Malcolm steps down as Blind Society's chief executive

The chief executive of the South Lincolnshire Blind Society is stepping down after 19 years.

Malcolm Swinburn has worked tirelessly for the charity since he retired and moved to Grantham in 2000.

He has championed the needs of blind and partially sighted people ever since at both a local and national level, along with establishing the national support network for local charities now known as Visionary.

But Malcolm, 76, won’t be going far and insists that he will still be working alongside the society heading up the charity’s new initiatives.

He said: “I am looking forward to ensuring the success and viability of the charity for the next hundred years, building in the legacy and hard work of all the former trustees.

“I am sure that all charities are feeling the pressure as vital services are being cut but we have faith that our new ventures will open doors not just for our charity but create opportunities for more people in our community, too.

“With change comes opportunity and possibilities and that’s what we will be focussing on for the charity going forwards.

“I know the charity will be in good hands as we have an excellent board of trustees.

“I would like to thank our fabulous volunteers, trustees and staff who have without a doubt changed the lives of our local blind and partially sighted people.”

Current operations manager Susan Swinburn has been appointed as the new chief executive officer for her wealth of knowledge and experience in the charitable sector.

She said: “Having worked shoulder to shoulder with Malcolm and the team for the last 13 years I am looking forward very much to working closer with our trustees and our new initiatives.

“Our current operating climate poses some difficult circumstances for charities therefore we have taken a longer term view for the charity and set the foundations for growth both for the charity and working in the wider community.

“It’s going to be a testing time for independent charities that are established to provide vital specialist support services to people with sight loss and their families and careres as we see the prevalence of diabetes, obesity, smoking and alcohol problems, all of which can lead to sight loss.”

To find out the society or volunteering, call the helpline on 01476 592775.