Transforming RNIB Pears Centre

RNIB has more than fifty years' experience of offering expert education and care to children and young people with multiple disabilities and complex needs, who are blind or partially sighted.

New facilities are now open following a major redevelopment replacing the existing school and children's home site in Coventry with state-of-the-art facilities.

Our new residential facilities accommodate up to 30 children and young people with up to 70 places available in our new school.

Our aim is to create a provision which others across the UK will emulate.

Background

We know that there is significant association between sight problems and complex needs. RNIB wants to radically improve the life chances of people who have learning disabilities in addition to sight loss, and offers a range of services to professionals working in this field.

RNIB estimates that between 9,000 and 12,000 of the 25,000 children in the UK who are blind or partially sighted may also have additional disabilities, including some or all of the following conditions:

• severe or profound learning difficulties
• other sensory impairments
• autistic spectrum disorders
• physical disabilities
• complex medical needs.

A child with such needs requires high levels of care and support, which mainstream schools are simply not able to provide. Many of these young people aren't in specialist schools so they're not getting the educational opportunities they deserve.

There is also growing demand from some parents for year-round care provision. The need for this type of specialist provision is set to increase and this is why the redevelopment of RNIB Pears Centre is so important.

New facilities

Our fully accessible facility offers:

• Bungalows: five single storey homes, each with six bedrooms, three bathrooms and a lounge, dining room, kitchen and gardens; outdoor play areas and pedestrianised zones.
• School: versatile classrooms, each with space for teaching, physiotherapy and mobility equipment; multi-sensory environments, music room, movement and therapy rooms.
• Meeting and conference facilities.

The facilities are designed to develop and encourage independence as well as cater for the children's individual needs and minimise the impact of their disabilities. Our new buildings are being equipped with some of the best technology, equipment and aids. This is transforming the environment and improving specialist support for children and young people who live, learn and grow at RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning.

Progress

Our exciting redevelopment began in spring 2009 and is taking place in two phases.

Phase one

Phase one is now complete with the new school, five new bungalows and reception/administration building having been constructed. This first phase was followed by our move into the new buildings.

Phase two

The old buildings have been vacated and demolished. We are currently finalising the site landscaping to maintain an attractive streetscape and a safe and pleasant environment. Additional accommodation and water therapy facilities will be built later on, according to need.

Follow our transformation

Find out how our redevelopment is progressing! Download our updates:

• Chelsea Flower Show Garden installation - May 2012 (Word, 2.36MB)
• RNIB Pears Centre Transformation - November 2011 (Word, 404KB)
• RNIB Pears Centre Transformation - September 2011 (Word, 1.15MB)
• RNIB Pears Centre Transformation - September 2011 part 2 (Word, 1.07MB)
• RNIB Pears Centre Transformation - May 2011 (Word, 2.16MB)
• RNIB Rushton Transformation - February 2011 (Word, 2.8MB)
• RNIB Rushton Transformation - November to December 2010 (Word, 3MB)
• RNIB Rushton Transformation - August to October 2010 (Word, 3.8MB)
• RNIB Rushton Transformation - May 2010 (Word, 3MB)
• RNIB Rushton Transformation - February 2010 (Word, 3MB)
• RNIB Rushton Transformation - November 2009 (Word, 1.8MB)

Outcomes

Our redevelopment aims to:

• offer increased provision of high quality education, care, health support and therapies to young people who are blind or partially sighted with complex needs
• reduce stress and isolation for families, enabling more families to gain the support they need
• improve the mobility and wellbeing of the young people
• be a pleasurable place for the young people to live and learn, enabling them to reach their full potential
• create new job opportunities to local people and greatly enhance the community
• become a model of care and education for young people who are blind or partially sighted with multiple disabilities and complex needs, which can be replicated.

Fundraising appeal

At £30m, our redevelopment is the largest capital investment ever made by RNIB. We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed to the redevelopment project to modernise and extend our facilities. We would particularly like to acknowledge Pears Foundation who have shown enormous support by investing over £1million in the development of the new site. Read more about our partnership with Pears Foundation.

Support us!

Find out how you can help by visiting Support RNIB Pears Centre