As events celebrating Volunteer Week take place across County Durham, The Northern Echo is featuring the people who give up their time freely to make a difference to other people's lives.

WHEN retired coal miner Ron Cordner began to lose his sight, depression hit him hard, especially when he had to give up driving and rely on public transport.

But the support of his family and the opportunity to volunteer has given Ron a new lease of life, and he now spends his time passing on his considerable computer skills to other blind and visually-impaired people. He is a regular, along with his guide dog, Whitney, at Clayport Library, in Durham City, where he runs his computer sessions.

Now he has been nominated by East Durham Trust for a District of Easington Adult Learners Award.

He said: "It was learning to touch-type and a software package called Super Nova, which is a screen reader and screen magnification, that really helped me. At the same time, I did my white cane training and got Whitney, who goes everywhere with me, and my life was turned around.

"It's devastating when you lose your sight, but when I show people how they can use a computer and how much they can achieve, it feels fantastic because they are so amazed. It makes me feel absolutely marvellous, and I never thought I would feel that way again after I was diagnosed.

"I registered as a volunteer with East Durham Trust last year and got some help and guidance about setting up a community outreach project to teach computer skills to people in the area.

"I've now met with staff at Blackhall Community Resource Centre about using the IT facilities to teach the blind and visually-impaired, and I am now just waiting for funding to get the project up and running.

"It will be an excellent opportunity for even more people to discover there is still plenty to enjoy even when you have lost your sight. I volunteer now just about full-time and it's been a brilliant opportunity for me."