Fundraising

RNIB Vision School and Children's Home

Summary: About RNIB's new Vision School and Children's Home.

RNIB estimates that around 4,000 of the 24,000 children in the UK who have sight loss 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 conditions will need high levels of care and support, which mainstream schools are simply not able to provide. At present around 3,000 children and young people cope without the type of specialist schools support that they need. Demand for this type of specialist provision is set to increase and is why the development of such a resource is so important.

With almost 50 years experience of offering education and care to children with sight loss and other disabilities, RNIB has embarked upon one of its most ambitious projects to date. It is building the Vision School and Children's Home, a state of the art school for 70 young people and a residential children's home for 60 young people with sight loss and complex needs.

Located in Warwickshire, the Vision School and Children's Home will replace the existing Rushton School and Children's Home. The school will become an exemplar facility expanding provision for those most in need.

The building of the school is due for completion in 2011 and will be a purpose designed facility, fully accessible for young people with visual impairments and other complex needs. It will also offer all year round residential care, assessments, support for families and a wide range of specialist services such as music therapy, speech and language support and a hydrotherapy pool.

In addition to the benefits the facility will provide for young people, the Vision School and Children's Home will create over 200 new jobs presenting fantastic opportunities to local people and greatly enhancing the local community.

The Vision School and Children's Home builds on the firm foundations of both the existing provision at Rushton School and Children's Home. The Vision Project is our largest capital investment and with your help we can create an environment that enables young people to realise their full potential for learning, independence and fulfillment in everyday life.

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

If you would like to know more about how you can help us to build our school and children's home please contact Viveen Taylor, Capital Appeal Manager on 0161 865 2063 or by email at viveen.taylor@rnib.org.uk

Content author: fundraising@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 06/08/2008 17:06