A PRESTON charity has changed its name to stop people confusing it with others -- and to pay tribute to its biggest benefactor.
Preston and North Lancashire Blind Welfare Society is to become Galloway's Society for the Blind in July.
Peter Taylor, director of the society, said: "Our organisation has suffered for many years with a terrible title which no one remembers because it is too long.
"Due to this we have tended to get known as 'the Blind Society' which causes the public to mix us up with the many national organisations for the blind.
"Our new title removes any geographical reference as we can't have one that is short, but identifies all the districts we operate in. "For more than 100 years, the society has provided services to blind people in West Lancashire, Ormskirk, Burscough, Pilling, Longridge, Morecambe and beyond.
"Our current title only results in excluding any potential help and support from those areas."
The society's new name pays tribute to its biggest benefactor, William Wilding Galloway, a Preston cotton merchant in the early 1900s. He provided the funds to enable Howick House to be bought, which became the Galloway Home for the Blind in Penwortham.
The building is now worth almost £1 million and is celebrating 50 years in operation this year. And the charity is using the name change and anniversary to launch an appeal for a further £1 million, to redevelop the home and extend its facilities.
Peter added: "It is hoped our new name will stamp our identity in the minds of local people and that we will be able to attract greater support to provide more services to visually-impaired people."
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