A Hertfordshire charity is offering people in North Herts the chance to find out what it’s like to have no vision by walking a mile blindfolded.

Hertfordshire’s vision loss charity Herts Vision Loss is to relaunch its name by inviting people to wear a blindfold while being guided for a mile around Welwyn Garden City during a ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ event.

Formerly known as the Hertfordshire Society for the Blind, the charity’s new name, Herts Vision Loss has been chosen after listening to people who are visually impaired or blind.

These people felt the new name better reflects the reality that more than 9 in 10 people who are registered as blind or visually impaired have some degree of visual impairment.

Welwyn Hatfield mayor Lynne Sparks, who will be officially launching the charity’s new name, said: “I am hugely honoured to be asked to officially unveil the new name.

“The charity has been helping people who are visually impaired or blind across our great county for 102 years, but there are so many more people who need their help.

“Doing the walk will be scary while taking that step into the unknown.

“I don’t know how I’m going to react putting my trust into someone else’s hands but at the end of the walk, I will be able to take my blindfold off.

“Many of our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters can’t.”

Herts Vision Loss chief executive Joanna Carter said: “It’s an exciting time to be working with the charity.

“We hope that Walk a Mile in My Shoes will show people in an interactive way, how many of our clients get about.

“The walk itself offers a real insight, but we have different smells and surface textures on hand to make this a truly sensory experience for all.”

The walk, that starts at The WoodSide Centre in Welwyn Garden City, is taking place on Saturday, June 10, from midday until 3pm.

To get involved, just turn up on the day.