One of our volunteers explains how the cost of living crisis has hit them, share your experiences with us
“I want the UK Government to recognise the position that the rising cost of living puts me and other people with sight loss in,” urges one of RNIB’s volunteers as they tell their story below.
It's important that decision makers hear about how the cost of living crisis is affecting people with sight loss. If you are blind or partially sighted, please share your experiences with us by filling out this form.
Rapid rises in the cost of living are affecting everyone but they are having a bigger impact on blind and partially sighted people. People with sight loss already face additional, unavoidable costs like taxi journeys, assistive technology and support in the home.
As one of our volunteers explains:
“I was, maybe, a little naive about the cost of living crisis and could not see how it would impact me. However, it has quickly become apparent that it is impacting me."
“I live in a rural village where I rely heavily on public transport to get me to the next town, or the city, as the village only has a fishmongers and a post office with a small convenience store. As the cost of living crisis has hit, so has the cuts on our bus service - along with two weeks of driver strikes which have left us very isolated.
“The only means of travelling into the town is via taxi, with fares having been increased in the last month. To travel into the city, it is now at a cost of £48 return. I have friends who have purchased push bikes and electric bikes to help them travel to the town. However, as someone with sight loss, this is not something that I am able to do, so I have no option but to use taxis, wait for infrequent buses or remain in my home.
“Only last week I needed to attend the funeral of a friend, which normally I would have taken the bus to. However, as there were no buses, I had to take a taxi at a cost of £54. The increase in travel costs has impacted me more than I could have imagined and for the first time in a long time has made me think about how having a visual impairment has put me at a disadvantage, because I can’t just hop on a bike or drive to town.
“I want the UK Government to recognise the position that the rising cost of living puts me and other people with sight loss in. And seek to remedy it.”
You can share your experience of the cost of living crisis by filling out our webform, helping us. highlight the issues blind and partially sighted people face.