Interview with VI Talk

I was kindly asked to take part in an interview with VI Talk for their audioBoom channel before Christmas. The interview covered many aspects of my life including my illustrations as the RNIB's Young illustrator of 2014, campaigning work, recent match to my Guide Dog and the training we would be undertaking throughout December, as well as my aspirations for the future.

You can listen to my interview below via the embedded player. I have also provided a transcript underneath.

VI Talk Interview

listen to ‘We speak to Kimberly Burrows, She is currently RNIB's illustrator of the year, ’ on audioBoom

We talk to Kimberley all about the wonderful and inspirational things she does for the RNIB, Henshaws and various other organisations and we wish her luck as she starts
training with her first Guide Dog.

Transcript

VI Talk: We would like to introduce Kimberley Burrows who is currently the RNIB's 'Illustrator of the Year' amongst other things. So, hi Kimberley!

Kimberley: Hello! 

VI Talk: HI Kimberley!

Kimberley: Hi Jo!

VI Talk: Do you want to start off by telling us a little bit about yourself, I know that you have many accomplishments - which we are hopefully going to cover all of them! Can you tell us a little bit about your background? You obviously are visually impaired...

Kimberley: I am, yes. I've been visually impaired all of my life. I was born as a premature baby with Congenital Cataracts but those weren't noticed until I was 4 years old so my optic nerves never developed properly and they had to do what they could with the cloudy vision that I had. So when I did have the Cataracts removed at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, I only had 10% vision in one eye and just a little bit of light perception in the other.

Since then, I lost my confidence a bit and it's only recently that I've actually started to achieve things thanks to the help of Henshaws Society for Blind People and also the RNIB. I do various things with both of those - for example, I'm the RNIB's 'Young Illustrator of the Year' for 2014, I have a work placement with Henshaws and I'm also a volunteer and fundraiser with them and with the RNIB I do a lot of campaigning and I'm a Co-Chair of their young person's campaigning network, called Envision. It's an acronym and stands for the English Network of visually Impaired Spokespeople for the Improvement of Obstacles Nationwide! I'm the only person that remembers that as I'm the one that came up with it!

VI Talk: Oh wow!

Kimberley: So I do campaigning as well and I also do a lot of blogging. I run my own blog and also do contributor blog posts for Henshaws, Living Paintings, and the Huffington Post. I think that's a brief overview of everything!

VI Talk: So if we start with being the RNIB's 'Young Illustrator of the Year', how did that come about?

Kimberley: Because I did the campaigning stuff first (in October last year I went to the Houses of Parliament with some of the campaigning team and some of them learned that I was interested in art and illustration) when it came to the time in November that the magazine were looking for their new illustrator and columnist, one of the staff members forwarded that information onto me and I then had 4 or 5 weeks to complete my piece, get that sent off to enter the competition and it wasn't too long, probably 4 or 5 days, that I received a response that I won the 'Young Illustrator of the Year' and would continue to do 6 more pieces throughout the year - so that was brilliant!

VI Talk: That's really exciting!

Kimberley: Definitely! I was so, so happy!

VI Talk: So what does that involve as part of that role?

Kimberley: Every 2 months I was given a different theme to work with. I had 6 pictures to do altogether, for the 12 months, which would be different themes such as; support at the time of sight loss or achievements and goals for the year, and how you've built up your confidence and skills. So I was given a very vague theme and then had to plan which colour palettes I wanted to use, which imagery to use and then I'd sketch some ideas and get the final one drawn. I had a deadline and had to complete before then and when it was e-mailed off I would share the illustration on my blog and on my Twitter.

VI Talk: So that must be quite difficult as a visually impaired person, particularly having very little sight, the concentration and everything must be hard.

Kimberley: Absolutely, yes!

VI Talk: How do you go about doing that; in small stages?

Kimberley: Yeah, thankfully I was given a good deadline where I had about a month and a half to complete each one and it does take me about a month to complete just one piece of A4. So everyday I would just work at it because I can only focus for 15 to 20 minutes at a time so I can only concentrate for a little bit and build it up, as you said, and get it completed and sent off.

I think it's all down to organisation as well; I definitely have to do a lot of organisation of my different equipment and tools. Everything has to be Brailled, like my pencil crayons, paints, watercolours and chalks, so I can know which mediums are which and also which colours are which! I have, in the past, put the wrong colour somewhere and had to try and make it work! I wasn't able to see the colour properly and just had to go with it. So there are surprises with my visual impairment but you've just got to work with it!

VI Talk: You said before that you do a lot of campaigning and you've recently been in Brussels, haven't you? Do you want to tell us more about that?

Kimberley: Sure! Myself and another person from the young person's campaigning network that I'm a part of, Envision, were personally requested to go to this event - myself because of my interest in social media and technology, and the other young lady because she's originally from Spain and is very good with languages. So it was in conjunction with the European Blind Union and they set up a two-day event at European Parliament in Brussels called a High-Speed Bling Date event. It was where MEPs, journalists and researchers are matched to their 'dates', who are blind, and we would then demonstrate some of the difficulties that we face - using interactive objects to show them how hard it is to use LED and touch screens, manufactured goods and services, websites and apps.

VI Talk: Wow, that sounds really interesting!

Kimberley: It was, it was fantastic. I was so glad that I went! It was a really wonderful event and hopefully we did showcase that we really need a strong European Accessibility Act.

VI Talk: Yes, awareness is so important isn't it?

Kimberley: It is, yes!

VI Talk: So, really exciting this bit, you were recently nominated for an award, weren't you?

Kimberley: I was! With Henshaws Society for Blind People.

VI Talk: And you got the award, didn't you?

Kimberley: I did! I'm so happy I just couldn't believe it. I was told that I was nominated for 3 of the awards on the night but then I found out that I wasn't actually the finalist for those awards - but then the big surprise of the evening was that I was a finalist for the main award of the evening, which was the Gillian Lawrence Award, and as soon as they read my name out that I'd won I just burst into tears. I just couldn't believe it! I was so happy and everyone was just so wonderful; I couldn't stop hugging everyone! It was just fantastic to be recognised for everything that I do for Henshaws and all of the achievements and how much I've changed as well. About a year and a half ago there's no way that I would have even been able to do this interview! I was so shy and so reserved and now you can't shut me up!

VI Talk: You also just about to embark on a completely new venture next week. Do you want to tell us about that?

Kimberley: Yes, definitely! So excited! I have just been matched to my Guide Dog, she's tiny, tiny, tiny as I'm tiny myself. She's absolutely gorgeous, she's called Tami and she's a gold Labrador-cross-Retriever. I got the news 2 days before my birthday, and I got to meet her the day before my birthday - so it felt like the best gift ever. We start training next week on December 1st. She's my first Guide Dog and I'm just so excited for this next chapter of my life to start being more independent, going to places on my own, and using public transport. I just cannot wait!

VI Talk: Aww, it's fantastic - so exciting when you get your first dog!

Kimberley: I know!

VI Talk: I've had mine just 4 years and it's a completely new way of life. It opens so many doors. So, will you tell us how you get on in a couple of months?

Kimberley: Absolutely! I don't mind at all. I'm so enthusiastic about Tami and I love her to bits already. I can just tell it's going to be an amazing partnership and she's certainly the dog for me! So I'll definitely keep you posted!

VI Talk: Aww! Definitely do, we'll have to do an update when you've worked with her a little bit and see how it's going on. You can tell everybody what it's like to have a first Guide Dog. There will be people out there who will be umm-ing and ahh-ing as to whether it's the right thing for them.

Kimberley: I'd say definitely go for it! You don't know until you try and it can only do good things for you - so definitely give it a go!

VI Talk: Aww, you sound so excited!

Kimberley: I am really excited!

 VI Talk: You were telling us before we started recording that you also have started working with the survivors of the Holocaust?

Kimberley: Yes, it's for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and it's the next project that I'm working on in my illustrating career. Obviously i's the end of the year and I'm no longer the RNIB's Illustrator of the Year - they're now running the contest for the new one, so I've already had quite a few offers to expand my career and start doing some other different projects.

One of the e-mails I received was from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and I had the opportunity to Sabina Miller who is 92 years old from Poland, who now lives in London and has done since the War ended. It was just an incredible opportunity to speak with someone so inspiring and so positive! We did that meeting so I could then translate her story into an illustration to then be presented and exhibited at an exhibition in London. This will be on the Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January, so I'm in the process of getting my piece finished now. I believe that Stephen Fry has just joined the campaign while he met with another survivor, so he's really spearheading it and getting a lot of media attention.So it's quite exciting, definitely!

VI Talk: That's brilliant! So, what does the future hold for Kimberley? As if you haven't got enough on your plate! But what are your goals and what do you see for the future for yourself - because you're still very young!

Kimberley: This year has been absolutely crazy but I've loved every minute of it! I've been so busy every day, there's been something different and I love that variation that I've got. So over the next few years, definitely continue with the campaigning with the RNIB, continue with my illustrating because that's my passion, continue writing - whether it's through blogging or writing columns and who knows what opportunities could arise, continue my work placement, volunteering and fundraising for Henshaws; they've done so much for me and I want to give them everything that I have to say thank you, train with Tami and graduate with her, and take over the world with her!

VI Talk: Do you know something, if you said you were going to I think I'd believe you as well! So if people want to follow your take-over of the world, how can they follow your blogs or things you're posting?

Kimberley: On Twitter I'm @Glittered, and if you'd like to follow my blog I do post about once a week  - sometimes more, and I'm gleamed.blogspot.co.uk. Thank you so much for your views, I really appreciate them!

VI Talk: That's brilliant Kim! It's been an absolute pleasure talking to you and you are so inspirational and I'm sure anybody listening, any youngsters, will be so inspired!

Kimberley: Aww, thank you! Thank you very much!

VI Talk: And follow your dreams, I guess! Go for it and we'll watch out for when you take over the world!

Kimberley: Thank you very much, thank you!

I would like to thank Jo and Michael for the lovely interview!

You can visit the VI Talk website, Facebook group, Facebook page, Twitter and AudioBoom to keep up-to-date with the latest discussion, information and support for visually impaired and blind people.

Article in Puppy Tails Magazine

I was recently invited to write an article for the Puppy Tails magazine which is now available to read in their Autumn / Winter edition, issue number 68. The magazine is produced in co-operation with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association UK, for volunteers by volunteers.

In the article I document my Guide Dog journey so far during the time it was written; from finding out about the Guide Dogs charity through the 'Living With Sight Loss' course provided by Henshaws Society for Blind People at my local community centre in the Summer of 2013, signing up to be a Guide Dog service user in September 2013, having my work placement at the Guide Dogs Training Centre in Atherton, Leigh, as part of the 12-week Skillstep course by Henshaws, and being captured on film by Blue Peter during my time there!

Article reads: "My name is Kimberley Burrows, I'm 25, and I've been severely visually impaired all of my life.I was born as a premature baby suffering from congenital cataracts that weren't noticed until I was 4 years old; resulting in underdeveloped optic nerves, the removal of my natural lenses, a sensitivity to light, night blindness and only 10% central vision in my left eye.

During the summer of last year I attended a 'Living With Sight Loss' course, provided by Henshaws Society for Blind People, at my local community centre. This allowed me to converse with other people suffering from sight loss in my local area for the first time. The course ran for 6 weeks and covered a variety of different topics which included mobility, transport, concessions, passes and benefits, personal safety and access to information through talking newspapers and talking books.

through one of the many visits from other organisations, I was introduced to the Guide Dogs charity and the life-changing work that they do to help visually impaired and blind people gain stronger independence and mobility skills through a working partnership with a specially-trained canine. I had never considered applying for a Guide Dog before, but the visit from the volunteer soon changed my mind! She was full of confidence, enthusiasm and determination thanks to her working partnership with her black Labrador - and these were traits I could only dream of at the time! My confidence was lacking and my mobility skills were very much non-existant.

A few months later in early September, it was the annual Fun Day event at the Guide Dogs Training Centre in Atherton, Leigh. The visit from the volunteer earlier in the summer really made an impression on me; so I decided to head along and witness first-hand the work that Guide Dogs do. I met puppy walkers, mobility instructors, trainers and volunteers and they all echoed and reinforced the same sentiments as the volunteer I'd met on the Living With Sight Loss course previously - that working with a Guide Dog is extremely beneficial and does indeed boost confidence, self-esteem and independence to new levels. That was it, I just had to apply! One of the staff members helped to fill in my application form and I was very pleased with the outcome from the Fun Day event!

Two months later, I received my first home visit from a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. He discussed at length the benefits that I would receive from having a Guide Dog enter my life and also explained the process of the application; completing a medical form, being assessed using a long cane and empty harness, before being matched to potential dogs. Then proceeding by entering the training process before completing and qualifying the programme. A week later, I had my second home visit and my mobility skills were assessed using my long cane.

The final part of the assessment, which involves walking with the empty harness, wasn't to be completed until the following summer, in early August, while I was undertaking a two-week work placement at the Guide Dogs Training Centre in Atherton, Leigh. At the beginning of the summer I had become part of a new course, called Skillstep, again provided by Henshaws Society for Blind People, which I had found out about through the Living With Sight loss course the previous year.

Skillstep is a 12-week course designed to help visually impaired and blind people gain employability skills through vocational and computer training, while providing the opportunity of a two-week work placement. I knew immediately that I wanted my placement to be at Guide Dogs; to have the unique insight into the training process and to learn some new skills for when I'm matched to my own Guide Dog.

