Vision impaired students in our specialist school have enjoyed building an accessible outdoor trail to help learn about the solar system. Students can walk through the solar system that’s been installed in one of the WESC Foundation sensory garden...
WESC Foundation’s social enterprise charity shops in Exeter and East Devon will re-open on 12th April 2021. The three shops in Exeter, together with stores in Honiton and Sidmouth, will be opening their doors to customers next week following co...
WESC Foundation has recently taken delivery of updated BrailleNote Touch Plus devices The upgrade programme replaces older Braille notetakers, and was funded thanks to the generosity of our supporters. These new devices allow our students inc...
WESC Foundation welcomes the publication of Ofsted’s report following a monitoring visit for the College in January 2021. The WESC Foundation College Ofsted report acknowledges that “leaders and managers have dealt with many of the weaknesses ide...
WESC Foundation has recently opened a new adapted kitchen for students with vision impairment and complex needs, thanks to a generous donation from the Northbrook Community Trust. The completed kitchen, with space for wheelchairs and height-adjustabl...
Former student (and current Supported Living resident) Tom got in touch with BBC Newsbeat earlier this week to share his experience of accessibility in video games. WESC Foundation resident Tom relaxing in his bedroom Tom has a vision impairment (and...
It’s World Book Day, which normally means a massed-gathering of the whole of the WESC Foundation family wearing their favourite costumes inspired by their favourite books. COVID-19 means that we’re doing World Book Day a little differently, so th...
This is Tom. ⠀ ⠀ He’s a train driver for GWR and is taking on the Goggins Challenge this weekend (it’s part of a combined fundraising drive with colleagues that will culminate in the Three Peaks Challenge later this year).⠀ ⠀ The...
A vision-impaired apprentice at WESC Foundation has been voted Outstanding Apprentice of the year following a county-wide competition. Jacob Towner won the competition’s public vote this week, after weeks of nominations from employers and traini...
Our work continues Young people with complex needs and visual impairment often face barriers to learning, living and taking an active, independent place in society. Our charity (including the special school and specialist college) remains open, and w...
Introduction More of us are now shopping online as the COVID-19 lockdown has temporarily closed high street retailers (like our Charity Shops). Our eBay store is also seeing an increase in traffic, so we thought it would be a good time to look at the...
WESC Foundation apprentice Jacob Towner has been shortlisted as a finalist for this year’s Devon Apprentice of the Year. Members of the public have until 11th February to cast their vote, with the winner being announced as part of National Apprenti...
Being able to read Braille can give someone with a vision impairment access to information that many of us take for granted. It’s also an important way of being able to communicate your needs and wishes. For example, being able to access a Brai...
Shift your unwanted CDs, books and DVDs with Ziffit and help raise money for WESC Foundation After the excesses of Christmas, January isn’t traditionally a great time for cash donations to any charity. But thanks to Virgin Money Giving’s par...
Everyone loves to experience the magic of Christmas, but what is Christmas really like for people with a visual impairment? This year we’re encouraging you to See Christmas Through Our Eyes with our WESC Foundation Advent Calendar. Every day un...
Yesterday we met Colin Bytheway and Tom Pearman who visited WESC Foundation from the Lodge of Harmony 372 Freemasons in Budleigh Salterton. They visited WESC Foundation to present a cheque for £300 on behalf of their Lodge to support our work with y...
Our charity shops in Exeter, Sidmouth and Honiton will be taking a break over Christmas and the New Year. You can still browse our charity eBay store and continue to support our work with vision impaired children and young adults. Christmas and New Y...
Christmas is going to be different for everyone this year, with Christmas parties off the cards and family gatherings kept small. But not everyone will be able to spend Christmas with their families. Doctors and nurses will be working hard to keep us...
Ofsted carried out an Assurance Visit to the WESC Foundation School on 3 November 2020. The inspectors have shared their letter which confirms the visit’s findings. As this was an Assurance Visit it does not result in the awarding of a grade to thi...
Ofsted carried out an Assurance Visit to the WESC Foundation residential special school earlier in the autumn term. We welcome today’s publishing of the inspector’s report. Although the visit does not result in the awarding of a grade to this...
College student George has written about his work experience placement at East Devon Council’s transport deport in Exmouth: “I’m a student at WESC Foundation school & college In Exeter. My name is George I am doing work experience...
Our trustees volunteer their time to work together to shape the vital work we do to support children and young adults with complex needs. Trustees’ Week is an annual event to showcase the great work that trustees do and highlight opportunities for...
Well done to Alex Le Tissier who has so far raised an incredible £3,000 for her charity campaign. Alex’s ‘Running for the Kids’ campaign will see her run from Exeter to Winchester in March, completing five marathons in five days. Her goal is t...
A WESC Foundation student is heading off to the world of work after secured a paid job at Exeter’s IKEA in record-breaking time. College student Nina had been working at the store alongside her studies as part of an unpaid supported internship. She...
Staff at BT have clubbed together to donate a bumper crop vegetables for our young people at St David’s House. Alison from BT says: “I came here on little visit a few weeks ago and saw how amazing the facility was and how great you look after al...
A Kingsteignton care worker is getting ready to take a huge leap of faith later this month as part of a group charity skydive. Beth Cunningham is preparing to take part in a fundraising parachute jump with friends and colleagues from the WESC Foundat...
WESC Foundation has benefitted from Exeter Waitrose’s latest donations to local community charities and causes. The Exeter-based charity was recently presented with a cheque for £333 to support its work with young blind and partially sighted child...
Children and young adults with complex needs and visual impairment often face barriers to learning, living and taking an active, independent place in society. WESC Foundation provides the specialist expertise, equipment and adapted facilities to insp...
WESC Foundation is proud to announce that our status as a Disability Confident Employer has been renewed until at least 2022. The Disability Confident scheme was initially created to provide employers with the skills and confidence they need to attra...
An Exeter keyworker is getting ready to face her fear of heights later this month as part of preparations for a charity skydive. Sally Cox has worked as an enabler at St David’s House care home in Exeter (part of the WESC Foundation charity) for t...
One of our former students (and current WESC Foundation volunteer) Ruairí, has collaborated on a short film as part of project called Waiting Times. The film will be shown at a series of screenings in Exeter later this week. &n...
We welcome today’s announcement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of funding to boost the Infection Control Fund for adult social care (More than £500 million for social care to reduce coronavirus transmission over winter) Staff...
WESC Foundation needs your help! We’re currently racing through a busy programme of summer holiday works. Our amazing estates team and visiting contractors are tackling everything from paths and painting right through to new kitchens and access...
Behold the power of Facebook. In response to our plea for help, last week a team of skilled volunteers came to help us dismantle and move our storytellers hut to a place on campus more suited for our visually impaired young people. The hut has been m...
A former student at Exeter’s WESC Foundation has just finished a 31 day wheelchair marathon in memory of his late father. 22 year old Will Parry, who is severely sight impaired and confined to a wheelchair by Cerebral Palsy, completed 36 laps of h...
Simon Jupp MP had the chance to see things a little differently when he visited WESC Foundation yesterday. He wore special glasses that simulate different types of visual impairment for part of his tour of the charity’s campus, which sits within hi...
A talking till developed by WESC Foundation has been shortlisted for a second national award. The audible point of sale (APOS) till – which can be operated independently by users with visual impairment and other disabilities – has been recognised...
Young people and staff at WESC Foundation walked, ran, cycled and wheeled over 500 miles last week to recreate the cancelled Ten Tors Jubilee Challenge. Eight students from the WESC Foundation College were due to take part in the Dartmoor-based event...
We value the safety of our staff and customers, so our charity shops have revised how they work in line with the advice and guidance issued by the UK Government. When visiting one of our charity shops we respectfully ask that you: sanitise your hand...
On Tuesday 21st July we’re asking our staff, young people and supporters to Walk for WESC Foundation. We’re inviting you to join our staff, supporters and volunteers in a day of walking. The event is to raise awareness of what we do to empower yo...
WESC Foundation is teaming up with jazz and soul singer Hannah Deason-Barrow this Sunday to bring you an hour of music and cocktails. The Gin and Jazz event will be broadcast on WESC Foundation’s Facebook page this Sunday 12th July from 6.30pm...
The WESC Foundation charity shops in Heavitree, St Thomas, Honiton and Sidmouth are now open (correct 4th July 2020) WESC Foundation’s charity shops in the Heavitree and St Thomas areas of Exeter will re-open for trading this coming Monday 15th Jun...
