A group of visitors to Parliament felt privileged recently when they were allowed to ignore the “don’t touch” signs during a tour, enabling them to gain first-hand experience of the historic landmark.
Staff from the St Albans Guide Dogs mobility team joined 10 vision impaired volunteers as they enjoyed a touch tour of Parliament. Nine guide dogs also accompanied members of the group, who were welcomed by Connar McBain, parliamentary assistant for St Albans MP Anne Main.
Joanne Landucci, community fundraiser, organised the event as a unique thank you for the volunteers’ support of the charity. She said: “For most of us, this was our first visit to Parliament. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, appreciating the privilege to touch where sighted visitors are not permitted.”
The volunteers have given hours of hard work, enthusiastically supporting fundraising and awareness events.
There are currently 180,000 blind or partially sighted people in the UK, who rarely leave home alone.
Around 780 guide dogs are trained each year, half of which are to replace retired dogs.
The Guide Dogs are based at Park Street. See www.guidedogs.org.uk
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