A LOCAL charity is calling on the local business community to help improve the prospects for youngsters who are visually impaired.

Dorset Blind Association (DBA) is looking for businesses to participate in their campaign to support brighter futures for local young people who are blind or partially sighted.

The charity is seeking corporate champions to post videos of blindfolded tasks to social media in a campaign called #tryitblind and to promote to their networks.

The campaign was launched at the start of this month (September) and it aims to fund and raise awareness of employment for blind and partially sighted people.

It is hoped the campaign will raise £15,000 by the end of September.

Jaya Da Costa, fundraising manager for DBA, said: “We are looking for companies to be corporate champions for the campaign by participating, encouraging their staff and promoting to their networks.

“It won’t cost the company money, but could bring some really great benefits such as great publicity, free stalls at events and of course a fantastic feel-good factor.”

The Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry is backing the campaign, and chief executive Ian Girling said: “It’s so important for employers to recognise the contribution people with disabilities can make and get on board with inspiring campaigns like this.

"I congratulate Dorset Blind Association for the incredible work they do in providing these kind of opportunities and support people with sight loss.”

Changes, caps and reductions of benefits and access to work schemes have made life more challenging for people of working-age with sight-loss.

Christopher Long who has visual impairment and is finding it hard to find work added: “Employers and recruitment agencies need to look past the disability and look at what the candidates can do.”

To take part in the campaign, employees simply upload the image to social media with the hashtag #TryItBlind, text MPLY22 £3 to 70070 and nominate their friends to do the same.

If you are interested in the #tryitblind campaign and would like to get involved in the #tryitblind campaign, contact 01202 712864.