Travel Hands
From "THINC Fund Vote: Large Projects (£25,000-£50,000)"
Go to the project
Total amount of funding requested: £30,000
About the project:
Travel Hands is a London-based charity that empowers Visually Impaired People (VIPs) to travel safely and independently by connecting them with trained volunteers through a digital platform. We are requesting £30,000 in core funding to support our staff salaries, which are essential for maintaining and expanding our services to the Peckham community.
Our dedicated team manages daily operations, volunteer coordination, user support, partnership delivery, and continuous development of accessible technologies. Core funding will enable us to sustain and scale these vital functions that directly benefit VIPs and local volunteers.
Project delivery and objectives:
Expand our service to Peckham, providing guided journeys that help VIPs access healthcare, shopping, and community activities safely.
- VIPs in Peckham
- Coordinate and train 50 local volunteers to support Peckham’s VIPs.
- Sustain staff capacity to deliver high-quality service, manage community relationships, and ensure user safety and satisfaction.
- Deliver specialised support to 20 VIPs undergoing chemotherapy or with past cancer experiences, through our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.
Communities supported:
- People who are visually impaired or partially sighted in the Peckham area. Approximately 200 VIPs registered in Peckham.
- VIPs who are managing cancer treatments or recovery, supported through our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.
- Local volunteers looking for meaningful community engagement and social impact opportunities.
The difference it will make:
- Improve independence and mobility for VIPs in Peckham.
- Reduce social isolation and enhance community inclusion.
- Ensure that people with cancer and sight loss can access healthcare safely and maintain their daily routines.
- Strengthen the local volunteer network, fostering empathy, inclusion, and shared community responsibility.
How the funding will help:
The £30,000 core funding will directly cover staff salaries for key roles that deliver our day-to-day impact, including volunteer coordination, user support, and partnership management. By maintaining this skilled and committed team, we can:
- Deliver over 500 guided journeys in Peckham within the next year.
- Provide consistent and reliable support to visually impaired people.
- Continue innovating and improving our digital accessibility tools.
Why this project will succeed:
Travel Hands has a strong track record of impact across London, supporting over 350 VIPs and engaging 78 active volunteers, completing 1300 journeys. Our partnerships with J.P. Morgan and Macmillan Cancer Support provide both technological and community expertise. The combination of experienced staff, proven impact, and established networks ensures that this project will deliver lasting benefits for the Peckham community.
This £30,000 core funding will sustain the people who power Travel Hands, enabling us to expand our impact, strengthen community connections, and ensure visually impaired people in Peckham can travel safely, confidently, and with dignity.