The training

It is important that our visitors are trained and we offer all new volunteers a two-hour session at a local venue.

In order to be of most help to your client you need to be aware of how sight loss affects their ability to do certain things for themselves. You learn how you can help them to remain independent in their own homes, not always necessarily by doing things for them, but often by working out a way to help them to do it for themselves.

During the training session we show you some of the many blind aids that are available to help our clients.

The training sessions are run by the Homecall Scheme Manager, a retired Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired, and a representative from East Sussex Fire Service will give a brief talk on fire safety.

The session is split into several short sections, covering the contents of our training manual, two short video excerpts showing how our service works, a talk by the Rehabilitation Officer on different types of blindness, a short session on sighted guiding and, over coffee and biscuits, a look at some of the blind aids. The session closes with the short talk on fire safety in the home.During the training session you will learn that we place a very high importance on both confidentiality and respecting the dignity of each client.

Training normally takes place at the local Fire Station in Beeching Road, Bexhill. Click here for map