I was lucky enough to be a part of various departments and experience the many different roles within the training centre; including puppy training, obedience training, dog care, volunteering and reception work. I enjoyed all of these roles immensely, but have to say that the dog care department was my favourite - and I am now an expert groomer! Towards the end of the second day, I had the fantastic opportunity of being able to experience what it's like to work with a dog in full harness. I was guided around an outside obstacle course filled with traffic cones, safety barricades, A-boards and sign posts with ease and it confirmed to me that signing up for a Guide Dog was the right direction to take and is something I will greatly benefit from in the near future!

Blue Peter were filming on the Monday that I was working in the volunteering department, and between breaks I was guided to the indoor training arena to watch some of the filming take place. I even had the chance to meet Blue Peter's very own Guide Dog puppy, Iggy, afterwards and have a photo taken with her! When the episode premiered on television that was filmed during my placement, I was notified by quite a few people through my blog that I had appeared in the background of some of the footage of Iggy!

On the last morning of my work placement, I received my third and final home visit in the application process; looking at my home-life and the people and pets I live with, assessing the garden where my Guide Dog would spend, and identifying some of the routes I would be taking in my local area. We took one such route for the empty harness part of the assessment, and I learned some of the basic commands to give a Guide Dog when we are working together. I did extremely well in my harness assessment; largely due to the instructor sneakily veering right towards the Butcher's en route, and me recognising where in the route I was to snap back the harness, show that this was not my destination and focus on to the end of the road. Because of this, I passed with flying colours!

My application was completed and accepted the same day, and I have officially been on the waiting list to be matched for 2 months now. It's been a long journey of 13 months already, but I'm sure it's going to be well worth the wait when I'm finally matched, trained and living a completely independent life!"

Interview with Fashioneyesta

I was recently e-mailed by Emily Davison, of Fashioneyesta, to do an interview for her website regarding my illustrations as the RNIB's Young Illustrator of the Year for 2014.

We discuss how I developed an interest in drawing, the things that inspire me, my aspirations for the future and my fashion style - among other things. I had a great time doing the interview and I'd like to say a big thank you to Emily for featuring me on her fantastic website!

You can view my interview by clicking here or on the screenshot above.

Interview with Henshaws

I recently did an interview with Henshaws regarding the Living With Sight Loss enablement course that I attended in the summer of last year, and discussed the impact it had on my life. You can listen to it below.

listen to ‘'It made a big difference to my life and gave me more confidence'’ on Audioboo

Transcript

Helen: Hi! I'm here with Kimberley Burrows today, who is a Henshaws service user. She's been on the Living With Sight Loss course, also Braille, Arts & Crafts and she does the Relax course as well. So hi Kimberley!

Kimberley: Hello!

Helen: We just wanted to talk a bit about the Living With Sight Loss course and how you found it. So, first of all, how did you find out about the course?

Kimberley: I found out about the course through Manchester Eye Hospital, and about Henshaws as well - as I'd never heard of Henshaws before. I was at Manchester Eye Hospital for various procedures for my squint and my mum noticed that near the main waiting area there was a Henshaws side room. So, in there I met with Maggie and told her about my condition and that I'd never really had any support before. I was 24 at the time and I'd never really had any support from Social Services, so she rang them up and they visited me not long after. She also forwarded me onto the enablement course, or the Living With Sight Loss course, which was run for 6 weeks at my local community centre.

Helen: Great! So tell us the benefits of the course, how has it made a difference to you?

Kimberley: It definitely made a big difference! It was the first time that I was able to speak with other visually impaired people and that gave me more confidence. It was also beneficial because every week we would do something different. One week we had a visit from Guide Dogs, another week from transport, another week we had a visit from local police about how they can help us, and another week - which was one of my favourites! - was learning about all of the different mobility aids and magnification aids that are available. So it was nice to try those out.

Helen: So, what did you find from there? Is that when you started using the iPad, or had you been using the iPad before that?

Kimberley: No, I'd been using the iPad before that.

Helen: So it more about the other aids that are available?

Kimberley: Yes. I never knew that you could have LCD magnification that looks like a tablet. It's very expensive but I would love to save up for one after using it. I thought it was fantastic!

Helen: Oh, wow! That good. So, would you recommend it to other people who are in the same situation as you?

Kimberley: Absolutely! You can find out all sorts of different information and meet with other visually impaired people, if you've never talked with anybody before. There's just so much information; things like if you have talking news services in your local area, which I now get every week. Also, things like books@home, so the mobile library will come to visit you to give large print and audiobooks. It just adds another dimension to your life.

Helen: Sounds great! Thank you for talking with us today!

Kimberley: Thank you very much!

Article with Quays News

In mid-February, I was invited by Henshaws to be interviewed by a journalist from Quays News. The article was posted online today at the Quays News website under the 'features' section:

I transformed my life, despite suffering from blindness

by Jack Gordon-Brown

For most of us, the thought of not being able to see simply doesn’t register in our thoughts. It is perhaps the most important of our senses, allowing us to see everything from our own perspective, crucial to understanding the world we live in. Sight intertwines with the other primary senses; touch, taste, hearing and smell, to enable us to do the everyday things in life without a degree of bother.

For some people, life is not as easy. Kimberley Burrows has been severely visually impaired for the whole of her life. Kimberley was born with congenital cataracts, after they formed in her mother’s womb. Kimberley is completely blind in one eye, and has just 10% sight in the other. According to the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) definition, a cataract is ‘a clouding of the normally clear and transparent lens inside the eye. It can cause blurry or hazy vision and be a bit like trying to look through frosted glass’. If the cataracts are formed in the womb it is called congenital, and it can affect both eyes.

The condition Kimberley suffers from has impacted greatly on her life, making simple, unassuming tasks challenging, and her mum naturally has to help her with things such as shopping and washing, caring for her daughter on a permanent basis.

Being visually impaired has also significantly dented Kimberley’s confidence and anxiety levels. She readily admits that 12 months ago this interview would not have taken place. During our discussion it is hard to believe Kimberley’s assertion, given her confidence in answering a range of questions, and her general candidness when talking about the demanding troubles she has overcome.

This is a direct result of her now regular attendance at the Manchester branch of Henshaws, an organisation dedicated to helping people with sight loss and other disabilities to build their skill set and become more independent. Henshaws was first established in 1837 after local businessman Thomas Henshaw left £20,000 in his will to establish an ‘Asylum for the indigent blind’, making it Manchester’s oldest charity. Henshaws has had a massive impact in the area, helping hundreds of families each year, from young children through to adults without sight.

Kimberley’s positivity is true testament to the energy she has put in at Henshaws, especially when you consider that she has only been with the society since August of last year. Now 25 years old and with aspirations of taking an art foundation course at the Royal National College for the Blind, Kimberley’s future prospects look progressively bright. But education hasn’t always been as straightforward, especially in the early years.

