Hollyoaks Stars Blinded by Charity

Hollyoak stars Anthony Quinlin and Zoe Lister swapped their scripts for blindfolds as they took part in a VIAT (visually impaired awareness training) course at Henshaws Society for Blind People in Liverpool yesterday.

The actors, who play Gilly and Zoe in the series, are both keen supporters of the North West charity and enrolled in the course to educate themselves about the services Henshaws provides. They also experienced what day to day life is like for a visually impaired or blind person, by being guided around the streets of Liverpool whilst wearing goggles which simulate optical impairment.

Anthony said: “Zoe and I were first introduced to Henshaws last year, when we were invited to support the charity’s ‘Wear Bright For Sight Day’ fundraising campaign. When we volunteered to help again this year, we were asked if we would like to take part in the training to gain a fuller understanding and become official ambassadors of the charity.”

The VIAT training also provided Anthony and Zoe with an insight into the range of clever, modern day devices which help visually impaired people cope with everyday tasks, like making a cup of tea or getting dressed in co-ordinated clothes.

Zoe said: “Today has been a humbling experience. Before the course I didn’t appreciate how visually impaired people coped with the everyday tasks we all take for granted.”

Henshaws Liverpool Centre is also the home of the charity’s ‘Sunshine Suite’, which provides support and services for visual impaired children. As part of Zoe and Anthony’s induction, they were introduced to some of the children and shown round the facilities which include a large multi-sensory room with specialist toys and sensory equipment.

Nikki Andrews, Henshaws Regional Fundraiser for Merseyside, said: “We are thrilled to have Anthony and Zoe’s ongoing support. There are over 30,000 blind and visually impaired adults and children across the North West region, and with theur help we can help to raise the awareness of the work we do."

Following the success of last year’s event, Henshaws is once again hosting its Wear Bright for Sight Day on Friday 9^th May 2008 – and is asking people from across the North West region to leave their usual outfits in the wardrobe and don their brightest and most outrageously colourful clothes to raise money for Henshaws.

Last year’s ‘Wear Bright for Sight Day’ saw schools, colleges, shops, offices, hospitals and fire stations all get into the spirit by donning their most dazzling and garish outfits, hairstyles, ties and accessories and donating £2 to Henshaws (£1 for schools).

If you would like to bring a bit of colour into the region and join in this fun fundraising event, please contact

Nikki Andrews at Henshaws on 0151 227 1226 or email: nikki.andrews@henshaws.org.uk (Merseyside) or

Heather Bowen at Henshaws on 0161 872 1234 or email: heather.bowen@henshaws.org.uk (Greater Manchester)