RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning (formerly RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home) provides many opportunities for young people with complex needs who are blind or partially sighted to relax and have fun including respite care and short breaks. A wide variety of community facilities are within easy reach.
Young people plan and choose their own leisure time. Favourite activities include attending football matches, cinema and theatre trips, pop concerts, swimming, bowling, shopping and using local restaurants. This enhances their self-esteem and social skills.
Holidays
Young people who live at RNIB Pears Centre also have the opportunity to go on holidays with friends and enjoy new challenges and experiences. Young people are accompanied by staff who are familiar with their routines, wishes and needs.
Here we share reviews of four holidays which have taken place.
Holiday 1: Lake District
In June, four young people went to Calvert Trust in the Lake District to experience an 'outward bound' holiday. They all tried challenging activities such as horse and carriage riding and sailing. Staying over in an unfamiliar environment is a huge challenge for most of our young people, which they all faced and conquered with the support of a team of skilled social care workers.
Holiday 2: Yorkshire
During the first week of the summer holidays (July), a group of young people went to Beamsley in Yorkshire. The group enjoyed a trip to SPACE in Preston with the swing, ball pool and water bed to test out. The young people also had a fun time on a canal boat trip and on a steam train. This was a first trip away with us for one of the young people and she coped really well.
Holiday 3: Lancashire
August saw a group of four go to Ribby Hall, near Blackpool in Lancashire. The young people enjoyed swimming, days out on the beach at Blackpool and bicycle riding in the resort. The group also managed a little sunbathing time, in one of the best weeks of the summer.
Holiday 4: Sherwood Forest
The last holiday of the summer took place during late August, when three girls stayed at Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham. One of the girls went on holiday for the first time and faced a lot of new experiences in a very busy environment. The team enjoyed the bike riding and playing on the beach. They also managed to try out the swimming facilities.
Visit us
We welcome visits from parents, carers, children, other family members and professionals. Contact us to arrange your visit.