1110: Sightline - 1 to 1 Telephone Befriending Service for Blind and Partially Sighted People

<div>In this age of technology, social media and video calling it is so easy to keep in touch with friends and family but for many blind and partially sighted people just being able to pick up the telephone and talk with someone else who is visually impaired is so important for so many reasons even if it is just to have a chat.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>The RNIB of course has the Talk and Support group telephone befriending service but if you are looking for a one to one service then   Sightline, a UK wide charity based up in Lancashire, is here for you.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Rebecca Billington, Sightline Engagement and Marketing Manager to find out more about their one to one telephone befriending service.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Rebecca began by giving Toby a bit of background to how Sightline first started and how their telephone befriending service works, why it is so important that the telephone befrienders are visually impaired or have a close family member or friend who is visually impaired, along with the training that the volunteer befrienders receive and the measures that are in place to keep the regular one to one calls secure and safe. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>Rebecca also shared with Toby some of the feedback they have received from both visually impaired users of the service as well as feedback from volunteer befrienders.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>For more about Sightline and their one to one telephone befriending service do call their free telephone number on  0800 587 5522 or visit their website - <a href="https://www.sightline.org.uk">https://www.sightline.org.uk</a><br> <br> <br> (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)</div>