Crowds at Leicester Mela to discover how guide dogs transform the lives of people with sight loss

For the first time ever, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association will have an information stand at the Leicester Belgrave Mela festival on Sunday July 12 2009. The stand will be close to the Clock Tower in the city centre.

Staff from the charity will talk to festival-goers about the huge positive difference a guide dog can make to someone with sight loss, and also the other ways Guide Dogs helps people – like training them to use a cane, or to get to grips with tasks like cooking dinner and cleaning.

Leicester guide dog owner Mahomed-Abraar Khatri will speak to visitors about his experiences of applying for, training with and owning a guide dog. He will appear on the main stage at 2pm.

Visitors will learn how a guide dog helps its owner get around safely and confidently by guiding them around obstacles, stopping at kerbs and steps, and finding doors, road crossings and places visited regularly. Working guide dogs will be showing off their skills in the dog display ring – a first for any Mela – and there will be chances to take a blindfold walk with a guide dog.

Guide Dogs wants to help people from all communities in and around Leicester who could benefit from a guide dog, or the other mobility and rehabilitation services it provides. As well as raising awareness of its work at the Melas, the charity hopes to learn more about how it can support and meet the needs of local black and minority ethnic communities.

Last year, Mahomed-Abraar Khatri became the first UK guide dog owner to receive Islamic guidance which enabled him to take his guide dog Vargo  into his local mosque – the Bilal Jamia Mosque. This followed Guide Dogs’ work with The Muslim Council of Britain to bring about a historic fatwa which supports the need for a blind person to own and ‘work’ a guide dog, including being guided to the mosque reception area for prayers.

Previously, Mahomed-Abraar could only go out if he was accompanied by a friend or family member. Now he goes where he wants, when he wants, and his confidence has grown – he even travelled to Cardiff for a cricket match. 

Mahomed-Abraar said: “I’m so much happier since I got my guide dog. I feel as though I’ve got my independence back. If you need mobility and don’t like to be guided by someone else, like me, having a guide dog is essential. They change your life. It’s as if your life is a bit more complete.”

Bridget Warr, Guide Dogs’ Chief Executive, said: “There is so much we can do to help blind and partially-sighted people overcome the isolating impact of sight loss, get out and about and live the lives they want. This help is available to everyone, and we can ‘tailor’ it to meet an individual’s needs, whatever their cultural background. If you think a guide dog could help you, or you know someone who might benefit from owning one, do come along and talk to us.”

Anyone who wants to find out more about what a guide dog can do and what guide dog ownership involves, or to discuss whether a guide dog might be suitable for them, can call Guide Dogs on 0845 372 7499. If they don’t want a guide dog, or a guide dog is not felt to be suitable, Guide Dogs can advise on other ways to maintain independence and make the most of existing mobility.