had a very popular holiday home in Fleetwood. When this holiday home was sold in approx. 2004, the buildings on Clare Road were bought and this became the main office of the Society.
In June 2023, HSB made the exciting move to the new town centre premises which incorporates a large, well equipped, Sight Centre.