It is my pleasure to introduce to you NCBI’s 2009 Annual Report. I hope it will tell you more about the activities of the organisation during the year and how our staff worked to provide services of the highest quality to people who are blind or have low vision.

As you will see from the breadth of work undertaken by NCBI during the year, wherever possible, services have not suffered as a result of the economic climate in which we continue to operate. In order to maintain our current level of service, we have made considerable efforts to cut costs elsewhere within the organisation. These cost saving measures include offering staff voluntary reduced hours, the take-up of which has been high, resulting in significant savings, and evaluating the non-pay element of NCBI to save costs and build efficiencies.

While NCBI continues to adapt to the challenging working environment created by cuts in our State funding, I believe that this Report shows a more hopeful situation, as we realise that we have accepted the challenge and can still provide a consistent and quality service to those who are blind or have low vision, which is our most important aim. The fact that we can achieve this in such a difficult financial climate is down to our dedicated staff and volunteers, who will settle for nothing less than excellence in their work.

2009 drew to a sad close with the death of our Vice Chairperson Henry Tierney, who served NCBI for so long as Chairman. Henry, who was such a caring and kind person, passed away in December. NCBI has benefited immensely from his wisdom and guidance. The growth and development of our work meant a great deal to him and my colleagues and I on the Board will greatly miss his presence and guidance. NCBI is certainly a richer and stronger organisation following Henry’s years of dedication and long commitment. I would like to conclude by paying tribute to our staff, donors and volunteers, who are the backbone of this organisation. I also acknowledge the work and commitment of my fellow Board members, with whom it is a privilege to work.

Margaret McDowell
Chairperson