CLARITY - Employment for Blind People
Encyclopedia
CLARITY - Employment for Blind People is a charitable organization
, established in 1854, that provides employment and training to blind and disabled people.
, London
, which makes a variety of toiletries and cleaning products, including soap, handwash, shampoo, body lotion, window cleaner and car cleaning kits. The products are manufactured in-house and are not tested on animals .
CLARITY products have featured in various magazines and newspapers, including the Sunday Mirror
and Vogue (magazine)
.
Proceeds from the sale of CLARITY's products are used to fund the charity's work providing training and employment for blind and disabled people. The charity
employs 65 people with a range of physical and mental disabilities in its factory and also employs blind people in telesales offices across the UK .
The charity runs workplace and "Skills for Life" training programmes to enable employees to progress within the organisation and move into open employment . Employees are given the opportunity to take NVQ qualifications in Manufacturing and Performing Manufacturing Operations, Customer Service and Team Leadership. Welfare and support services are also available to help staff with issues outside the workplace .
, the blind daughter of English churchman and academic Ashurst Gilbert .
She established a workshop in Holborn
where 7 employees made baskets. The organisation soon moved to larger premises in Brunswick Square
, then Euston Road
and finally, in 1893, a factory was opened in Tottenham Court Road
. Over time, GWB started producing a number of other items, including brushes, brooms, upholstery, chair seats, divans and mattresses .
The charity has had many famous patrons. Queen Victoria became the charity's patron in 1859. Other early supporters included Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
, and Charles Dickens
, who is believed to have written an article in Household Words
, entitled "At Work in the Dark" .
When Queen Victoria died in 1901 and her son Edward VII took over as King, he became the new patron of the charity, along with his wife Queen Alexandra of Denmark
. Other supporters of the charity in the early 20th Century included Edward HRH Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), HRH Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
and the Archbishop of Canterbury
.
As well as Royal Patronage, GWB products were also used by royalty. For example, in 1901, GWB produced all the mats and some other articles used to fit SS Ophir
, which conveyed the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future King George V
and Queen Mary of Teck
on their world tour.
In 1936, GWB started making soap, following a grant of £500 from two of the charity's trustees - blinded war veteran Sir Beachcroft Towse and William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield
, then Lord Nuffield. After the Second World War, the organisation started making talcum powder. The product range continued to grow over the next 50 years to include shampoos, bath foams, shower gels, liquid soap, body lotions, beeswax polish, car wash, kitchen cleaners, bath cleaners and air fresheners.
In 1954, in celebration of its 100th anniversary, GWB built four houses in Tottenham
to be used by blind workers, and they are still in use today. The charity moved from premises in Curtain Road to Ashburton Grove in 1982. The Ashburton Grove premises were opened by the charity's President, HRH Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester. In 2002, the charity needed to move premises again as Ashburton Grove was the site for Arsenal F.C.
's Emirates Stadium
. The charity moved to York Way
, where it is still located today.
Nick Hurd
MP, Minister for Civil Society, visited CLARITY's York Way premises in 2010 . In 2011, CLARITY featured in Cabinet Office
report "Growing the Social Investment Market" as an example of a successful social enterprise .
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, established in 1854, that provides employment and training to blind and disabled people.
CLARITY's work
The organisation runs a factory in Kings CrossKings Cross, London
King's Cross is an area of London partly in the London Borough of Camden and partly in the London Borough of Islington. It is an inner-city district located 2.5 miles north of Charing Cross. The area formerly had a reputation for being a red light district and run-down. However, rapid regeneration...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which makes a variety of toiletries and cleaning products, including soap, handwash, shampoo, body lotion, window cleaner and car cleaning kits. The products are manufactured in-house and are not tested on animals .
CLARITY products have featured in various magazines and newspapers, including the Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
and Vogue (magazine)
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
.
Proceeds from the sale of CLARITY's products are used to fund the charity's work providing training and employment for blind and disabled people. The charity
employs 65 people with a range of physical and mental disabilities in its factory and also employs blind people in telesales offices across the UK .
The charity runs workplace and "Skills for Life" training programmes to enable employees to progress within the organisation and move into open employment . Employees are given the opportunity to take NVQ qualifications in Manufacturing and Performing Manufacturing Operations, Customer Service and Team Leadership. Welfare and support services are also available to help staff with issues outside the workplace .
History
The charity was established in 1854 as "The Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind" (GWB). The charity's founder was Elizabeth Margaretta Maria GilbertElizabeth Margaretta Maria Gilbert
Elizabeth Margaretta Maria Gilbert is the daughter of Ashurst Gilbert. Born on 7 August 1826, she caught scarlet fever at the age of two, which resulted in her being blinded. In 1854 she established "The Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind" , now called CLARITY - Employment...
