David Ruffley MP will be attending the AGM of the West Suffolk Voluntary Association for the Blind as the guest of the Association's chairman, James Bradshaw, on Thursday 2nd July.

Those attending the AGM will discuss the pressures and difficulties facing charities in the current economic climate and the proposed changes to legislation affecting the blind.

David said: 'This event will be an opportunity for the Association's members to discuss how the charity will tackle the challenges of the economic crisis and how proposed changes to legislation will affect the blind community.'

'I am delighted to have been invited to the AGM of the West Suffolk Voluntary Association for the Blind, an organisation of which I am a patron. I look forward to speaking on the challenges facing charities like this one in the current economic downturn and on how proposed legislative changes in the Welfare Reform Bill will affect the blind community.'

'Parliament is looking to extend the right for blind people to claim the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, which would provide some additional help to many of my constituents in these troublesome economic times.'

'I hope to learn a lot at the meeting, as I continue to pressure the government on what more it can do to help blind people, including looking at greater use of direct payments and individual budgets, which give people control over their care in a way many would want but today few have.