The Chief Executive of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Lesley-Anne Alexander, will receive the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) at Buckingham Palace on 19 October, which is also Read for RNIB Day.
Birthday honours
Lesley-Anne received her CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in recognition of her services to the voluntary sector. To celebrate Read for RNIB Day, Lesley-Anne will take Walker Books' exclusive edition of Mole's Sunrise, by Jeanne Willis and Sarah Fox-Davies, with her to the ceremony at the Palace. It is a beautifully illustrated and movingly written story of a blind mole who wonders what a sunrise looks like. His friends' vivid descriptions help him to imagine and experience its beauty for himself.
Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE said: "I am absolutely delighted to receive this CBE in recognition of the great work that the RNIB Group does in providing innovative new solutions to deliver the best services possible to blind and partially sighted people. I have always been passionate about driving innovation in the voluntary sector and providing real benefits to people with sight loss across the UK.
Double celebration
"It's also a double celebration for RNIB as our staff and many of our supporters will be celebrating Read for RNIB Day today, and taking part in events and challenges to help raise money to support services for blind and partially sighted people. I'm going to read while I'm at the Palace, but wherever you are, you can take part."
Everyone is encouraged to support Read for RNIB Day, a nationwide event encouraging everyone to get reading and help sight loss charity RNIB provide services such as braille, giant print and talking books to blind and partially sighted people. Whether you pledge to read in an unusual place, host a literary lunch, organise a book sale or lose yourself in a sponsored read, Read for RNIB is about having fun and making a difference to the almost 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK. Read for RNIB Day is 19 October 2012 but you can hold an event or challenge on any date.
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For further information, photographs or to request an interview with Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE please contact RNIB PR Team on 020 7391 2223 or email: pressoffice@rnib.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
Further information about Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE
Since joining RNIB, Lesley-Anne has been instrumental in modernising the sight loss sector with innovations such as forming the RNIB Group of charities. The Group includes RNIB, Action for Blind People, National Talking Newspapers and Magazines and Cardiff, Vales and Valleys, who bring their complementary strengths and expertise together to support an ever increasing number of blind and partially sighted people.
Lesley-Anne was also the driving force behind the development of the UK Vision Strategy, a ground breaking initiative which brought together the sight loss sector for the first time, unified behind the aim of achieving a major transformation in the UK's eye health, eye care and sight loss services. She currently Chairs the UK Vision Strategy Group.
Lesley-Anne is also Chair of Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, (ACEVO), the leading voice for chief executives in the third sector.
Lesley-Anne has always worked in the Public and Voluntary sectors and before joining RNIB was Director of Operations for the Peabody Trust, one of the UK's largest housing associations and regeneration agencies. Before this she held various posts in local government with her final post being Director of Housing with the London Borough of Enfield.
About RNIB
Every day another 100 people in the UK will start to lose their sight. There are around two million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
About the UK Vision Strategy
The UK Vision Strategy is a framework for improved eye health and sight loss services across the UK. The strategy is a VISION 2020 UK initiative led by Royal National Institute of Blind People. The Strategy was developed in response to the World Assembly's VISION 2020 resolution, the Strategy seeks to reduce avoidable sight loss by the year 2020.
About ACEVO
ACEVO The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations www.acevo.org.uk is the professional body representing charity and not-for-profit sector chief executives in the UK, with over 2000 members. The broad not-for-profit sector now employs the full-time equivalent of 1.5m staff, with a collective annual turnover of £46bn. ACEVO is committed to improving third sector leadership skills worldwide.