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Guide Dogs exists to ensure that losing your sight doesn鈥檛 mean losing your way of life. We help people with sight loss live the life they choose, from childhood to adulthood. Our staff, volunteers and dogs help people with sight loss live actively, independently and well.听

We鈥檙e best known for our world-famous guide dogs but our wide range of services enables thousands of people with a vision impairment to lead independent and fulfilling lives.听

Every day around four UK children are registered blind or partially sighted. We鈥檙e the largest employer of specialists providing essential support so that children can fulfil their potential and overcome the challenges of sight loss. We provide vital training in life skills and movement, which other children learn through sight. And we help parents and children bring the world to life through sensory play, description, touch, sounds and textures.听

There鈥檚 a common misperception that people with sight loss are elderly but vision impairment can happen at any age. Our life-changing dogs provide support every day: whether helping young people get to college, a sports club or to meet friends or enabling someone older to get to the shops and back.

Our Vision Rehabilitation Specialists also help people retain or regain skills and confidence so they can independently manage day-to-day activities and improve quality of life. This might include helping them with things like cooking meals, pouring hot drinks, washing, dressing or going out.听听

We don鈥檛 just help people cope with sight loss. We help them thrive.

Every pound you give will be matched, pound for pound, up to the value of 拢20.000 .

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I鈥檓 so pleased to be telling you about the amazing work of Guide Dogs.

Being a dog owner myself, I know the huge benefits dogs can bring to people鈥檚 lives. I鈥檓 proud to have been an ambassador for the charity since 2012 and in that time听I鈥檝e seen听how these extraordinary animals can transform lives, giving people independence and the chance to, once again, live the life they choose.

Over the years Guide Dogs have developed a wide range of services with and without dogs to support people living with a vision impairment. Children and adults. Friends and family. Whoever you are, their expert staff, dedicated volunteers and life-changing dogs are here to help people live actively, independently, and well.听

They鈥檙e a charity, almost entirely funded by donations and their work really is life-changing as you鈥檒l see in this appeal. Your support will really make a difference.

Devante was a farmer before being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. But trying to catch piglets is hard enough for sighted people, let alone when you have tunnel vision. Although he had to give up his job, he hasn鈥檛 let his sight loss hold him back.听

Devante鈥檚 partnership with Mack -听a red golden retriever听lab听cross听-听has changed his life. It was exhausting having to look around all the time to make sure he could see everything despite his tunnel vision. He would avoid going shopping or on public transport because he found it so stressful. Now, he can go out to meet friends without worrying about how to get there.听听

People are often听surprised that a young, fashionable guy in high tops and skinny jeans is a guide dog owner. But Devante is passionate about raising awareness that sight loss can happen to anyone, at any age.听

When Eliza was four months old, her parents noticed her eyes kept drifting inwards. When she was nine months, they found out Eliza had no light perception and was registered as blind.听

Mum Lauren saw the Guide Dogs TV advert and phoned to ask if any support was available for Eliza at such a young age. Eliza now gets regular visits from her Habilitation Specialist, Lindsey Tibot, who teaches her how to learn about her environment.

Guide Dogs has made a huge difference to Eliza鈥檚 life and has provided Eliza鈥檚 family with support and reassurance as well as introducing her to local vision impairment groups to learn how older children have managed.

Eliza and her family can see the changes already since she began receiving support. Lauren says 鈥淣othing will stop Eliza; she is going to find her own way through life!鈥�

Everything changed for Margaret when her guide dog, Bob, collapsed unexpectedly while they were out working. Suddenly, she was left without the support that had enabled her to get out and about safely.听

Being so suddenly without a guide dog was a very scary experience. 鈥淚 was terrified of going out the door,鈥� she says. Thankfully, Guide Dogs鈥� vision rehabilitation team helped her build out the confidence to get out and about again while she waits for her next guide dog partnership.听

Guide Dogs鈥� team has helped her navigate safely with her white cane, taught her to find landmarks and showed her how to download an app that helps read documents, letters or labels. 鈥淭he vision rehabilitation team gave me the confidence to get out again,鈥� she says: 鈥淥therwise I would have been stuck in the house for a couple of years without being able to get out,鈥� she says.