Rachel’s
Sightline Story
I have been a volunteer telephone befriender with Sightline for a few months now. I have been blind since birth and had a career with the RNIB, after which I offered my time volunteering for them with their befriending service. I chose to volunteer with Sightline as I realise the positive impact friendship has, particularly with visually impaired people and the feelings of isolation they may experience through their sight loss. I know I can’t change the world, but I can offer something to change my part of the world by offering friendship to others over the phone.
I started with 2 befriending calls each week and quickly realised the positive impact these calls have so offered to undertake more. I now speak with 5 befriendees on various days and times. All these friendships are different; my youngest befriendee in their forties with my oldest in their eighties; each of them on different sight loss journeys.
They all have totally different life experiences and interests to share too – from love of art to cars, families to music – all of which provide catalysts for lots of great conversations! I love hearing their way of looking at the world now – some struggling at times and that’s ok; life doesn’t always go the way we hoped, does it?
Day to day, being visually impaired can be a lonely experience. If the calls I make through Sightline can break up what can be a lonely, long day by offering a funny story or just a listening ear then I would do it ten times over.
I often remember that perhaps these people have had to leave their jobs or may have stopped driving due to their visual impairment; maybe they loved to read and now can’t anymore – what can I do to help?
In some instances, it is just being there to listen, nothing more. Other times it might be using my experiences to share tips to help at home. When my daughters were younger, I would take the ring pull off a can and tell them to hang their uniforms through it; that way I knew they’d be well turned out with the correct uniform for school. More recently, I helped a befriendee set up her Alexa device so that she is now able to say “goodnight” to her grandson at bedtime. A small tip that has made a big difference to her wellbeing each day.
It is so easy to volunteer your time as a telephone befriender with Sightline; it can be done at anytime and anywhere and is so rewarding.
My favourite befriending memory so far must be when one of my particularly lonely befriendees told me that just knowing I was watching the same TV programme at the same time, was a real comfort to her. Not only does it always provide a talking point to start our next conversation, but it is also something I didn’t realise could be so important to someone. Yes, she may live on her own, but she is comforted to know someone else is watching with her at the same time and that provides something to look forward to chatting about during our call in the days to come.
Name has been changed to protect identity.
We currently have a number of volunteering opportunities available. Please get in touch if you can spare as little as 1 hour a week.
Your call can really make a difference to someone living in the sight loss community.
Call 0800 587 2252 or email us at info@sightline.org.uk to find out more.
To find out more, please contact us:
(*0800 numbers are free to call from BT landlines and most mobile networks)