A FREE training course aimed at giving unemployed visually impaired people the skills needed by local employers is being run by Henshaws.

The Skillstep to Success course is a 12-week training programme focussing on the interpersonal, social and vocational skills needed to get a job.

Course coordinator, Jane Touil, who is visually impaired herself says: "seventy five per cent of blind and partially sighted people of working age are unemployed for all sorts of reasons.

"One explanation for this is that training courses aren't generally accessible to visually impaired people.

"I am hoping that this course will be the first step for many of our students on the road to employment, voluntary work or further education.

Funded by the Adult and Community Learning Fund, the course also provides students with a fulltime two-week work experience placement.

Host employers offering the work placement will also receive free visual impairment awareness training so that all parties can get the most out of the experience.

Jane Touil continued: "One important aspect of this course is the two week work experience placement that each student will complete.

"I think it's important that they get a taste of what it's really like to be in the work environment and doing the jobs they are interested in."