Media Release
26th October 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Blind charity needs your brains for books, as it kicks off national table quiz
- Launch of NCBI’s National Quiz, the only national quiz in the country.
- Raising funds for the country’s only dedicated Braille, audio and large print library.
- Final in the Mansion House in December, with prize of €2000.
Brains for books anyone? Don’t worry, not literally. But simply putting your brain to good use at the National Council for the Blind of Ireland’s (NCBI) National Table Quiz this November will provide Braille, audio and large print books for people who are blind or vision impaired.
This is the only national quiz in the country, with heats taking place throughout November, before the final at the Mansion House in December and the chance to win a top prize of €2000, sponsored by IPB Insurance. NCBI’s quiz will raise money for its national Braille, audio and large print library.
According to NCBI’s CEO Chris White, everyone has the right to read.
“No longer being able to read is a huge loss for people dealing with sight loss. While everyone has the right to read, realising this right is more difficult for people who are blind or vision impaired. Public libraries currently have a limited selection of books in accessible formats so people with sight loss rely on one primary source for accessible reading material – NCBI’s library.”
The national Braille, audio and large print library receives no statutory funding, so its production and distribution capacity is limited. There are 51,718 people who are blind or vision impaired in Ireland but NCBI’s library is the only producer of unabridged audio books in the country. The library currently records 30 titles each year that would not otherwise be available in full to blind readers. Funds raised through the National Table Quiz will enable the charity to increase this capacity.
Speaking at the launch, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Brendan Carr said:
“This is the only national quiz in the country. It’s a great opportunity for people to put their knowledge to the test and an important fundraising initiative for NCBI. Increasing the number of books in accessible formats will unlock the world of books for people who are blind or vision impaired.”
For more details on NCBI’s National Table Quiz and to register a team visit www.ncbi.ie or call into your local NCBI Charity Shop.
ENDS
For further information contact Fionnuala Murphy, Communications Manager, on 087 4116925 or email fionnuala.murphy@ncbi.ie.
Photos from Maxwell Photography with picture desk. Photo shows 6-year-old Nicole Nangle, who has sight loss since the age of 4 as a result of a brain tumour, will act as “quizmaster” for the morning. Wearing a graduation cap, Nicole will point to an art easel, asking questions of Dublin Lord Mayor Brendan Carr and NCBI’s CEO Chris White.
Editor’s Notes:
- NCBI is the national charity working for the rising number of people affected by sight loss in Ireland. We provide practical and emotional support to help people with sight loss face their futures with confidence.
- There are currently 51,718 people with sight loss in Ireland. (Census 2011)
- Each year NCBI works with around 8,000 individual service users.
- NCBI must raise €4 out of every €10 it spends on services.