Help young people
succeed in a sighted world

Trusts and foundations

A lot of what we do so successfully in giving our students the best possible experience while they’re with us wouldn’t happen without the amazing support of so many grant giving bodies. This vital extra income supports ever rising core costs as well as specific projects, specialist and IT equipment, as well as larger scale capital improvements on our campus.

Extra support remains crucial as special educational needs and disability funding becomes ever harder to access. And the range of projects supported has enabled us to improve and update our facilities and give our students a truly enriching experience, including extra curricular activities such as sports, DofE, volunteering and work placements. Every experience delivers crucial additional life skills, confidence and enjoyment, preparing our students to succeed in a sighted world.

Below are some recent grants and the amazing ways in which they’ve helped our students, staff and the charity.

New audio media production suite

Funder:
Eveson Charitable Trust and others

Eveson’s priorities are people with disabilities, mental health problems, children in need, older people, homeless people, hospitals, hospices and medical research. They provide funding throughout Herefordshire, Worcestershire and parts of the West Midlands and have supported RNC many times previously.

In summer 2022, we were immensely grateful to receive a substantial grant towards the building and equipping of the new Audio Media Production Suite – a major part of our teaching facilities - which is now situated in the heart of the Student Hub, near the Bistro. Work on the suite of interconnecting rooms with full sound proofing and accessibility started when the students left for the summer holidays and should be fully operational later this autumn (2022), with a formal launch in October.

We’re grateful to dozens of other funders who have supported this £325,000 project.

New student gardens

Funder:
DS Smith Charitable Foundation and others

This charity champions the conservation of the environment and the provision of training and educational opportunities. They kindly awarded a grant towards the cost of two new student gardens.

The working garden consists of a large paved area where our two polytunnels - temporarily stored behind a hall of residence – are now situated, giving excellent access for wheelchair, cane and guide dog users, with height adjustable work benches. Students will be able to grow plants from seed/cuttings and learn about gardening techniques.

The other part of the project is creating a sensory garden, where all students, staff and volunteers can go to relax and enjoy being immersed in nature. Paths will lead to two seating areas, and the whole area will be lined with lavender plants, roses, tulips and scented shrubs and a focal water feature. Students will be involved in the planting and care of the garden long into the future and a formal opening is planned Spring 2023.

We’re grateful to dozens of other funders who have supported this £46,000 project.

The transformed Bradbury Building

Funders:
The Bradbury Foundation
Bernard Sunley Foundation
Beatrice Laing Trust

Due to a relocation of the campus onto one site (commenced in 2020 and completed in 2022), the College needed to repurpose some of its existing buildings. Armitage Hall, a former residential hall, was transformed into a new centre for Independent Living Skills, with further teaching spaces and new offices for administrative staff.

Substantial funding from The Bradbury Foundation saw Armitage renamed in recognition and we were grateful to receive additional grants from Bernard Sunley Foundation and Beatrice Laing Trust. The building opened formally for business in autumn 2021 and students are enjoying learning in a new fully equipped and adapted ILS kitchen with adjacent training rooms; business administration office and teaching spaces including the Working Office used by Business Administration students.

Running Club up and running again!

Funder:
Sport England

In 2020 Sport England awarded RNC a grant to set up and operate a weekly running club for students in their leisure time to encourage participation in sport. Unfortunately, due to Covid19, the initial incarnation of the club was short lived and had to be put on hold. In autumn of 2021 sports teacher Anna Robertson restarted the club and began coaching a small team of students at the athletic track in Hereford every Wednesday with a volunteer guide runner.

Some students had never run before, and others were keen to have the opportunity to continue their running training.

In May 2022, students took part in an athletic competition run by Hereford Athletic Club, who offered 100m, 200m and 800m classes for them.

One student who had started running for the first time via the Club sessions, had never had the confidence to run, having both a visual and hearing impairment. She recalled a time when her mum visited her on campus. ‘Mum was waiting for me by the car and I ran up to her. She was astounded as she’d never seen me run before, and said, “You’re running!”.’ It was clearly a major achievement for this student and, thanks to Sport England, we have been able to provide this extra curricular activity.

Support for RNC's role in the community

Funder:
Hereford City Council

RNC has always taken great pride in keeping the College grounds immaculate for the benefit of students, staff and visitors, so a £3,000 grant from Hereford City Council’s Community Grant Fund towards the cost of replacing a lawnmower was extremely welcome.

RNC also mows local public areas, adjacent to its campus, in Campbell Road and this new piece of kit will ensure both the campus and the surrounding environment will continue to be well looked after for the benefit of the local residents.

New activities for students

Funder:
Tackling Inequalities Fund

A grant from this Fund, administered through Active Herefordshire & Worcestershire, has enabled RNC to introduce archery as a new activity. The College is well-known for its team sports, but having a range of activities for individuals as well as groups is an important part of our enrichment programme. The grant paid for a specialist to train 11 staff members and volunteers who can now lead or support archery sessions. Not only will this new activity be available for RNC students, but it will also be offered to visually impaired visitors at sports camps or Have a Go weekends.

Contact us 01432 265 725 (Main reception)
01432 376 621 (Student enquiries)

Email: info@rnc.ac.uk

Press and media enquiries to:
mediaenquiries@rnc.ac.uk

Visit us at The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC), Venns Lane, Hereford HR1 1DT

Company Limited by Guarantee No. 2367626
Registered Charity No. 1000388

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