Vitalise Holidays FAQs

Who are Vitalise Holidays Sighted Guides?
They are members of the public who have generously given their time to accompany visually impaired people (VI) on holiday. Vitalise Holidays aim to match Sighted Guides with VIs to take organised holidays in the UK and overseas. The ratio of guides to VIs is usually one to one, and each holiday is co-ordinated by a Vitalise Holidays Representative.

Visually Impaired People Answers

What training do the sighted guides receive?
All sighted guides are given information on guiding and we also have a short video available which demonstrates the basic guiding techniques. In addition, if the holiday is in the Activity category, guides will have been given advice on the best methods of guiding for that particular event.

Will I have the same guide throughout the holiday?
The Vitalise Holidays Representative usually allocates guiding duties to the sighted members of the group on a half day basis to give everyone a chance to get to know each other. If sighted guides are on the holiday with friends then, where possible, we try to pair them in such a way that they can spend some time together.

Is a guide available 24 hours a day?
Sighted guides are normally expected to be available for guiding from breakfast through to bedtime. As with all holidays, you may get participants that wish to ‘dance the night away’ in a local disco. If you are hoping for a late night please discuss it with your Vitalise Holidays Representative beforehand to see if guides are willing to stay up late too.

Sighted guides usually share rooms with visually impaired people, although personal preferences are taken into account wherever possible. On arrival at the hotel, the Representatives will arrange for visually impaired guests to be given guidance on the layout of the building and arrange for one of the sighted guides to show you the fire safety procedure.

What if I don't hit it off with my sighted guide straight away?
Inevitably there will be times when personalities clash or you may be having problems with the way your guide is guiding. If so, don't feel embarrassed about having a quiet word with your guide or Vitalise Holidays Representative about this so that any problem can be quickly resolved. Please don't keep things to yourself; a bit of friendly advice may avoid an accident, not only for you, but for another visually impaired person.

It is not often that problems arise with sighted guides, but do remember that it may be the first time that some guides have met a visually impaired person and they may initially find the experience a little daunting. An understanding and sympathetic approach from you will help give the guide confidence in their ability. It is worth considering that if sighted guides enjoy the experience, they are likely to return on future holidays with Vitalise Holidays and, of course, without these valued volunteers Vitalise Holidays would be severely restricted in the number and variety of holidays it could offer to you.

Will a guide be able to assist me with getting home from the holiday?
It is not always possible for a sighted guide to assist you to your homeward travel departure point, therefore please arrange assistance before the start of the holiday if you think you might require it. On your return from the holiday, please allow plenty of time to connect with other transport and to make your onward journey home. Further information is given in the Travel Pack issued about a month before a holiday departs.

Sighted Guiding Answers

Do I get any time of my own on holiday?
Vitalise Holidays are group holidays, which is part of what makes them such a great and sociable experience. You will usually be guiding on all the holiday activities from breakfast up to, and including, any evening entertainment. If you do need some time of your own for any particular reason then please speak to your Holiday Representative, who will be able to advise you.

Don’t visually impaired people have a guide dog to guide them?
Not all visually impaired people have a guide dog. Some holidays, such as overseas holidays or certain activities, are not suitable for guide dogs. On other occasions the dog might be taking a holiday as well (guide dogs are working dogs). Also, sighted guides can offer a service that even the most highly trained dog cannot provide, such as a personal conversation or description of the environment.

Will I be with the visually impaired person 24 hours a day?
Possibly, but it will be to varying degrees through any given day. The Holiday Representative will draw up a ‘guiding rota’ for each day of the holiday so that you will usually be guiding a different visually impaired holidaymaker every half day, and for breakfast and evening activities you will often be paired up with your visually impaired roommate. There will obviously be times when you need to be fully focused and your concentration is at its maximum – e.g. on a climbing activity. But there will be many other periods when you can simply ‘tick over’.

What about the training that is offered?
We offer all our sighted guides the opportunity to take part in introductory holidays, at least once per year. These are not meant to be formal or intimidating. They exist to provide you with an opportunity to practice old and new skills in guiding and they are a great opportunity to meet other guides and exchange experiences and concerns.

On occasion we may also be able to provide sighted guide training days subject to availability and demand.

It is common to feel you may need a little extra support or information before embarking on a holiday. Our aim is for you to feel comfortable about raising concerns and for us to offer solutions and options to deal with these. Most concerns will have been experienced before, and common solutions have been successfully applied. The best solutions have often come from guides themselves.

What we aim to provide, as a part of your ongoing training, throughout your time as a guide, is the ability to adapt core skills to varying situations as they arise. We hope you will feel confident to ask others in the group, not only the Vitalise Holidays Representative, but other guides and visually impaired people too.

Is the training difficult?
Our training is not pass or fail. We aim to offer you some new skills and practical applications for them. Many of these skills you will already possess. Think of yourself as being in a current state of ‘unconscious competence’.

Is sighted guiding just an exercise in getting from A to B?
Good sighted guiding does get a visually impaired person from A to B safely and comfortably – but if you concentrate on this alone you will more than likely become a robot. We aim to enable every sighted guide to become accustomed to guiding in their own style, and appreciate that all of us are individuals who have preferences and like to have a choice in how we travel about. When done well guiding is extremely enjoyable for both the guide and the visually impaired person.

Sighted guiding sounds very demanding?
We think guiding is the most rewarding part of contact with visually impaired people. You soon build up trust, but yes, it can be demanding. It demands that you concentrate on all the potential hazards in front and overhead. It demands that you are cautious and observant. However our experience has shown that new guides quickly become proficient and comfortable with their new skills.

Common sense tells me that guiding is simply an exercise of control, isn't it?
Common sense is one of our greatest assets. However there are occasions when common sense is not the best option. Take, for example, guiding a person to a seat. You cannot assume that because someone is totally blind that they must be ‘controlled’ into a seat. The reverse is true, visually impaired people are quite capable of sitting themselves down. You only need give them clear information e.g. that they are at the back of the chair, that the seat is clear, that the chair has arms. This applies to many situations you might find yourself in while guiding – narrow spaces, steps (up or down) and doors (push or pull).

What should I expect from becoming a sighted guide?
A typical day will begin with assisting someone for breakfast. There will be holiday activities and meals during the day and, potentially, long, social evenings. This is one of the reasons why guides take turns to guide different visually impaired people. It gives both parties the opportunity to meet all the people on the holiday. It can also help to avoid personality clashes, and reduce the demand of individuals who require increased support.

What if this is a one off and I don’t plan to attend another holiday?
Think positively. The time that you have generously given could make the difference between a visually impaired person having a once-in-a-lifetime holiday or no holiday at all. Above all else, you should enjoy your time with us. You should be prepared to feel good for doing some good, not guilty because you don’t think you will repeat the experience.

All we ask of you is that if, for whatever reason, you decide never to take part in one of our holidays again, you tell us why. We need to know, so that if there is a problem we can address we are given the opportunity to do so.

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