Earlier this week, Andrew attended the Guide Dogs’ Christmas Event down in Westminster. This event is always well attended with Parliament’s dog lovers out in full force.

During the event, guide dog owners were celebrated, and some of the Guide Dogs’ successes over the past year were celebrated.

Andrew Western said: “It was very insightful to hear from guide dog owners about the freedom guide dogs can bring and how empowering it can be. It was also great to meet Guide Dogs’ volunteer Nick, and his guide dog Benje.”

This year, Guide Dogs has seen real progress with the introduction of a requirement for all buses to have audio-visual announcements, and extra funding for tactile paving on railway station platforms. However, all too often blind and partially-sighted people encounter inaccessible streets and transport, and face being turned away because of their guide dog.

As well as celebrating guide dog owners, there was also the opportunity to celebrate successes and to talk to Guide Dogs about opportunities to work together in the future.

Guide Dogs’ overall mission is to ensure that everyone with sight loss can live actively, independently and well.