"I really believe it has given me a purpose and I am able to help other people realise that life has a lot to offer."
Our team of community public speakers help us to raise awareness and much needed funds for RNIB's services.
Last year they reached over 20,000 people across the UK and raised over £50,000 for RNIB.
But we still need more volunteers to help us reach more communities. Could you help us?
Meet our public speaking ambassadors
Jennifer and Andrew are a public speaking team in the Southwest of England. Together, they have delivered over 30 talks to community groups in their local area.
Jennifer says: "When I was asked if I would become a public speaker I was terrified because I had never done anything like it before. However, after losing my sight 15 years ago, the Talking Books service played a large part in helping me see that my life had not come to an end. It helped me gain confidence and gave me a great deal of pleasure. I now really enjoy my role as a speaker. I like meeting people and making new friends. I really believe it has given me a purpose and I am able to help other people realise that life has a great deal to offer."
Andrew says: "I have been an RNIB volunteer since I retired in 2006 and I enjoy talking to groups. My mother in law was an avid user of Talking Books and it was great to get the chance to help spread the word and raise funds to support this much loved service."
Could you be our next public speaker?
If you would like to support RNIB as a community public speaker please email us at fundraising@rnib.org.uk or call us on 0845 345 0054 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).
You'd be helping us to fund services that can make a real difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people across the UK