"I went to two mainstream schools, the Primary school and the High school, and there wasn’t a lot of support available. There probably is nowadays, but back then, which is probably going back 20 years ago,  there wasn’t a lot of support. Things like the blackboard and the whiteboard; I was very blessed to have really nice friends who would read it out to me."

Kimberley is keen to stress how her teachers and especially her friends were supportive of her at school, but it was art that gave her real joy, "I found an outlet with art really, I enjoyed art and found I could do it independently, especially if it’s not still life and it’s coming from inside my head and my imagination."

However, despite her ability to make friends at school, Kimberley soon found socialising particularly difficult once she had left at the age of 16. She drifted apart from friends from both Primary school and then High school, with her best friend from the latter moving South.

Despite having incredibly supportive parents, Kimberley would often feel isolated, "I would always go out with my Mum and my Dad and if they weren’t free then I couldn’t go out anywhere. So I didn’t go out often at all, I had lots of panic attacks and was very anxious and I was very self-conscious about my visual impairment."

Kimberley freely admits that her visual impairment affected her confidence, causing her to be more ‘shy and reserved around others’, a period of time she describes as ‘very stressful’. Thankfully she was able to turn to Henshaws, although she only found out about the charity through pure chance.

"This time last year I was house-bound, I wasn’t going out anywhere since I left high school, and then when I was at Manchester Eye Hospital my mum pointed out a Henshaws side room. I’d never heard about Henshaws before, so I thought we’d pop in and see what support would be available, especially since I wasn’t really getting out a lot apart from to appointments. They forwarded me onto an enablement course that was six weeks long, and that gave me a little bit of confidence to start talking with other visually impaired people and towards the end of the six weeks I was coming out of my shell a bit more. I definitely wanted to come to the Henshaws centre."

From this point onwards, Kimberley has flourished at the centre, taking on a number of different activities with an expansive range of people of all different ages, who are also visually impaired. Attending Henshaws has led to Kimberley studying braille, a form of written language for blind people, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips. Such is the success she has had; Kimberley now counts it as one of her hobbies.

"It’s like texting, you are shortening words because if you had uncontracted braille, say if you wanted to read Harry Potter and the seven books, it would span on to about 15-20 books because it’s quite a thick medium. You just gently touch it and it forms words and I find it really intriguing. I’ve been learning since the end of August 2013. I’m on book 6 now, so I’m half way through. - but you just go at your own pace. There’s someone in the braille class who’s been going 10 years and is only on book 3, so it just depends really, but I am racing through because I am really enjoying it."

Kimberley hopes that in the future she will be able to read a full book of braille, an extraordinary feat. For now, she is content to listen to audiobooks on her iPad, a device which she praises with a markedly enthusiastic tone.

"The iPad has transformed my life. I’ve had it for nearly two years now, and it is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It allows me to check my e-mails, and partake in social networking. I use Facebook to keep in touch with my family and friends, and Twitter to talk to people I wouldn’t usually have contact with - so it’s wonderful. The accessibility on it is amazing, you have things like zoom, voiceover, and you can change the colour contrast. You’ve got speech and you’ve got Siri as well - so you can tell it what to search for and things like that, and it’s just an amazing piece of technology."

Despite her rapid progression at Henshaws that has opened up a previously unfamiliar world to Kimberley, it is her illustrating ability that really captures the imagination. Kimberley has had an obvious penchant for art from an early age, something reflected by her A* in the subject at GCSE level, even if she will never fully be able to see her own drawings.

Kimberley’s fan pieces of Paddington Bear led to a meeting with the author of the books, Michael Bond, after his daughter had spotted her drawings on the Paddington Bear Facebook page. Kimberley describes Bond as her idol, and she was able to travel down to London just before the Olympics to meet him, whilst one of her drawings remains in his home to this day.

This is not the only distinct recognition Kimberley has attained from her drawings. She was recently featured in the Salford Advertiser and the Manchester Evening News with a collection of her drawings. What is striking about each picture is the unerring intricacy involved, and it takes Kimberley around a month to complete a picture, highlighting just how much she immerses herself in each one of her works of art. It is certainly worth the effort, as Kimberley continues to express herself in ways that most could only dream of doing.

"In December, I entered a competition with the RNIB. I won their competition for the Young Illustrator of 2014, so for the next 12 months I will be producing an illustration for their Insight Magazine - so that is my main hobby. It’s very hard, it takes me about a month to complete a piece, but I am very determined and it is what I want to do and I enjoy it very much."

There are undoubtedly still hurdles for Kimberley to overcome. Employment is an obvious issue. Statistics show that two thirds of blind people are unemployed, whilst 90% of employers wouldn’t even consider blind people employable. Kimberley is keen to complete her guide dog training, but she knows all too well the wait she must have to endure. A friend of hers has been on the waiting list for three years, whereas she has been on for a mere five months.

Yet it is impossible not to be inspired by Kimberley and her utter devotion to master such a difficult subject, as she targets the Royal National College for the Blind, with an art foundation course her most favoured option. From then on Kimberley hopes to be a children’s illustrator, and with the deserved acclaim she has received so far for her drawings, it is difficult to imagine anyone turning her creative talents away.

You can view my article on Quay News by clicking on the thumbnail below:

Spirit of Salford

I was recently contacted by the Spirit of Salford campaign, after posting my photo on their Facebook page. I wasn't originally going to post my photo as I didn't think I was worthy enough to be part of the campaign, but my mum convinced me otherwise!

They tried to contact me after seeing my interview on Granada Reports and ITV News, and even the Mayor of Salford had read about me in the Salford Advertiser and Manchester Evening News, but unfortunately they had trouble getting my details from the RNIB.

We're now finally in touch, and an article was posted about me on the Spirit of Salford website today!

Young Illustrator

Blind Kimberley Burrows has shown the Spirit of Salford by being named the Young Illustrator of the Year. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) recognised the brave 25-year-old from Irlam because of her determination and skill.

Kimberley is pursuing a career in illustration despite being completely blind in one eye and only being able to focus for a few minutes in the other. Some of her charming cartoon-style pieces can take months to complete - she can only work for 20 minutes at a time because of the strain on her eye.

Kimberley's dream of turning her passion into a career may soon be realised - she has already been commissioned to create a special drawing of Paddington Bear for its creator Michael Bond.

She is also studying Braille, as well as arts and crafts at Henshaws Society for Bind People.

Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart said: "Kimberley is an inspirational young woman who creates beautiful illustrations which are being recognised nationally. We're extremely proud of her. She sums up everything about the Spirit of Salford - passionate, determined and creative. I sincerely hope she gets to follow her dream and study fine art at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford."

Kimberley said: "I'm extremely pleased to become the Young Illustrator of the Year and win this prized national award. As a Salfordian born and bred here, I'm very proud to represent my home city. People have been so kind and supportive to me - when the City Mayor 'tweeted' his congratulations to me the other day, I was made up. It made my week!

