RNC launches £10m appeal (From Hereford Times)

RNC launches £10m appeal

3:49pm Monday 28th April 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

THE Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) has launched a £10 million campaign to help fund world-class improvements to its Hereford home.

RNC has already benefited from a £7.5 million grant from the Learning and Skills Council and has raised £4 million from its own resources.

The Building Brighter Futures campaign aims to take the total up to £21.5 million and help RNC realise its ambition to turn the Venns Lane campus into a world-renowned centre of excellence.

Plans include a new student hall of residence, cyber café, a centre for performing and creative arts and a sport and complementary therapy centre.

RNC, home to the Great Britain blind football team, hopes this year to open the doors of the country’s first Blind Football Academy.

In 2010, with the support of the FA, the college will host the Blind Football World Championships and, in 2012, will play its part in the Paralympic Games.

The launch on Monday (April 21) by campaign chairman Sir Clive Richards coincided with the opening of a new living skills kitchen at RNC, designed to help students to learn to live independently.

Steve Trust, co-ordinator of RNC’s Independence Team, said the aim was to provide students with transferable skills. “It’s great that people can come to the college and get GCSEs, A Levels etc, but if you cannot dress and feed yourself or get around on public transport, then you’re not going to get a job,” he said.

“Students here are of all ages and from different backgrounds, so each programme is adapted to fit the learner.

“Some just need fine tuning while others can come here at 16 and not know how to make a cup of tea, so we have to start with the most basic of things.” Among the gadgets in the new facility is a talking kettle, an electronic bank note scanner, and weighing scales which print braille.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)