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partially sighted people worldwide.
What is Torch?
Council of Reference
Torch values the encouragement and advice from its Council of Reference made up of respected Christian leaders.
The Ven. Richard Atkinson OBE, Archdeacon of Leicester
Rev’d. Dr. Steve Brady, Principal - Moorlands College
Rev’d. Dr. David Coffey OBE, President - World Baptist Alliance
Rev’d. Malcolm Duncan, Church Minister, former Leader of Faithworks
Jonathan Lamb, Langham Preaching
Rev’d. Roy Searle, Leader - Northumbria Community
Dr. Elaine Storkey, President - TEARfund
Rev’d. Dr. Derek Tidball, Former Principal of the London School of Theology
Trustee Board
The Torch Trust is overseen by a board of 8 trustees, 4 of whom have a visual impairment (B).
Marilyn Baker (B), Chair
Dr. Clive Dilloway, Vice Chair
Carol Eddon (B)
Dr. Mike Townsend (B), Technical Director
Heather Williams
Rona Waller (B)
Jeff Bonser
Roger Morriss
Also attending board meetings are ...
Dr. Gordon Temple, Chief Executive
Andrew Nicholson, Assistant Chief Executive
John Darby, Company Secretary and Personnel Officer
Leaders
The work of the Torch Trust is managed by a group of Leaders ...
Dr. Gordon Temple, Chief Executive
Andrew Nicholson, Assistant Chief Executive
David Palmer, Leader - Regional
Gail Millar, Leader - Holidays
Lydia Tebbutt, Leader - Literature
Janet Stafford, Leader - International
Paul Wood, Leader - Technical Services
(Paul Wood is currently seconded to Nueva Luz in Spain)
Torch is a Mission
- committed to sharing in both words and actions the love of God shown in Jesus. Torch seeks to operate in accordance with the principles taught by the Holy Bible.
Download Torch's Basis of FaithTorch is Fellowship
- Christian fellowship where blind and sighted people meet on equal terms. Some 130 Torch Fellowship Groups meet informally on a monthly basis across the UK, with many more overseas.
Go to Torch Fellowship Groups for more information
Torch is Holidays
- that are designed especially for visually impaired people and offer more opportunity for fellowship. Torch's Holiday and Retreat Centre offers a varied programme of holidays to suit young and old. Torch also runs houseparties at Christian conventions - and holidays abroad too.
Go to Holidays and Retreats for more information
Torch is Something to Read
- in braille, giant print, audio and electronic media. Torch publishes six magazines, produces Bibles, hymn books, Scripture text calendars, tactile greeting cards, books and booklets, and operates a large free postal library of Christian books in accessible media.
Go to Literature for more information
Torch is Caring
- responding to the practical needs of visually impaired people, especially in the poorer countries of the world.
Torch is Worldwide
- with literature going to 100 countries across the globe. Torch is at work in other countries through mutually supportive partnerships with local organisations and individuals. Torch publishes a Directory of Christian Services for Blind and Partially Sighted People Worldwide. Torch has a longstanding involvement in Africa and produces accessible Bibles in Afrficanm languages at its International base in Malawi.
The International Directory can be downloaded from the Downloads page.
Torch is Non-Denominational
- and seeks to help churches of all types to fully include visually impaired people.
Torch is Supported
- by donation and by prayer. Torch does not run fund raising programmes but relies on faith in God to provide and invites others to pray with us.
Go to Support Torch for more information
Torch is a Voluntary Organisation
- a registered charity and a charitable company limited by guarantee
Torch
has a staff of around 40 people in the UK. One third of the staff are visually impaired, as are half of the Trustees. The main office and production centre is located in Leicestershire. Torch operates a Holiday and Retreat Centre in the scenic Sussex countryside and has an office in Northern Ireland. Around 1000 volunteers from across the UK contribute their time to transcription work, the running of Fellowship Groups and much else.
Torch International
is based near Blantyre in Malawi, one of Africa's poorest countries. Here a team of five African staff operate a braille unit producing Bibles and other books in African languages. Around 60 Torch Fellowship Groups meet in villages across the country and through Torch's AID AFRICA programme much is done to help in practical ways.