Success goes to those who dare

One of the many motivational things about working with the charity team for RBS is the opportunity to meet people who have had personal challenges in life.

Last week I was honoured to be invited to the RNIB See Differently Awards where I heard about the 18 finalists in various categories who had done something incredible to help blind and partially sighted people be included better in society.

What I found most emotional was hearing about people who, despite having personal sight issues, have gone on to do inspiring things. It proves that so much is possible if try hard enough.

One of the finalists I met was Jesse Dutton, whose employer Intelligent Energy had supported him in progressing his career and is now the company’s principal patent engineer.

It’s a scary statistic that 75 per cent of registered blind people of working age are unemployed – yet like

Jesse they have so much to offer. Jesse has also been a blind lead in rock climbing, and recently climbed the Old

Man of Hoy, off Orkney – captured in the film

Climbing Blind. He is an example to us all about taking on the impossible.

There were so many stories of perseverance, but I also learnt how we should never assume it’s okay to touch a blind person as that can be a scary experience for them. If you feel someone may need help, ask first.

I hope if you see someone who may be in need, you ask if you can help them, rather than just assuming they want it.

Until next week

Kev

Always ask first if someone needs help rather than assuming that they want it