Volunteers Needed to Help Change Lives in Basingstoke

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association needs volunteers in Basingstoke to help improve the confidence and independence of visually impaired people. Some of those hoping for a volunteer have been waiting for many months, so getting involved could really help change someone’s life.

My Guide is a service that Guide Dogs offers whereby a trained, sighted guide, is partnered with someone with sight loss. My Guides accompany service users to facilitate tasks such as running errands, practicing everyday routes, using public transport, or going to the gym to build confidence in these areas.

Laura Robertson, My Guide Volunteering Manager, says “When someone loses their sight, they can also lose confidence; or in the worst cases become socially isolated. Introducing a My Guide into someone’s life makes a real difference. In volunteering a couple of hours a week, it can make the seemingly impossible, possible for a service user.”

Guide Dogs provides full training for all volunteers. To apply, go to the Guide Dogs website (https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/) and click on Volunteering or call the team on 01189 838 892.