Media Release
16th May 2011
Children and staff at RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home in Coventry celebrated past achievements, current standing and future vision on 16 May when it officially launched its new name and logo, as RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning.
The name change is in recognition of the exceptional support of the 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.
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. A hydrotherapy suite will be built in 2012.
Ginny Tyler, Principal Manager: Care and Wellbeing at RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning, said: "We are delighted to be working with the 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!"
Trevor Pears CMG, Executive Chair, Pears Foundation, said: "Our family is delighted to support the 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."
For more information or make a donation to RNIB Pears Centre, visit rnib.org.uk/pearscentre.
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For media enquiries contact Stacey Kerr at the RNIB press office on 020 7391 2290.
Anna's story
Anna, 13, has Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and Cortical Visual Blindness. She has attended RNIB Pears Centre of Specialist Learning since 2003. To begin with Anna was unable to walk or use the toilet independently and she needed a lot of help and support with orientation. Anna arrived quite and defensive, with very few language and numeracy skills. Anna also suffers from Epilepsy and has fairly mild but regular seizures.
In the eight years she has attended RNIB Pears Centre, Anna has made tremendous progress. She is now mobile and loves walking, and has made huge improvements with speaking, loves music (especially Rolf Harris!), swimming and can count up to five. Perhaps the biggest change is that Anna is now able to use the toilet independently, which is a fantastic achievement for her.
"If RNIB Pears Centre didn't exist who knows what life would be like for Anna, but I am very confident that it would not have been anywhere near as joyful as it is now." John, Anna's father
Notes to editors:
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RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning is a place where young people with complex needs who are blind or partially sighted live, learn and grow.
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RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning (formerly RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home) offers individually-tailored education, care and therapies to young people with complex needs who are blind or partially sighted, up to the age of 19.
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For more information about the Pears Foundation, visit www.pearsfoundation.org.uk
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Every day around 100 people in the UK will start to lose their sight. There are almost 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk