VOLUNTEERS eager to help their local Guide Dogs for the Blind mobility team are being encouraged to get in touch with the charity.

The group is searching for people to help out with the dogs, from walking the puppies to looking after the brood bitches, or mothers of the guide dogs, but they also have roles for others wanting to help.

Ruth Oliver, from Worcester, is a volunteer puppy walker.

She said: "Sight loss is life changing, but so are guide dogs, not just for the people who need them to get out and about but also to volunteers and their families, you become part of a bigger family with lots of support and lots of satisfaction from the difference you make."

The rewards for taking part are also highlighted by Sue Bushell, the teams community engagement officer.

She added: "You know what you are doing is the right thing when you receive a letter in the office that says, 'Thank you for entrusting me with one of your Guide Dogs, I hadn’t left the house alone for seven years and now I go out everyday'.

"The Guide Dog Service does not receive any government funding and relies on fundraising to maintain and improve its service, not only do we train dogs we train human sighted guide volunteers too as part of our my guide scheme, we could not survive without our volunteers."

The local Guide Dogs Mobility Team is holding a coffee morning on Saturday, February 14, between 9am and noon at Costa Coffee Crossley Retail Park in Kidderminster.

To find out more information contact Birmingham Mobility Team on 08453 727434 or email Birmingham@guidedogs.org.uk.