Lisburn in Focus guides staff

Eason manager Trevor Proctor, along with Peter Murdock, supervisor, along with Claire Patience, RNIB Lisburn In Focus, Katie Leach, Lisburn In Focus volunteer trainer, and Charlene Bronte, Lisburn In Focus. INUS3413-RNIB

The main aim of the training was to increase staff confidence and competence when approaching and offering assistance to a blind or partially sighted customer.

Lisburn in Focus is a five year project, funded by BIG Lottery Safe & Well Programme. Led by The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB NI) in partnership with Guide Dogs, Lisburn City Council and Lisburn City Centre Management, the Project is working to make the Lisburn Council area the most welcoming and inclusive Council area in Northern Ireland.

Project Co-ordinator, Claire Patience spoke about the training: “All our sessions are co-delivered with a blind or partially sighted trainer which gives participants the opportunity to ask questions that they may not be able to ask anyone else. We also are keen to deliver the training on the shop floor when possible as this gives staff the opportunity to practice guiding someone and being guided in a real environment as opposed to a training room. Feedback from Eason’s has been extremely positive and we hope to continue delivering these types of sessions with other key retailers in Lisburn.”

The awareness of staff in Eason’s was already good but the store Manager, Trevor Proctor welcomed the opportunity to highlight the additional assistance blind and partially sighted shoppers may require and the opportunity for staff to practice guiding and being guided.

Trevor commented; “Although the sessions were brief, due to the fact that staff time is precious, all my staff found the training valuable and learnt new things. Customer service is paramount in Eason’s and we aim to deliver excellent customer care to everyone but this opportunity to avail of free, quality training from Lisburn in Focus was too good to refuse.”

The training was tailored and short but incorporated information about the most common eye conditions that people in Lisburn have and demonstrated the correct way to guide a blind or partially sighted customer.

If you would like to set up some training sessions for your staff or volunteers then ring Lisburn in Focus on 028 9260 0388 or email [email protected]