Two of our charity shops are accepting donations this week ahead of much hope-for re-opening later this month. The WESC Foundation stores in Cowick Street and Heavitree will open this Thursday 4th June between 11am and 3pm for dropping off do...
WESC Foundation is being topped=up with supplies of hand sanitiser, cleaning tablets and PPE thanks to the support of local businesses. Local distillers Exeter Gin are supplying hand sanitiser to WESC Foundation’s frontline workers and special disi...
A computer game which has been shown to improve functional vision in children with partial visual field loss, is now fully compatible with mobile devices. Eyelander was developed by the University of Lincoln together with the WESC Foundation (...
A talking till developed by WESC Foundation has been nominated for a national award. The audible point of sale (APOS) till – which can be operated independently by users with visual impairment and other disabilities – has been recognised...
A care home in Exeter has been rated “Outstanding” following an inspection by national regulators the Care Quality Commission (CQC) according to a recent-published report St David’s House provides specialist residential care for up to 21 young...
A local artist has used their work to raise money to support WESC Foundation’s work with visually impaired children and young adults at its centre in Exeter. Myriam Prual, who lives in Topsham, raised £500 from the sales of a charity calendar fea...
Our charity shop in Sidmouth is looking bright, beautiful and Easter-ready with lots of adorable Easter gifts for you to buy. For the past 5 years Mrs Holder has hand knitted these adorable chicks and bunnies especially for our shop, and Mr Holder p...
A bingo group that meets in Honiton has presented a cheque for £620 to the WESC Foundation – a specialist centre for children and young adults who are blind or partially sighted and have other complex needs. Sandra Vittles and Pam Lane, who organi...
We’d like to say a huge thank you to our volunteer, Emma, who has been working in our Honiton charity shop since 2016. Emma with Rachel, the store manager, and Andrew, our Head of Employability & Enterprise With an infectiously enthusia...
Some thoughts on Safer Internet Day 2020 The internet, and especially social media, provides amazing opportunities for sharing information and communicating. We are also all aware of the risks that exist when communicating online. For our school an...
WESC Foundation is inviting staff at businesses around Exeter to gather their cleverest colleagues together for a charity pub quiz to help raise funds for blind and partially-sighted children and young adults. Sponsored by LV=, the Exeter-based char...
Students from Exeter College Positive Pathways project came to help out at the horticultural garden on the WESC Foundation campus. They did some weeding and planted new flowers with the help of horticultural project manager, Dylan Cheshire. The Posi...
WESC Foundation’s own choir, Soundwaves, made the trip to National Trust’s Castle Drogo last week to perform some Christmas carols for staff and visitors. The choir, made up of staff and young people from across all areas of WESC Foundation, san...
Pupils and staff of the WESC Foundation had a day to remember this week (14 November) as representatives of the Lord’s Taverners were on hand to officially unveil the Exeter based charity’s new outdoor play equipment on behalf of the charity. WE...
WESC Foundation’s recent fundraising pub quiz has raised over £1,600 for blind and partially-sighted children and young adults. Seventeen teams gathered at the Exeter charity’s Topsham Road campus to battle out for the hotly-contestant WESC Fou...
WESC Foundation is inviting staff at businesses around Exeter to gather their cleverest colleagues together for a charity pub quiz to help raise funds for blind and partially-sighted children and young adults. Sponsored by LV=, the Exeter-based char...
WESC Foundation is looking for green-fingered volunteers to help develop its east Devon horticulture project. The city-based charity offers a range of care, support and education services to young people with visual impairment and complex needs, and...
We’re rising to the challenge of renovating Mulberry Lodge whilst the campus is a little quieter, but we need your help. Kitchens are being replaced, floors are being ripped up, and we’re leaving no stone (or should that be tile?) unturned. It&...
Staff from the University of Exeter visited WESC Foundation to help put the finishing touches on a special garden for the children and young adults who live and study at the charity’s Exeter site. Colleagues from across academic colleges and profe...
Richard Ellis has worked for WESC Foundation for over 30 years in a number of different roles. In this time he has supported countless visually-impaired young people and their families who have been exploring education and care placements with us,...
It’s nearly the end of the academic year for our school and college students, which means that we’re in the middle of a very busy Activities Week. Monday saw a full day of creative activities based around art and music. We had an interact...
An Exeter charity is celebrating after its catering team brought home gold at the Outstanding Care Awards for Devon and Cornwall. Nine chefs and cooks (including a visually impaired student on a year-long supported internship) from WESC Foundation a...
This week we have hosted the latest cohort from Exeter College’s Prince’s Trust Team programme who have been spending time with us as part of their community skills project. In total they will spend four days working in our Discovery Garden with...
WESC Foundation students are now able to independently access a range of fitness activities after an outdoor gym was installed on their campus. New exercise stations, including a cross trainer, hand bike and chest press, were recently unveiled at ou...
Congratulations to our enablers Antony Clarke, Robbie Eggen & Bethany Cunningham who are all through to the finals of the Outstanding Care Awards Devon and Cornwall in the Care Newcomer category. They will be joining our Catering Team (who wer...
Eight students from WESC Foundation successfully completed the 2019 Jubilee Challenge last weekend. The event, which is part of the Ten Tors event, took place across Dartmoor on 10th-11th May 2019. After spending Friday night camping on the moor, be...
Unwanted physiotherapy equipment from WESC Foundation is off to support children in the developing world. Old items including chairs, walkers, standers and postural management equipment were recently collected by Physionet. They will be checked-over...
WESC Foundation has turned to hybrid and electric cars as part of a new, ‘green’ approach to its fleet of vehicles. Two new Kia Optimas, supplied by Marsh Kia of Exeter, were recently delivered as part of programme to gradually replace o...
WESC Foundation’s first art exhibition kicks off in Exeter this weekend, and it’s attracting artists from across the south west. Arranged by online marketplace Art Gallery SW, the free-admission WESC Weekend Art Show runs all weekend 13th and 14...
WESC Foundation students from two classes took part in several off-site visits in the Spring term 2019. William and Ethan visited Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium as part of National Science Week. As well as taking in the different public e...
WESC Foundation held the Devon SEND (special educational needs and disability) Swimming Gala earlier this month at its Exeter campus. 90 students from nine schools across the county spent the morning of 20th March 2019 at the Bradbury Water Therapy...
WESC Foundation students were out in force last Friday evening at the annual Devon BASH Awards (Be Active, Be Safe, Be Healthy) organised by Devon and Cornwall Police. Seven young people were nominated for a range of awards celebrating their a...
Judges from Palmer and Howells, which supports WESC Foundation’s in-house catering team, were onsite earlier this week to judge their annual schools competition. Given this year’s theme of ‘food noise’ the WESC Foundation stu...
Students from WESC Foundation have begun planting new trees thanks to a donation from The Woodland Trust. Over 100 saplings will be used to help develop the charity’s East Devon horticulture site at West Hill, near Ottery St Mary. The hardy specie...
WESC Foundation has received the first prototype of a new piece of electronic ‘point of sale’ (EPOS), which experts hope will revolutionise accessible technology for disabled staff in the retail sector. Our award-winning Social Enterprise team, t...
Lions Club members from around Devon have helped funded important improvement work at WESC Foundation’s Exeter campus. Imagine being visually impaired and having to navigate your way around an unfamiliar toilet, perhaps having to resort to fee...
Exeter-based charity WESC Foundation, which provides specialist services to support young people with visual impairment, has announced details of its 2019 Charity Golf Day. This year’s event – the fifth to be organised in partnership with ITEC, t...
Yesterday was World Book Day, and once again the WESC Foundation students and staff rose to the occasion with a stunning collection of characters spotted around the campus. School uniforms and college casual wear were swapped for exciting costumes,...
Eight WESC Foundation students braved the wet and windy weather yesterday to complete their latest training walk for this year’s Ten Tors Jubilee Challenge. Three groups explored Haldon Forest, a 3,500 acre woodland located between Exeter and...
When WESC Foundation needed a helping hand to improve access at its East Devon horticulture site, Sidford resident Don Peek jumped at the chance to get involved. Mr Peek volunteers for several hours a week at “WESC Country Works” in West Hill, n...
Congratulations to WESC Foundation resident Will who has recently completed the CITY Community Trust “Train to Succeed” course. The 12 week programme is aimed at young adults between the ages of 19 and 24 who are registered as Not in Education,...
Results from a pioneering video game study, developed by an Exeter charity to help visually-impaired children and young people with visual field loss caused by brain injury, have been announced in a leading academic journal. Scientists from institut...
