A new direction: my reflections on a year as CEO
A little over a year ago, I was given the profound responsibility of leading British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) as we embarked on our small charity’s next chapter. The journey I’ve been on has been deeply personal for me and I wanted to reflect on how far we’ve come, and what’s next.
When I stepped into this role last March, I had already been with BWBF for many years. I knew how closely my core values and BWBF’s mission aligned. I also knew that adjusting to leading this charity would be emotional, rewarding and challenging in equal measure.
But even I couldn’t have anticipated how transformative the year would be, both for me personally, and for the charity that has been my home from home for the last 15 years.
Our legacy and our future
BWBF has existed for nearly 100 years. Over that time, our radios and audio devices have evolved, but the heart of what we do has remained the same. Each year we provide comfort, companionship and joy to thousands of people living with sight loss, something I was lucky enough to see every day when I led our service delivery team.
But, as I stepped into the role of CEO, I was also aware that technology is evolving faster than at any other stage in our long history. The age of Alexa and advances in accessibility features on smartphones meant what our community needed was changing, and fast.
The benefits of voice activated smart technology were undeniable, but cost and technical confidence remained barriers for some. I saw it as vital that we quickly embraced that technology within our service offer.
Embracing a breadth of technology
In June 2024, we started giving Alexa devices to people living with sight loss. This was part of a wider move to diversify the range of audio equipment we gave. Today, we offer smart speakers, USB players, kids audio book readers and even sleep aids. All these alongside the accessible radios that have so long been our bread and butter and that, to this day, remain incredibly popular with many of the people we support.
The response to this broader service has been tremendous. Last year we helped more people than in any other year in the last decade. We gave out more than 4,200 audio devices and the number of people we supported shot up by 65 per cent.
Behind those statistics are real people. People like Doreen, who started to notice her vision deteriorate as she got older. Having never used a smart speaker before, now Doreen turns to her Alexa Echo Dot from BWBF for everything from music, to audiobooks, from setting reminders for her doctors’ appointments to looking up cooking instructions. “I can’t believe everyone doesn’t know about you,” she told us. “You’ve been brilliant.”
Stories like Doreen’s remind me why our work matters so much. We’ve moved beyond one-size-fits-all because I believe passionately that people with sight loss should have access to technology that meets their individual needs.
Listening to our community
Although we’ve come far, there is still a long way to go to be the most relevant service we can be for the growing number of people with sight loss. That’s why this year we’re embarking on our largest-ever research into the audio needs of blind and partially sighted people.
We’ll gain a detailed picture of our community’s frustrations, wants and needs when it comes to accessing audio. This will ensure our future decisions are guided by robust data and genuine insights direct from real people who are living through the technological challenges that can come with sight loss.
That evidence base will remain crucial in the years ahead. As I set the strategy for our small charity’s future, nothing stands still, and it’s important that we assume nothing about our community. Listening, designing services and constantly taking feedback is going to be critical. There is no room for complacency and we must never assume we’re getting it right.
Working together to serve those who need us
As well as forging a deeper, more meaningful connection to the needs of people living with sight loss, this year has also been about forging new professional partnerships to help make our mission a reality.
We’ve worked closely with charities including VICTA, Retina UK, the Macular Society and more. Personally, this was one of the core ambitions I had as I set about my new role as CEO. The BWBF team has spent countless hours building these relationships, knowing that together we can create a more comprehensive support network for the community we all exist to serve.
As well as talking to people living with sight loss, the research we are conducting will also be a chance to engage with other sight loss professionals to gain their perspectives on how we can make our service the best it can be.
Transforming how you see and interact with us
As well as the transformation you can already see in our service, over the last year a lot has been going on behind the scenes. In the coming weeks, we’ll launch a new website. This digital transformation will vastly improve how we connect with our community, with accessibility the core of our new website’s functionality.
We’re also working towards a new charity brand, which I’m incredibly excited to share. While I can’t reveal any details just yet, like everything else we do, the brand will be built around the needs, wants and opinions of people living with sight loss. Our refreshed identity will better reflect who we are today and our vision, honouring our heritage while boldly stepping forward into a new future.
The team spirit that makes it all possible
When I look back, I can barely believe how far we’ve come in one year. That progress is testament to a small, committed and talented team.
I’ve tried my best to approach my role as a leader with both determination and empathy. I understand the juggling act of balancing family and professional responsibilities. Working culture is so important to me and I’m proud of our flexible working arrangements that acknowledge the whole person. Our strength as an organisation comes from holding each other up as we negotiate the many challenges that come with work and life.
I want to thank the incredible BWBF team and Trustees for the way they’ve supported my vision, embraced huge change, contributed their own brilliance, picked me up on difficult days, and celebrated with me during victories. Though small in number, their impact is immeasurable.
An exciting road ahead
My commitment to our mission has only deepened after this remarkable first year. With our dedicated team and supportive community beside me, I know there’s no limit to what we can accomplish together. We will continue putting the needs of people living with sight loss at the heart of everything we do, developing innovative solutions, and ultimately building a more inclusive world.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this incredible organisation and excited about the journey ahead.
Thank you for being part of our story.