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Annual Review 2024–25: Impact, Stories & Growth Across the North of England

Henshaws is a charity supporting people with sight loss and other disabilities across the North of England, with over 180 years of history. In 2024–25, its Specialist College achieved 98% of educational targets across 56 students; its Sight Loss Support team delivered 26,048 interactions to 3,740 individuals; and its Arts & Crafts Centre completed 26,285 sessions. The Children and Young People service supported 218 participants, with strong outcomes in independence, confidence and skill development.

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About

Support for people with sight loss and other disabilities across the North of England through a Specialist College (Harrogate), Arts & Crafts Centre, Sight Loss Support services, Children and Young People programmes, supported living, and digital outreach; serving individuals aged 16+ from 11 local authorities

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 26,048 total interactions delivered through Sight Loss Support services, reaching 3,740 unique individuals including 1,209 new service users
Key Metric 2 56 students enrolled at Henshaws Specialist College in Harrogate, achieving 98% of educational targets
Key Metric 3 26,285 Artmaker sessions completed at the Arts & Crafts Centre, a 6% increase year on year

Key Outcomes

  • 60% of Sight Loss Support service users now feel satisfied with their life overall, compared to baseline; 96% report knowing how to lead a safe and healthy lifestyle (up from 37%)
  • 218 children and young people participated in activities, with 94% reporting they could now undertake activities independently and 99% saying they enjoyed their session
  • 91% of Artmakers report feeling like they belong at the Arts & Crafts Centre; 87% say they feel much happier since attending

Geography

North West

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £18,180,000 and total expenditure £18,560,000 (year ended 31 December 2024, charity no. 1084958 England/Wales and SC039654 Scotland); in 2024 spent £3.8m on...
Key Metric 2
700+ members supported through in-person visits and support calls in 2025; 697 support grants allocated in 2025 for essential items including specialist clothing, cooling...
Key Metric 3
Largest global investment in EB research to date: multi-million-pound drug repurposing trial provisionally agreed with LifeArc partner at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation...
£34,000 raised in 2025 winter appeal supporting families like Darcie's with specialist items, emotional support and research; 697 support grants delivered in 2025; first Members Connect event in Northern Ireland; EB Priorities Setting Partnership study completed providing global research roadmap
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
22,507 households helped through RBL casework and specialist support services across 66 countries
Key Metric 2
22,600 grants given to those in need, totalling £11.8 million
Key Metric 3
733 beneficiaries represented at tribunals, resulting in £24.5 million in War Pensions awards
1,548 new families living with dementia supported by RBL Admiral Nurses service
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
3,600 blind veterans received support across the UK; 447 new blind veterans started receiving support in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
1,598 referrals to rehabilitation services completed; 313 veterans received assistive technology training
Key Metric 3
997 volunteers donated 26,824 hours of support; befriending service awarded Quality in Befriending Excellence — one of only 11 organisations in the UK to...
1,831 National Creative Wellbeing Project packs issued to help veterans reconnect with creativity and independence
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
349,000+ people completed the Know Your Risk tool to assess their risk of type 2 diabetes in 2024
Key Metric 2
£4 million invested in 17 new research projects; total active grants portfolio worth over £45 million
Key Metric 3
32% of people completing NHS England's Path to Remission programme — which Diabetes UK campaigned for — put their type 2 diabetes into remission
Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge invested over £23 million in 19 projects across 161 experts from 47 institutions in 8 countries since 2022