Young people with sight loss to be supported by new RNIB project

RNIB and partner charity Guide Dogs NI have been awarded £332,848 through the National Lottery Community Fund for the ‘Our Futures’ project.

Over the next four years the project will support young people aged eight to 25 through key transition stages of their lives and encourage them to advocate for improvements in local services.

The project idea came about after children and young people with sight loss across the North told the charities that there is a lack of specialist support for them, particularly around key life changes such as moving to higher education and moving out; and also spoke of barriers that they need support to overcome such as using technology, finding a job and getting out and about independently.

James Douglas, who is 17, has reduced vision due to Oculocutaneous albinism, and was involved with the development of the Our Futures project.

He said: “I feel it’s very important to build life skills for living independently. In school, I rely on my classroom assistant to help with things, but when I move onto university, I’ll need to prepare to do things for myself, both in the classroom and wherever I end up living.

“Outside education, while I’m able to take part in blind sports like goalball and tennis, I feel there are barriers to taking part in other community activities. Youth workers in community groups need trained. Even though they try their best to accommodate me, it’s still difficult for it to be left to me to explain what they need to be doing.”

James added: “I think it is very important that young people get involved in this new project, meet other people with sight loss, and get the opportunity to build their confidence in putting their ideas forward and raising awareness of how we can all work together to overcome anything that seems to be standing in our way.”

Ten-year-old Freya Coyle is severely sight impaired due to Oculocutaneous Albinism and would love to learn how to dance.

Freya admits that she struggles with her sight at times. “It’s hard for me to see things in the distance. Sometimes I’m nervous letting the teacher know that I’m not able to see things. It makes me feel frustrated and tired,” she said.

“I’d like to have some confidence speaking for myself. So I think it’s important to be part of this project. I think it’s important to be able to do things for myself like tying laces, being able to cook and cut things with a sharp knife, and making coffee with my liquid level indicator,” Freya added.

Freya said she hopes to learn other new skills, such as using the computer and learning to dance. But she says it isn’t easy joining groups outside of school, because it is very fast moving.

For more information or to get involved with the Our Future project, e-mail [email protected] or telephone 0303 123 9999.