My Guide. Changing Lives

What a blind person needs is not a teacher but another self- Helen Keller

180,000 blind and partially sighted people find it hard to go out alone. We want to change that.

The new My Guide pilot scheme is a partnership between Guide Dogs and community organisations, which helps people with sight loss get out of their homes and back into the community. My Guide aims to reduce the isolation that many people with sight loss experience, helping to rebuild their confidence and regain their independence.

How does it work?

  • Guide Dogs works in partnership with local organisations to engage with blind and partially sighted people
  • Guide Dogs supports local organisations to recruit and deliver VISION 2020 endorsed training for volunteers
  • Service users and CRB-checked My Guide volunteers are then matched
  • Service users and My Guide volunteers work in partnership for three to six months, setting clear goals together
  • During the partnership, My Guide volunteers regularly guide service users to social and leisure activities, e.g. the shops, a café, or even the local bingo
  • My Guide volunteers then train up members of the service user's community (e.g. family, friends, members of local clubs) to support their ongoing independence

Enjoying his hobby again: Michael’s story

Michael, 41, has been blind since birth. He had recently moved to a new area and had no knowledge of his local town, so was unable to get out and about. Michael had previously been a keen rambler but now felt isolated and missed the independence he used to have.
 
Michael heard about My Guide and got in touch. He was matched with Lesley, a 36-year old volunteer, who guided him once a week for three months.  Lesley helped Michael get to know his local area and find out about the leisure and social groups available.

Both Michael and Lesley gained a huge amount from My Guide. As Michael became more familiar with his new location, his confidence increased enormously, and, with the support of community sighted guides, he was able to enjoy his hobby again by joining in his local walking group.

Lesley received training endorsed by VISION 2020 and learned new skills to enhance her CV. She also knows that by volunteering for My Guide she is helping to change the lives of blind and partially sighted people.