Opening doors and changing lives
Community Support Workers are often the first trusted link between a blind veteran and the specialist help they need.
For more than a decade, David has been that link for blind veterans in his local area - someone they can rely on for practical help, reassurance, and understanding.
In the video on this page, you’ll meet David, a Community Support Worker (CSW) at Blind Veterans UK, and Ken, a blind veteran who David supports.
Like many of our veterans, Ken is fiercely independent. Accepting help doesn’t come easily, which is why ongoing support from someone he knows and trusts is essential.
Watch: A home visit with David and Ken
As David speaks in voice-over, the video follows him on a visit to Ken’s home. You see David arrive, then spend time with Ken in his living room talking to each other.
While David explains what his role involves, the footage shows the practical side of the visit: checking and fixing equipment in the home and going through information together on a tablet.
There are also moments where Ken speaks for himself, sharing how he has been feeling recently and what David’s support has meant to him over the years. As David leaves, he helps Ken up from his chair and walks to his car.
Video transcript
David: My name is David and I'm a Community Support Worker with Blind Veterans UK. Ken is in his nineties, and I've known him for more than a decade. On this visit, Ken opened up about some of the things he's been finding difficult.
Ken: The last two months or so. I haven't felt very good at all, to tell you the truth.
David: Like many of our veterans, he's fiercely independent. Sight loss is only one part of the picture. There's mobility, mental health, and perhaps most importantly, the challenge of accepting support when you've spent a lifetime being independent. That's why my role isn't just about delivering equipment or advice and then walking away.
It's about understanding the person and listening to what's really going on, and then finding the right support together.
Ken: He's really helped a lot. It used to get me down, but David has always sorted it out for me one way or another.
David: Every visit is different. Sometimes we need practical solutions, sometimes advice, and sometimes it's simply being there to listen.
And I'm proud of my role. I'm proud of the difference we make for veterans like Ken.
Sight loss is only part of the picture
Behind every veteran’s experience are other factors that shape daily life - mobility, mental health, and, perhaps most importantly, the challenge of accepting support.
During this visit, Ken opens up to David that he hasn’t been feeling well recently. With David’s guidance, Ken was supported to access specialist input. Following a referral to our Rehabilitation Team, Ken received mobility support to help him feel safer at home.
“He's really helped a lot. It used to get me down, but David has always sorted it out for me one way or another.”
Opening doors to the right support
Community Support Workers, like David, play a vital role in the specialist support we offer. They bring expert knowledge, years of experience, and a deep understanding of local services. Combined with their appreciation of each veteran’s service, they create a stronger, more connected support network for blind veterans.
“If I was just a faceless individual on the end of the phone, people wouldn’t open up to me the way they do – and they’d miss out on vital support. I’m hugely proud of my role and the work we do.”
That personal connection makes it more likely that veterans will access the help they need to lead full and independent lives.
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