'The College, a secret gem in Hereford, weaves magic daily'

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference? RNC is a unique and special place that offers its employees the opportunity to work with young people who are blind or partially sighted. We offer a supportive and inclusive work environment, and our staff are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of our students. If you’re interested in learning more about what it’s like to work at the RNC, read what one of our staff members, Heloise Kirby, wrote in a recent column in the Hereford Times here:


From the Hereford Times, 20 May 2024: Talking Point by Heloise Kirby

I got here by accident. I took an admin job after Covid, after mum died, after I got ill and all my work dried up.

Working in the Braille Department sorting out the necessary educational paperwork with a Braille teacher, who was also blind.

I was nervous. I didn’t know anything about Braille, or about the ‘blind college’ and, honestly, I didn’t know very much about the world of visual impairment. I felt embarrassed that I had managed to reach midlife with so much that I didn’t know.

It has been a wonderful, and terrifying, year of adjustment for me. I have moved across to a teaching role. I am learning at least as much as I am teaching, but not for the reasons you might think.

I am a returner to education, teaching digital skills without the benefit of being a ‘digital native’ and I have a very out-of-date master’s degree (it probably qualifies as a vintage model).

The College is a secret gem in Hereford, weaves magic daily. About 90 students – young adults – live there during the term, studying academic and vocational subjects ranging from reflexology to music production, Spanish and sports.

They are also learning to live well and thrive with their visual impairments (and there is a huge range of eye conditions and their progress – go look them up).

The College is kind, and it shows. Everyone I have met and worked with cares deeply about the young people moving through its doors: staff work hard with each student to dismantle whatever baggage has been handed to them and to carefully assemble a College leaver who has tools, strategies and experiences to progress to the next stage of their lives – in many cases, work or higher education – better equipped.

A cracking sense of humour is already a given. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? I’m glad and proud to work somewhere different. The secret is out.