The BASIS mission is to empower and enable visually impaired people to be as independent as possible by providing training, information and support for adults with sight loss. As part of its mission, BASIS also believes that it is important to raise awareness of the needs of visually impaired people to the sighted community, changing attitudes, thereby bringing both groups to a closer understanding of each other.

Sight loss can only be fully understood by those who have experienced it. The majority of people that come to BASIS have had sight but lost it later in life. This comes as a great shock but one that can be helped when people meet up with others and learn new ways of working. They may even be introduced to new activities and find that suddenly they can be part of the wider society which boosts confidence and self esteem.

BASIS helps people learn how to cope with their disability, giving them confidence to have a go at different things such as learning a new sport of skill to prepare them for returning to work. Most importantly they meet new people make new friends and learn that there is life after sight loss. Our members report that feel less isolated and more able to live independently.