Guide Dogs launches life changing new scheme in the East Riding
Wed 19th July 2017
On Friday 7th July Guide Dogs held the launch event for their new exciting East Riding My Guide Service.
The Event brought together the Health Trust, Local Government Staff and representatives from community based partner organisations to understand the value that My Guide can bring to those from our community living with sight loss and resulting social isolation. This new service is supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council through a Connecting Communities grant.
Nationally there are over 180,000 visually impaired people socially isolated due to their disability, our new service will bring independence to blind and partially sighted people in the East Riding. The pilot My Guide service, will help people with sight loss get out of their homes and regain their confidence and independence. The scheme matches blind and partially sighted people with a trained volunteer who will spend a few hours a week, guiding their partner 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.
Guide Dogs is actively recruiting volunteers who want to make a real difference to the lives of visually impaired people in Hull and East Riding, by spending a few hours a week helping blind or partially sighted people get back into the community.
Suzanne Allott, My Guide Ambassador for Guide Dogs said, “The scheme will help to change the lives of people who have become isolated because of their sight loss. Volunteering to become a sighted guide is a valuable skill for individuals and it’s a tangible way of making a difference to a blind or partially sighted person’s life today.”
Anybody who feels that they could benefit from this scheme or have friends or family that might be interested should contact Guide Dogs to find out more about taking those first vital steps to changing their life.
“Guide Dogs recognises that dogs are not the solution for everyone,” said Suzanne. “My Guide is a life changing scheme for the visually impaired. Losing your sight is an extremely difficult experience that leaves many people feeling isolated and alone. If you or a family member need help taking the first steps back on the road to independence, then please do get in touch.”
Here is a quote from one of our newest volunteers. Shannon is a student at York University who came along to some My Guide Sighted Guide training provided by Guide Dogs at Halifax college and really enjoyed the experience. She said “The training was interesting, I really enjoyed it. I knew I wanted to volunteer with guide dogs as I think they’re an amazing charity and thought that if I became a My Guide I’d not only help the charity but be directly helping a person to be independent."
To find out more about the scheme or becoming a volunteer please contact Guide Dogs on 0118 983 8753 or email hull@guidedogs.org.uk
