Volunteers’ Week: Turning Adversity into Advocacy
Lewis Smith is a 30-year-old volunteer living in Essex who has turned personal adversity into a meaningful contribution to his community.
At the age of 18, Lewis lost his sight due to Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare genetic condition that causes central vision loss, typically in young adulthood. Following his diagnosis, Lewis enrolled at the Royal National College for the Blind, where he successfully completed a Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT, a Subsidiary Diploma in Business, and several other qualifications.
Despite his academic achievements, Lewis has faced ongoing challenges in securing employment. However, he has remained committed to using his time and experience to support others through volunteering. He currently volunteers with RNIB’s Talk and Support Service, where he provides peer support to individuals living with sight loss. He also volunteers with Essex Pedal Power, where he helps repair and refurbish bicycles that are then redistributed to members of the community.
Another of Lewis’s impactful roles is with the ECL Sensory Service, where he helps as a Lived Experience Volunteer. Lewis attended cane training with ECL in early 2025, and during this time he was approached by Tara, a Sensory Rehabilitation Worker, who encouraged him to consider volunteering with the team.
Volunteering with ECL has been incredibly rewarding—not only have I seen the positive impact it has on those who attend, but I’ve also gained a much deeper understanding of hearing loss.
In his role, Lewis shares his personal story of vision loss and daily life with a visual impairment to businesses and external organisations. These sessions are designed to help attendees better understand how to support customers and co-workers with sight and hearing loss. Lewis has already participated in two training sessions with a further two sessions booked for later in the year.
Lewis said: “Before I hoped for a career in engineering but due to my vision loss, I couldn’t pursue this avenue. I wanted to change the negative into a positive and use my experience to do something good.
“Sharing my personal story has been a meaningful experience, and I hope it inspires attendees to apply what they’ve learned to create more inclusive workplaces—making everyday life better for individuals with sight and hearing impairments.”
For Volunteers’ Week 2025 the ECL Sensory Service wanted to recognise the contributions of their volunteers. Lewis is a shining example of how lived experience can be used to educate others and promote inclusivity. Through his volunteering, he is helping to build a more understanding and accessible society.