Celebrating Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week 2011 (June 1st-7th) highlighted the exceptional role SeeAbility volunteers play in the community. Matt Corcoran, who regularly volunteers at SeeAbility’s Denecroft in Guildford, is one such person.

SeeAbility, formerly The Royal School for the Blind, provides individually-tailored residential, supported-living and day services for people with a visual impairment and multiple disabilities. SeeAbility’s Denecroft is a small residential care home for six people which focuses on building independence and enabling each individual to reach their full potential.

As one of Denecroft’s volunteers, Matt has provided support for a wide range of learning and leisure opportunities which has made a tremendous difference to the lives of the people who live there.

Matt comments, “I enjoy the social aspect of my volunteering role and enjoy accompanying people on nights out. We love the local weekly disco - it’s brilliant to watch the people that I support dancing along to the music – they often dance non-stop all night! In particular I support a young man called Paddy who is blind and has other disabilities. He loves football and he would love to go to a live match. I am helping to prepare him by building a bond of trust between us and getting him used to being out amongst people. I’m learning about Paddy and the things that can have an impact on his life, so that I can provide him with the right support.”

Matt has been volunteering at Denecroft one day a week for over a year.