One of the oldest charities in the UK, Henshaws provides advice, support and training to people affected by sight loss and disability across the North of England. Founded in 1837, as a ‘blind asylum’, Henshaws today has over 300 members of staff and more than 230 volunteers. Its headquarters is in Manchester.

Henshaws delivers a wide range of practical, caring and imaginative services including specialist housing and support, residential care, education, training, community outreach and leisure activities. It has three centres – in Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.

The charity’s housing and support section enables people living with sight loss and a range of disabilities to live more independently. Henshaws runs residential homes in Gateshead, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire and York and Leeds. It also provides support so that people living in their own homes can build skills, develop connections and be a part of their local community.

Henshaws runs a specialist college in Harrogate, in North Yorkshire. The college works with young people, aged 16 to 25, and helps them prepare for employment, make friends and learn to live more independently. The college’s education, care and therapy teams specialise in working with people with sensory impairments, physical disabilities, moderate to severe learning difficulties, those on the autistic spectrum and those with health-care needs such as epilepsy. The college caters for both day students and students who live on campus in residential accommodation.

Henshaws’ community services programmes prioritise independence and friendship. Through its ‘Pathways to Independence’ programme, a tailor-made bespoke package is designed for each service user combining support, activities and training. The charity’s three centres, in Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle, offer a range of services to give visually impaired people an improved quality of life.

The charity’s ‘Friendship Matters’ programme is based on the role of social and support groups in helping to reduce the social isolation that can be experienced by people with sight loss. Group activities include a Film Club, football training and creative arts. Henshaws also runs a ‘Living with Sight Loss’ course designed to provide a stepping stone onto other courses. Other Henshaws’ courses range from guitar lessons and archery to iPad training and yoga.

There is also a Henshaws Arts & Craft Centre in Knaresborough in North Yorkshire. There are 15 different workshops available at the Centre, including those specialising in jewellery, printed textiles, fitness and horticulture.