A blind woman from Epsom has become a national charity’s new calendar star.

Rosie Johnson, 25, who lives in Swali House on Ashley Road, appears in Action For Blind People’s (Action) calendar. She is one of 27,000 people with sight loss to have benefitted from the charity over the past 12 months.

After gaining her diploma in teaching from East Surrey College, Redhill, she has worked as a volunteer, teaching Braille to students at Surrey Association for the Blind.

Action has since been supporting Rosie’s development through a range of mobility and technology training. Rosie has spoken out about how rewarding her experience with the charity has been. She said:"The workshops have provided me with an immense amount of information and I’ve met some amazing new friends. The only thing I would change would be to make it longer."

The calendar is an adapted version of the charity’s annual review, packed full of statistics about its services and successes. During the period covered, 91 young people were able to join 10 residential courses across the country. Also, 425 social activities were organised for blind and partially sighted youngsters, aged 4-16, who are members of the charity’s Actionnaires clubs. These clubs are designed to boost young people’s confidence through a range of sporting and social activities, such as blind tennis, woodland survival skills, film making and horse riding.

Action has also helped 123 blind and partially sighted job seekers find employment.

Over 9,000 patients, newly diagnosed with sight loss, were given crucial advice by Action for Blind People’s Eye Clinic Liaison Officers. Based in hospital eye clinics, they provide much needed emotional and practical support and are a valuable source of information and guidance.