Sight loss charity Guide Dogs has launched an appeal for volunteers who could help local people with sight loss leave their homes and explore the local area.
The charity’s ‘sighted guides’ help people with a vision impairment by guiding them around locally for a couple of hours a week or a fortnight.
Partnerships are matched based on common interests and the service helps people with sight loss build their confidence and do the things they enjoy.
The charity is currently looking for volunteers in Peterborough and Ely.
My Sighted Guide volunteer experience officer for Guide Dogs, Elaine Enston, said: “We have several people with sight loss in Peterborough and Ely who are waiting for support from a My Sighted Guide volunteer.
“These people may be waiting for a guide-dog longer-term or perhaps a dog isn’t suitable for them, and they would like support from a sighted guide instead.
“Many of our partnerships enjoy going for walks together, visiting cafes and getting to know each other.”
Linda, from Ely, has been supported by her My Sighted Guide volunteer Sarah since November last year.
She wanted a guide dog but was unable to because of health issues.
“We clicked straight away and we’re never short of things to talk about,” said Linda.
“Anything that’s on in Ely or nearby, we go to – it's fantastic because otherwise I wouldn’t get there.”
Linda said that having support from Sarah “makes so much difference” and says it can be soul destroying being stuck at home and having nobody to go out with.
The waiting list is currently closed for the My Sighted Guide service run by Guide Dogs due to a volunteer shortage.
The charity hopes to recruit 750 new guide volunteers nationally as soon as possible so they can reopen the service to new applicants.
Volunteers must be 18 or over and an enhanced disclosure check is required as part of the role.
Full sighted guide training will be provided for new volunteers by Guide Dogs.
To find out more, contact elaine.enston@guidedogs.org.uk, call 0800 781 1444 or visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteering.
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