I now can't wait for the Spirit of Salford Weekender at the end of May - it sounds really exciting."

You can read my story on the Spirit of Salford website by clicking here.
____________________

As mentioned in the article above, I've had a few lovely tweets from the Mayor of Salford, Ian Stewart!  Here are his messages:

Kimberley Burrows a severely visually impaired illustrator, from Irlam exemplifies the #SpiritofSalford pic.twitter.com/Wc0o9yaIwG
— Salford City Mayor (@MayorofSalford) March 5, 2014

@MayorofSalford Thank you so much for your kind words and support! Can't wait to meet you in May!
— Kimberley Burrows (@Glittered) March 8, 2014

I'm extremely honoured that the Mayor of Salford has tweeted me! His support and kind words mean the world to me, and I can't wait to hopefully meet him at the weekend festival in May!

Interview with ITV Granada Reports

I was recently contacted by ITV to do an interview for their website and appear on Granada Reports. I did the filming yesterday morning with journalist Tim Scott and it aired in the evening on ITV at 6pm.

I've never been on television before, so I was extremely nervous to start with! Tim was really friendly though and quickly put my mind at ease. We discussed my eye condition, how I got into drawing, my illustrations for RNIB's Insight Magazine and my future plans for training for a guide dog and eventually wanting to do an art course at the Royal National College for the Blind.

You can view the video by clicking here or on the image below.

Transcript

Born virtually blind, much of Kimberley Burrows' childhood was spent on the operating table at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London. Now, age 25, she can only see out of 10% of one eye but that hasn't stopped her from doing what she loves.

Kimberley: When I was little I just always loved drawing. When I was in the waiting rooms at Great Ormond Street they had pencils and paper, so I always did some doodling. At school, art was my favourite subject - I took it for my GCSE's and I got an A*. So it's just always something that I've loved.

Tim Scott: How much harder is it for you being partially sighted and doing these lovely illustrations? Is it really difficult? How does it work?

Kimberley: I can spend about 20 minutes at a time and I probably do about an hour every day. Each piece will take about a month to complete.

And now Kimberley's hard work is being repaid. She's been named as the Royal Institute for the Blind's Young Illustrator of the Year for their Insight Magazine.

Kimberley: I spent a month doing this piece (pictured) which was based on my next steps. I sent it by e-mail and it didn't take too long to get a response back and they said that I'd won.

Tim Scott: How did you feel when you won the competition?

Kimberley: I was just so happy I could have run around the house! I just couldn't believe that after spending a month on it, it paid off.

Tim Scott: What would your advice be to somebody who's blind or partially sighted who thinks "I can't possibly do this or that"?

Kimberley: You can do anything that you put your mind to. Just because you've got a disability doesn't mean you don't have the ability to do something. Any barrier can be overcome and your dreams definitely can come true!

Kimberley's dream is to study art at college and become a professional illustrator. With talent like hers, she'll probably succeed. Tim Scott, ITV News, Irlam.

Blind Woman from Irlam Wins Prestigious Art Award

Kimberley Burrows has not let her disability get in the way of her dreams - by Tim Scott, ITV Granada

Kimberley Burrows was born partially blind and she can only see a little out of one eye, but this has not stopped her pursuing her dream of being a full-time artist. She has now come one step further to her dream after being awarded the prestigious title of 'Young Illustrator of the Year' by RNIB's insight Magazine.

As a result, she will be producing artwork for the magazine throughout the year. Her winning illustration represented the next steps she intends to take in her life. This included training to have a guide dog, completing a braille course and a mobility course with a cane.

She took a month to complete this work as her condition means she can only draw for very short periods of time. She draws using pencil crayons and fine liners, and uses a Daylight lamp to help her with her sight.

"You can do anything you put your mind to. Just because you have a disability doesn't mean you don't have the ability to do something" - Kimberley Burrows, Artist

You can view my interview by clicking on the thumbnail above
or on the ITV News website here.

Interview with Daily Mail Online

I did an interview with the national press on Friday morning and had photographs taken the next day, which was picked up by the Daily Mail Online this afternoon. I cannot believe that such a huge newspaper wanted my story on their website! I'm really pleased with how it all turned out, just like with the Salford Advertiser / MEN article! Both articles have really reassured me, and the response has been so positive!

Below are the photographs that were taken over the weekend, and I have copied the article below for you to read.

Photographs © Mercury Press & Media Ltd.

Blind Student Named 'Young Illustrator of the Year' by RNIB: Refuses To Let Disability Stand in Way of Art Career

• Kimberley Burrows has virtually no sight
yet creates amazing illustrations

• The 25-year-old is blind in one eye and can only
focus for a few minutes at a time with the other

• Her pieces take a month to finish as she
can only work for 20 minutes at a time

• She has been awarded Illustrator of the
Year by RNIB's Insight Magazine

These stunning pieces of art will never be seen by their creator properly, as she is unable to see in one eye. Kimberley Burrows, 25, from Salford, Greater Manchester is completely blind in one eye and can only focus for a few minutes at a time in her other. In spite of her disability she is establishing herself in the art world, with the RNIB's Insight Magazine recently naming her Young Illustrator of the Year for 2014.

The 25-year-old has refused to let her sight problems stand in the way of a possible career in illustration. While her disability poses difficulties in a job that demands such attention to detail, Kimberley insists that it has only made her more determined to succeed. Kimberley said: 'I have loved art for as long as I can remember. I might struggle to do a still life, but I draw from what I see in my mind.'

Kimberley even said that she hopes her passion for drawing could lead to a possible job. 'I know it's not the obvious career choice for someone who is blind, but I've got the willpower to tackle in any obstacles. It is my ultimate dream to become an illustrator for children's books. When I was younger I always enjoyed the large print illustrations by Quentin Blake in the Roald Dahl books, although Paddington Bear was probably my favourite - and still is.'

Kimberley dreams of one day being a children's book illustrator; her Paddington drawing, left, and another piece featuring herself, right.

Due to the strain that drawing places on her eyes she can only work on her pieces for around 20 minutes at a time, which means her illustrations can take up to one month to finish. She says: 'I don't find it too frustrating as it's what I'm used to and I know at the end of the month it will be done. If I set myself a goal I know I'm going to achieve it and that keeps me going.'

Kimberley is also studying Braille and hopes to get her own guide dog, as depicted in this drawing.

Kimberley's dream of turning her passion into a career may soon be realised - she has already been commissioned to create a special drawing of Paddington Bear for creator, Michael Bond. Despite her illustrations taking up the bulk of her day, Kimberley also finds time to study Braille alongside arts and crafts at Henshaws Society for Blind People, as well as cane training with the Salford Sensory Team and is working towards getting her own guide dog. Kimberley said: 'Once I finish my training, what I'd really like to do is study fine art at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.'

