2024 marks the 3^rd year The Deep have partnered with the Guide Dogs North East branch to deliver a Community and Corporate Sighted Guide Training session to The Deep’s Crew.

Much like learning how to perform first aid, sighted guiding is a useful and important life skill. The training is designed to give people the confidence to know how to support someone who is blind or partially sighted, including the guiding techniques to help them if they need it.

The tailored training session began with an introduction to eye conditions and sight loss, discussing some of the barriers to independence and emotional consequences people with a visual impairment may face. This included interactive elements such as an engaging myth-busting quiz and group discussions. There was also an additional opportunity to try on glasses which mimicked the impact sight loss conditions, like glaucoma and cataracts, can have on a person’s vision.

Following the introduction, the Guide Dogs team split The Deep’s Crew into pairs to participate in the practical element. This involved teaching the crew best sighted guiding techniques, with one Crew member wearing a blindfold whilst the other uses their ‘Guiding Arm’ to guide them effectively around the aquarium.

Overall, the training covered how to safely guide someone with a visual impairment whilst navigating a range of potential obstacles, narrow spaces and stairs around the aquarium. It was equally a brilliant session for crew engagement, and a useful team bonding and learning exercise.

Katy Duke, Chief Executive Officer at The Deep, said:

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Guide Dogs team for delivering another successful sighted guide training session to our Crew.”

“Each session has been invaluable in teaching how to safely guide blind or partially sighted adults around the aquarium, with confidence, skill and empathy.”

“Nearly 50% of people with a vision impairment say they can feel isolated and cut off from the people and places around them. We are proud to be joining forces with Guide Dogs to change this statistic, and help improve accessibility and inclusivity for visitors with sight loss in our aquarium.”

Kelle Myers, Sighted Guide Training Officer at Guide Dogs, said:

“At Guide Dogs we are committed to working with organisations like The Deep to ensure spaces are inclusive for people with sight loss. Being able to offer sighted guiding support can make all the difference to someone’s day.

“It’s been great working closely with The Deep who are dedicated in supporting visitors and making sure their teams are confident and equipped with the skills they need to provide the best experience possible. We hope the training helps to raise awareness to staff and visitors of the benefits of being able to provide sighted guiding support and inspire other organisations and attractions to take part.”

Whether you meet a customer with sight loss at work, in your volunteer role, or when you’re out and about, taking a few moments to offer guiding assistance can make a huge difference to their day. Guide Dogs works with visitor attractions across the country, to ensure they are accessible for people with sight loss and to stop illegal access refusals. To find out more about Guide Dogs’ sighted guide training, visit https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/sighted-guide-training/.