UNESCO has designed today (February 13th) as World Radio Day 2019. It celebrates radio as a medium, and particularly the impact it has on people around the world. Did you know we have our own radio station? WESC Foundation’s own radio station, VI R...
We have been developing some wonderful partnerships with businesses, charities and other organisations. Many of these relationships help provide opportunities for our young people to gain work experience across a range of industries and sectors. It...
WESC Foundation will open today, so we are here for anyone who can safely get into school/college/day services AND get back home again later. We completely understand if parents choose not to send young people in due to local conditions or where tran...
School and College are currently open, and it is our intention to open tomorrow for those young people who are able to get here (and return home) safely. We are currently contacting families of all our young people by telephone to discuss individual...
Last week we welcomed members from the Exeter branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society to WESC Foundation for an early celebration of Burn’s Night. Students from school and college, together with young people from St David’s H...
We had a great visit from Dr Sarah Bell from the Sensing Nature project. Dr Bell met with staff from WESC Foundation at the Discovery Garden and the outdoor setting at West Hill. Sarah and the team behind the project have been exploring the diverse...
Nine WESC Foundation students braved the cold weather on Dartmoor yesterday. They have begun to prepare for the annual Ten Tors event which takes place in May this year. Regular training sessions will continue over the coming months to prepare the te...
Could you help drive our charity forward and help make a difference to the lives of our young people? WESC Foundation is a registered charity (registered number 1058937) which was registered in 1996. As a school for blind people, the organisation h...
New Year’s Resolutions With 2019 stretched out ahead of us like a blank canvas, there’s no better time to plan your New Year’s Resolutions. If you’ve already given up on the gym, ditched the diet, or just want to do something a little...
WESC Foundation has been taking students to the Acorn and Squirrels of Exeter Riding for the Disabled Group for the past 20 years or more. The service is run by volunteers who turn up at the stables every week throughout the year in all weathers. The...
In September the Exeter based PaddleBoat Theatre Company came into WESC Foundation’s horticulture area to support a drama workshop with WESC students working in collaboration with students from other ‘Topsham Road’ schools; Southbrook School, W...
This academic year WESC Foundation are taking part in an exciting project called the ‘Open Orchestra’. This is a project created by Open Up Music, a charity dedicated to empowering young disabled people to build inclusive orchestras and this year...
On the afternoon of July 10th the whole of WESC Foundation became Rydell High School for the afternoon as we enjoyed a fabulous performance of Grease by our students. Our young people had been working very hard to put together all the famous scene...
This year’s Achievement Awards event was held on July 10th and we changed things up quite a lot! The marquee was bigger and had a proper floor, the ceremony was pacier and the awards themselves were much more Oscar-style than before. This yea...
Ben has been on a supported internship with WESC Foundation for the last year. This has been fantastic for building his confidence and work skills and enabled him to make new friends. This short video shows just what he has achieved. If you wou...
A new computer game, developed by neuroscientists from WESC Foundation and the University of Lincoln, could help visually-impaired children lead independent lives. The game has been rolled out online, www.eyelander.co.uk, and it is being made freely...
The WESC group with their medals! Well done guys! Six WESC Foundation students have taken part in Jubilee Challenge at Ten Tors 2018 on Saturday 12th May on Dartmoor. The six intrepid visually impaired youngsters, five of whom were completing the ch...
The winning team Santander! Well done! The sun shone brightly at the WESC Foundation fundraising, golf tournament at Exeter Golf and Country Club last week as teams from businesses and organisations from throughout the South West battled it out for t...
WESC students Ross, Zoe, Nina and Jago celebrating with their well-deserved medals! On Wednesday 25th April 2018 WESC Foundation hosted Devon’s 2018 SEND (special educational needs and disability) Swimming Gala and invited seven other schools to jo...
Judi Spiers and WESC staff and students gathered to celebrate the opening! Supermarket giant Morrisons has kindly donated £35k towards a brand new therapeutic sensory room for WESC Foundation students and today marks the official opening! WESC Found...
The WESC Foundation group with their BASH Awards and certificates WESC Foundation students and young people stole the show on Friday 23rd March 2018 at Devon’s BASH Awards (Be Active, Be Safe, Be Healthy) organised by Devon & Cornwall Police. T...
WESC student Jacob getting down with his rap music! WESC Foundation students raised funds for their summer residential trips to San Francisco, Bristol and the Calvert Trust by running a non-stop, 24-hour, live radio marathon with a variety of guest s...
WESC Foundation is reopening on Tuesday 20th March. The College is open from 8am for residential students and the usual time for day students. The School is open from 11am and students should arrive, as usual, at St David’s Reception. If you ha...
Due to the adverse weather WESC School and College will be closed tomorrow, Monday 19th March, for day students and residential students returning to WESC after the weekend. We will be updating the situation tomorrow as to whether we will be opening...
Well done Team LV for winning the BEST Charity Pub Quiz! The WESC Foundation BEST charity pub quiz, sponsored by Thomas Westcott, was a sell-out success last week! Around 20 teams from businesses and organisations from across Exeter battled it out to...
Faith looking delighted to start her fundraising for WESC! WESC Foundation students and staff have made such a positive impression on Exeter College student, Faith, so much so that she has decided to run the Torbay half-marathon to raise money for th...
We are pleased to say WESC Foundation School and College will be open as normal on Monday 5th March 2018. We want to say a big heartfelt thank you to all our fantastic staff working so hard and the wonderful community volunteers that helped us get th...
Joseph practising his massage skills within his class Students from WESC Foundation are learning the art of massage therapy as a way to increase their employability skills and help people who are stressed or sit at a desk all day by easing away their...
WESC staff and University of Plymouth students and staff celebrating the opening of the new Exeter School of Nursing facility The first cohort to study at a new nurse training facility has gathered to celebrate its achievements with two of the profes...
WESC is delighted to welcome new CEO Jane Bell WESC Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jane Bell. Jane Bell joins WESC Foundation from the charity Shared Lives South West where she has been Chi...
L-R: Melissa Cantrill – Volunteer at Cowick Street shop, Becky Foster-Rooke – Enabler at WESC, Nina – WESC student, Maria Dowswell – Shop Assistant, Helen Kielstra – Shop Manager and Maureen Biss – Deputy CEO at WE...
Megan lives with her friend Susie at Rainbow House From the first day at College WESC Foundation works with young people with visual impairment and their families to start putting together a plan for life after college. Whether the young person choos...
WESC learner Jack looking very excited to begin his Braille class teaching WESC learner Louis Grade 1 Braille, along with his teacher Jenny Aspiring WESC learner Jack’s ultimate goal is to be a Braille teacher and he’s well on the way to achievin...
WESC are currently inviting companies to tender for both the Auditing and Investment Management Services. If you would like any further information please email Jane Nutt, Director of Quality and Resources: JNutt@wescfoundation.ac.uk. The closing dat...
L-R Mark Blatchford – Station Garage, George – WESC learner and Jim – WESC Enabler Charismatic, sociable, dedicated and hard-working are just a few of the words that Mark Blatchford Manager at Station Garage, Topsham, used to descri...
WESC learner in the hydrotherapy pool during a physio session stretching for the ball Are you a parent looking for therapy or mobility services for your visually impaired child? Are you a company with staff members who have a visual impairment and ar...
Join us at Exeter Golf and Country Club on Thursday 10 May for WESC Foundation’s Charity Golf Day. Price: £200 for a team of four This price includes 18 holes, a bacon bap, drinks & refreshments midway round the course, and a two-course e...
University Challenged steal the title back! Another hugely successful WESC charity pub quiz took place last week at Matthew’s Hall in Topsham where over 100 participants battled it out for first place! Congratulations goes to team, University Chall...
WESC ex-student Ben and his manager Mark Vandenberg sorting through some books to sell on eBay Hard work, determination and charisma are just a few of the qualities that have helped secure an internship placement for WESC ex-student Ben, 19, from Exm...
WESC student using a VisiLift screen with the aim to improve his functional vision WESC Foundation has recently published a report in the British Journal of Visual Impairment. This report takes information from over one hundred scientific studies to...
WESC Foundation school learners celebrating the fantastic Ofsted result! “The school rightly places the highest emphasis on preparing pupils for independent living in all its aspects. As a result, over time, pupils’ self-confidence and self-belie...
WESC Family Group fun! We are excited to welcome back next week all WESC students after their summer break and also we are delighted to announce that the WESC Family Group will be starting back on Friday 15th September at 10.30am. WESC’s Family Gr...
The very start of Ant’s trek began here! WESC Enabler, Antony (Ant) Clark, is celebrating finishing his incredible challenge walking the entire Pennine Way, a massive 268 miles, and raising over £560 for WESC Foundation. Ant tells us about the...
WESC Foundation’s amazing supporter, David Sherwood, has set himself the challenge of completing 1,206 miles of hiking, the equivalent of walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back, to raise money for WESC Foundation! His route has inclu...
Will stacking the shelves at Tesco’s Exmouth as part of his work experience WESC Foundation learner, Will, aged 19 has been taking part in a weekly work placement at Tesco’s in Exmouth for the last month. Will, accompanied by his enabler Suza...
Fiona receiving the St David’s House Cup award for Personality of the Year presented by Judi Spiers Inspirational WESC Foundation learners celebrated all their hard work and dedication at an uplifting awards ceremony with delighted parents, tut...
As part of the Inspection of Cornwall Council local area’s effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of, and improving outcomes for, children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities Ofsted will host an onlin...
Please help support these two amazing people as they climb to Everest base camp to raise money for charity! WESC employee Stuart Young wanted to challenge his physical and mental capabilities, along with raising money for charity so he’s decided th...
WESC learner Katie with her summer flower! Creative WESC Foundation learners were excited about exhibiting their sensory artwork at Exeter School for the sixth year running! The exhibition ran between 12 – 15 June 2017. The exhibition of sensor...
Crealy tickets are now sold out! If you have already purchased a ticket then we will post them out to you on the next working day. Thank you so much for your support! All money raised will go towards supporting the visually impaired children and you...
WESC Foundation is looking for keen gardeners to help at our budding West Hill Garden Centre Project, near Ottery St Mary, Devon. The site has nearly ten acres of land to play with including: two polytunnels, a huge glass house, propagating green hou...
The sprinkling crumbs as you break your first scone. The spread of the jam. Spoon on your Cornish clotted cream, let your tea brew, and enjoy. There’s nothing like a cream tea… Would you like to host a fundraising cream tea for WESC Foundation fo...
Team Venture were crowned the winners! (L-R) Shawn Willis, Stuart Hawker, Alec Cole and Stuart Haskins The sun did eventually shine at WESC Foundation’s golf tournament at Exeter Golf and Country Club last week as businesses and organisations throu...
WESC Foundation is pleased to welcome the University of Plymouth onsite. L-R Bridie Kent, Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Plymouth, Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin, WESC’s Principal & CEO and Maureen Biss, WESC’s De...
Peter White addressing a captivated audience! ‘Transitioning to adulthood’ was put under the spotlight at a special conference hosted by WESC Foundation (WESC), the Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment based in Exeter, Devon. Experts from aro...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream sch...
Katie with a massive smile on her face as she crosses the finishing line! Well done Katie! Four students from WESC Foundation, Exeter’s Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment, have taken part in this year’s Ten Tors Jubilee Challenge on Saturda...
A team of visually impaired golfers have entered the WESC Foundation charity golf day which is being held at Exeter Golf and Country Club on Thursday 11 May 2017. WESC’s annual golf tournament is always a great event! The price to enter a team of...
Antony (Ant) Clark is one of our incredible enablers at WESC Foundation and he’s set himself a huge fundraising challenge this summer! Ant is set to walk the entire Pennine Way, a massive 268 miles, and is looking to raise money for updating WESC F...
BBC Radio 4 In Touch presenter Peter White will be speaking at WESC’s 2017 conference! WESC Foundation (WESC) is pleased to announce their eighth Annual International Conference will be held on 4th May 2017 at their campus on Topsham Road. This...
WESC learners all gathered for the Powhiri Ceremony! The WESC Factor week was truly one to be remembered this year with the theme of New Zealand. WESC learners explored people, culture and the environment of New Zealand experiencing the music, art, l...
Budding DJ Jacob mixing his next musical set! WESC learners and staff were getting into the festival spirit as the whole campus got together for a music and food festival! Held in the school hall, the WESC-bury festival was an idea developed by the l...
L-R Jon Duckham, WESC Fundraising Manager, Jack and Katie WESC students and Craig Clews, Crealy’s Deputy General Manager WESC Foundation has been Crealy Adventure Park & Resort’s charity of year for 2016 and we are pleased to announce tha...
WESC Foundation has teamed up with Cycling Projects – Wheels for All and Ride On to be able to offer people in Exeter with a range of disabilities the chance to get out on an adapted bike! The all-ability cycling sessions will be held at WESC F...
WESC Foundation was invited onto the pitch at last Saturday’s Exeter Chief’s match, along with other charities, to celebrate Exeter Foundation (the fundraising body of the Exeter Chief’s) raising the amazing sum of £1 million and donating it t...
Congratulations Team LV for winning the BEST Charity Pub Quiz! It was a sell-out success at WESC Foundation’s BEST charity pub quiz last week, when just under 150 entrants battled their way through eleven brain baffling rounds, including a roun...
WESC teacher Matt Smith and Marketing Manager Katy Gaulton getting to grips with the new bike! WESC Foundation is pleased to announce that they have been successful in their fundraising bid to BBC Children in Need to purchase two new adaptable side-b...
WESC learner Fiona….a whiz at the iPad! Ever since Fiona, 21, from Essex, purchased her first iPad she has been using it non-stop and says it has changed her life! Fiona, a WESC residential student for three years, has an eye condition called o...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day There was a real buzz in the air yesterday at WESC’s Open Day as parents and professionals left the 15 acre campus feeling informed, enthused and excited about the services and facilities WESC has to offer...
The hardy group get set for the training! Four WESC students and five staff ventured out to Haytor on another training session for the Jubilee Challenge yesterday! The weather report looked reasonable so a day’s training was on the agenda. On arriv...
Last year’s Rock Solid mud warriors! Sadly, we have been informed that Rock Solid has gone into liquidation. Everyone who has booked a place will get an email from Rock Solid. Thank you to all the brave intrepid WESC Challengers who have alread...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream sch...
WESC learners Grace, Jago and Nina giving clothes over to Miss Lee who is an official collector for the homeless WESC Foundation’s young learners wanted to help people in need this Christmas and therefore asked the WESC’s Social Enterprise Charit...
WESC’s Adult Services young person Megan selling some fantastic tree decorations WESC Foundation learners have been busy getting all their hand-made decorations ready for the Christmas Fayre. They enjoyed rustling the tinsel, feeling the felt,...
Superstar Sammi receiving her award! Congratulations to WESC learner Sammi who was presented with an award and certificate for ‘Most Improved Rider 2016’ at Riding for the Disabled yesterday. Sammi has been riding Will, the horse, for a while n...
Charity shop assistant Maria standing outside new St Thomas Social Enterprise Charity Shop! WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment is proud to announce the opening of their sixth Social Enterprise Charity Shop in Cowick Stree...
Tom and his very calm driving instructor. Well done Tom! Yesterday a former WESC Foundation student, Tom, who now is a dedicated volunteer, took to the roads to have his first driving lesson in a car to raise money for WESC Foundation. Tom was in the...
Aspiring journalist Samia getting to grips with how the studio works! As part of their NCFE Radio Production course a group of six WESC learners and five staff visited the bright lights of London last week to have a tour and speak to the presenters a...
Would you like to make a difference to the lives of visually impaired young people at WESC Foundation? Do you love meeting new people? WESC Foundation needs you! We need a volunteer collection coordinator to organise, brief and meet volunteer collect...
Photo from 2016 Conference. L-R: Dr Jonathan Waddington, Dr Gordon Dutton, Dr Amanda Lueck, Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin, Dr Cathy Williams, Mark Braithwaite and Janet Harwood WESC Foundation is pleased to announce that we are now taking bookings for ou...
Will very excited to start his work placement! Will, 18, has an eye condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity and a CVI (Cerebral Visual Impairment) which means he doesn’t see detail or recognise familiar faces. He also has cerebral palsy and use...
Andrew finishing the Exeter marathon last year! WESC Foundation is delighted to announce that Andrew Lewis from MJ Baker Foodservice has won the bid to receive our charity place at the London Marathon next year and will be running the 26.2 miles to r...
Exeter College student modelling her original creation! Over 150 guests joined WESC Foundation and their Ambassador, Judi Spiers, for a night of glitz and glam at Exeter Castle for WESC’s annual fashion show and auction. Exeter College Fashion...
WESC’s corporate partner Crealy Great Adventure Park is inviting you for a special Halloween full day, Tuesday 25 October 2016 10am – 5.30pm, at Crealy to support the visually impaired young people at WESC Foundation. Tickets also include a furth...
Congratulations to ‘University Challenged’ from Exeter University who stole the show! The WESC Foundation BEST charity pub quiz, sponsored by Thomas Westcott, was a sell-out success last week! Twenty teams from businesses and organisation...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream sch...
Lights, camera, action……WESC Foundation is thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for this year’s Gala Fashion Show and Charity Auction, which will be held on Thursday 20 October 2016 at the beautiful and historic Exeter Castle, in...
A sparkly Frosty in his winter woollies! WESC’s Christmas cards are now on sale! Why not buy a pack of ten stunning cards and envelopes for only £2.99 (designs opposite) and help raise money for the young people at WESC Foundation? The message ins...
Representatives from Lord Taverners and WESC Foundation students and staff Everyone at WESC Foundation is so grateful to the Lord Taverner’s, Clare Milne Trust and all the members of the public who have donated and helped us to buy a brand new spec...
Richard Ellis, Head of Visual Impairment Services WESC Foundation’s Head of Visual Impairment Services, Richard Ellis, has written an article for SEN magazine highlighting the need for a personalised approach to learning to support children with a...
The winning team ‘Training Partnerships’ from Torquay. Well done! WESC Foundation in partnership with Listen2Win hosted a Visual Impairment Challenge at WESC’s 14-acre campus in Exeter. Players from the England Blind Football team, Kery...
Five WESC Foundation learners are delighted that through taking part in the Seeing Ear Creative Writing Competition 2015 and have had their short stories published in the ‘Seen Through Other Eyes 2015’ book. Seeing Ear is a charity that aims t...
A few of the 2015 Great West Run Team! This is your chance to do something AMAZING!! WESC Foundation is looking for recruits to join our Great West Run team, represent WESC, run that distance, raise money for WESC and have an absolutely brilliant da...
WESC Trustee – Noel Fowler, WESC Ambassador – Chris Lorimer, Learner – Will, Judi Spiers and WESC Principal Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin Dedication, motivation and inspiration was the theme of the day today as hardworking WESC Foundati...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream sch...
Representatives from Lord Taverners and WESC Foundation students and staff The Lord’s Taverners were in Exeter today, Friday 24 June 2016, to present a new wheelchair accessible minibus to WESC Foundation. The new 14-seat wheelchair accessible mini...
The WESC team in pink and blue shirts overtaking another boat! Last Saturday a WESC team took to the waters to compete in Exeter’s Dragon Boat Festival at Exeter Quay. Despite having a boat filled with mainly complete novices the team worked togeth...
Tempted? WESC learners enjoyed healthy Meze to start! It’s Healthy Eating Week at WESC Foundation and learners and staff are all getting into the spirit by taking part in a Healthy Eating Quiz, competing in the healthy holiday lunch menu, trying di...
Cleaning the poly tunnels The new WESC Country Garden, social enterprise, horticultural project is already providing valuable opportunities and experiences for the learners at WESC Foundation, thanks to an Environmental Grant from Greggs Foundation!...
WESC learner ‘Maddy’ having a trot on ‘Winston’ WESC Foundation is delighted that their latest edition ‘Winston’ the Horse Simulator was on ITV WestCountry News last night. The TV coverage talks about the benefits of ridin...
Enjoy the Rollercoaster at Crealy on 15th July! WESC’s corporate partner Crealy Great Adventure Park are throwing open their doors for one night only to support the visually impaired young people at WESC Foundation. The charity of the year partners...
WESC learner Katie drawing her masterpiece! Creative WESC Foundation learners are excited about exhibiting their sensory artwork at Exeter School, between the 14 to 17 June 2016 10am to 3pm, for the fifth year running. The exhibition of sensory artw...
Tom at the Radio One Studio Hardworking, passionate and budding radio producer, Tom, is helping to shape the future for visually impaired people everywhere through his work on the BBC Radio One’s Youth Council. Tom is elated with his new position...
A representative from Wave Leisure, who sponsored the Spark Sport Achievement Awards, presenting Anna with her certificate for second place. Well done Anna! WESC learner Anna, 17, is visually impaired, has autistic tendencies and learning difficultie...
The WESC group in front of the Capitol Hill Nine visually impaired learners, accompanied by seven WESC staff members, have travelled across the water to the ‘land of dreams’. Experiencing new cultures, visiting historical monuments, and practisin...
WESC learners rehearsing for the Us and Them performance. Picture By Jim Wileman WESC Foundation learners were thrilled to put their drama skills to the test by working with Exeter Northcott Theatre in producing two performances: Us and Them and Jung...
The winning team, ‘Fantastic Four’, collecting their prize WESC held their charity golf day at Exeter Golf & Country Club on 12 May sponsored by ITEC. With a record 17 four-ball teams entering and over £7,000 raised, the Specialist...
L-R: Dr Jonathan Waddington, Dr Gordon Dutton, Dr Amanda Lueck, Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin, Dr Cathy Williams, Mark Braithwaite and Janet Harwood Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) was put under the spotlight at a special conference hosted by WESC Found...
WESC learner Will receiving his Gold award! Well done Will! Three visually impaired students from WESC Foundation, Exeter’s Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment, have taken part in this year’s Ten Tors Jubilee Challenge on Saturday 7 May on Da...
WESC teacher Lesley with her class celebrating in the WESC Factor carnival The WESC Factor week was truly one to be remembered this year! WESC young people put their creative talents to the test as they competed for victory in many activities from so...
The Devon Cream Tea canvas created by Hannah and Megan from WESC’s Adult Day Centre WESC Foundation learners have been involved in the Sense of Place Jigsaw Art project, organised by Sense (a charity that supports children and adults with senso...
Ben showcasing his medal! WESC Foundation’s learner Ben is one in a million! Ben showed his determination and true team spirit last week as he ran the London marathon with his dad, despite his visual impairment, in just over six hours. This fantast...
WESC learner Fiona and Enabler Emma as they got back from the 9 mile walk The sun shone at WESC Foundation on Saturday 23 April 2016 as around 20 walkers, including several WESC students, set off from Exmouth to walk back along the Exe river trail to...
WESC Foundation (WESC) launches ‘Exeter’s Blind Spot’ campaign. Despite the charity’s rebrand, many people know WESC as the blind school and not by their official name, WESC Foundation. Exeter’s Blind Spot campaign is aiming to increase...
Julian Davey in full action training for the London marathon! WESC supporters are taking on a whole range of different challenges this April to fundraise for WESC Foundation! Three of the triumphant WESC Foundation Rock Solid Race team and en...
WESC Support Workers Kelly and Dominique getting a bit muddy! WESC Foundation is so proud of our awesome Rock Solid team who all completed their Rock Solid challenge last weekend. We had just under 80 brave supporters taking part in the 5K, 10K, and...
WESC learner Will with his trainer British Blind Sport and Active Devon joined up with WESC Foundation on Saturday 19 March 2016 to host a day of VI sports training sessions at WESC’s Exeter campus. In the morning sports coaches and professionals w...
WESC learners, staff and ambassadors officially opening the Sidwell Street Shop Popular presenter and broadcaster Judi Spiers opened the latest new social enterprise charity shop for WESC Foundation in an official ribbon cutting ceremony at Sidwell S...
Team LV from Liverpool Victoria stole the evening by winning the trophy! Well done! The WESC Foundation BEST charity pub quiz, sponsored by Thomas Westcott, was a sell-out success last week! Twenty-five teams from businesses and organisations from ac...
Nina at WESC Foundation becoming a whizz at technology! Nina, 14, is sight impaired and studies Entry Level Maths, Science and English and a full Key Stage 4 Curriculum at Dawlish Community College three days a week. She also attends WESC Foundation...
There was a real buzz in the air at WESC’s Open Day last week as parents and professionals left the 15 acre campus feeling informed, enthused and excited about the services and facilities WESC has to offer visually impaired young people and adu...
The RockSolid challenge last year – are you up for it this year? WESC Foundation is joining forces with RockSolid to raise vital funds for projects at its Topsham Road campus in Exeter. The charity, which is Exeter’s Specialist Centre for Vis...
VI taster day – why not get involved? British Blind Sport, WESC Foundation and Active Devon are working together to host an afternoon full of activities that anyone with a visual impairment can try. The event will be held at WESC Foundation on...
WESC learners and Crealy staff celebrating the fantastic news about being Crealy’s Charity of the Year! WESC Foundation is delighted to announce that they are Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park’s charity of the year. The partnership, which...
L-R WESC Ambassadors: Chris Lorimer, Judi Spiers, Michael Caines MBE and WESC’s Director of Education & Development Mark Braithwaite Broadcaster Judi Spiers, two-star Michelin Chef Michael Caines MBE and Business Consultant Chris Lorimer we...
There is a cold weather alert level 3 (amber) issued from the met office which includes the possibility of snow and winter conditions for the South West and parts of England. WESC Foundation will remain open but parents who are expecting their young...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day WESC Foundation would like to wish everyone a happy New Year and we hope you’ve had a restful and enjoyable Christmas break. We’d also like to remind you about our Open Day which is scheduled for Tuesday...
Fundraising plays a vital role in ensuring that the children and young people here at WESC have access to the most up to date equipment and technology, as well as experiencing the widest range of stimulating and exciting activities. WESC Foundation i...
Jack working on producing the Braille labels “My name is Jack and I am in Lesley’s tutor group in college at WESC Foundation. “As part of my work experience I have been visiting the WESC Charity shops to help them find out what braille labels t...
Sidmouth Shop Window One WESC’s Social Enterprise charity shops are getting in the Christmas spirit by decorating their shop windows full of festive cheer! The shops aren’t just any charity shops they are also excellent training venues for the vi...
WESC volunteers at Waitrose’s last New Year’s Eve! WESC Foundation has two important collections coming up and we need your help to ensure that they are as successful as possible! On New Year’s Eve we are collecting and bag packing at W...
Fundraiser Maggie taking her leap of faith dressed as a day of the death character from the film Spectre! Around forty thrill seeking WESC supporters gathered at Haven Banks Activity Centre on Sunday to leap from the 25 metre tower on the quay and fu...
Harryot creating a sand masterpiece in her art lesson! Harryot, 18, has been at WESC since she was 7 years old. She was born prematurely and has optic nerve atrophy, nystagmus and a squint. As a result, she finds judging distance, speed and depth v...
WESC Foundation’s end of term is Friday 18 December 2015. The finishing times will be 1pm for pre-16 learners and post-16 learners can leave from 1pm, although support is available until 4pm if needed. The post-16 provision will reopen for the star...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream sch...
A shot in the dark! Forty-nine food loving WESC Foundation supporters attended the fabulous Dining in the Dark gourmet evenings hosted by the Salutation Inn in Topsham on three evenings in November and were fascinated and enthralled by the unique din...
WESC Soundwaves choir is pleased to announce that they will be performing with the Folk Orchestra of East Devon on Friday 11 December at the Parish Church of St. Margaret in Topsham. Come along and watch this spectacular performance where WESC learne...
Four year old Jacob and his mum from Essex were the first external family to partake in a CVI assessment at WESC Foundation Cortical or Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) is a temporary or permanent visual impairment that occurs when the visual process...
College learners and staff excited about hearing the grade from the college Ofsted report WESC Foundation students and staff are thrilled to announce that the college provision has been rated ‘Good’ following a recent Ofsted inspection. A team of...
Are you brave enough? Not long now until our adrenaline junkies throw themselves off the new tower at Haven Banks to raise money for WESC Foundation. Could you join them? Are you brave enough? Why not get your work colleagues and jump as a team? It...
L-R: Lady Clifford of Chudleigh, WESC President, Judi Spiers, broadcaster, Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin, WESC Principal & Chief Executive and Glen King from Glen King PR The Met Office played host to a sell-out fundraiser fashion show for WESC Found...
WESC Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr Gordon Dutton and Dr Amanda Lueck are among the speakers who have confirmed their attendance at next year’s conference, which will focus on cerebral/cortical visual impairment (CVI). We are now taking...
WESC Foundation is holding a Recruitment Open Morning on Wednesday 21 October 2015 between 9am – 1pm for anyone who is interested in working for our amazing charity. Why not take the opportunity to visit the site and meet some of the staff an...
L-R: Katy Gaulton, WESC Marketing, PR & Comms Officer, Mark Cornfield, WESC Deputy Principal Director of Finance & Resources, Andy Roberts WESC Vocational Enterprise Manager, Jeff Smith BMC Azurri Sales Manager, Alastair Petrie BMC Azurri Man...
WESC mobility team delivering visual impairment awareness training to South West Water South West Water staff, partners and contractors were given a taste of the challenges that street works pose to blind and visually impaired people during a special...
Harry working hard in WESC’s eBay centre! WESC Foundation has taken on its first apprentice. Harry Roberts impressed staff during his internship when he worked in WESC’s charity shop, as well as running its eBay store and mobile phone app. Ha...
WESC staff celebrating receiving the IIP award! WESC Foundation is delighted to announce that they have achieved the Investors in People Standard Accreditation. The IIP accreditation is recognised as a sign of excellence, a great employer and an outs...
Gil Stephens won Exeter’s BEST pub quiz 2015! WESC Foundation’s BEST charity pub quiz was a resounding success as teams from businesses and organisations all over Exeter battled it out for the glory. The eventual winners were the team from Gi...
Ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open new WESC accommodation WESC Foundation held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open their two new zero carbon energy ‘Satellite’ Landlord Supported Living Houses. The event was followed by a drink...
Learner Harry using Braille overlay to work the till in Heavitree Charity Shop WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment is nominated in the Best use of Technology category in the Charity Times Award for its work with BMC Azurri...
New WESC Foundation shop sign at our new premises on Sidwell Street WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment is proud to announce they have opened their fifth Social Enterprise retail outlet in Exeter – Sidwell Street. The S...
All the glitz and glamour from last year’s Fashion Show! WESC Foundation is thrilled to announce details of this year’s Gala Fashion Show and Charity Auction, which will be held on Thursday 22 October 2015 at the prestigious Met Office buildi...
Finding out all about WESC at the Open Day Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream sch...
WESC Foundation’s last Pub Quiz Champions! The best charity pub quiz in Exeter is back, that’s right… our pub quiz is back! Wednesday, 23 September 2015, 7pm at WESC’s campus on Topsham Road. Pop the date in your diary! We are so gratef...
WESC learner Jacob excited to be at the Radio One studios! A group of young, aspiring DJs in Exeter have been given a taste of life at BBC Radio One’s production studios, during a special trip they made to London this month. The DJs, all of them vi...
L-R Conference Speaker Dr Lauren Ayton, WESC’s Director of Business Development Mark Braithwaite, Conference Speaker Dr Stephen Hicks and WESC’s Principal Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin On 2 July 2015, Visual Impairment (VI) was put under the...
Contact a Family are hosting free information workshops aimed at parents and carers of young people with a disability aged 14–17 years old. If you would like information about transition or money/benefits advice why not attend one of the events lis...
All you adrenaline junkies come and join us on Sunday 20 September 2015 at Haven Banks! This one is for you! WESC Foundation is seeking to recruit 88 intrepid, thrill-seeking supporters who are willing to throw themselves off the new tower at Haven B...
Three students from WESC Foundation have been busy fundraising to raise enough money to fund their trip to St Petersburg in Russia and….they did it! The three students, Harry, George and Tom, and three staff members are now in Russia seeing where L...
WESC Foundation is holding a Recruitment Open Day on Friday 19 June 2015 for anyone who is interested in working for our amazing charity. Why not take the opportunity to visit the site and meet some of the staff and young people that you could be...
‘The Four Amigos’: Dave, Mark, Adrian and Ian who are best “golf” buddies and former city traders, will be trekking to the top of Ben Nevis on 10 June 2015, to raise money for WESC Foundation! As well as celebrating Mark’s 50th birt...
The sun shone on the WESC Foundation golf tournament at Sidmouth Golf Club last week as teams from businesses and organisations throughout the South West battled it out for the glory. WESC Foundation’s golf days are about two things, having fun and...
Creative WESC Foundation learners are excited about exhibiting their sensory artwork at Exeter School, between the 16 to 19 June 2015 10am to 3pm, for the fourth year running. The exhibition of sensory artwork called Sensational 2015 is going to be...
WESC Foundation invited local contractors involved in the refurbishment of the new WESC Assessment and Family Centre, to a guided tour of the new facilities they had helped to create. A school and college for children, young people and adults with si...
An exclusive gourmet meal and wine tasting evening in the unique surroundings of The Salutation Inn, Topsham, but with a difference; you will be eating and drinking in the pitch darkness! This idea might seem a little strange at first, but by suppres...
WESC Foundation has fifteen charity places for the 2015 Great West Run and is looking for recruits to take these places, represent WESC, run that distance, raise money for WESC Foundation and have an absolutely brilliant day that they will never for...
WESC Foundation learners, staff and supporters enjoyed some glorious spring walks on Sunday 3 May 2015 in the grounds and gardens of Ugbrooke House. The walks were wonderful and everyone had a marvellous time, despite the odd shower. The highlights o...
WESC Foundation is delighted to announce they have taken on two new ambassadors for the charity. The charity made the announcement of its very first-ever Ambassador, well-known and popular local celebrity, TV personality and BBC Radio Devon presenter...
We would like to invite you to WESC Foundation’s Annual Visual Impairment International Conference which will be held on Thursday 2 July 2015 at our Exeter campus. WESC Foundation’s Annual International Conference provides a fantast...
BBC Radio Devon visited WESC Foundation’s Social Enterprise charity shop in Sidmouth last week to hear all about how WESC’s till Braille overlay is making retail work accessible for visually impaired people. To hear the interview please click on...
WESC Foundation is holding a Next Steps Event for young people with a visual impairment and their parents at our Exeter campus on Friday 1 May 9.30am – 2.30pm. Contact-a-family will be presenting three workshops giving all the latest information...
WESC Foundation is pleased to announce that they have gained the Artsmark Award! Artsmark is Arts Council England’s flagship programme to enable schools and other organisations to evaluate, strengthen and celebrate their arts and cultural provisio...
Judi Spiers, BBC Radio Devon presenter, was announced as WESC Foundation’s first ambassador at a private event held for 20 guests in the ‘Dart Room’, overlooking the finishing line at Exeter Racecourse at their ‘Family Day’ race day on 31st...
WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment is delighted to announce that well-known and popular local celebrity, TV personality and broadcaster Judi Spiers is the charity’s first ambassador. Judi Spiers has been a great c...
Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream school, colleges and universities? WESC Founda...
Thirty-seven brave WESC team members took on the gruelling Rock Solid extreme, obstacle and assault course on 21 & 22 March 2015 to fundraise for WESC Foundation. They came, they saw, they wallowed in mud, and they all conquered! The WESC Solid R...
WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment is delighted that Ofsted has ranked their care provision as ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ features. WESC Foundation was praised by the inspectors for their team approach to deliveri...
More than 40 staff, supporters and learners at WESC Foundation collected £1439 at Sandy Park on Saturday, when Exeter Chiefs played against London Welsh, winning 74/19 to storm into second place in the Premiership. WESC Foundation was founded in 183...
The WESC Foundation BEST charity pub quiz, held on Wednesday 25 February, was a resounding success! There were well over 100 entrants, from businesses and organisations throughout Exeter, competing for the title. The eventual winners were ‘Shaun...
We would like to invite you to WESC Foundation’s Annual Visual Impairment International Conference which will be held on Thursday 2 July 2015 at our Exeter campus. WESC Foundation’s Annual International Conference provides a fantast...
Take the Great Siberian Sponsored Silence and help raise funds for the WESC learner’s history class trip to St Petersburg. Indulge in a paradise of blissful, serene peace and quiet! Contemplate on the fate of all those Russian dissidents sent to th...
There was a real buzz in the air yesterday at WESC’s fourth Open Day as parents and professionals left the 15 acre campus feeling informed, enthused and excited about the services and facilities WESC has to offer visually impaired young people...
There’s still time to enter the best charity pub quiz in Exeter! Sign up for WESC Foundation’s pub quiz on Wednesday, 25 February 2015, starting at 7pm at WESC’s campus on Topsham Road and be in with a chance to win some great prizes! At a cos...
Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25 years old) who is visually impaired (VI)? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream schools, colleges and universities? If yo...
On 30 September 2014 WESC was part of a pilot for the new Care Quality Commission (CQC) framework. This differs very differently from previous inspections and since 1 October 2014 CQC has the same judgements as Ofsted. We were the first special...
We are so proud to announce that History and Drama teacher, Julian Davey, will be representing WESC Foundation in the 2015 London Marathon. Julian has already begun training and planning for this amazing challenge, and will be preparing carefully ov...
WESC Foundation has received £4,395 to fund a new Braillenote Laptop computer for learners at the Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment. The donation was provided by the Santander Foundation which offers grants to UK registered charities for proje...
WESC Foundation and RockSolid have joined forces to use the power of team work, fused with the most fun obstacle race in the UK, to raise vital funds for projects at WESC Foundation. The RockSolid race is a cocktail of mud, sweat and teamwork that w...
Imagine jumping out of a plane at 15,000feet, freefalling for 2 miles before gently parachuting to the ground! Join us for possibly the biggest ever tandem skydive event and jump into the record books whilst raising money for WESC Foundation on 20Jun...
This week is bullying awareness week which is dedicated to raising awareness about bullying and what bullying is all about. It is a national week where all schools discuss and raise awareness about bullying and the impact it can have on learners. At...
Forty five food loving WESC Foundation supporters attended the fabulous Dining in the Dark gourmet evenings hosted by the Salutation Inn in Topsham on three evenings in November and were fascinated and enthralled by the unique dining experience. To...
The best charity pub quiz in Exeter is back, that’s right… our pub quiz is back! Wednesday, 25 February 2015, 19:00 at WESC’s campus on Topsham Road. Pop the date in your diary! We are so grateful to our sponsors, Thomas Westcott, who hav...
This is your chance to do something amazing! WESC Foundation has one charity place for the 2015 London Marathon and is looking to recruit someone to take that place, represent WESC, run the distance and raise money for WESC. We are asking for applic...
Justin Peters, 39, from St Helena, was born deaf with slowly deteriorating vision, has come to WESC Foundation for four weeks to learn how he can effectively communicate before he loses his sight completely. St Helena is a small British island in t...
Dining in the Dark – a gourmet fundraising event launched to raise both awareness of visual impairment and vital funds for WESC Foundation – is being hosted once again by the Salutation Inn, Topsham, on 11, 12 and 13 November 2014. WESC Foundatio...
Twelve WESC Foundation learners recently experienced five days of exciting outdoor activities at The Calvert Trust on Exmoor. The youngsters enjoyed kayaking and sailing, experienced the thrill of zooming down a zip wire, climbed wobbly milk crate to...
There was a real buzz in the air yesterday at WESC’s Open Day as parents and professionals left the 15 acre campus feeling informed, enthused and excited about the services and facilities WESC has to offer visually impaired young people and adu...
The glitz of the catwalk came to Marsh Barton last week when Mercedes Benz South West hosted a gala fashion evening showcasing the stunning new Autumn/Winter Reiss collection. The evening was specially coordinated by Sam Calcott, Reiss Manager, and p...
WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment is delighted to have won the Exeter Foundation’s Legacy Project Grant fund of £50,000 to adapt two new transition houses in Exeter especially for visually impaired young people. WESC...
Are you exploring pre and post 16 options for a young person or adult (up to 25) who is visually impaired? Do you want to find out how WESC Foundation can support VI learners in mainstream school, colleges and universities? WESC Foundation is hol...
Hardworking WESC Foundation learners celebrated their achievements today at an uplifting awards ceremony at Sandy Park with delighted parents, tutors and friends. The ceremony acknowledged all the hard work and dedication put in by WESC learners who...
WESC Foundation- The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment wants to improve the way in which young people with visual field loss use their remaining vision. We are looking for young people aged eight to 25 with a visual field loss to take part in...
WESC Foundation is delighted that Ofsted has ranked their school as a ‘good’ specialist education provider with ‘outstanding’ features. WESC Foundation School was praised by the inspectors for learners’ abilities and frequently better than...
Three learners from WESC Foundation, The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment in Exeter, are celebrating after receiving their GCSE results. Our determined learners have faced more challenges than most, as they are all registered visually impaired...
We are pleased to announce that our latest fundraising newsletter is out now for you to enjoy. Find out all about what’s been happening in fundraising and how your support has been a tremendous help for the young people at WESC Foundation....
Register your interest today for a very special WESC red-carpet event to raise money for visually impaired young people and adults. The first WESC Foundation fashion show is being held on Thursday 9 October at the Mercedes – Benz showroom in Marsh...
WESC’s Christmas cards are now on sale. Why not buy a pack of ten stunning cards and envelopes for only £2.99 and help raise money for the young people at WESC? Message inside read ‘Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’. Call Kim Cottle...
WESC Foundation is officially an outstanding employer and provider as measured against the national standards for equality and diversity. We recently received the Gold Award following a year-long process of assessment and moderation. When asked what...
Calling all keen gardeners! Green-fingered enthusiasts in and around Exeter are being sought by WESC Foundation to take part in an exciting new fundraiser this coming September. The inaugural WESC Foundation Sensory Open Gardens event is lookin...
Skydive and raise money for WESC FoundationYou can book a tandem sky dive, and raise sponsorship for WESC Foundation, with Skydive UK for any date that suits you. Click on the Skydive UK website button below for more details. A tandem is an easy and...
WESC Foundation is now registered for the Express & Echo promotion to win £10,000 of specially designed playground equipment. The promotion starts Thursday 25 September and runs until Thursday 6 November. During this time the Express &...
Challenge and stretch yourself in three completely different ways in the beautiful settings of Dartmoor National Park on a WESC Foundation Dartmoor Adventure Day.The Dartmoor Adventure Days are located at the spectacular Dewerstone Rock, which has Da...
WESC Foundation organise many different creative and sporting events that learners participate in, including the popular annual WESCfactor, where learners from across both school and college engage in a wide range of activities. The entire scho...
WESC Foundation wants to improve the way in which young people with visual field loss use their remaining vision. Training programmes that involve using specialised computer software can improve functional vision for adult patients – so we have...
Accomplished businessman Richard Purchase has been appointed as the new Chair of Trustees at WESC Foundation, an inspirational charity providing cutting edge education, care and support to visually impaired young people and adults. A professional wit...
After a series of outstanding and good Ofsted inspections over recent years for its School, College and Care Services, WESC Foundation College discovered just how challenging the new inspection framework is, having been judged to be in need of improv...
Creative WESC Foundation learners have enjoyed exhibiting their sensory artwork at Exeter School last week for the third year running. The exhibition of sensory artwork called Sensational 2014 was exhibited in the school’s new art department. I...
WESC staff, learners and supporters turned out on Saturday 7 June 2014 to shake buckets and collect in Exeter, Exmouth, Heavitree and Exmouth; Everyone looked fantastic and really stood out in their bright orange t-shirts and matching buckets. ...
WESC Foundation learners Dan and Ruairi has been helping Dame Hannah Roger’s resident blacksmith Rob Hill create a steel robot at Seale-Hayne in Newton Abbot. The talented boys have been attending metalwork classes at the Dame Hannah Rogers tr...
WESC Foundation’s Research and Development team were on ITV Westcountry News on Monday 26 May 2014 telling the public all about the computer game they have developed to help visually impaired young people improve their vision. Jonathan...
WESC Foundation’s ex-learner Ian Morrison is the latest recipient of the Prime Minister’s Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day s...
A 26-year-old WESC Foundation charity shop volunteer from Exeter is the latest winner of a new volunteering award, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced. Despite living with learning difficulties, autism and being severely sight impaired Ian Mor...
The sun shone on all the golfers who were competing in the WESC Foundation charity golf tournament at Sidmouth Golf Club Friday 16 May 2014. It was a glorious day and 10 teams from Devon businesses battled it out in the summer sun for the honours. &n...
Four visually impaired students from WESC Foundation, Exeter’s Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment, have taken part in this year’s Ten Tors Jubilee Challenge on Saturday 10 May on Dartmoor. The four intrepid youngsters who have all taken part...
Following the success of last year’s WESCFactor, this has now become a much anticipated annual event whereby all WESC learners take part and enjoy the competition. Over a three-day period all the WESC learners took part in Healthy Living Awards, Cr...
WESC Foundation has revealed a groundbreaking new computer game being developed by research associate Jonathan Waddington to make a real difference to the lives of learners with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) –the term used when the brain misinte...
What a perfect day! The weather was glorious and hundreds of walkers enjoyed the beautiful grounds and surroundings of Ugbrooke House, whilst raising money for projects at WESC Foundation. All the walks were wonderful, the bluebells were amazing, the...
WESC Foundation are thrilled that the inaugural Dining in the Dark evening went so well, and would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make it such a special event. The surroundings and atmosphere at The Salutation Inn were wonderful, a...
At 6.30pm on Thursday 1 May, the Salutation Inn in Topsham, which offers the very best local, regional and seasonal produce cooked by Tom Williams-Hawkes and his brigade to a modern French influenced style, will be hosting a unique gourmet dining eve...
Enter The Great West Run and raise money for WESC Foundation. The Great West Run is a half marathon through the heart of Exeter. This run has it all; the energy of a city centre road race, combined with pretty country lanes and stunning views across...
Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual International Conference 2014. We’ve had some fantastic feedback and hope you will join us again next year. We extend our thanks to all our speakers this year and we are particularly pleased to welcome...
Six visually impaired youngsters from WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment, have undertaken a ‘Marathon in a Month’ to raise money for St Petrock’s charity for the homeless. The six students took on activities includi...
This week Principal and Chief Executive Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin, Mark Braithwaite Head of VI Business Development and Jonathan Waddington Research Associate will be flying to Australia to attend the Vision 2014 conference. Jonathan will be speaki...
On Wednesday 12 March WESC took 10 school aged students (10-17) to the National School VI Swimming Gala championships in Solihull. Five students with previous Gala experience were representing WESC, with a further five students making their Gala debu...
On Sunday 4 May, the historic parklands of Ugbrooke House, near Chudleigh will be inviting people to put on a pair of walking boots and walk for WESC Foundation, the specialist center for the visually impaired. Jon Duckham, Fundraising Manager a...
A massive thank you to everyone who came along to the “Best Charity Pub Quiz in Exeter” last week and battled it out for glory! Well done to “Don’t blame it on Rio” from the Devon Partnership NHS Trust, our eventual champions, as well...
“Computer game for rehabilitating young people with visual field loss.” We want to improve the way in which young people with visual field loss use their remaining vision. Training programmes that involve using specialised computer software...
Volunteering will give you the chance to try out something new, meet like-minded people and help develop your skills whilst carrying out the worthwhile role of supporting visually impaired young people and adults. If you would like to be involved in...
On Friday 7 February, the Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP visited WESC Foundation to say a special thank you to one of the learners at the Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment. Jacob Towner, aged 14, was the lucky learner whose Christmas card design was chos...
The lucky winner of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class was a gentleman from Lympstone who had ticket number: 065396. The raffle was drawn on Christmas Eve at Princesshay where crowds gathered to see if they had won the fantastic car. Congratulations to the...
WESC Foundation received a bundle of tools from St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter in November as part of a recycling project called, “Tools Shed” run by The Conservation Foundation. Broken and unwanted gardening hand tools were donated by St Bridget...
Last New Year’s Eve a wonderful group of WESC volunteers packed bags for shoppers at Waitrose and raised around £1000 towards projects here at WESC, which was amazing! We have the opportunity to do this again on Tuesday 31 December at Waitrose, E...
This year Princesshay Shopping Centre in Exeter has given 20 Christmas trees to 20 local charities to decorate, in Roman Walk. The WESC Foundation tree is right in the centre and stands out as it is so beautifully decorated! This is because all the b...
Princesshay is collaborating with Radio Exe this festive season to support its Operation Christmas campaign. Operation Christmas encourages shoppers to buy an extra gift which will be donated to Princesshay’s local charity of the year, WESC Foundat...
WESC learners and staff have joined forces to become qualified teachers/trainers in the sport of VI (visually impaired) Boccia. The course was held at WESC Foundation’s campus with other students from mainstream schools and colleges joining the WES...
Each year the Virgin Money Exeter staff have a minimum of 10 days to dedicate towards a chosen charity and they chose WESC Foundation for 2013. Philip Weeks, Store Manager said; “The Virgin Money Exeter team has supported WESC Foundation with 11 da...
We are delighted to have been chosen as an Exeter Foundation designated charity for 2013/2014. The children and young people at WESC Foundation will benefit greatly from the money raised through The Exeter Foundation bucket collections at the Exeter...
Former WESC Foundation student, Ian Morrison, has been awarded the Charity Retail Associations national award for Best Young Volunteer of the Year following his contribution to the organisations charity shop in Heavitree, Exeter. Ian, now 25 years ol...
On Tuesday 16 July, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall visited the children, young people and team at WESC Foundation. The Duchess, also a patron for the charity, last visited the organisation in 2008 and Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin, Principal...
The historic East Devon Golf Club, at Budleigh Salterton, has a rich history of raising funds for good causes. This year both the Captain and the Ladies Captain chose WESC Foundation to be their Charity of the Year. Around 200 members took to the cou...
WESC Foundation has teamed up with Devon’s folk and community arts organisation, Wren Music, to enhance their creative singing skills by forming a combined staff and student singing group called SoundWaves. Here at WESC Foundation we want to inspir...
