Deafblind man loves work at charity that saved him

A deafblind man who has volunteered at a disability charity for nearly a decade said he would be "lost" without its support.

Joe Coffin started seeking help from Sense, a charity that supports disabled people with complex needs, in 2003 after he lost his hearing and sight when an inflammatory condition called endocarditis spread to his eyes.

Coffin, 57, said the charity supported him with daily transport and day-to-day independent living in Birmingham, with a milestone being moving into his own flat. Since 2018, he has also been volunteering at the charity's Touchbase Pears hub in Selly Oak.

"I don't know where I'd be without them," he said.

Losing his sight and hearing was difficult, Coffin said, but Sense staff have "always been there" to support him.

"There's always something going on at TouchBase, I enjoy coming to the social events because I get to see people from the outside," he said.

When Coffin recently proposed to his fiancee Joy at a disco on Valentine's Day, TouchBase Pears held a party at its centre to mark the moment.

The pair both enjoy going to discos, listening to the radio and celebrated the Paralympic Games at the centre, with their own medals.

"We do lots independently, but Sense is always there to support me if I need someone to come out with us," Coffin said.

Coffin said the charity helped him set up an accessible computer along with Bumpons on his washing machine - small, raised rubber dots - so he knows where to stop the dial.

"My watch, my phone and my computer talks. I've got quite a few talking things and my cane helps me when I'm out and about," he said.

As a bus and coach enthusiast, Coffin said he loves spending time travelling on public transport with support and independently by taxi.

Giving back to the charity and creating a weekly routine, he spends every Thursday as a receptionist at their centre in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

"Volunteering makes me feel good because I enjoy the social side of it, I enjoy doing the work and giving the fobs out," he said.

Coffin said he would encourage anyone thinking about volunteering to give it a go, adding that he loved speaking to everyone who worked in the office.

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