Three young people are set to show that sight loss is no barrier to success.
The junior apprentices have been awarded a grant by Kirklees Youth Council, which will provide valuable work experience and make a difference to their peers.
The young entrepreneurs are Peter Doyle and Mehreen Akthar, both from Crosland Moor, and Brittany Stead, from Cleckheaton.
They will use a £320 grant to complete a week’s work experience at Action for Blind People’s regional office in Leeds.
There they will plan and develop an event designed to share with other visually impaired youngsters their knowledge of employment, education and future career opportunities.
Peter, 15, a student at Moor End Academy, said: “This short apprenticeship will give me an opportunity to gain valuable real-world work experience.
“The job market’s challenging for young people, so if you’re visually impaired, you have to prove yourself even more.
“I will learn project management and team-building skills and how to control a budget.
“It will be a real confidence booster to help me prepare for employment.”
The successful funding bid was prepared by members of Action for Blind People’s Huddersfield Actionnaires club.
The club gives visually impaired children, aged 4 to 16, opportunities to develop confidence through sport and social activities.
Mehreen, 17, added: “It’s an opportunity to test and prove ourselves.”
Brittany, 16, thanked Kirklees Youth Council for the grant.
James Carey, from Action for Blind People, said: “Our services for youngsters are all designed to develop self-belief and independence.”
The trio will record daily audio-diaries, uploading them on to Audioboo – an audio equivalent of YouTube – and to other media formats.
