On Friday 17th April a new name will be launched for Cornwall’s oldest charity.
Cornwall Blind Association, which supports around 4,000 people each year living with visual impairment, is re-launching as iSight Cornwall.
Clients, supporters, staff and volunteers are invited to Heartlands, Pool, to celebrate the new name and brand, which is hoped, will help the charity reach thousands more people in Cornwall living with sight loss.
The charity itself was established in 1856 to support miners whom had lost their sight.
Chief executive of iSight Cornwall Terri Rosnau-Ward said: “We’re very excited to be unveiling our new name and look, which has taken over a year of work.
“We have engaged with clients, staff, volunteers and our board to find a name for our charity that will bring us right into the 21st century, and continue to support people living with sight loss for many years to come.”
Under the previous name, Cornwall Blind Association, people were being dissuaded from using its services because of the word “blind”.
It’s hoped the brand name will help iSight Cornwall reach many more of the estimated 20,000 people in the county living with sight loss.
Terri Rosnau-Ward added: “Visual impairment covers a whole spectrum of conditions, with only a small proportion being registered ‘blind’.
“We frequently heard feedback from people who aren’t blind and didn’t want to engage with our charity. Our name changes tackles that issue and makes us more open and inviting to people at all stages of sight loss.”
Brand research and development was completed by Truro-based agency MPAD, which specialises in communications for charities and third sector organisations.
The brand name iSight Cornwall has also been trademarked, working with Stephens Scown Solicitors, to protect the charity’s new asset.
MPAD’s managing director Rachel Picken said: “This was a uniquely challenging and rewarding project to work on – we worked closely with Terri, her team and many other people living with visual impairment to create a brand that resonates with both fully sighted and visually impaired people.
“It’s fascinating working with visually impaired people and asking them to review design work. We needed to constantly innovate and find ways to develop communications that are accessible to all.
“We’re extremely proud to have been on this journey with iSight Cornwall and we’re excited about the next chapter in this charity’s story.”
Special guest and speaker at the event is Steve Cunningham, “fastest blind man on the planet”, having broken records on both land and sea for driving at 176 mph and powerboating.
For information about iSight Cornwall and how it can help anyone in Cornwall living with sight loss, go to www.isightcornwall.org.uk or call the charity on 01872 261110.
Press release distributed on behalf of iSight Cornwall by MPAD. For more information, please contact:
Florence Davies-Kirsop
Florence@mpad.co.uk
01872 321533
