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Lesley-Anne Alexander, chief executive of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to the voluntary sector. Alexander is also chair of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and chairs the UK Vision Strategy Group. She said: 'I have always been passionate about driving innovation in the voluntary sector and the creation of the RNIB Group and the UK Vision Strategy are initiatives that will stand the test of time and provide real benefits to blind and partially sighted people across the UK.'

National Eye Health Week will take place from September 17-23, and a guide to getting involved was released last week. Francesca Marchetti, chair of the National Eye Health Week steering group, said: 'This free guide is a fantastic toolkit to inspire everyone to get involved in this year's National Eye Health Week. It includes ideas about innovative events you can organise to mark the week and details of the free National Eye Health Week resources which will be available later this summer to help you make your event as successful as possible.' Download at www.visionmatters.org.uk.

A minimum of six CET points will be available at next month's Independents Day in Birmingham, organisers Proven Track Record (PTR) confirmed. Delegates will be able to pick up a maximum of seven points during the conference on July 8 and 9 at Birmingham's National Motorcycle Museum. PTR director David Goad said: 'It's always good to gain a few CET points when the content warrants it.'

Mike Brace has retired from his position as the chief executive of Vision 2020 UK following 11 years in charge. Together with his work on the World Health Assembly's Vision 2020 resolution, Brace was a member of the London 2012 bid team and now sits on the diversity board of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).