MERSEYSIDE HOMEBUILDERS HOST DINNER IN THE DARK TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR GUIDE DOGS

Merseyside housebuilders Barratt and David Wilson Homes recently hosted a ‘dinner in the dark’ event at their Pinewood Park development to help raise awareness of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

The event in Formby was attended by the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr June Burns, who joined the homebuilders to celebrate the work of the national assistance dogs charity.

Guests were encouraged to enjoy a three-course lunch whilst wearing a blindfold to raise awareness of those living with visual impairments. In attendance from the Guide Dogs were Tracey Digby, Community Fundraising Relationship Manager, and John Parkin, who is visually impaired himself. They were both accompanied by an assistance dog, Rishton, to the event.

Hosts at the housebuilders included Lee Bowers, Senior Sales Manager at Barratt Homes, and Ruth Morgan, Sales Adviser at David Wilson Homes. Everyone at the dinner was able to learn of John’s experience of living with a visual impairment, and the challenges he faces on a daily basis.

John said: “It was a real opportunity to share with interested parties and raise awareness about sight loss.

“It was also interesting to note how others who were not used to eating without their vision had to concentrate and become so focussed on how to eat the food. The event provided others with a sense of isolation, yet it was a really nice way to talk and share experiences with other people. I would like to do this event again.

“The food was very tasty and the people were great. Thank you to the organisers, it was a pleasure to be involved.”

Designed to raise awareness of the tasks people with visual impairments face every day, the aim of a ‘dinner in the dark’ event is to encourage people to rely on their taste and hearing senses, whilst engaging in more thought-provoking conversation.

Cllr June Burns said: “Thank you to Barratt and David Wilson Homes for inviting me along for a meal at Pinewood Park to promote the wonderful work of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

“I believe all of us around the table learnt some valuable lessons about the challenges faced by those who are visually impaired, some which thankfully we’ve not ever considered, such as eating a meal you can only smell.

“My biggest thank you goes to John who answered all of my questions so openly and gave me an insight into the relationship between a visually impaired person and their guide dog, and the vital role that Guide Dogs have.”

Pinewood Park is a brand new development, located on Liverpool Road, and is host to a collection of two, three and four bedroom properties.

Rhys Nicholson, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said: “We are thrilled to have supported the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in raising awareness of its work and we hope everyone enjoyed the event at Pinewood Park.”

Claire Jarvis, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes North West, said: “We’re very grateful for John attending to discuss his experiences and give everyone a new perspective on life with a visual impairment. Events such as these are fantastic, and we hope to continue our close relationship with the Guide Dogs in the future.”

To help those living with visual impairments, it costs £34,600 to breed and train a single guide dog and a total of £54,800 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement.