My Guide volunteer: Dave Skinner

Dave Skinner from Leigh has been a My Guide volunteer for Guide Dogs for the past 18 months.

The scheme sees volunteers paired with people with sight loss to support them as they get out of their homes and back into the community.

“I wanted to be able to give something back to the community and, as I enjoy working with people, My Guide was the ideal opportunity,” said the 40-year-old.

“I had bit of spare time and thought ‘why not?’”

The My Guide service was introduced last year following a survey which found that there are around 180,000 people affected by sight loss who rarely leave their home alone.

“There are a number of reasons why some people can’t have a guide dog, such as allergies or living arrangements, or they may be on the waiting list for a dog, so My Guide is there to help them get out and about where they can,” said Dave.

“Volunteering for My Guide is such a rewarding experience.”