My name is Kim Jaye and I am severely visually impaired, having lost a substantial amount of my sight when I was 30 years old. At the time, my four children were all of primary school age and I was utterly devastated to lose my vision. I had to learn to manage in a world made for the sighted and overcome all the obstacles that came with that. 

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What really helped me during those dark times was RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) and their free Talking Books library service. Listening to over 200 books a year opened up my imagination, taking me to places and worlds I was unable to go. Having access to this service allowed to escape the confines of my impairment and be free.

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Wanting to feel productive and give back to the charity that helped me so much, I started volunteering for RNIB, raising money to fund their amazing Talking Books service. One audiobook alone can cost up to £2500 to be produced, but once made, can reach tens of thousands of people.

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To help raise money, I considered what I could offer. Cookery has always been one my passions so the opportunity to share my recipes and tips felt like a good place to start. To begin with, I wrote two cookery books, 'A Taste of Spice' and 'A Sense of Cooking', with all profits going to RNIB. Utilising my love of cooking and wanting to empower the visually impaired community further, I even started producing my own online cookery videos too. 

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Never did I think I would have the confidence to do this, yet I have, and it all started with RNIB’s Talking Books library service. Being able to unfetter my mind into an imagination full of possibilities was a lifeline that has benefitted me hugely. Having access to audio books is massively important to a person’s wellbeing. It helped me, and I know it can help others too. This is why I am raising money for RNIB's Talking Books service.

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To help me with this cause, please visit my Just Giving page:

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