Donation keeps activities ‘on target’ at sight loss charity
Blind veterans staying at the Llandudno Centre of Wellbeing can continue their target practice in vision impaired (VI) shooting sessions thanks to a generous donation from North Wales Society of the Blind.
When the acoustic scope used with air rifles in the Blind Veterans UK VI shooting sessions became faulty, their Wellbeing Support team struggled to find a provider who could complete a repair and the cost of a replacement was excessive.
A chance conversation with a Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired (ROVI) at North Wales Society of the Blind hit the mark and the organisation, who provide practical support, information, and advice to people living with sight loss throughout North Wales, offered to donate shooting equipment to Blind Veterans UK.
VI shooting is a popular session with blind veterans staying at the Llandudno Centre of Wellbeing for rehabilitation and holiday breaks, and is an integral part of the popular Target Week activity break that takes place each year.
Vision Impaired (VI) shooting is challenge of accuracy and control, in which participants use air rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary target.
An audio signal from an acoustic scope is used to guide them in their aiming with the audio signal rising in pitch as the point of aim moves nearer to the centre of the target.
Anest Jeffery, ROVI at North Wales Society of the Blind said: “We have been working collaboratively with Blind Veterans UK Llandudno Centre for a number of years and have received donations of equipment to support partially sighted people in North Wales.
“When we heard that they were struggling with the VI shooting equipment we were pleased to be able to provide a solution by donating equipment not currently being utilised through our activities. It will be great to see the equipment getting regular use.”
Cameron Cairns, Wellbeing Support at Blind Veterans UK Llandudno Centre of Wellbeing said: “We were blown away by the generosity from North Wales Society for the Blind. When we told them that one of our acoustic scopes had broken, they offered to donate two acoustic scopes and an air rifle!
“This will make a huge difference to our sessions at the centre and mean that more of our blind veterans can take part in accessible sports. The opportunity to try activities such as air rifle shooting at our centres helps build confidence and is quite often the springboard for blind veterans to join clubs in their local area so they can continue enjoying sports at home.”
The new equipment has already been put to good use, with blind veterans hitting the rifle range as part of an Olympics themed week in Llandudno and will continue to be part of the weekly activity programme.
Later in the year, blind veterans hope to host a tournament with VI shooting enthusiasts from North Wales Society for the Blind as part of Target Week.
