May 2011
Young people and staff at RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home in Coventry celebrated past achievements, current standing and future vision on Monday 16 May when it officially launched its new name and logo, as RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning.
RNIB Pears Centre offers individually-tailored education, care, therapies and healthcare to young people with complex needs who are blind or partially sighted, up to the age of 19.
Our partnership with Pears Foundation
The name change is in recognition of the exceptional support of Pears Foundation which has invested more than £1 million in the service, helping RNIB provide state-of-the-art facilities for young people with complex needs and who are blind or partially sighted from all over the UK.
Trevor Pears CMG, Executive Chair, Pears Foundation, said: "Our family is delighted to support RNIB Pears Centre which builds on fifty years of RNIB's expert education and care. I believe this centre will help transform the lives of the children and young people who live and learn there."
New specialist bungalows
The redevelopment, which is due for completion in 2012, has so far created five specialist bungalows which are designed to develop and encourage independence as well as cater for the individual needs of the children. Each bungalow has specially designed bedrooms as well as gardens and outdoor play areas.
A newly built school will be ready later this year and will include specialist classrooms, each with space for one-to-one and group teaching, physiotherapy and mobility equipment. New facilities also include multi-sensory environments, a music room, library and hall.
Ginny Tyler, Principal Manager: Care and Wellbeing at RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning, said: "We are delighted to be working with Pears Foundation to create an environment in which our children and young people can reach their full potential for learning.
The young people attending RNIB Pears Centre moved into the new bungalows just three weeks ago and already we are seeing a positive impact on their behaviour and quality of life. They enjoy spending time in the gardens and have begun growing vegetables and using the paddling pool. The opportunity to explore and extend their environment in these new and beautifully designed homes is really exciting!"
Find out more
For more information about the redevelopment, go to Transforming RNIB Pears Centre.
RNIB has launched a fundraising appeal towards the redevelopment. To support the appeal visit Support RNIB Pears Centre.