Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, hosted a Big Help Out event at its Centre of Wellbeing in Llandudno as part of the King’s Coronation celebrations.
On Monday 8 May the centre opened its doors and welcomed over 100 people with an interest in volunteering.
The event was an opportunity for those looking to volunteer to find out what roles were available with Blind Veterans UK as well as other organisations from the local area.
The charity welcomed the Conwy County Sea Cadets, Aberconwy Squadron Air Cadets, the Army Cadets, the Military Preparation College and the Bangor and 6th Colwyn Bay Scout groups to the centre to share their own volunteering opportunities with members of the public and to promote the benefits of joining a cadet force.
As a result of the event, nine people have signed up to volunteer with Blind Veterans UK and the other organisations present were able to sign up volunteers too.
Rosina Hearn, Community Engagement Lead at the Llandudno Centre said:
“We’re incredibly proud to have played our own small part in the Big Help Out initiative. It’s been so inspiring to see the activity that took place up and down the country.
“The aim of the event was to inform people about the huge variety of volunteering opportunities in the local area for both adults and children, but the day also saw friendships being made and lots of laughter.
“We were entertained on the day by the Sea Cadets who treated us to drill and semaphore displays and the Scouts taught everyone a campfire song. Our blind veterans also got involved with some team building games with the Scouts and Cadets and blind veteran Billy Baxter opened the event in his role as Llandudno Town Crier.
“It was wonderful to see the centre so busy and full of energy, we think the Big Help Out was a tremendous success.”
Volunteers are absolutely vital to the work Blind Veterans UK does rebuilding lives after sight loss. There are so many ways to volunteer, you could provide crucial companionship by visiting a blind veteran at home or befriending them over the phone, you could drive a veteran to appointments or help at events.
To find out more about volunteering roles available at Blind Veterans UK visit blindveterans.org.uk/volunteer
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/support
