Being active in the local community is an integral part of RNIB Schools and RNIB College curriculum. We provide activities outside of school hours for children, young people and their families to enjoy together and welcome the community to be part of what we do.
Local businesses awarded for their commitment to the employment of people with disabilities
RNIB College Loughborough, held their 9th annual Partnerships for Employment Awards on 12 June 2012. The Awards recognise national and local organisations, who have supported College learners with disabilities to find employment, work placements and gain other essential employment skills. The College was delighted to welcome Rosemary Conley CBE, local business entrepreneur, to present the awards and give the Employers the benefit of her own personal experience of building a successful business. She was also able to share some key business tips with College learners.
66% of blind and partially sighted people of working age are not in employment. In the current economic climate it is now even harder than ever to find employment for those with a disability. With the help of local and national organisations the RNIB College have now been supporting people with disabilities into work for the past 20 years.
To find out more about this years award winners visit the RNIB College Loughborough website.
For further information contact: Claire Watkin, Marketing and Development Manager at enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk
RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning: 'Peer Buddies' Scheme
Over the past term RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning have continued to encourage the integration of our young people into the wider community through our 'Peer Buddies' scheme with students from Bablake School, Coventry.
Every Wednesday we have been joined by a group of seven sixth form volunteers who come to spend time in class, help out and join in. All of the students undertook an induction programme to prepare them for working with our young people which involved basic mobility training to help them to understand how to be a sighted guide and experiencing what it is like to be blind through the use of 'Sim Specs'. Our link with Bablake School has been a great success to date, all of the young people have gained a great deal from the experience and the Bablake Students especially have found it very rewarding to work in our school.
RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning have also continued to develop our links with Ash Green School and one of our students, Fabian was fortunate to be invited to participate in a Year 11 PE lesson involving trampolining. The students in the class all used the 'Sim Specs' while using the trampoline to improve their understanding of what the experience was like for Fabian. They also worked in pairs with Fabian on the trampoline helping him to do seat drops. The PE teacher taught Fabian how to do a back drop which he commented was a great learning experience for him personally as he had not instructed a blind student before. Fabian really enjoyed the experience and it gave him the opportunity to mix with his peer group in a mainstream setting as well as take part in a fun activity. We are now extending this programme and a student with sight loss from Ash Green is now accessing P.E. lessons in our school as a peer buddy for one of our students.
For further information about this scheme please call 024 7636 9500 or email pearscentre@rnib.org.uk
RNIB College Loughborough: Part of the Community
Negotiations are in place for the College to work more closely with the town of Loughborough as part of the 'Loughborough in Focus' project and will include reviewing accessibility to public spaces, disability-friendly awards, training and raising awareness of the College through displaying art work from learners at Loughborough Railway Station.
Find out more about ideas for community involvement by emailing enquiries@rnibcollege.ac.uk or call 01509 611077.
RNIB Sunshine House: How we work with our local community…
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Providing work experience opportunities for students studying towards or interested in the education and development of children with disabilities.
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Holding open events celebrating a range of cultural and religious occasions, involving local community and schools.
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Shows from and with students studying performing arts at Hatch End High School.
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Sleepover service where children attending Grangewood School can stay with us in our home during the school term and holidays.
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Children from Sunshine House School take part in sessions at local primary schools.
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Links for fundraising with local shops and businesses.
Find out more about ideas for community involvement by sending an email to shsadmin@rnib.org.uk or call 01923 82 25 38.