My Sighted Guide
To support a person with sight loss to safely navigate the environment, building self-confidence and increasing social interaction; whilst maintaining dignity and promoting independence.
“I really care about making a difference – it is brilliant to be a part of watching someone else go on to achieve something with encouragement” – Joe, My Sighted Guide volunteer
What you’ll be doing
We rely on volunteers like you to help us improve the lives of people with sight loss. In this role your support will include:
- Providing sighted guide assistance on a regular basis to someone with a visual impairment to help increase their confidence, varying from 6 weeks to 12+ months.
- Provide the service at agreed times/location based on the mutually agreed activity plan.
- Maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to safeguarding procedures.
Provide regular feedback on progress and any issues that may arise in the partnership to the line manager.
Ideally you will have/be:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Patience and flexibility.
- Act in a non-judgemental way, without discrimination.
If you don’t feel you tick every box but are sure this role is the one for you, please drop us a message and tell us why. You may have something to offer that we didn’t even know we wanted and would love to talk it through with you to see
what’s possible!
You’ll get
Volunteering is a two-way street, so in return for your time you will get a dedicated volunteer manager/key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with us. You’ll also get:
- Make a life-changing difference to someone in need in your community.
- Gain skills and experience whilst doing an activity that you enjoy.
- Meet new people within your community and across Guide Dogs.
- Increasing the independence, dignity and wellbeing of people living with sight loss through the delivery of the My Guide service.
Training and support
This role has 2 days of mandatory training and then you’ll be ready to go! These modules include:
- 1 Day Sighted Guide training and certificate upon completion of training
- Guide Dogs safeguarding training
If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your interview along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.
Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy.
What we need from you
Criminal Disclosure check necessary? Yes, this role requires that you have an Enhanced Disclosure.
We are working hard to make sure anyone who wants to, can volunteer for Guide Dogs, but at the moment we have a minimum age of 18 for this particular role.
Not sure this is the role for you?
Pop over to www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer and find out what else we have available.