Sight loss charity seeks new volunteers (From Halesowen News)

Sight loss charity seeks new volunteers

8:00am Monday 28th January 2013 in News

A HOME visiting service supporting people with sight loss across the borough has launched an appeal for volunteers.

The Stourbridge based Pocklington Resource and Information Centre's Visually Impaired People (VIP) project is a free home visiting service which supports blind and partially-sighted people living in their own homes by offering company, help with reading and correspondence and to go out on trips in the community.

Volunteers visit service users weekly or fortnightly for about one-and-a-half to two hours.

Vivien Smith, volunteer co-ordinator, said: “Lottery funding has helped the home visiting service to develop and expand, and the project now also incorporates support for carers of those with sight loss; but we really need more people to volunteer.

"We are looking for people who have the time and willingness to offer support, are reliable, self-motivated and have good communication skills. All volunteers are offered a full induction for their role and they are then carefully matched to a person with sight loss who has been referred into the service, all mileage expenses are met.

“This is a rewarding opportunity and volunteers will be making a real difference to the lives of the people they support.”

A volunteer induction course will be held in March. No previous experience of working with people with sight loss is necessary.

The resource centre, based at the Mary Stevens Centre, Hagley Road, Oldswinford, is open weekdays from 9am to 4pm and it is part of the Thomas Pocklington Trust, a charity which aims to improve the quality of life of people with sight loss.

To find out more email vivien.smith@pocklington-trust.org.uk or call 01384 440333 or 01384 889887.