Volunteering

Become a My Guide volunteer. Change a life.

Person with visual impairment being guided across the street

180,000 blind and partially sighted people find it hard to leave home alone. You can change that.

The new My Guide service helps people with sight loss get out of their homes and back into the community. My Guide aims to reduce the isolation that many blind people experience, helping to rebuild their confidence and regain their independence.

As a My Guide volunteer you will be partnered with a visually impaired person for three to six months.  You will receive training endorsed by VISION 2020, the umbrella body for organisations focussed on visual impairment, that will give you the skills to confidently guide blind and partially sighted people.

The role involves:

  • guiding your partner to participate in social and leisure activities
  • helping your partner establish lasting relationships with community members who can, in turn, help them get out more
  • working with your partner to set clear goals that help them become more independent - not dependent

What does this mean in practice?

You will help your partner get and about and do the things that others take for granted. This might be regular trips to the shops, a coffee house, social club or even the local bingo. When you are there you will help them meet people such as shop assistants or club members, who can provide support on an ongoing basis.

You will not be asked to do any domestic activities, such as cleaning or cooking.

Can anyone volunteer?

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, male or female, young or old, retired, studying or working.

However, volunteers must be over 18 and able to commit to a minimum of two hours per week.

All volunteers are subject to Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

How to get involved

To become a My Guide volunteer, please contact us:



A life changing experience: Des’s story

My Guide volunteer Parveen, 29, was matched with Des, 48, who has severe sight loss. Des lives in a top floor flat and rarely left home. He was dependent on his elderly father to take him out.

Parveen began guiding Des to a local cafe and helped him become familiar with his surroundings. She also introduced him to people at the café and local shops, who now feel confident offering Des support when he visits.

This gave Des the confidence to progress to long cane training and he is now able to get out and about on his own.

The partnership with Parveen has been a life-changing experience for Des. Once virtually housebound, Des now regularly goes out and has formed lasting friendships within his community.