This film is part of Free
Work at St. Dunstan's
Activities at St. Dunstan’s hostel for blind soldiers in Regent’s Park.
Overview
Boot-mending and basket-making are among the activities on offer at St. Dunstan’s hostel for blind soldiers in Regent’s Park. The ex-servicemen were provided retraining in various professions, including joinery and gardening, from instructors who were often blind themselves. The programme was intended to help soldiers adapt to their blindness, advocating an ethos of self-reliance that prepared them for future employment opportunities.
St. Dunstan’s was established in 1915, offering physical and emotional support to vision-impaired veterans. Initially based in elsewhere in London, they quickly outgrew their Baywater premises and needed a larger facility to cope with increased demand from soldiers, often suffering from the effects of mustard gas attacks, amongst other causes. This building in Regent’s Park was owned by Otto Kahn, a New Yorker banker, who loaned the fifteen acre property to the charity free of charge until 1920. The organisation is now known as Blind Veterans UK.
Related
Eyes of a Child Eyes of a Child
School programme and Educational film 1961 31 mins Location: Dorton Ho (Sch)
Young imaginations run wild at School for Blind Children.
An Ordinary Life An Ordinary Life
1985 29 mins
“I’d much rather work at a computer than make wicker baskets” – disabled people hit the mainstream in 1980s Britain
It's a New World It's a New World
Instructional 1977 30 mins
Early attempts at inclusive swimming for disabled people.
Three for Society Three for Society
1969 29 mins
Feisty and free-spirited, three disabled people talk frankly and directly about the barriers they experience in the 1960s
Like Other People Like Other People
Documentary 1972 51 mins
Man Alive! moral panic, sex, and when professionals ruled – life as a disabled couple in 1972
Artificial Limb Making Artificial Limb Making
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
Occupational therapy turns full circle, as amputee soldiers learn to make artificial limbs for others
New Architecture at the London Zoo New Architecture at the London Zoo
Documentary 1937 16 mins Silent Location: Whipsnade
Penguins get the VIP treatment in this artistic look at the Zoo's visionary 1930s revamp.
Jane at the Zoo Jane at the Zoo
School programme and Educational film 1959 8 mins Location: Regent's Park
Jane is taken to London Zoo by her Daddy and learns that she should use her eyes and ears just like the animals – always on the watch for danger.
The Torrens family visits Windsor, Kew and London The Torrens family visits Windsor, Kew and London
Amateur film 1955 8 mins Silent Location: Richmond
Join the Torrens family as they cram in as many sights as possible in their short trip to London - taking in Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens, the Tower of London and polar bears
London Symphony London Symphony
Documentary 1955 18 mins Location: Regent's Park
Impressionistic glimpses of London life from early morning to rush hour
Tragedy of Sam Tragedy of Sam
Non-Fiction 1925 1 mins Silent Location: Regent's Park
A eulogy to Sam, the London Zoo polar bear, who is due to be put down due to ill health
Sally the Sparrow Sally the Sparrow
Documentary 1945 9 mins Location: Camden Town
Explore London Zoo with one of its greediest residents, Sally the sparrow.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.