Blind Veterans UK launches new campaign

Blind Veterans UK, an organisation supporting vision-impaired ex-service men and women, teamed up with Specsavers on a campaign to encourage veterans to check if they could be eligible for support from the charity.

Sponsored by Specsavers, the campaign aims to find veterans who need support following sight loss.

The organisation supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but emphasised that “there are many thousands more” in need of support.

While Blind Veterans UK initially supported veterans who lost their sight in active service, they now help veterans regardless of the cause of their sight loss. The charity also supports emergency services personnel who have lost their sight while on duty.

Noeline Charlesworth, from South Wales, joined Blind Veterans UK after a diagnosis of wet and dry macular degeneration.

Encouraging others to reach out to the charity, Charlesworth said: “They give you so much support both physically and emotionally, it is life-changing. Go out there and grab Blind Veterans UK by the hand and don’t let them go.”

Second World War veteran, John McOwan, from Scotland, first contacted the charity in 2014. Sharing his experience, he said: “The charity has enabled me to live a more complete life and I would advise anyone who thinks they might be eligible for their support to go for it and find out what they can do for you.”

The charity’s website shares information and resources, as well as an eligibility checker for support from Blind Veterans UK.