A charity has launched a new scheme to help people with vision impairments become more active outside their homes.
Barrow Buddies, from Vision Support Barrow and District, is funded by Active Cumbria’s Travel Actively Barrow programme, and matches up sighted guide volunteers with people who are vision impaired and socially isolated.
Barrow Buddies will also hold weekly walks to improve fitness and mental wellbeing.
Siona Hartley, travel actively development officer at Active Cumbria, said: “It has the potential to transform the lives of people with visual impairments, in terms of independent living and opportunities for social inclusion.
“Travel Actively’s mission is to enable people to undertake short and purposeful journeys via walking, and Barrow Buddies will be a significant step towards this aim.
“Travel Actively are funding the start-up of this inspirational project for a year, but we believe its legacy will result in a sustained offer for many years to come, supporting the visual impaired community in Barrow, as well as the development of a growing cohort of trained and skilled volunteers, who are integral to the success of the project.”
The charity is looking for volunteers who will support people who are vision impaired to make short and purposeful journeys, supporting them to build their confidence to do this independently.
The volunteer will meet the client at their home and go for short walks, for example to a shop, park or a cafe, with a view to the client eventually making the journey alone after their confidence has increased.
Alongside the sighted guide scheme, Barrow Buddies will also be hosting regular walking groups meeting at the Vision Support Centre at 67/69 Cavendish Street before setting off across Barrow and surrounding areas. Upcoming walks include:
- Wednesday February 26 – Barrow Park, 9.45am
- Wednesday March 5 – Channel Side Walk, 9.45am
- Wednesday March 12 – Ford Park, Ulverston, 9.45am
- Friday March 21 – The Strawberry Pub, 1pm
- Wednesday March 26 – Barrow Cenotaph, 9.45am
The Barrow Buddies walking group is a closed group for Barrow-based people with vision impairments. To attend register by contacting Andrew McIntosh at [email protected]
Relevant training will be delivered to all volunteers. To become a Barrow Buddy or learn more email [email protected] or call 01229 440556.
The charity has just launched its new three-year strategy which sets out ambitions for the new scheme along with other existing and upcoming services.
Vision Support Barrow & District currently supports over 900 blind and partially sighted people. However, it said it knew there were many more people across South West Cumbria who could benefit from their support.
