Vision Support Barrow & District launches Barrow Buddies
Vision Support Barrow & District logo.
Vision Support Barrow & District, (VSBD), a charity which supports people with vision impairments across South West Cumbria, has launched a new scheme to support people to become more active outside of their home, improving their confidence to make short and purposeful journeys.
The new scheme, Barrow Buddies, is funded by Active Cumbria’s Travel Actively Barrow programme, and matches up sighted guide volunteers with people who are vision impaired and socially isolated. Barrow Buddies will also hold weekly walks to improve fitness and mental wellbeing.
Siona Hartley, Travel Actively Development Officer at Active Cumbria“It [the project] has the potential to transform the lives of people with visual impairments, in terms of independent living and opportunities for social inclusion. Travel Actively’s mission is to enable people to undertake short and purposeful journeys via walking, and Barrow Buddies will be a significant step towards this aim.”
“Travel Actively are funding the start-up of this inspirational project for a year, but we believe its legacy will result in a sustained offer for many years to come, supporting the visual impaired community in Barrow, as well as the development of a growing cohort of trained and skilled volunteers, who are integral to the success of the project.”
Barrow Buddies comes at an exciting time for the charity having just launch their new three-year strategy – VSBD which sets out ambitions for the new scheme along with other existing and upcoming services. Vision Support Barrow & District currently supports over 900 blind and partially sighted people. However, they know that there are many more people across South West Cumbria who could benefit from their support.
As part of Barrow Buddies, the charity is looking for volunteers who will support people who are vision impaired to make short and purposeful journeys, supporting them to build their confidence to do this independently. The volunteer will meet the client at their home and go for short walks, for example to a shop, park or a cafe, with a view to the client eventually making the journey alone after their confidence has increased.
Alongside the sighted guide scheme, Barrow Buddies will also be hosting regular walking groups meeting at the Vision Support Centre at 67/69 Cavendish Street before setting off across Barrow and surrounding areas. Upcoming walks include:
- Wednesday 26th February 2025 – Barrow Park, 9:45am
- Wednesday 5th March 2025 – Channel Side Walk, 9:45am
- Wednesday 12th March 2025 – Ford Park, Ulverston, 9:45am
- Friday 21st March 2025 – The Strawberry Pub, 1:00pm
- Wednesday 26th March 2025 – Barrow Cenotaph, 9:45am
The Barrow Buddies walking group is a closed group for Barrow-based people with vision impairments. If you would like to attend please register by emailing Andrew McIntosh.
Relevant training will be delivered to all volunteers. If you would like to become a Barrow Buddy or learn more please email VSBD or call 01229 440556.
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