Kimberley can only work on a piece for 20 minutes at a time due to the strain it places on her eyes.

'I also want to continue campaigning with the RNIB to make things better for young blind people. I've been to the Houses of Parliament with them and we also set up a young person's campaigning network called Envision.' 

Kimberley added that she is impressed with what technology has allowed people with sight problems to do but believes more work is still needed. 'When I was at school we didn't have computers, so one of my friends would have to read what was on the blackboard to me. Things are much better now with the technology we have but there's still more than can be done. Even with the obstacles I faced, art was always something I loved at school. I know illustrating is not the obvious choice for someone with sight problems and I will need to work hard. But I am very determined and I refuse to let anything be a barrier to achieving my goals.'

A spokesman for the RNIB said: 'Kimberley is an inspiration and her work has rightly earned her a top award. We wish her all the best in her very promising career as an artist.'

The article can be seen on the Daily Mail Online website by clicking on the thumbnail above.

Salford Advertiser / Manchester Evening News Scans & Online Article

Last Thursday I had an interview with Ruhubia Akbor, a journalist who works with the Manchester Evening News, and on Monday a photographer came to my home to take some shots for the accompanying article. Both of my articles for the Salford Advertiser (Thursday, 13th February) and the Manchester Evening News (Friday, 14th February) can be seen below, detailing my journey of winning the RNIB's Illustrator of the Year for 2014 and producing illustrations for their Insight Magazine.

Blind Artist Sketches Out a Bright Future for Herself

A blind woman is a step closer to realising her dream of becoming an artist after winning a national competition. Kimberley Burrows, 25, was born partially blind and can only see a little out of one eye. But despite only being able to work on her drawings for a few minutes at a time, she has never let her sight problems hold her back. Her winning illustration saw her being named the RNIB's Insight Magazine's Illustrator of the Year.

Her drawing - which represents her next steps in life from training for her guide dog, learning braille and how to use a long cane - features in the current issue of the magazine and took almost a month to complete. Kimberley, of Irlam in Salford, said: "I've enjoyed drawing since I was a little girl. It has always been my favourite hobby. I thought I'd give it a go and spent a month working on it. I can only do a little each day as it causes eye strain. I really didn't think I'd win and I was really shocked, but pleased and honoured."

Kimberley uses a Daylight lamp to help her see her work and uses colouring pencils and a fineliner to create her colourful pictures. She is no stranger to praise for her work having been commissioned to create a special drawing of Paddington Bear for creator Michael Bond.

She said, "I chatted to his daughter through Facebook and showed her some pictures I'd done of Paddington. She really liked them and wanted me to meet her dad, so we travelled down to London and I took him a special picture I'd done and he loved it. Art is not a usual line of work for someone who is blind, but no matter what, you can't let things be a barrier. You have to overcome and achieve what you want to achieve. You do need a lot of willpower but I'm determined to do it."

Kimberley has now been given the task of creating 12 illustrations over the year and asked to create a piece of artwork for Henshaws Society the Blind at John Lewis' community art wall in the Trafford Centre. She has ambitions to study art at the Royal National College for the Blind after she has a fully trained guide dog.

Photographs © Eddie Garvey

The article can also be viewed on the Manchester Evening News official website here.

It was wonderful to go to Henshaws yesterday, at Artherton House in Manchester, and share the experience with my friends and the staff - with some of them already having seen my article in the Salford Advertiser the night before. It was also very surreal to listen to the Salford Talking News and hear the team reading out the article, describing my photographs (with some really love compliments!) and give very positive comments. They also recognised that I'm a listener of the local talking news and wished me the best of luck for the future. I'm extremely honoured that Ruhubia wanted to write an article about me and am so thankful for the opportunities it has presented - an interview with the national press and ITV news, coming very soon!

Interview with Salford News

This afternoon I was kindly sent a tweet by a journalist from Salford News, Ruhubia Akbor, who wanted to interview me regarding my illustrations for RNIB's Insight Magazine. 

@RuhubiaAkbor Thanks so much for your tweet and contact number! I am local and live in Irlam. I shall give you a ring in an hour or so! :)
— Kimberley (@Glittered) February 6, 2014

@Glittered Thanks for calling me back! Should make a really cute story! photographer will be with you on Monday. have a great weekend too!
— Ruhubia Akbor (@RuhubiaAkbor) February 6, 2014

We had a phone interview, discussing how I began drawing and the aids I use to help make it easier for me. I explained that I've been drawing ever since I was little, and use aids such as a folding bed table and Daylight lamp to help improve the lighting and bring the drawing as close to me as possible. I'm not able to do much in one day, around 30 minutes or so, as I begin to get eye strain in my remaining useful vision in one eye. I also revealed that I've recently been contacted by Henshaws Society for Blind People, to submit a piece of artwork for John Lewis' Community Wall in the Trafford Centre to help celebrate John Lewis' 150th birthday this year.

A photographer will be sent to my home on Monday, to take shots of me with my illustrations to go along with the article. I'm very excited and grateful indeed, this is an entirely new experience for me!

When the article and photographs are printed,
I'll be sure to post them here!

Visit to Houses of Parliament and RNIB HQ

Photo taken by myself on Westminster Bridge

Last month, from October 22nd to October 24th, I visited London with the RNIB to help start a young person's campaigning network with other visually impaired and blind 18-30 year olds from across England. We met with an already established campaigning group from Scotland, Haggeye, to gain knowledge from their experiences as a successful campaigning group.

 Tuesday, October 22nd 2013

At 2:45pm, I boarded the train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston with an RNIB campaigning officer called Lindsay and another visually impaired young person called Marie. After a two hour journey, we arrived in London and took a taxi to the hotel (located right next to the London Eye!). We checked into the Premier Inn hotel that we would be staying in for the next day or so, found our rooms and unpacked, introduced ourselves to our roommates, and then went down to dinner. We introduced ourselves to each other as a group, as well as the members of the RNIB who would be staying with us over the course of the next few days, and then the Haggeye group joined us and introduced themselves too. I sat next to some members of the Haggeye group after they arrived, and it was lovely to talk to them throughout the evening. They taught me how to do a proper Scottish accent and I learnt a few Gaelic phrases too! We then enjoyed our three-course meal and the majority headed to bed afterwards. I stayed up for a little while longer, setting up the wi-fi on my iPad so that I could talk to my brother through social networking sites and let him know how the journey and the evening went. I was absolutely tired after all of the travelling from earlier in the day, so it was time for me to head to bed too. We had to be up early in the morning for our visit to Parliament!

Wednesday, October 23rd 2013

After a lovely night's sleep (Premier Inn beds really are as comfy as they say on the adverts!) we got ourselves ready for the day, had breakfast and then made our way towards the Houses of Parliament across Westminster Bridge. After going through the security procedures, we gathered in Westminster Hall - the main lobby. This is the only place where photographs were permitted, so unfortunately I have nothing to show from the tactile tour or the afternoon tea with Viscount Craigavon but I will do my best to describe in detail the rooms and items we discovered.

