Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Question about volunteer work (self.Blind)
submitted by Joeyoups
Hi folks, I'm not blind and haven't met many blind or visually impaired people. I hope it's not patronizing to ask this here and let me know if it is. I recently saw an ad for the Royal National Institute for Blind People looking for volunteers to have a chat with people that are a bit isolated due to this virus, but when I read into it it seemed really strict, arranged and formal (you have a manager) it's like it was taking the pleasantness out of a simple chat
I'm a gas engineer, I fix boilers and i'm just a normal bloke. I worked in a house with a blind tenant who said he wasn't getting out much or meeting anyone. Had a good chat with him, just two men chatting for half an hour about any old shit, and he said it was nice to have a laugh.
Is there any other way that I could just put myself out there like that rather than through all these hoops and managers and 2 hour time slots?
I hope this wasn't patronizing, didn't mean it to be just curious and the man I met got me thinking.
I'm a gas engineer, I fix boilers and i'm just a normal bloke. I worked in a house with a blind tenant who said he wasn't getting out much or meeting anyone. Had a good chat with him, just two men chatting for half an hour about any old shit, and he said it was nice to have a laugh.
Is there any other way that I could just put myself out there like that rather than through all these hoops and managers and 2 hour time slots?
I hope this wasn't patronizing, didn't mean it to be just curious and the man I met got me thinking.
KillerLag 4 points 2y ago
It might be specific to that program. Here in Canada, we have a similiar program, and while it isn't quite as strict, we do have managers and other rules. Part of that is because many clients (especially older clients) are considered vulnerable (when I get my police screening, they do something called a Vulnerable Sector Check, which checks more stuff). The RNIB may have similar rules.
Joeyoups [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah I understand. I already have criminal record checks because lots of the tenants are vulnerable. I don't want either party to disclose any sensitive information or anything, and I know it really sounds like I'm trying to be a hero but I just thought this fella looked pretty down due to isolation from lockdown. Another concern was that the calls are likely screened, and I don't think that's fair because some inappropriate conversations are the most fun, and the RNIB scheme seemed that you'd be walking on eggshells.
CloudyBeep 2 points 2y ago
Try the Be My Eyes app. Sometimes, after you help someone, they may have time for a chat.
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