Ifty and Louise food shopping
Guide Dogs is appealing for volunteers across Birmingham who could help people with sight loss build confidence in their local area.
Partnerships are matched based on common interests and the service helps people with a visual impairment build their confidence, independence and do the things they enjoy.
Sighted Guide volunteer Louise is partnered with Ifty and the pair regularly meet up to do a range of activities across Birmingham.
Louise said: “I love being a sighted guide volunteer and Ifty and I get on really well. We enjoy walking to different places each time, doing a bit of shopping and just generally being outside in the sunshine. Ifty has such a great knowledge of the local area, although I am there to guide him, he’s the one who knows which route we need to take!
“The training and support you receive from the charity is great and I would recommend it to anyone, I find it really rewarding.”
Ifty said: “It is a great service, and we have a lovely time.
“I like to try new places and Louise’s help gives me more confidence to enjoy them.”
Volunteers undergo training to learn how to safely guide someone with sight loss and navigate different environments.
Beth Wise, a My Sighted Guide Volunteering Manager at Guide Dogs, said: “We have a growing number of people across Birmingham waiting for support from a volunteer sighted guide, who are keen to build their confidence again.
“Volunteers can give as much or as little time as they like.
“If you think you could help someone living with sight loss in your area, please get in touch.”
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 Beth Wise via [email protected], call 0800 781 1444 or visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteering.
