Carol & Flora denied a Taxi CannockTaxi (Staffordshire England)

I am severely visually impaired and require the assistance of my guide dog Floraor other mobility aid in order to make journeys independently. Through this blog, I would be grateful if I could share my experience twelve months ago and its consequence, particularly to warn other guide dog users.

On 19^th December 2014 , I had been in Cannock (Staffordshire England) and needed to get  home to Burntwood after work. I approached the Cannock taxi rank from High Green with my guide dog and spoke to the driver of the first available  taxi. I asked if I could have a taxi and the driver informed me that he was waiting for a pre booked fare and was therefore unable to take me. I was surprised that he said this as he was on the rank.

Flora Dressed for Work

TO BE CONTINUED!!

Who has inspired me the most in my role?

Say it with folwers
Burntwood Fellowship entered Burntwood in Bloom competions

The person who has inspired me the most within the organisation's is Margret Coomby I first met Margaret in 1990 when I joined the Sedgley unit.

The first meeting was as if I had known Margret all my life, she was warm and welcoming and introduce me to all her volunteers. I found that Margret had built up the Sedgley unit along with John Kelly to one of the largest volunteer units in the West Midlands.  Whatever Margret asked of every volunteer they were always willing to help her, this shows what a warm kind, generous and hardworking unit manager she was. Margret never got any of her volunteers to undertake any duty that she was not prepared to take herselfe, she was always the first, but always the last to leave a duty.  Every volunteer were given personal challenges to grow within the organisation.  

When I moved back to Burntwood and took on the Burntwood Cadets and Badger unit,  I wanted to run the unit as Margret ran the Sedgley unit that was to be friendly non-clicky and for every volunteer to respect one another and have pride in their own abilities. Thank you Margret for your inspiration and kindness and your very high standers.

What do I find the most challenging aspect of my role?

On our way home

There are two main challenges; one comes from how I have to travel to meetings With all my equipment and my guide dog Flora I look like a manic hiker with my Rucksack and computer bag (I am now fitter and stronger than I have been in Such a long time)

The second challenge is; I have overcome a problem when delivering training by

Asking different volunteers to read from the Powerpoint presentation and I have

found that this keeps everyone alert.

These challenges have made me a much stronger person and prepared to have to have a go and not be afraid to ask for help.  I feel that volunteering in whatever form is a way of giving something back to the community but it has strengthened my own belief that I still have a lot to offer and I can do anything I put my mind to.

What do I enjoy about my role within St John Ambulance

SJA Fellowship Coffee morning Fund raising event

Being part of the SJA training team and that my role also helps volunteers develop within the organisation and gives them the opportunity to take on new roles within the organisation.  Also has part of this high level of training  is life changing.  The  first aid skills can be used at home, work or during leisure activities.