Forum Brief: Guide Dogs for the Blind

Members of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association have called on the government to intervene, after it was revealed that all 13 residential homes run by the charity would have to close because they are uneconomical.

The homes are used to train people how to live and work with their dogs.

Forum Response: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Geraldine Peacock, chief executive of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, told ePolitix.com: "It is imperative that we keep pace with the changing needs of our service users whilst also securing our long-term financial future. The proposals we are now putting forward will enable us to be more flexible in our local service delivery and put our finances on a firm footing.

"By removing much of the Association's fixed overheads, we will be investing in people and services, not bricks and mortar."

Forum Response: Charity Commission

A spokesman for the Charity Commission said: "It's a policy issue. Provided it is within the objective of the charity and does not break charity law we can't intervene."