The Look launch was held at the House of Commons in 1991. Jeremy Bowen – Gareth and Jennifer’s eldest child – was (and still is) a foreign correspondent working at the BBC, and had been pivotal in securing a huge amount of press coverage. Gareth, who was also a BBC journalist, then created the first of many Look newsletters, and started to apply for funding. A large grant from BBC Children in Need enabled Look to set up an office at Queen Alexandra College in Birmingham.
Look’s initial focus was on Family Support and volunteers and paid workers supported families in regions across the UK. Look’s volunteers worked closely with the professionals and were much valued. Look also ran a successful helpline. Many other charities would follow Look’s lead, but Look was the first National Organisation run by and for the families of visually impaired children and young people. It was a catalyst for change across the sector.
Look’s Youth Project – OUTLook – was also highly successful and would be a hint of things to come. Look’s launch and early years were powered by parents for parents, and it’s wonderful to see that 27 years later the baton has now been passed to the children who were the first beneficiaries of the charity.