Standing inside Westminster Hall

Members of the group who had secured meetings with their local MPs would meet them that morning, while the rest of us would embark on the tactile tour of the Houses of Parliament - including the House of Commons, House of Lords, Ceremonial Rooms including the Queen's Robing Room and the Royal Gallery, House of Commons library, and so on. From what I remember, the Queen's Robing Room was definitely my favourite. It was full of lavish patterns on the walls and floors, and had beautiful items including a rococo-styled clock that was weighty and tall and decorated with knights and horses.

In the House of Commons chamber, we were invited to touch the large statues of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, and then proceeded into the Bar Lobby - the entrance to the House of Commons. In each of the Lobbies that we visited, we could feel the door frames and appreciate just how intricate they were. Made of varnished wood, they boasted various details including thick bars, cross-hatch patterns and curled floral-styled designs. We then entered the House of Commons!

The first thing we noticed when inside the House of Commons, was actually how small it was - it seems so much larger on television! We were shown the gifts that were given after WWII from other commonwealth countries; including the Speaker's Chair canopy from Australia, the Table of the House gifted from Canada, and the dispatch boxes from New Zealand. We could trace our fingers over the carved names of the countries adorned on each gift, engraved into the wood with a bold gothic font. Upon leaving the House of Commons, we came upon the Bar of the House, and felt the wood carving of a crown and other intricate details.

Back outside the House of Commons, we again entered the Bar Lobby but turned and descended into the Noes Lobby - the place you would go as a member of Parliament if you were to vote 'no'. It contained a huge bookshelf full of the Hansard Books - the official reports in both Houses. Towards the end of the Noes Lobby, we touched the division desks and found that they could slide across the floor to allow accessibility for those in wheelchairs, a more recent feature.

We made our way to the House of Lords, which is drastically different to the House of Commons - first of all, everything is red rather than green! It is also incredibly ornate and intricate in detail and design. My favourite feature in this room is the Queen's Throne, though it's robed off from the general public and is not allowed to be touched. It's made from real gold and has two tall brass candelabras on either side, now powered by electricity rather than flame! We were invited to touch and have a feel of the candelabra stands. Further along into the House of Lords is the main woolsack, covered in a thick red material, where the Lord Speaker sits. We walked past the bishops' bench and the Government front bench, to find our way near the main table equipped with microphones for debates. Further along lies the crossbenches and then the bar of the House.

In the Peers Lobby, we learned that there are around 750 Lords, or Peers, in the House of Lords. Rather than an Ayes and Noes Lobby for voting, instead they have the Content and the Not Content Lobbies.

Towards the end of the tour, we visited the Prince's Chamber, the Royal Gallery and the Queen's Robing Room. In the Prince's Chamber, the statue of Queen Victoria was described to us in detail. It is a vast marble sculpture, dominating the entire room - joined by Justice on the left and Clemency on the right. There were also plaques of slated carvings on the wall which we were invited to feel, including one such depiction of a horse in a scene with King Arthur. Outside the Prince's Chamber, lies the Royal Gallery - a long rectangular room filled with beautiful paintings adorning the walls and covering them entirely. The tour guide allowed us to touch some of the paintings, specifically one that was made of plaster and painted onto with watercolours. That particular painting, by Maclise, took many years to complete. The room is filled with small groups of tables and chairs where Lords can meet and discuss particular topics and issues. We felt the grandness of the chairs, decorated with details such as metal studs and carvings. On the entrances coming in and out of the Royal Gallery, the doorways are bordered with gold tudor roses and Imperial crowns.

As I mentioned earlier, my favourite room was definitely the Queen's Robing Room! It was such a wide space without too much furniture inside and felt spacious, free and relaxing. In the far side of the room, the Chair of State sits - where the Queen will prepare for the State Opening of Parliament. It is a decorative chair, with steps leading up to it and a wonderful canopy displaying many gold designs. On the opposite side is an intricately detailed fireplace.

After the tactile tour had finished, we then watched Prime Minister's Question Time. I have to admit that I'd never properly watched it before, only having heard snippets on the radio when they were woven into the news stories of the day. It was wonderful to hear it actually happening inside Parliament and being surrounded by the atmosphere, it felt much more special than just watching it on television at home or hearing segments from the radio. It was interesting to see which points were raised by each party. From my observation, it seemed to me that the Labour party were the ones often mentioning families and the struggles they face (especially as winter approaches and energy bills are rising) whereas the Conservatives often mentioned businesses and the progress they were making for the economy.

When lunch had finished, my local MP, Barbara Keeley, was ready to see me. It was absolutely lovely to meet her! We discussed at length the issues that I face as a young visually impaired person in our local community of Irlam and Salford. Barbara was extremely generous to donate so much of her time to me, listening to my issues and my suggested solutions to help improve the obstacles I encounter on a daily basis. I mentioned issues such as bus stop signs in my local area that are hoisted too far up onto the pole and how very difficult they are to see if a bus shelter is not a visible, tactile clue. Also, tram tracks not being noticeable enough (especially in the Manchester city centre where myself and a few others have ended up standing right in the middle of them!). I also mentioned problems with cyclists, glass store-fronts, automatic doors, supermarket / shop labels, accessible (braille, large print, audio) text books in mainstream schools, and hate-crime / bullying against visually impaired / blind people.

My final topic of discussion, and my biggest issue, is with the general public's attitude towards me, and other visually impaired / blind people, especially when I go out shopping with my mum. Re-educating the public about our needs and what UV glasses and white canes / mobility aids are used for is something that I feel is quite essential for the majority to be reminded of. I've had many a nasty remark in my favourite shopping centre, and it can make me feel utterly depressed for the rest of the day. People should feel that they can approach and ask questions if they want to, rather than directing looks or remarks towards me that my mum has to deal with too. I volunteered my time and services if ever I'm needed to help with workshops in schools or around our local area.

I'm extremely thankful to Barbara for our meeting and it was a pleasure to meet her. She was so patient to listen to everything I had to say and really made my trip to Parliament special knowing that, if even just a little bit, I may have made a difference for other sight-impaired people living in my local area.

Myself and my local MP, Barbara Keeley, at Parliament

We then attended the Parliamentary Outreach programme, helping to give us a better understanding of and an introduction to how Parliament works and its relevance. How bills progress through Parliament and how laws are passed were also explained in detail, and we were provided with information on how to contact our local MPs and Lords. Each section of the House of Lords and the House of Commons were explained in detail including who plays each particular role, and we were provided with a glossy photograph of each House that we could take home with us (pictured below).

