IMAGINE trying out things like climbing, archery and cooking for the first time without being able to see.

The teenage participants at a summer camp at Broomlee Outdoor Centre near West Linton in the Borders didn’t have to. They are blind or partially sighted 14 to 18 year-olds from all over Scotland.

And they are all eager to improve their ability to live independently as they approach adulthood.

Organised by sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, the five-day event introduced the group to outdoor activities such as the Zip wire as well as enabling confidence-building workshops, training in assistive technology, personal independence and travel, and hands-on cooking sessions.

Dominic Everett, education and family services manager for RNIB Scotland, told the Peeblesshire News: “If blind and partially sighted young people are to be successful at school, further and higher education or employment, it is vital that they develop the strategies and learn about the resources that can ensure greater personal independence. Summer camps like this help fill the gap of skills-development that schools often don’t have time to deliver.

“This was our third summer camp at Broomlee Outdoor Centre and each year gets better and better. It is definitely the highlight of our calendar. The purpose is to prepare young people for independent adulthood in a relaxed, informal environment.

“It is always great fun and participants learn so much throughout the week.

“And also, and most importantly, it allows our young people to come together to provide peer support, have fun and make friends in a supportive environment.” There are around 2,000 children and young people living with significant sight loss in Scotland. RNIB Scotland works to ensure they have the support they and their families need to maximise their ability to reach their full potential.