MP backs veterans' charity

SARAH Champion met former servicemen and women with sight loss as she backed a military charity’s campaign.

The Rotherham MP attended a reception held by Blind Veterans UK, which helps former services personnel to lead independent lives.

Around 6,000 veterans in Yorkshire are battling severe sight loss, the charity has estimated.

Ms Champion said: “I’m pleased to pledge my support to Blind Veterans UK and its No One Alone campaign to ensure that no veteran in Rotherham will have to battle blindness on their own.

“Blind Veterans UK’s services and support provides the life-changing help needed to ensure veterans can discover life beyond sight loss and we need to make sure that every veteran in Yorkshire knows this is available to them.”

Mark Lovatt, Blind Veterans UK’s director of welfare, said: “This event has been important towards showing how important a role MPs, local authorities and blind associations have in signposting veterans to support, and how they can make sure every veteran with vision impairment knows about the specialist support available to them.

“We’re pleased so many representatives from Yorkshire’s local authorities have come along today to pledge their support and by launching this video today.”

For more information, visit www.noonealone.org.uk or call 0800 389 7979.