HEALTH & WELLBEING
Former RAF Police Corporal receives life-changing sight loss
support from Blind Veterans UK Whilst this story is about the experiences of a respected veteran, we wanted to include it because sight loss can happen at any time. It’s about knowing where to go… during operations or just as a ‘wake-up one day’ scenario.
W
hen former RAF Police Corporal Nicholas Barber started to lose his sight due to the
condition retinitis pigmentosa, the effects upon both him and his wife were life-changing.
Having to adjust to life with sight loss and give up many of his favourite pastimes, Nicholas lost his confidence, his job and became increasingly down. But, this has all changed now after Nicholas got in touch with national charity, Blind Veterans UK.
53-year-old Nicholas spent over 13 years in the RAF Police as a dog handler. Throughout his time in Service, he was stationed in Germany, the Falklands and the UK. After leaving the RAF, Nicholas went on to work for the National Blood Service where he met his wife.
After years of struggling with his sight loss, Nicholas contacted Blind Veterans UK to find out more about how the charity’s specialist support and services could help him. Since then, Nicholas has received vital practical and emotional support both at home and at the
charity’s centres in Brighton, Sheffield and Llandudno, North Wales, helping him to come to terms with his sight loss.
Nicholas says: “Blind Veterans UK has changed my life for the better. I have got my confidence back and I have realised I am not on my own; there are other people who are in the same situation as me.
“I’ve taken several courses at the Blind Veterans UK centres including photography. I go out on my own too now, something I wouldn’t have been able to do without Blind Veterans UK giving me my confidence back”.
Blind Veterans UK provides free, lifelong services and support to ex-Service men and women who are now battling severe sight loss. It doesn’t matter how a veteran loses their sight or when they served, Blind Veterans UK can help veterans to overcome the challenges of blindness, relearn vital life skills and live full, independent lives.
The charity’s training and rehabilitation centres also offer recreational activities, such as sport and arts and crafts, which
help many to revisit skills they thought they could no longer do without their sight, or to discover new talents. Many also find that Blind Veterans UK is like a family, as meeting and learning from other veterans in a similar situation helps them to know that they do not need to battle blindness alone.
Contact Blind Veterans UK for vital support. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit
www.noonealone.org.uk.
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Envoy Spring 2015
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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