Last week Oliver took part in the Guide Dogs for Blind Association’s blindness and sight loss simulation event on Shenley Road, Borehamwood.

The event saw Oliver try to navigate the Shenley Road wearing a full blind fold and that simulated sight loss. He was guided by a guide dog one way and blind stick the other way. The purpose of the event was to highlight the huge challenges that people with those conditions face.

Oliver said: ‘The Shenley Road is a very different and much more intimidating place when you try to walk down it with no sight and guided only by a dog.

‘It brought home to me the challenges faced by those with sight loss conditions and the invaluable lifeline provided to them by guide dogs. In particular, it is clear that more needs to be done to deter obstacles such as a-frame signs and cars parked on pavements – these are serious obstacles for the visually impaired. It also highlighted the need for a safe crossing somewhere along the Shenley road to make it accessible to blind people. I will be raising all these matters with the Borough council about this.

‘I pay tribute to the efforts and dedication of everyone working at the Association in their work to ensure people who are blind or partially sighted can enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else.’

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was founded in 1934 to provide people suffering from sight-loss with well-trained guide dogs. Their work has expanded significantly since their foundation and now includes campaigns to protect the rights of those with sight conditions and the funding of research to find cures to eye related diseases.