SIGHTED guides are needed to change the lives of people living with sight loss.

My Guide is a service provided by Guide Dogs (for the Blind) to support people who are living with sight loss to get out and about, to do the things they want to do. The role involves providing sighted guide assistance around the local community.

In a call for more volunteers to support the service, a spokesman for My Guide said: “You could be the person to change someone else’s life. Volunteer with us and we will match you with someone living with sight loss. Together you’ll work toward their personal aims, build their confidence and support them to reconnect with their community, interests and hobbies. We have people waiting for a volunteer to be matched with them.”

Anne, a My Guide volunteer, said: “I had never realised how important the My Guide role was until I volunteered with Guide Dogs. As a My Guide, you are matched wherever possible with a client with very similar interests and my first match was a success immediately. The client had been trained to use a cane and had me to support them getting on a bus into town, one of their goals. We would work together to orientate around bus stations, find the lifts in department stores, plus various other key places they might need.”

This fulfilling volunteering opportunity would suit someone who could spare two to three hours a week. Full My Guide training and ongoing support and supervision will be given. Volunteers must be aged 18 or over and would require a DBS check. Call Hazel Kelly on 0118 983 8892 or e-mail [email protected].