What we do

We unlock a world of audio content for people living with sight loss. We do this by giving people free audio devices, apps and support. We help people directly and via referrals. We also work in partnership with other charities and organisations to ensure our help reaches those who need us.

BWBF service user Krisha sits on a sofa. His hand is resting on his Concerto 3 radio from BWBF, which is on the table in front of him.

Our audio devices

We give audio devices for free to people living with sight loss. Our audio device range includes Alexa smart speakers, USB players, radios and more.

People can apply for some of our devices for themselves. Some devices need a referral from a sight loss or support professional.

Explore audio devices

Our apps

Our free apps give easy access to radio and local news for people living with sight loss.

The content is all in one place and navigated via simple commands or gestures.

About our apps

Person using speech radio app on a phone

The scale of our support

4202

The number of audio devices we gave last year

65%

The increase in the number of people we supported between 2023 and 2024

Supporting children and young people

We believe young people living with sight loss should have the same educational and social opportunities as anyone else. Our free audio devices take financial pressure off families and ensure that the young people living with sight loss can access the same content as their peers.

As well as supporting children and young people directly, we work closely with other charities and schools to ensure our child-friendly audio devices reach those who need them.

Our devices for young people

Our devices for young people include sleep soothers, kid-friendly smart speakers and e-book readers.

BWBF service user Annabel with her Voxblock audio book reader. Her hands are resting on the table and inside the slot in the reader is a copy of Roald Dahl's Matilda.

The My Little Morphee sleep soother device. The device has a wooden handle and two white dials with different symbols around them.,

The Amazon Echo Dot Kids smart speaker. A spherical speaker featuring a turquoise owl design and emitting a blue-turquoise light from its base.

Some of our audio devices for children

Annabel's story

BWBF service user Annabel with her mum smiling to camera. Both wear glasses and Annabel has a bow in her hair.

The free Voxblock from BWBF has transformed her whole bedtime routine. Before, reading was such a struggle. Now, she can enjoy her stories completely independently.
Read more of Annabel's story

Supporting older and digitally excluded people

Nearly 80 per cent are 65 years or older. This is driven by age-related conditions like macular degeneration. A young person living with sight loss today will have grown up around smart phones and other modern technology. But many of the older people we support say they aren't confident with these devices. Older people living with sight loss can be among the most digitally excluded in our society.

We provide devices tailored to the needs of older people. This includes simple radios that can be operated with a single button, and a high-contrast boom box designed to allow people living with sight loss to listen to the radio and even enjoy treasured CD and tape collections.

We also work closely with partners like AbilityNet to support older people to adopt new technology, like our free Alexa-powered smart speakers.

Norma's story

Norma stands in her living room smiling. She has short grey hair and glasses.

I do value the independence of having something I can do for myself. All the yellow buttons make such a difference. I couldn’t live without my radio. It’s on all the time - all day. It’s like company.
Read more of Norma's story