Staff from Cornish Mutual recently swapped a day in the office for a day on the range when they spent the day volunteering at BUGS Shooting Club in St Austell. BUGS (which stands for blind using guided sights) is one of fifteen social clubs in Cornwall, run entirely by volunteers, for people with visual impairments.
The team from the Truro Head Office were on hand to guide club members to and from the target range and load up the air rifles which work by picking up a pitch emitted from the target. The pitch gets higher as the shooter gets closer to the bullseye, allowing people with little or no sight at all to find the target.
Paul Mahon, Insurance Director at Cornish Mutual said: “The club is a fantastic way for the members to socialise and it clearly couldn’t take place without the kind support shown by the drivers and other volunteers.
“We all had a go at shooting which we found far more difficult than the members made it seem. One of our team (no names) managed to miss the target completely with their first five shots which we understand has never been done before!”
Cornish Mutual encourages its staff to take part in a volunteering day for charity once a year. The Technical Development Team chose iSightCornwall because sight loss is a subject close to their hearts.
Paul Haddrell, Technical Leader, said: “My mother is 94, has macular degeneration and is registered blind. Despite this she makes almost daily bus journeys to the shops by herself. Being able to maintain her independence is so important, which is why charities like iSightCornwall are so valuable.”
Terri Rosnau-Ward, Chief Executive, said: “We were thrilled to welcome our Newham neighbours at Cornish Mutual to volunteer with one of our affiliated groups. The clubs are vital for people with sight loss to keep their independence while meeting friends and learning a new skill.”
