CBM is an international Christian disability and development organisation that transforms the lives of people with disability, their families and communities in the poorest places of the world. Our Vision is an inclusive world in which all people with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.
People living in poverty with disability are the world’s poorest people. So if we’re going to end poverty, we can’t ignore disability. Disability is very common in developing countries and 15 per cent of the world’s entire population, or 1 billion people, live with a disability. People with disabilities are among the poorest in any community, so if we’re going to address poverty we must include people with disabilities.
CBM works with local partners to enable people with disabilities or at risk of disability to access healthcare and education, build sustainable livelihoods and play an active role in their community. We also ensure that disabled people and their families can access emergency relief during times of conflict or natural disaster. In 2014, CBM helped more than 32 million people with disabilities or at risk of disability, through 672 projects in 60 countries.
CBM draws on 100 years’ experience of working with people with disabilities. In 1908, German pastor Ernst Christoffel founded CBM (Christian Blind Mission) in Turkey with the opening of a home for children who were blind and orphaned. From these small beginnings, CBM is now the world’s leading organisation tackling disability across developing countries. Christoffel built CBM on core values such as Christianity, internationalism, professionalism, stewardship, honest communication and inclusion – all values we’re committed to today. In 2007, we changed our name from 'Christian Blind Mission' to 'CBM' to reflect the fact that CBM works with people living with all types of disability, not just blindness.
CBM UK was established in 1996 and is one of 11 Member Associations of the CBM International Federation. Member Associations provide funds and expertise to support CBM’s programmes worldwide and carry out national advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns to ensure that the rights and needs of people with disability in poor communities are not forgotten.
In 2013/14, CBM UK worked with local partners to deliver 21 life-changing programmes in 16 low and middle income countries.
CBM UK is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as charity number 1058162 and with The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator as charity number SC041101.
Our Chair of Trustees is Jan Flawn and our Chief Executive Officer is Kirsty Smith. More about CBM’s Trustees and Leadership Team.
Last year, our supporters enabled us to change the lives of thousands of people with disabilities. Here you can read just a few of their stories.