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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

MSP joins in the fun with RNIB

This news post is over 4 years old
 

The charity launches its summer programme

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie joined a group of blind and partially sighted young people to go land-yachting on West Sands beach in St Andrews.

Rennie, MSP for North-East Fife, helped crew a tandem-style land-yacht provided by the St Andrews-based adventure company Blown Away.

The youngsters taking part were all members of a youth group run by the national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland whose members are aged from eight to 18. All are in mainstream education but often the only child with sight loss in their school. RNIB Scotland runs a weekly social club and supports children and young people with sight loss to take part in activities that they often would not be included in.

Rennie said: "The work of such youth groups is increasingly important in connecting communities across Scotland, especially to ensure children and young people with sight loss are also included in physical activities. We need to encourage and promote groups like this as they build confidence, offer peer support and can be a vital lifeline for many.”

Rennie is pictured with Rory (9) who has no sight in his left eye and said: "My favourite part was going round the corners at max speed!"

Jane Coates, community facilitator with RNIB Scotland, said: "Our summer programme happens every year and last year some of the kids asked to go land yachting. Blown Away have been great at accommodating the needs of the group, with tandem land yachts offered that fit two drivers."

There are around 3,000 children and young people living in Scotland with significant sight loss.