A sight loss charity based in Greater Manchester is seeking fresh volunteers for its art gallery and museum group following a growth in popularity.
Henshaws, which serves those who are visually impaired across Greater Manchester, gets a group of people with visual impairments together for an art gallery or museum trip, using audio description and touch.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the meetings were held up to 11 times a year but following the lockdowns, they have been going ahead up to four times per year.
That hasn’t stopped those with visual impairments coming out in force, however, with 25 people attending the latest session at Gallery Oldham, where an expert social historian and a professional audio describer described to the group the details of artefacts, paintings and other materials from the era of local cotton mill worker Sam Fitton.
That’s prompted a renewed search for volunteer drivers and guides during this year’s Volunteering Week, which runs from 1 June to 7 June. Drivers would be required to pick up an attendee from where they live, drive them to the venue, attend the event and then drive them home. The volunteer also gets to share in the enjoyment of the event.
Guides, meanwhile, are also needed to meet an attendee from a tram stop or train station and make sure they safely arrive at the event.
Those who attend the events vary on the visual impairment spectrum. Some have partial sight, while others have no sight at all. Henshaws provide training to volunteers in visual impairment awareness and how to guide someone.
Fred Hernandez, 77, from Ardwick, was one person at the latest Gallery Oldham event. He is completely blind and has had trouble with his sight since the age of three years old after contracting measles. An operation to correct it failed.
Fred says: “I really enjoyed the event, and I enjoyed it because there was a lot of history. Plus, I really enjoy the social aspect and the people here.”
Mary Gifford, 75, from Withington, has been one of Henshaws’s volunteers since setting up the first art gallery outing more than 20 years ago. As well as hoping for more volunteers, she wants to break down some of the stigma around blind people and art.
She says: “It’s a misconception to think we need to see well to be able to appreciate art. Everyone can appreciate art but in different ways.
“Those who are visually impaired will form an impression in their head using the audio description. And if there’s touch involved, that can be extremely valuable.
“Ultimately, we want more volunteers so we can continue offering these group visits which are so important to many.”
Henshaws’s Director of Fundraising, Stephen Tongue, says: “The museum and art gallery trips are a lifeline for lots of our users who have sight loss.
“We need drivers and guides so we can continue meeting the demand of those who attend and so we can offer more events in the future. Anyone interested should get in touch with us by email on info@henshaws.org.uk or telephone 0300 222 5555.”
