Phone volunteers are needed to help provide support to veterans with sight loss in the Highlands and Islands
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Sight Scotland volunteers provide support to blind veterans through a befriending service, calling members up for a weekly chat that provides often much-needed social connection.
Many of the veterans accessing the service struggle with social isolation and loneliness as a result of their sight loss.
The coronavirus pandemic has only intensified the problem.
Jeannette Harley, one of the outreach workers, described how key the work is: “Some older veterans with sight loss we support are housebound due to health and mobility reasons or have found the need to rebuild their confidence in going out into the community again due to the pandemic’s impact.
“Aside from with ourselves and health care workers many veterans with sight loss we support have very little social contact with other people.
“Our outreach team across Scotland are in touch regularly with veterans with sight loss in their region to provide emotional and practical support.
“Volunteer befrienders are a vital part of our team because they extend the social connections of those we support.
“A social telephone chat on a regular basis with a friendly, reliable person can really help individuals to feel less lonely and support their wellbeing and confidence building.”
Volunteers can also opt to take part in in-person befriending, visiting people’s homes for a face to face chat.
James Whyte, Sight Scotland veterans volunteer development manager, emphasised how helpful this role can be, not only for the veterans but also for the volunteers.
“As well as telephone befrienders, we are also seeking volunteers who would be willing to do in-person befriending locally – joining a veteran for a cuppa or accompanying them on a walk,” he said.
“These volunteer roles are so uplifting and rewarding, while making a big difference to someone’s life. The health and safety of our volunteers and service users is of paramount importance to us.”
To join the charity mission, visit the website or call 0131 446 2154.
