With a fleet that includes 25 Transporters, two Caddy vans and two Crafter minibuses, which are used to transport members between their residential addresses and the two operational centres in Brighton, Sussex, and Llandudno, in Wales, blind and vision-impaired ex-service personnel can regain their independence and discover life after sight-loss. Since its formation in 1915, the charity has helped over 15,000 ex-servicemen and women, who have lost their sight.

Each centre provides professional support, care and training to help blind veterans to explore and enjoy their lives, despite their impaired senses. They start by helping people to understand the implications of reduced, or zero vision.

The Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle was chosen for its blend of first-rate comfort and a flexible interior that allows the charity to transport up to seven veterans at a time. Blind Veterans UK also has 14 vehicles that feature tip and fold seats to make wheelchair access easier, a number that has increased from just three wheelchair conversions in 2016. The additional features have been added by approved converters, GM Coachwork Ltd.

In addition, the charity has selected BlueMotion Technology across the fleet, which offers higher fuel efficiency that helps to stretch resources; a key requirement in the charity sector. Blind Veterans UK’s work ranges from helping veterans relearn vital life skills but also provides them with the tools they need to be independent in their own homes, by offering new learning, training and recreational opportunities, as well as providing long-term nursing, residential and respite care.

Gary Norman, Operations Lead at Blind Veterans UK said: 

“Many of our veterans depend on us to get to and from our centres, so a reliable fleet is an essential part of our services. We have a great relationship with our supplying dealer, which provides good aftersales and is one of the many reasons we continue to stay loyal to the brand. We also believe it that it is important to provide our drivers with a pleasant working environment and additional features, such as air conditioning and cruise control, are an added bonus for us.”

David Hanna, head of fleet for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: 

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with such a valuable charity that represents the servicemen and women of Great Britain. We pride ourselves on offering a good service before and after the sale of our vans, therefore it is good to know that charities can benefit from our efforts.”