Musical Anne rewarded for all her work to help blind
A LOCAL woman has won a Bridgend Volunteer of the Year Award for her tireless work for RNIB Cymru and the BridgeVIS society.
Anne Wilkins, 67, has been blind since birth due to retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that can develop in premature babies. Anne is an accomplished musician and soloist, whose musical highlight was winning the prestigious David Ellis Memorial Blue Riband at the National Eisteddfod in 2012.
Anne received the award for her many volunteering activities, including setting up a music group for blind and partially sighted people in Bridgend and teaching Braille classes. She is also a member of an RNIB Task Group which works to improve the accessibility of Braille music.
The Bridgend Volunteer Awards are organised by the Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) to annually recognise outstanding people and organisations that have made a significant contribution to the local community. The awards ceremony was held at the Heronston Hotel in Bridgend.
Anne said: “Music has always been a huge part of my life. I have been singing and playing instruments for almost as long as I can remember, and I am so glad to be able to share my passion with others. It is such a wonderful way for blind and partially sighted people to connect with each other over a shared hobby.
“Between five and 10 people now attend the Bridgend music group, and we have been preparing for the Christmas carolling season by learning lots of festive songs.
“I was so surprised and pleased to win the award and am grateful to have even been nominated. I’m pleased that the music group has been so successful, and I hope to continue to volunteer for RNIB for a long time to come.”
RNIB Cymru Volunteer Campaign coordinator Carol McKinlay said: “Anne is a true inspiration. Her love of music, teaching, travel and above all helping others has brought together so many blind and partially sighted people in Bridgend. We at RNIB Cymru greatly appreciate Anne’s years of hard work and dedication and we are thrilled that her efforts have been recognised with this award.”
RNIB Cymru aims to break down the barriers for the 111,000 people estimated to be living with sight loss in Wales.
Volunteer-led groups and events are an important way of doing this, making sure blind and partially sighted people can meet up, socialise and have fun.
Anne’s music group meets every other Saturday at the St John Ambulance training centre on Minerva Street, Bridgend, from 2.30pm until 4pm.
Contact Eleanor.rothwell@rnib.org.uk or 02920 828500 if you would like to attend.
For more info on volunteering for RNIB Cymru visit www.rnib.org.uk/volunteering
For more information about the Bridgend Volunteer Awards visit www.bavo.org.uk/volunteerawards