Dom's Sightline Story

Dom’s
Sightline Story

I first came across Sightline at an exhibition I went to close to where I live. I went with my Mum, and we got chatting with the two Sightline staff members.

I liked the sound of the volunteer telephone befriender role and being visually impaired myself, I felt I could offer my friendship over the phone to someone else in a similar boat to me.

The fact that it was so flexible as I work was a big plus point for me. My mum got me to complete the application there and then and the rest as they say, is history!

I’m approaching my one year befriending anniversary in August and the time has flown by.

I currently have two calls each week with two different people; both of whom have very different personalities and outlooks on life. That’s what makes the calls so interesting for me. I’m more than happy to chat about my interest in travel and Greek mythology but hearing their life experiences is interesting for me too.

I really feel my calls with Mike help him massively. He is out of work just now and in his late thirties like me. I offer him my advice on how I gained employment and told him how explaining what steps my employer can take to make role accessible for me; has been mutually beneficial. I’m lucky in that my employer makes reasonable adjustments so I can undertake my role; however, that isn’t Mike’s experience with his career so far.

I’m sure Mike appreciates using me as his sounding board, and our calls help him feel positive moving forwards with his job hunt.

The other chap I speak to is an older gentleman in his eighties. We just have conversations about his week and what he’s been up to, perhaps who has visited him or if his family have taken him out and about. He often tells me he’d be lost without our calls. On the days where he feels really down, we seem to find anything and everything to talk about that takes his mind off things and he soon feels better.

I’m really glad Mum and I took a trip to that exhibition back in August last year. Volunteering with Sightline is so easy to do and leaves you with such a good feeling; I’d definitely recommend other people to try it!