A WEST Wales woman has praised a scheme that gives people the chance to work with their dream charity - and get paid!

Kylene Rafferty, of Pembroke, was among 500 people selected to take part in the Vodafone World of Difference programme in the past year.

Her chosen charity was Guide Dogs Cymru, and she quickly set about raising its profile.

She said: "With Pembrokeshire being so far west, there is not that much awareness of guide dogs as you don't seem to see owners out as much as you do in a city.

"I used to be very ignorant about sight loss - I thought either you could see or you couldn't. It was only through volunteering with the Tenby and Pembrokeshire branch, and this placement, that I learnt a lot about different eye conditions."

The 30-year-old, who has a background in HR and training, was funded to work part-time with the charity for four months. She became a strong advocate of the My Guide scheme, which aims to reduce the isolation felt by many people with sight loss. Friends and family members are taught the basics of sighted guiding to help visually impaired people get out and about in the community.

Ms Rafferty tested out the scheme herself by training in sighted guiding to the highest level - then went a step further by laying the foundations for a link-up with Pembrokeshire College.

She said: "We trained 10 students in the same techniques so that, through the council, they could go on to volunteer with Pembrokeshire Blind Society, supporting members out and about on trips."

She believes the My Guide scheme is an important way forward.

"You could be waiting a year for a guide dog, or perhaps you can't have one for some reason. By training your friends and family in the community, they can help guide you and cascade those skills down to others. It makes life so much better."

Since her World of Difference placement, Ms Rafferty has joined the Sunderland Trust in Pembroke Dock, recruiting and developing a team of volunteers, but continues to support Guide Dogs as a volunteer.

Allison Charles, Guide Dogs' fundraising manager for West Wales, said: "It was great to have someone on the ground committed totally to helping Guide Dogs. Kylene is a fantastic ambassador and a lovely girl. She is motivated and positive - one of those people you are the better for knowing."