, the blind daughter of English churchman and academic Ashurst Gilbert .
She established a workshop in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
where 7 employees made baskets. The organisation soon moved to larger premises in Brunswick Square
Brunswick Square
Brunswick Square is a public garden in Bloomsbury, in the London Borough of Camden. It is overlooked by the School of Pharmacy and the Foundling Museum to the north and the Brunswick Centre to the west...
, then Euston Road
Euston Road
Euston Road is an important thoroughfare in central London, England, and forms part of the A501. It is part of the New Road from Paddington to Islington, and was opened as part of the New Road in 1756...
and finally, in 1893, a factory was opened in Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road is a major road in central London, United Kingdom, running from St Giles Circus north to Euston Road, near the border of the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile...
. Over time, GWB started producing a number of other items, including brushes, brooms, upholstery, chair seats, divans and mattresses .
The charity has had many famous patrons. Queen Victoria became the charity's patron in 1859. Other early supporters included Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, and Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, who is believed to have written an article in Household Words
Household Words
Household Words was an English weekly magazine edited by Charles Dickens in the 1850s which took its name from the line from Shakespeare "Familiar in his mouth as household words" — Henry V.-History:...
, entitled "At Work in the Dark" .
When Queen Victoria died in 1901 and her son Edward VII took over as King, he became the new patron of the charity, along with his wife Queen Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
. Other supporters of the charity in the early 20th Century included Edward HRH Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), HRH Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein was a minor German prince who became a member of the British Royal Family through his marriage to Princess Helena of the United Kingdom , the fifth child and third daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of...
and the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
.
As well as Royal Patronage, GWB products were also used by royalty. For example, in 1901, GWB produced all the mats and some other articles used to fit SS Ophir
SS Ophir
The SS Ophir was a British steel twin-screw ocean liner owned by the Orient Steamship Co. of London, which was employed on the company's London/Aden/Colombo/Australia service from the 1890s until 1915 when she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and saw three years' service as an armed merchant...
, which conveyed the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future King George V
George V
George V was king of the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1910 to 1936.George V or similar terms may also refer to:-People:* George V of Georgia * George V of Imereti * George V of Hanover...
and Queen Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
on their world tour.
In 1936, GWB started making soap, following a grant of £500 from two of the charity's trustees - blinded war veteran Sir Beachcroft Towse and William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield
William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield
William Richard Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield GBE, CH , known as Sir William Morris, Bt, between 1929 and 1934 and as The Lord Nuffield between 1934 and 1938, was a British motor manufacturer and philanthropist...
, then Lord Nuffield. After the Second World War, the organisation started making talcum powder. The product range continued to grow over the next 50 years to include shampoos, bath foams, shower gels, liquid soap, body lotions, beeswax polish, car wash, kitchen cleaners, bath cleaners and air fresheners.
In 1954, in celebration of its 100th anniversary, GWB built four houses in Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
to be used by blind workers, and they are still in use today. The charity moved from premises in Curtain Road to Ashburton Grove in 1982. The Ashburton Grove premises were opened by the charity's President, HRH Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester. In 2002, the charity needed to move premises again as Ashburton Grove was the site for Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
. The charity moved to York Way
York Way
York Way is a major road in the London Borough of Islington, running north for one mile from the junction of Pentonville Road and Euston Road, adjacent to King's Cross railway station towards Kentish Town and Holloway. At its northern end the road becomes Brecknock Road...
, where it is still located today.
Nick Hurd
Nick Hurd
Nicholas Richard Hurd , known as Nick Hurd, is a United Kingdom Conservative Member of Parliament.He was elected Member for Ruislip-Northwood at the May 2005 general election with 47.7% of the votes...
MP, Minister for Civil Society, visited CLARITY's York Way premises in 2010 . In 2011, CLARITY featured in Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
report "Growing the Social Investment Market" as an example of a successful social enterprise .
External links
See also
- Action for Blind PeopleAction for Blind PeopleAction for Blind People is a national sight loss charity in the United Kingdom that provides help and support to blind and partially sighted people of all ages.-History:...
- The Guide Dogs for the Blind AssociationThe Guide Dogs for the Blind AssociationThe Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is a British charitable organisation founded in 1934.Guide Dogs provides independence and freedom to thousands of blind and partially-sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services...
- Royal National Institute of Blind People
- Fight for Sight (U.K.)Fight for Sight (U.K.)Fight for Sight is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease....
- Royal London Society for the BlindRoyal London Society for the BlindThe Royal London Society for the Blind is a UK charity offering education, training, life-skills and employment services for blind and partially-sighted adults and children.- History :...