Examining the impact of a Volunteer-Delivered counselling service for people experiencing sight loss: a mixed methods evaluation.

Volunteer-delivered counselling can be effective for people affected by sight loss, providing accessible and much-needed psychological support, which is relevant given current pressures on health and social care services. There are key lessons for future models of this type.Implications for RehabilitationVision loss can have a profound negative impact on people's emotional and mental well-being, with many advocating for counselling and emotional support (CESS) to be included in low vision rehabilitative services.Despite this, access to psychological support is often overlooked in low vision rehabilitation, and access to CESS services is often poor.This study evaluated a volunteer-delivered CESS service, demonstrating that this model of service delivery is effective for this group.There are clear advantages to a volunteer-delivered model for those with sight loss, in terms of widening access, supporting integrated rehabilitative care, and reducing health inequalities.