WHAT ANDREW KNEESHAW DID NEXT

Type of post: Newsletter
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: David Harris
Status: Current
Date Posted: Thu, 9 Jun 2022

The heartwarming companionship which has opened up a whole new world for Beverley man

Andrew Kneeshaw and Lewis Smith have developed a great companionship

 
Guide Dogs are looking for more volunteers like Andrew
Guide Dogs are looking for more volunteers like Andrew (Image: Guide Dogs)

When Andrew Kneeshaw moved to Beverley he wanted to take up volunteering again, having previously volunteered as a Puppy Raiser and Breeding Dog Holder for Guide Dogs, who have a community team based in the town.

While his previous volunteer experience involved being a vital part of the early socialisation and education of guide dog puppies, he was now keen to have a direct impact on those with sight loss, and signed up to Guide Dogs’ My Sighted Guide service as a volunteer in 2019.

Guide Dogs’ My Sighted Guide service helps blind or partially sighted people get out and about. The idea is to build confidence by matching someone with a sighted person who can support them to explore their local area, try new activities and provide help getting around.

Volunteers undergo training and learn to safely guide someone with sight loss, navigating environments and building self-confidence – all whilst increasing social interaction with those who may not otherwise wish to leave their home. Andrew was partnered soon after he applied, with Lewis Smith. Lewis has Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) – a genetic condition.

As a teenager he would walk into things, which he assumed was because of his long hair, but in fact was the sight in his left eye which had gone. Eventually Lewis lost most of his sight when he was 18 years old and he now has limited light perception and some colour perception.

From walks around Beverley town centre, to trips to Hull for shopping and eating out, Andrew and Lewis do all sorts together. While the pandemic meant they had to switch to phone calls during lockdown rather than going out and about, they were able to get back to face to face visits as restrictions lifted.

Andrew guiding Lewis through Beverley
Andrew guiding Lewis through Beverley (Image: Guide Dogs)

Andrew said: “We go to the cinema, we’ve had a go a running on the Westwood, we’ve been on a couple of history walks round Hull with an amateur historian friend of mine and have even taken part in a game of boules. And we do quite a lot of talking!

“While I’ve always enjoyed supporting the dog-side of Guide Dogs, it’s been great to get involved with a more person-centred role. Being a My Sighted Guide volunteer has really brought an extra dimension to my life - meeting and helping someone beyond my normal circle of activity.

“Lewis is a very interesting and positive individual with whom I share many interests, so our meetings are always stimulating and full of conversation. It’s something that I really look forward to and I’m sure I get as much out of it as he does!"

Andrew and Lewis continued to keep in touch during the Covid-19 lockdowns and when it was safe to do so, were one of the first My Sighted Guide partnerships to be reinstated – they have now started meeting up again every two or three weeks.

Lewis says: “I mainly wanted a volunteer to help me to get to places which, with my sight situation, I had no way of getting to. Even with long cane and mobility training, which I’m confident with, there are just places you can’t access or if you can, it’s stressful and not any fun.

"At the time, my partner wasn’t independently mobile, so we couldn’t get out for walks and I was new to Beverley and hadn’t been able to explore past the essential places. I could use technology to know what shops etc were around, but not then know how to get to it!

“Having a My Sighted Guide volunteer to help me discover what is available and how to get there, has been really useful for me and my partner too. My mum recommended the service when I first lost my sight - I didn’t go for it then because I was worried that I’d be matched with someone I didn’t click with or have things to talk about with. I kick myself now for not doing it sooner!

“We’ve explored Beverley, we go to cinema, I can nip into places when I’m with Andrew which I couldn’t on my own. It’s all very laid back now and nice that it feels like just two people hanging out. Silly things make an impact, like I can buy random things when Andrew is there to help with descriptions, which I wouldn’t have bought otherwise.

“It’s very basic but when you can’t do much, it means the world. Just having the ability to go for long two hour walks to places I couldn’t normally access is great.”

Suzanne Allott, My Sighted Guide Partnerships Officer from Guide Dogs, said: This service is here to provide support for people with sight loss – whether they have a guide dog or not. Visually impaired people are matched with a trained volunteer sighted guide with a view to retaining their independence in getting out and about on their own terms.

“This often leads to trusting companionships and Andrew and Lewis have found this in each other. It’s been a privilege to be involved in this wonderful partnership which has achieved everything that we would hope for within a match.

“We are in need of new volunteers across Yorkshire to match with people on our waiting list and we’d encourage anyone to apply – it really is a very rewarding role. We’d also encourage anyone in Hull and East Yorkshire who is visually impaired and thinks they might benefit from the My Sighted Guide service to get in touch to see how we can support you.”

For more information on Guide Dogs’ My Sighted Guide service, or to find out how you can apply for support as a visually impaired adult, click here.