During the Parliamentary Outreach session
Photo © RNIB_Campagins Twitter page

After gathering back into Westminster Hall, it was time to engage with political researchers and correspondents. It was really interesting to hear what their typical week entails, and how enthusiastic they are about their job, either researching or writing speeches for their MPs, among other important tasks. They also described how they developed an interest in politics and how they attained their job inside Parliament. It was fascinating to hear their stories and I'm very grateful to them for taking time out of their busy schedules to come and talk to us.

It wasn't long before we heard the famous voice of Gary O'Donoghue! It was an absolute pleasure to meet him and speak with him, discussing the Prime Minister's Question Time's events from earlier that day and finding our more about politics and campaigning.

BBC4 Chief Political Correspondent, Gary O'Donoghue talking

to our group. Photo © RNIB_Campagins Twitter page

At around 4:30pm, it was time for our afternoon tea with Viscount Craigavon in the House of Lords. I believe that it was an absolutely beautiful room, judging from a fellow campaigners' description, with lots of dark wood panelling accents, low candelabras and red tudor rose patterns on the carpets and walls. The afternoon tea was just as wonderful as the room itself, I felt like I was in Alice in Wonderland with all of the various cakes and sandwiches to choose from as well as Indian tea with sugar lumps! And, of course, there was the famous cucumber sandwiches with the crusts sliced off to sample too! Other sandwich fillings included roasted pepper and tomato, cheese and tomato and salmon. I didn't get to sample many of the cakes as those seemed to be most popular, but I did get to have a mini scone with clotted cream and jam and a mini fruit cake. They were both delicious!

Our day at Parliament was sadly drawing to a close. We had a few group photographs taken outside, before heading back to the hotel to get changed, freshen up and have a rest before our evening dinner. On my way back walking over Westminster Bridge, I took some photographs of the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and the Houses of Parliament looking over the River Thames as seen in the first photo of this post.

Photos © Katrina Thomson of Haggeye

I was absolutely shattered after the long day, so headed to bed soon after I'd my dinner and dessert. We still had one day left of our trip but thankfully had a later start the following morning - so we could have a little bit of a lie-in!

Thursday, October 24th 2013

After getting ready and finishing breakfast, we packed our things and checked out of the hotel. We then headed to Judd Street by taxi where the official headquarters of the RNIB reside. After gaining access with our visitor passes, we then headed to the room where we would be recapping the previous day's events and choosing our network name and first campaign.

We started with an introduction from Fazilet Hadi, the director of RNIB's Inclusive Society. The rest of the RNIB team introduced themselves, and a microphone was then passed around so that we could all introduce ourselves too. A whole host of new young campaigners had joined us for the third day, who either weren't selected for the Parliamentary visit or were too busy and wanted to attend just the workshop. We also discussed our reasons for wanting to join the network - mine was to be able to meet new people and make new friends who were similar to my age.

We then recapped on the previous day's tactile tour, Prime Minister's Question Time, meeting with MPs, Parliamentary Outreach programme, and meeting with researchers and political correspondents - for those who were not able to join us, to help give them an insight into what we were lucky enough to  have been able to be involved in. It was then time to discuss, as a group, the issues that we face as young visually impaired and blind people from across England. The most popular topics were public transport, education, work, leisure / shopping and hate crime. Further on in the day, we would be able to vote for what we felt was the area that needed improving the most.

At this point, it was time for me to leave the room and take part in an interview with Insight Radio, the RNIB's official radio station. I was selected to be interviewed the day before along with fellow campaigner, David Horwood, and was honoured and delighted to have the opportunity to do my first piece of media work. I had a wonderful time being interviewed by Leanne Coyle - it was an experience I'll never forget! You can listen to my interview here and / or download the transcript here.

Being interviewed by Leanne Coyle of Insight Radio

We talked about why it's important to want to campaign as a young blind person and stand up for our rights, the changes we can make and want to make, and how to go about the process of seeing those changes being made. I'm very thankful to Insight Radio and Leanne Coyle for interviewing me, and to Lindsay Armstrong for arranging it.

Back in the campaigning workshop, the group were finishing off their discussion regarding the issues and onstacles they wanted to add to the list in order to vote to officially campaign for improving them. Votes were then taken, and our first campaign will surround retail and leisure. There are a wide variety of issues to tackle with this subject, such as labels in supermarkets or tags on clothes, changing the attitudes of shop assistants and how they react to having a blind or partially sighted customer needing help, and educating them on how they can help us with our shopping needs, Braille or large print menus, better accessibility in leisure centres, and so on.

Lesley-Anne Alexander, RNIB Chief Executive, then entered the room and introduced herself to the group. She answered questions that we had regarding different topics such as the RNIB online store, membership, user forums and different ways of communicating with other RNIB / campaigning members, and so on. She was really lovely and supportive of our network and it was great to finally meet her, after hearing so much about her from other members of the RNIB.

Haggeye gave a presentation explaining the origins of their campaigning group, its name, its members, the mascot, and the successful campaigns they have carried out so far - such as the Stop For Me, Speak To Me campaign as well as creating an information pack that has gone out to every school in Scotland. They also told us about their magazine, the Haggazine, and provided us each with a copy in our preferred formats.

After officially announcing our first campaign, we then had to decide on our network's name. Many suggestions were taken, myself submitting three names (ENVISION - English Network of Visually Impaired Spokespeople for the Improvement of Obstacles Nationwide, VISION. - Visually Impaired Spokespeople for the Improvement of Obstacles Network and New Perspective Network). After all of the proposed network names were written down, we hen had a vote - and one of my suggested names won! We are now called ENVISION and you can visit our micro-website here which includes a picture of myself and my local MP, Barbara Keeley, as well as a brief introduction to our network and our aims. Also included is a video of interviews from some of our members, as well as the Insight Radio interview with David and I. If you are aged 18-30, are blind or partially sighted and are interested in campaigning with us then you are very free to join the network! More details can be found on the website.

We ended the session with group photographs, pleased that we had our network name and our first campaign that we will be working towards in the coming months. It was time to say goodbye to the RNIB staff and the friends I had made over the past few days and make my way back home to Manchester.

I'd had an absolutely wonderful time, meeting new people, visiting new places I'd never been to before and experiencing things I may never have had the chance to. I'm extremely grateful to everyone at the RNIB for putting the trip together, especially Libby Rhodes for reading and selecting my application and giving me the opportunity to be a part of the network, Lindsay Armstrong for travelling with me on the train (as I'm not comfortable with public transport and don't travel on my own as yet) and for giving me the chance to be interviewed by Insight Radio, and Emily Papaleo for being my sighted guide for the majority of the trip and for being so supportive and understanding on my first night when I was feeling a little homesick! Also a huge thank you to Barbara Keeley, Gary O'Donoghue, Viscount Craigavon and everybody else at the RNIB and at Parliament for being so welcoming and wonderful.

This has been one of the best experiences I've ever had
and is something I will treasure for a very long time to come.