FINDING YOUR FEET
01.03.11
The body providing support and services for blind and visually impaired people has unveiled its most extensive training scheme, to be rolled out across South Wales.
Cardiff Vales and Valleys, part of the RNIB Cymru Group, has launched a first for Wales in ‘Finding Your Feet,’ a six week programme developed by people with sight loss in all aspects of life from shopping, travel and handling personal finances.
Carol Adams, the Head of CVV said: “This is the most important development in our sector for many years, imparting the practical knowledge built up by people with sight loss over many generations.
As well as location skills, one of the most important developments will be the financial inclusion it encourages. In terms of access to banking and financial services people with sight loss are hugely disadvantaged and we are providing them with the ability to overcome these challenges.
We have successfully piloted Finding your Feet in Cardiff and the Vale, and now we will be rolling out throughout South Wales in coming months.”
To help convey the everyday challenges faced by people, CVV chose to launch the scheme with a mountain rescue expert at the Capitol Shopping Centre in Cardiff.
Phil McElveenof Central Beacons Mountain Rescue accompanied by search and rescue dog Holly, was equipped with blindfold glasses to experience shopping without sight for himself.
Phil McElveen said: “We are trained to find people in the harshest of conditions but even in a modern shopping centre with the very best facilities, I was shocked by how disoriented I felt. Without the help of a sighted guide, I would have been all at sea. I wish CVV all success with their innovative and important scheme.”
Carly Malone, Inclusion and Employment Officer who developed the course with Marie Francis said: “We believe no one is better qualified to design and deliver a course that require skills and confidence to get out and about, than people with sight loss like ourselves.
This is all part of our drive to empower as well as support blind and partially sighted people with information and skills to live more independent lives.”
The course runs over six weekly sessions of around three hours in duration and people can go along to as many days as they would like.
For more information on course dates and times, please contact Carys Henry on 0845 605 6545.