Adrian’s Story
“It has opened my life to music having the products you have supplied me with.”
Music is one of the most important things in Adrian’s life.
And, with a little bit of help from British Wireless for the Blind Fund, he can now take it with him everywhere he goes.
Having been supported by British Wireless for the Blind since 1988, Adrian has enjoyed a range of adapted devices – from his first radio the Duet to his beloved CD player/radio the Concerto 2.
For Adrian, his adapted radios offer an opportunity to access a range of musical entertainment that he cannot find anywhere else. And he really makes the most of it, utilising the portability of BWBF’s adapted radios so he always has his music to hand.
“Music is the main thing for me,” he said.
“I do like to take my music with me. DAB+ is really good for me. We take our radio in the car with us, as our car radio doesn’t have DAB+.”
Adrian enjoys listening to Boom radio and has the whole collection of the “Now That’s What I Call Music” compilation albums, which started back in 1983 – all 109 of them!
His radios also help Adrian with his tinnitus.
“I have my radio on all night as I have tinnitus. Quiet is no good for me,” he said.
In 2021 Adrian found his much-loved Concerto 2 needed to be replaced. We understand that many of our beneficiaries find comfort from our radios all day every day and they often tell us how lost they would be without it – even for a moment. And, for people living with sight loss in these challenging times, radio is more important than ever. Therefore, ensuring continuous support through replacing radios as wear and tear occurs is part of our lifelong loan service.
Adrian had found his radio a true lifeline during the pandemic, having been informed that he was classed as extremely vulnerable. So, ensuring he continued to benefit from BWBF’s service was essential.
Adrian told us: “With Covid I got fed up with television. Radio was just that nice bit of help.”
Over the years Adrian had enjoyed personal visits from volunteers, setting up his radios and providing support. But due to ongoing concerns for recipient safety, the Opus was provided through our remote BWBFconnect service – delivered by a trusted courier, with telephone support where needed.
And, having now been safely issued with an Opus, Adrian says he is delighted with his new radio:
“The Opus I have got now is absolutely fantastic. It gets used every day.”
“The BWBFconnect service worked really well and I felt very safe. It really was brilliant.”
“This is the way forward to protect the vulnerable.”
“British Wireless for the Blind Fund is such a good organisation and I have recommended others to you.”