Youth social action
Embark on a journey of a lifetime with our Youth Action Project and make your mark in your local blind and visually impaired community.
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Sioned's story
“Hi, I’m in my second year of studying Animal Management Level 3 at college, and I work part-time as an animal carer. I’ve supported Guide Dogs in a number of ways over the last 10 years. As well as fundraising in my free time, I volunteered as a guide to help blind or partially-sighted people complete a sponsored walk in my local community.
“I organised a bake sale at my school, which was a great way to raise money and awareness. I found that many of my classmates seemed to know a lot about guide dogs, but not much about the people who need them. This gave me the idea to do a school presentation about Guide Dogs.
“I gave an insight into the different obstacles and dangers, such as bins and parked cars on pavements, that impact a vision-impaired person’s ability to get around safely with their guide dogs.
“Normally, I find presentations difficult due to my dyslexia. But talking about Guide Dogs gave me a confidence boost. I can now stand in front of a large group of people and speak confidently about other subjects.
“I’ve been very fortunate to see how much of a difference a guide dog can make to someone’s life. My ‘Nain’ (grandmother) started going blind and it got so bad that she needed a guide dog to help her get around. And after my ‘Taid’ (grandfather) passed away, having a dog helped her stay independent and confident. She’s always out now, going dancing or volunteering with friends!
“It’s amazing how the dogs change people’s lives. When I finish college, I’d love to work for Guide Dogs as a dog trainer or mobility instructor. But for now, I will help out when I can.”
Youth Action Project story pack – five to 13-year-olds
Our Youth Action Project story lesson plans and learning resources for children under the age of 14 years highlights the importance of sharing stories and reading books - something our large print CustomEyes Books give children with a visual impairment.
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