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FirstGroup, Britain’s largest transport operator, has donated £5,000 to Sightsavers International. 

The donation will support a Sightsavers’ project in Nairobi, Kenya, enabling children who are blind or visually impaired to attend school alongside their sighted peers. 90% of children who are blind and live in the developing world do not go to school. Projects such as this one can ensure that visually impaired children are equipped with skills, knowledge and with confidence and self-esteem to lead independent lives and earn a living in the future.

Martyn Williams, Employee Director at FirstGroup, explained that it was thanks to David Blunkett MP that the donation came about. “David chairs the Yellow School Bus Commission which FirstGroup supports and is lobbying for dedicated home to school transport across Britain. David introduced us to Sightsavers after visiting its projects in Kenya and Tanzania last year and we agreed that it is a great cause deserving of our support.”

He added: “First’s vision is to transform travel. I am very proud that we can also do our bit to help transform lives. The education project in Kenya is a fantastic initiative and we are very pleased to be able to support it.”

David Blunkett MP said: "Only around 10% of children who are blind and live in developing countries receive an education, so ensuring the inclusion of children who are blind in school is fundamental to equality, self-determination and the well-being of both the individual and the wider community. I am very pleased that FirstGroup, following my visit to Kenya in November with Sightsavers, has agreed this generous contribution to pursuing this extraordinarily worthwhile project."

John Bines, Director of Funding and Marketing at Sightsavers International commented: “There are 45 million people in the world who are blind, yet 75% of blindness is preventable or treatable. Support from organisations like FirstGroup plays a vital role in our battle to eliminate avoidable blindness and to ensure visually impaired people participate equally in society. The investment in this project will really transform the lives of children living in some of the poorest and least served communities in Kenya.”