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Get Vitalised!

Each year the charity Vitalise takes hundreds of blind and visually impaired holidaymakers to the four corners of the globe in search of fun, friendship and new experiences.

Laura Haynes, who lost her sight from Rb as a small child,regularly goes on holidays with Vitalise.Read on to get a real sense of what a Vitalise holiday is all about.


Having just spent a very enjoyable week in Turkey participating in water sports, unexpectedly in the company of CHECT chief exec Libby Halford, she has asked me to write a piece for the website about Vitalise, who organised the holiday. The idea started life as the Guide Dogs Adventure Group back in the late eighties, and the intention was to run activity holidays in which there would be an equal number of visually impaired people and sighted guides. The guides would pay a reduced price for the holiday, on the understanding that they would act as eyes for the visually impaired

During the 90s management of the Guide Dogs Adventure Group was taken over by the Winged Fellowship Trust, later rebranded as Vitalise. The holiday group has grown over the years, and now organises many different types of holidays from activity based, to sightseeing, to just relaxing in the sun.

I joined back in the eighties, and have mainly participated in the activity holidays. I've been skiing with them virtually every year, mainly cross country, although they also run downhill ski holidays. A lot are based in Europe, although they also go to Scandinavia and America. I loved skiing since trying it at school, and when I had the opportunity to take it back up again I was over the moon. It is something I could never do alone; and although it is possible I may have gone with friends, there are not always like-minded people around, and acting as guides could put a strain on friendships. But with this holiday group people come along because they want to guide, and over the years you get to meet up with a lot of the same people each year. It is a wonderful experience being out in the mountains, hopefully in the sunshine, with others who love siiing.

I have also enjoyed walking holidays to places such as the Picos De Europa in spain, the Tatras moutains in Poland, and a trekk to Everest Base camp (the holiday of a life time). Although I and my husband could go on walking holidays independently, or even with a regular group such as the ramblers, going with Vitalise means that we can go on more challenging holidays, with people who understand that certain parts of walks may require less speed and more information.

If you are in to cycling, they also run tandem holidays. Again I and my husband, who is also visually impaired, could not do this privately. My husband has cycled since childhood, and I've always been more enamoured by the idea of cycling than driving: out in the open air, being more aware of the area you are passing through, able to stop off and look at something that may catch your attention.

We haven't been on many sight seeing holidays, apart from one to Cuba earlier this year. Once again it is something you could do by yourself, or my husband and I could to together; but when you travel as a group some things are easier to organise: a group including a number of visially impaired people may be able to sway opinions to allow the touching of objects that may otherwise be behind barriers.

This most recent holiday of water sports in turkey (Laura waterskiing in Turkey on right) benefitted from there being a group of us. You weren't the odd one out trying to master the art of getting up on a windsurf board, and sailing it; or joining in with others aiming to gain their level 1 or level 2 dinghy sailing proficiency. WE had organised lessons, for those who wanted them, but there was plenty of free time, and having guides in the group who were competent sailors, windsurfers, or just able to observe and ensure you didn't sail out in to the sunset, was a wonderful advantage.

All kinds of people are members of Vitalise: from singles, couples, young and old; or those who's partner may not share a particular hobby. I have had so many wonderful experiences over the years, and have met some really interesting people. I think walking, skiing, sailing, water skiing, and just visiting different countries and interesting places helps build self-confidence, but also gives you something to share with colleagues and friends back home.

What makes these holidays even better are the sighted guides who share them with us, as they bring the places alive for us, by painting a picture of our surroundings.
Their descriptions of plant life, buildings, views, interesting things to look at such as statues, or general clutter on market stalls are what help make the place memorable.

Vitalise are always looking for new members, whether you are a visually impaired person itching to get out there and try something different or just travel; or if you are fully sighted and would like to take a holiday with a group of people and in so doing help bring a place alive for someone who can't see all that's around them; or maybe you too love skiing or cycling, walking, sailing (or some other activity) and would like to help someone else enjoy that activity as well. Give Vitalise a call, and they will send you a brochure (which they publish twice yearly) which lists all the forthcoming holidays they are planning. I'm sure you'll find something that would appeal to you.

Contact Vitalise on: 0845 345 1970.