Braille & Other Services

Articles for the Blind Scheme

Guernsey Post is happy to support 'Articles for the Blind' this is a scheme for blind and visually impaired customers who are registered blind, also people whose standard of close-up vision, with spectacles of N12 or less as certified by an ophthalmologist, doctor or ophthalmic optician.

What the scheme offers

• Free local postage 
• Discounted UK and International Standard postage

This service is available to individuals and charities working to improve the lives of blind and visually impaired people.

Eligible items

• books, printed materials, letters, relief maps
• audio and electronic media
• equipment such as magnifiers and mobility aids

Items that can't be sent:

• Music audio (more than 2 minutes or more than 10% of the total duration).
• Entertainment programmes which are available on radio or recordings.
• Printed material in a font smaller than 16 point (unless it is a faithful copy of information that has been transcribed into braille, tape, CD, disk or large print, and where it accompanies the transcribed version).
• Any flyer or documentation being used as advertising.
• Personal, sensitive or confidential correspondence, in any format
• Personal and private correspondence should be sealed and sent as normal mail.

These items can be sent as:

• Local, large letter or parcel
• UK, large letter or parcel
• International Standard letters

How to use the Scheme

1. Mark the envelope clearly with: "ARTICLES FOR THE BLIND" on the front and the sender's name and address on the back.
2. If your item is going to a recipient abroad, they must have "Articles for the Blind - CECOGRAMMES" printed or written on the envelope.
3. Leave the mail unsealed or ensure it can be easily opened for inspection. If the contents are fragile, you may seal the item with permission. To get permission, call our Customer Services Team on 01481711720, or bring the item to a Post Office counter where staff can inspect and seal if for you. They will also provide proof of posting.
4. Address the item to a named blind or visually impaired recipient. Items addressed to "The Occupier" or "Dear Customer" are not eligible and will be sent as standard paid mail.

To send items under this scheme, write 'ARTICLES FOR THE BLIND' on the front of the envelope and the sender's name and address clearly on the reverse of the envelope. Leave the mail open or make sure it is easy to open for inspection. If the contents are fragile, you can get permission from us to seal the item, please call our Customer Services Team on 01481 711720. Or you can bring it to the Post Office counter where it can be checked and sealed by the retail staff, and they will also give you a proof of posting.

Size limits for the UK

• rectangular parcels: the combined length, depth and width can be up to 900mm, and each single dimension can be up to 600mm. The dimension of each surface needs to be at least 90mm by 140mm
• tubes/cyclinders: its legth needs ti be between 100mm and 900mm, and its length plus twice the diameter needs to be between 170mm and 1040mm

Maximum weight for parcels 7kg