Blind Edinburgh Man Named Young Volunteer of the Year
Daryl Stewart (23), a long-standing volunteer with sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, has been awarded the Special Recognition Award for Young Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Inspiring Volunteer Awards, run by Volunteer Edinburgh.
The award ceremony, which took place on Monday 2 June at Edinburgh’s City Chambers, marks the beginning of Volunteers’ Week - a national celebration of the vital role volunteers play across the UK.
Daryl received his award from The Rt. Hon. Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to supporting blind and partially sighted people in Scotland.
Daryl, who has a cerebral visual impairment, first became involved with RNIB Scotland at the age of 14 when he joined the charity’s youth forum. At the time, he felt isolated at his mainstream school. RNIB’s youth group offered a transformative space where Daryl made friends and found his community.
Since then, Daryl has grown from a participant into a key figure in RNIB Scotland’s volunteer network. He began volunteering at 16 and has since supported a wide range of groups and activities, from youth sessions to craft groups, walking clubs, and tandem cycling.
Daryl Stewart
This year, however, has seen Daryl step confidently into a leadership role, making his contribution more impactful than ever.
Over the past 12 months, Daryl has taken on new responsibilities, moving beyond support to organising and leading multiple RNIB groups and activities across Edinburgh. He now independently plans and runs sessions, offering guidance, encouragement, and a warm welcome to participants of all ages.
In addition, Daryl delivers Visual Awareness training to RNIB Scotland’s partner organisations, equipping staff and volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to better support blind and partially sighted people in their own services.
He has also played a key role in the reopening of RNIB Scotland’s community café this year at their Edinburgh office, where he regularly volunteers by greeting visitors, giving tours of the newly refurbished space, and serving refreshments with professionalism and kindness.
Daryl’s commitment has had a measurable and lasting impact:
- Over 50 blind and partially sighted people have accessed group support because of Daryl’s work.
- He’s introduced 10 people to tandem cycling and 12 new players to the inclusive sport of Showdown.
- He’s currently collaborating with Scottish Disability Sport to expand Showdown across Scotland, with ambitions to launch a national league hosted at RNIB Scotland’s offices.
- He supports dozens of community members each week through his work at RNIB Scotland’s café and local groups.
When RNIB Scotland’s main Edinburgh office temporarily closed for refurbishment, Daryl didn’t hesitate to go above and beyond. He worked with staff to ensure that community members could still attend groups and sessions - sometimes accompanying them on public transport, and in other cases meeting them at home to coordinate transport with drivers.
He’s also taken part in multiple Kiltwalk fundraising events, helping raise money to support RNIB Scotland’s various services.
“Mention Daryl’s name to anyone who comes through our doors, and they instantly smile,” says Jane Coates, Community Social Action Manager at RNIB Scotland. “His energy, kindness, and commitment bring so much joy and reassurance to the people we support.”
About RNIB
We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality, and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.
RNIB. See differently.
