About us
Henshaws is a northern charity supporting people living with sight loss and a range of other disabilities to go beyond expectations. We believe that everyone has the right to an independent and fulfilling life. Our support, advice and training enable people and their families to build skills, develop confidence, help each other, and look forward to a more positive future. We hope to partner with businesses and organisations which will allow us to build long lasting corporate relationships and unlock sustainable income to help us grow our charity and the work which we do.
Henshaws Knowledge Village, is a place to share our knowledge and expertise with those experiencing or working with sight loss and disability. It's a place to explore our videos, blogs, resources and eBooks to learn about everything from apps and technology to our useful Life Hacks. We’ve divided the Knowledge Village into twelve different sections to help guide everyone to the content they want – Technology; Apps; Eye Conditions; Benefits and Support; Daily Living Skills; Life Hacks; Children and Young People; Health and Wellbeing; General; Specialist College; and our new COVID-19 Resources section. They can also browse by type of content – view all of our blogs, explore our eBooks library, or watch our videos on YouTube.
At the Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre in Knaresborough, we make more than art. We bring people together in an atmosphere that never fails to inspire. Through our workshops, people living with a range of disabilities discover their talents, put them into practice and realise their full potential. Open to all, we have an Arts & Crafts centre which is a community hub where creativity, friendships and opportunities come to life. On weekdays our workshops are filled with Art Makers creating beautiful and unique pieces of art. We are a social enterprise and your support is hugely important to us, although the centre and gardens are currently closed to the public, you can visit our gift shop from 9am until 4pm Monday to Friday.
Our Children and Young People’s team specialise in working with children and parents with sight loss, often with complex needs and additional disabilities. Services include: • Advice and information • Family Patient Support Officer • ‘I Can Do It’ course funded by BBC Children in Need • I Can Do It online course and VI charity training funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust We also run different events and activities throughout the year, including annual Christmas parties, fun days out at places such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the Sealife Centre, and different activities throughout school holidays. We also support any family member or carer where visual impairment has an impact on their life.
Henshaws Specialist College is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. We offer around 80 places to students aged 16 – 25 with special educational needs and disabilities at our bespoke campus. This includes our residential offering which allows young people to join us from across the UK. At the heart of our college is building confidence, developing independence and supporting achievement for all our students. Whether preparing for employment, making friends or learning to live more independently, we can work with our students to make their aspirations possible and goals a reality.
Your business has the power to make a positive impact, whatever you do and whatever your size. We also take care of the legal requirement that is needed for sales fundraising, (known as a Commercial Participation Agreement), leaving you to get on with what you do best. By raising funds through your work and sales, you can sustainably support our charity, and make a real difference.
We would love to work with you, with purpose and for tremendous good.