Become a guiding star for a local blind or partially sighted person this Christmas and give the gift of independence
Change someone’s life this Christmas by becoming a local My Guide Volunteer and give the best gift of all, the gift of independence to a local blind or partially sighted person.
Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind (NRSB) is looking for people who want to make a real difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people across Nottinghamshire and is now actively recruiting volunteers willing to spend a few hours a week with a blind or partially sighted person in their community for between three and six months.
Full training will be provided for volunteers willing to spend a few hours a week for up to six months with a blind or partially sighted person, guiding them on trips out to activities that the pair will agree at the start of their relationship. Journeys could be to the shops, to a café or maybe a sports event or any other activity the blind or partially sighted person wants to take part in.
As the blind or partially sighted person grows in confidence it will then be the volunteer’s role to train some of the people they come into contact with, maybe club members or family and friends, so that they can then continue to provide support in the future. The blind or partially sighted person will then be able to continue their journey towards independence as a result of the volunteer’s guidance and support.
“When I first lost my sight, I was so traumatised that I didn’t dare step outside my own front door for around three months,” explained Heidi Hemmingway, aged 35 from Sherwood. The mum-of-two lost her vision suddenly in 2001 due to a rare condition known as intracranial hypertension, which has left her with no peripheral vision. “My central vision is not too bad”, she explains, “but I can’t see anything at all out of the side of my eyes. I lost all my self confidence and was terrified I’d get knocked over because I couldn’t see cars as they approached until they were almost right in front of me. I went from being a bubbly, self confident young twenty-something, working in a pub and with a hectic social life to a withdrawn and anxious person, afraid to go out.
“ I’m so pleased to hear of the launch of the fantastic My Guide Scheme and I wish NRSB and Guide Dogs all the luck in the world with the recruitment of volunteers. If the scheme had been available when I first lost my vision I would have jumped at the chance to have the help of a trained Guide. Loss of confidence and loss of freedom is a terrible thing as it stops you living your life and doing the things others take for granted. I would urge anyone in Nottinghamshire considering becoming a volunteer this Christmas and New Year to please sign up for the training as there is nothing more worthwhile than giving someone back their independence.”
Michael Conroy, Chief Executive of NRSB said “My Guide volunteers will make a very real difference to the lives of local blind and partially sighted people, helping people like Heidi to complete their own personal journey towards independence. The scheme also enables volunteers to enhance their CV, learn new skills and give something back to the local community.
”NRSB is working in partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind to deliver the exciting new My Guide scheme and we are thrilled that Nottinghamshire will be one of the first regions in the UK to implement the initiative, which promises to deliver so much, not only for local blind and partially sighted people but also for the volunteers who choose to get involved.”
Volunteers will need to take part in a nationally recognised training course, developed by Guide Dogs and endorsed by VISION 2020, the umbrella body for visual impairment. The new skills learned will make a valuable contribution to the volunteer’s own CV and all volunteers must be prepared to go through a Criminal Records Bureau check.
All volunteers will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have helped to change the life of a local blind or partially sighted person by becoming a My Guide volunteer and giving the gift of independence this Christmas.
More information on how to become a My Guide volunteer is available from
Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind, Ortzen Street, Radford, Nottingham, NG7 4BN. volunteer@nrsb.org.uk , www.nrsb.org.uk, 0115 9706806.
