About us

Henshaws Vision: We want a society where anyone affected by sight loss has choice and control over their future and can live, learn and work as part of their community. We deliver practical, caring and imaginative services to visually impaired people and to their friends, family and colleagues. We also work to raise awareness around visual impairments in the wider community.

We owe our roots to a northern businessman, Thomas Henshaw, whose £20,000 legacy in 1837 laid the foundations of over 170 years of support for blind and visually impaired people.

And we hope we've done him proud.  We now work in three regions across the North - with centres in Manchester, Liverpool, Harrogate, Knaresborough and Newcastle.

We offer a range of educational, residential, day care and community services in response to the individual needs of blind and visually impaired people.

Our service delivery is specialist, exciting, ground-breaking and fun. And our staff, volunteers and supporters have a simple common aim - to continue helping blind & visually impaired by making a difference with services that respond to their needs.

We are forever grateful to the individuals, Trusts and organisations who support Henshaws with grants, donations and sponsorship. And we are proud of our staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to make a difference to the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired.