History
- Founded in 1915 to provide care and welfare to Scottish ex-servicemen and women blinded or visually impaired in the World Wars or subsequent conflicts.
- Constitution changed to enable assistance to be given to any person who has served in the armed forces and who now has a visual impairment.
- Sheltered workshops and housing at Linburn.
Scottish War Blinded was founded in 1915 to help Scottish soldiers and sailors blinded in the 1914-1918 war. So successful was a public appeal for funding, Newington House in Edinburgh was purchased and became the first Scottish residence and training establishment for war blinded service veterans. A variety of trades were taught and many of the men set up businesses or moved on in to employment. A permanent workshop continued for those who wished to remain at Newington House.
Linburn House
With recurrence of hostilities in 1939 a new generation of war blinded personnel required care. Linburn House, a small estate some 10 miles from Edinburgh was purchased, and it was in July 1944 that the admission of residents began. The estate was developed and contained a housing complex, workshops and recreational facilities set in landscaped grounds. Linburn was designed for ease of movement by the war blinded residents and the others who travel to the workshops.
A change to its constitution now also allows welfare and financial support to be given to veterans who have a visual impairment and are registered blind or partially sighted,
subsequent to, and unrelated to their service.
