The VINCI UK Foundation has awarded the South Lincolnshire Blind Society with £5,000 to establish a full-time radio station the community of Grantham and a media training suite.

Established in 1917 as Kesteven Blind Society, the charity supports blind and partially sighted individuals, including those with life-changing injuries from WWI. It helps people with sight loss and their carers adapt and live well by maximising income, utilising remaining sight, and using technology for daily living.

The charity also offers specialist social groups for peer support, hobbies, and supported employment. Operating in the southern half of Lincolnshire, it provides lifelong, inclusive, and free services, with well-trained volunteers.

This grant will enable the establishment of a full-time radio station, Hive FM, and a media training suite for the community. The project will benefit 60,000 residents and up to 50,000 daily travelers on the A1. The phased schedule includes securing funding, engaging electricians and builders, and installing air conditioning units, with completion expected by September 2024.

On top of the financial donation, Sharon Whitfield, Customer Success Manager, Axians UK, Sharon volunteers at the Beehive on alternate Saturdays, where she provides tea, coffee, and friendly conversation to anyone who stops by. In addition to her regular volunteering, Sharon bakes cakes for the Beehive frequently and maintains weekly communication with the team.

“We are very grateful to Sharon for all her help and support on behalf of the VINCI Foundation. It was great to talk to Sharon and Ruth about the work of the foundation and gain an understanding of your values and see how we could best work together to help our community. This donation will help us realise a massive objective for our charity directly supporting people living with sight loss and showcase the impact our charity can have for the benefit of our local community too. South Lincolnshire Blind Society have been awarded a five-year License from Ofcom for a full-time local radio station. Our Charity have built two brand new studios and a green room in our charity headquarters in the heart of our community. We have recruited 46 volunteers who are being trained as presenters. This means that we will have shown on air live from 7 am to 10 pm seven days a week. We work with a massive network of local businesses, voluntary and community groups along with all the statutory providers and we intend to use the station to bring out the best in our community and showcase Grantham as a positive place to live and work. We know that this will have a massive positive impact on our town and have already received lots of positive impact on local lives, businesses, and our communities in general. Our charity has been able to further one of its main aims and that is making information accessible for people with sight loss in particular and the added impact is that we can get information out to people in the wider community with immediacy. The VINCI grant is the icing on the cake and will mean that our whole community can gain massive benefits from this superb and vital community asset that we will use to benefit everyone and showcase our amazing town.” Say’s Susan Swinburn, Chief Executive Officer, South Lincolnshire Blind Society

Introduced by Councillor Tim Harrison, Sharon has been a fantastic addition to the Beehive community, offering her time and support with enthusiasm and a willingness to help in any way she can. Her contributions go beyond her donation, as she actively engages with the community, fostering a warm and welcoming environment.

“It’s a privilege to be involved with the BHIVE in Grantham.  They are not just a society for the blind, they support many locally.  For the older generation, they run dementia groups and Knit and Natter, where they can enjoy a cuppa, some cake, and a little company. Mental health is key they run groups throughout the week for mental health. Have people come in and talk about specialised topics.  There is a once-a-month Bike sale, to raise funds, people donate old bikes, they are worked on and sold on.

There is a plethora of activity and I feel very privileged to work closely with the CEO Susan and their chief fundraiser Rob and the wider group of volunteers, I feel passionate about their ethics and the VINCI UK Foundation have made a massive difference, in helping them launch their community radio.  What is exciting, is the fact this will keep the community connected.” Says Sharon Whitfield, Customer Success Manager, Axians UK.

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The VINCI UK Foundation was founded in 2016 with the mission to strengthen communities by improving access to employment, housing and mobility for society’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Since then, the VINCI UK Foundation has combined almost £1.6 million in financial support with the practical skills and expertise of VINCI employees to help over 289 charities or community projects championing social inclusion across the UK and Republic of Ireland..

Find out more about the South Lincolnshire Blind Society  and the VINCI UK Foundation.