About Us

What We Do
» Our Services

Offices and staff
Our offices are located in Bermondsey Street, close to London Bridge Station and we have staff working in all of the inner London Boroughs.
» Staff

To reach us from London Bridge Station, leave the station by taking the exit for Guyís Hospital onto St Thomas Street. Turn left and go down St Thomas Street until you reach the junction with Bermondsey Street. Turn right into Bermondsey Street and you will find our office about 150 yards down on the right hand side.

Governance
Like many other charities we are also registered as a company by Guarantee. There are currently 10 Trustees who are also Directors of the Company and members of the MSB Council. » Governance

Achieving Our Mission

  • We will seek to ensure that all blind and partially sighted people in London, especially those over the age of 50, receive the services and support they need to overcome the social, emotional and practical consequences of sight loss. There will be help for everyone at every stage of the journey from diagnosis onwards.
  • We will achieve this in collaboration with government, local communities, statutory service providers and other voluntary sector organisations. If you would like to know more about our Strategic Plan please follow this link » strategic plan

History
MSB has a long and distinguished history. Among its antecedents is the Indigent Blind Visiting Society founded in 1834 by Lord Shaftesbury and Thomas Rhodes Armitage. Armitage is famous for introducing Braille into England and for being one of the founders of RNIB.

Working in partnership
Over many years we have established effective partnerships with many other organisations. Among our most important partners are:

  • The Clothworkersí Foundation, one of the original City of London Guilds, with a long tradition of providing support for blind and partially sighted people. » Clothworkersí Foundation
  • The Greater London Fund for the Blind, which raises funds on behalf of numerous charities assisting blind and partially sighted people in Greater London. » GLFB
  • The British Wireless for the Blind Fund, which aims to supply radio and audio sets to all registered blind and partially sighted people who are in need.
    » The British Wireless for the Blind Fund
  • The London Visual Impairment Forum, which comprises local societies, larger regional agencies and national charities working with, and on behalf of, blind and partially sighted people in Greater London. Its purpose is to listen to the views of visually impaired Londoners, share information and ideas, support collaboration and joint working and encourage a strategic approach to service development. If you would like to know more follow this link to the LVIF Terms of Reference or contact the LVIF Coordinator at ahudson@msb.gb.com.
  • The National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People (NALSVI) supports the goal of independence for visually impaired people by promoting the crucial role of the UK's network of local charities for blind and partially sighted people. » NALSVI
  • Vision 2020 UK is an umbrella organisation which promotes collaboration and co-operation between visual impairment organisations within the UK and internationally » Vision 2020 UK
  • Local Councils and particularly their sensory impairment teams working in the 12 inner London boroughs and the City of London
  • The many local groups and organisations which provide company, social contact and informal support for thousands of people coping with sight loss in London

Metropolitan Society for the Blind, Lantern House, 102 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB
Tel: 020 7403 6184
Registered Charity Number 262119 | Company limited by guarantee No 986407