Minibus Drivers
Fife Society for the Blind’s volunteer minibus drivers play a vital role in the organisation by transporting those with a sight loss to one of the many blind social clubs held throughout Fife. Some of our blind and partially sighted clients are unable to travel on public transport. Without Minibus Drivers, many blind people wouldn’t be able to attend and for some, it may be their only outing of the week. This is an important and rewarding volunteering opportunity. To become involved, all Minibus drivers are required to undertake MIDAS (Minibus Drivers Awareness Scheme) training that FSB can arrange. So, if you’ve ever fancied yourself as a bus driver and enjoy helping others then make contact and get involved. This is a skill you can add to a CV. If driving is your passion or pastime, please get in touch.
Experienced Volunteer with Typing/keyboard skills
Blind and partially sighted people receive 1st class training in Information Technology (IT) here at Fife Sensory Impairment Centre (FSIC) in Kirkcaldy. However, though they receive excellant one-to-one training from the Tutor, an extra pair of hands or ‘eyes’ in this case is required to assist clients with their keyboard skills. You might be a retired secretary or out of work admin worker but you could still be putting yours kills to good use by helping out. Support and training given.
Blind Swimming
Every Tuesday between 12.00pm-1.00pm a small group of blind swimmers and sighted volunteers meet at Glenrothes Institute to enjoy a quiet swim, 10 minutes in the sauna and to finish off a quick bite to eat in the café. 1 or 2 sighted volunteers would be an additional welcome to this friendly group. The ability to swim would be an obvious help but don’t worry if you’ll never be the next Ian Thorpe, David Wilkie or Sharon Davis just come with the willingness to help out. If you’re a car driver and can pick people up so much the better. A mileage allowance, training and support given.
Befriending Volunteers
Befriending Volunteers are needed to visit blind or partially sighted people in their own home for a social chat on a weekly or fortnightly basis. It may include taking a blind person out for a coffee or a run in the car, accompanying them to an activity in their community, a 1 off shopping trip, to perhaps helping with a more practical task, like assisting someone with their mail/correspondence. Befriending can make such a huge difference to someone’s quality of life and help alleviate the loneliness and isolation they may experience.
Fundraising
As you can imagine, all this doesn’t happen without financial resources and raising funds is essential to maintain our high level of voluntary services. Sighted and non-sighted people are always needed to collect at one of our many street or store collections held throughout Fife. This is a fun outing and some of our collectors inform us that they receive more compliments and attention from the general public than they do from their own family and friends! Help us share the load by donating an hour to two of your time a year – the results go along way.
This is just a sample of some of the Volunteering Opportunities that are available. As a needs led organisation, Fife Society for the Blind’s voluntary services strive to accommodate as many different requests for assistance from Blind and Partially sighted people throughout Fife as is possible. New Volunteers are never left on their own but are ‘buddied’ alongside more experienced Volunteers. We run many other social and recreational activities that require sighted help so go on…………..
klick here to find out more……..or just get in touch. If you have an hour to two to spare a week, a month or a year – Fife Society for the Blind can use you. We look forward to welcoming enquiries from people from all areas of Fife.
Contact us!