Blind centre flooded by recruits

The Beacon Centre for the Blind, in Wolverhampton Road East, Sedgley, says between 20 and 30 new volunteers have joined the charity since January – all of whom had been made redundant.

They are now taking the opportunity to gain new skills and qualifications by volunteering their time at the centre, which supports blind and partially-sighted people.

The number of volunteer recruits is already up by nine per cent compared to last year – and this figure relates purely to those who have joined the centre after losing their jobs.

Volunteer manager Emma Macaulay says the centre would normally expect a rise like that over a minimum of six months rather than the three months from January to March.

Miss Macaulay says volunteers are taking the chance to gain valuable experience which they can add to their CV while looking for work.

And some are even using it as an opportunity to retrain.

"I feel the rise of unemployment levels is really distressing for people who have lost their jobs, but I believe that having the opportunity to volunteer can offer some hope towards keeping an individual's experience fresh, as well as being able to gain knowledge and training in other areas."

Volunteers are able to study for a range of NVQs, allowing them to gain a recognised qualification in areas such as health and social care, retail and administration. "For some people it is an opportunity to undergo a complete change of career," said Miss Macaulay.

Despite the recent influx, the Beacon Centre for the Blind is always looking for new volunteer recruits.

Volunteers are needed for roles either based in the centre, such as youth club assistant or fundaising administrator, or out and about such as driving a van or helping in charity shops. For more information on volunteering with the Beacon Centre for the Blind, call Emma Macaulay on 01902 880111.