Meet our Directors

Read about our directors and their passion and vision for Action for Blind People.

Stephen Remington, Chief Executive

Stephen Remington came to Action for Blind People in1994 and since then he has driven a process of steady and significant change. Strategic planning, quality systems, financial stability and management core competence underpin the organisation’s continuing success in providing opportunities and choice for blind and partially sighted people. In 2000 he received Charity Times’ Charity Chief Executive of the Year award.

Stephen is active in developing collaborative working within the visual impairment field and has chaired various umbrella bodies. He now chairs the Executive Committee of Vision 2020 UK, which supports communications and joint working among all organisations in the visual impairment field.

Before his move to Action, Stephen worked in the arts for over twenty years, fourteen as Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells in London where his work in international arts exchange earned him the French honour of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

John Crowther, Director of Finance and Resources

John joined Action for Blind People in 2003 as Head of Finance and has been a Chartered Accountant since 1975.

His previous career was in the accounting profession, specialising in financial accounting and Corporation Tax and then a long period in commerce with the C&A Group prior to joining Action for Blind People. He is an active member of the Charity Finance Directors’ Group, as well as being a member of the Management Committee of the Charity Tax Group

John also spent seven years abroad working in the Caribbean and has now discovered a new lease of life within charity finance. He finds working in the sector both rewarding and enjoyable and became the Director of Finance and Resources in January 2008. He believes Yorkshire common sense is a key ingredient of financial management.

Andy Taylor, Director of Fundraising and Marketing

Andy Taylor has 13 years experience in fundraising and marketing, the last four as Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Action for Blind People. Previously he was Head of Fundraising at Christian Aid and prior to that he has worked in several roles in the not for profit sector including time at The British Sports Trust and NSPCC.

Andy holds a degree in economics and an MBA from Brisbane Business School in Australia, where he lived for two years. He is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is a Chartered Marketer. He is married with two children, lives in London and in his spare time is a keen photographer, motorcyclist and SCUBA diver.

Miriam Martin, Director of Services

Miriam Martin is responsible for leading all of Action for Blind People’s services across the UK. Miriam Martin joined Action for Blind People as Deputy Manager at one of the charity’s housing units in 1994, working her way up to manager of the unit before becoming Head of Housing in 2004. As Head of Housing she oversaw both charity residences as well as Action’s independent housing projects, before becoming Director of Services.

Miriam’s vision is simple. She aspires to lead her teams to provide a seamless service so that any visually impaired person can get all their needs met with one phone call. She hopes to inspire colleagues to care so much for each caller that they go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the caller gets all the practical support and advice they need and want.