Take 3 support Guide Dogs NSW/ACT with sensory activities day

Take 3 for the Sea joined participants from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT on Thursday to support the charity with a day of sensory activities at Ettalong Beach on the Central Coast.

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the leading provider of Guide Dogs and Orientation and Mobility services that enable people with low vision or blindness to get around their communities safely and independently.

Thursday’s action-packed day saw the young people take part in stand-up paddle boarding with Bombora Ettalong Beach SUP, yoga with Tina Vella, as well as educational and practical activities about the importance of keeping our oceans and waterways free from plastic and litter pollution with Take 3 CEO Sarah Beard and our wonderful volunteers.

Volunteers form Ocean Beach lifesavers were also in attendance to ensure all the participants felt safe and secure in the water.

Our CEO Sarah Beard joined volunteers from Take 3 to support the event 

One of those to take part was 16-year-old Roshan, he said: “It was great to learn about all the plastic in the water and what we can do to help.

“I love the water and want to work near it when I am older, so it is important we take good care of it.”

Each year highly-trained Orientation and Mobility specialists from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT work with around 4,000 people of all ages to help them achieve their mobility goals.

Orientation and Mobility specialist Claire Northrop explained the importance of events of this nature, she said: “We run this event so we can provide a safe and supportive environment for people with low vision or blindness to learn new things like stand-up paddle boarding.

“Many of our participants can feel really isolated at their schools and in their communities as often they might be the only person in the school who has low vision or is blind, so it is a really good opportunity to be out here experiencing new things and really doing something typical of any young person during school holidays.

“The kids learning new skills today will hopefully be able to go on and join their local community groups or do some of the activities with friends or siblings in the future, which is really the most important thing for us.”

Guide Dog, Violet, was one of those in attendance to learn all about the importance of taking 3 for the sea! 

It was the first time Take 3 had been involved with Claire adding: “It has been a great day, with stand-up paddle boarding, yoga on paddle boards and for the first time Take 3!

“We were delighted Take 3 could come as it gives the children a chance to learn something so important through exploration and fun games.

‘It is so important for us to work with community partners. We rely on donations from the public and organisations like Take 3 to work with us, to provide these learning experiences for our participants.”

Take 3 would like to thank Rona Ellis Foundation for supporting our involvement in the day and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT for the invitation.

If you would like to know more about Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and their incredible work visit their website.

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