RSBC appoint new CEO, Sue Sharp

Dr Tom Pey

Sue’s appointment follows the recent retirement of Dr Tom Pey, who transformed RSBC into a national charity with vision impaired children, young people and their families at the heart of everything it does.

Ian Stephenson, Chair of RSBC, says: “We are grateful to Tom for all he has done over the last 11 years. His vision and leadership inspired his colleagues to passionately deliver a ‘life without limits’ for vision impaired children and young people.”

“At the same time, we are really pleased to have appointed Sue as the new CEO and we are excited for the future of the Society under her leadership.”

Tom Pey will continue to work part-time for RSBC to finish some ongoing projects. Tom is moving to Waymap Ltd as Chairman and Managing Director. Waymap Ltd is a world-leading tech company involved in navigation. Along with other founder shareholders of the company, Tom has pledged half of his initial shares to RSBC.

We were delighted to host two workshop sessions with renowned poet Dave Steele recently, and they certainly fired up the imaginations of the young people who attended! We’re pleased to be able to showcase the incredible talent that came out of the workshops in the beautiful poems written by those attending below.

Two women sitting at a computer in an office, one is helping the other with work. There is a man sitting at his computer to their right.

No categories March 10, 2025

RSBC’s 5 key reforms to support young people into work

The government has just announced plans for a major shakeup of the welfare system, with £6bn of proposed cuts. Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are a lifeline for many people in our community. We understand the system needs reform, and that tough times can call for tough measures. But cutting back on PIP without making it […]

A member of Dorton College's team with three students. Two are standing to the team members left and one is on the right. They are all linking arms with big smiles on their faces. They are standing in front of the RSBC Dorton College sign, which also has purple bunting and a sign that says: Careers Day above the bunting.

No categories March 7, 2025

Dorton College careers day: giving our students the confidence to shine

Too often, young people living with a vision impairment aren’t given the career opportunities they deserve. That’s why RSBC’s Dorton College hosted a careers day recently, inviting external speakers to inspire our students and help provide them with the tools they need to enter the world of work.

A photograph of the Royal Society for Blind Children Dorton College sign. The sign is on a wall to the right of where the camera is pointing. The camera is pointing down the Dorton College hallway.

No categories March 5, 2025

Gary O’Donoghue’s win at the RTS Television Journalism Awards

Each year, the Royal Television Society hosts the Television Journalism Awards, celebrating the most prestigious change-makers in the British journalism space.

A photograph of Dave The Blind Poet. He is standing in a field wearing a black coat, burgundy roll-neck top and a grey hat. The top of his cane is in view on his left. His head is faced slightly to the left and tilting upwards.

No categories March 4, 2025

Young people unlock their imagination at The Blind Poet’s workshops

Dave Steele, popularly known as The Blind Poet, is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning poet, author, speaker and singer – and an advocate for people with vision impairment.

Members of the Youth Forum group and VI mentors in line against a wall. They are all smiling an posing for the camera creating a warm, friendly and dynamic atmosphere.

No categories March 3, 2025

Helping young people be heard: RSBC’s Youth Voice Strategy Day

Recently, RSBC’s Youth Forum, Young Ambassadors and members of the RSBC team came together for a Youth Voice Strategy Day at our Life Without Limits Centre in London. The mission was simple: young people were tasked with coming up with their own objectives and create a roadmap for the future, which would help RSBC identify […]

Three young people sitting in an Camden Roundhouse podcast studio facing the camera. There are microphone stands on the table in front of them and two are wearing headphones, one is holding a pair of headphones.

No categories February 19, 2025

The Roundhouse becomes London’s first venue to use Navilens – with RSBC’s support

Iconic music and performing arts venue, the Roundhouse in Camden, has provided creative space that empowers people and communities since the 1960s. Its team is focused on unleashing the creative potential of young people and artists, giving them the opportunity to experiment, develop their skills, and be part of unforgettable moments with a lasting impact.

A photo of a young women, Joné sitting at a table wearing black glasses smiling at the camera. She is leaning her head on left fist. She has light brown hair and is wearing a black sleeveless high neck top.

No categories February 14, 2025

A volunteer’s journey: Meet Joné

Joné has been volunteering with RSBC since August 2024. We spoke to her about why she wanted to become a volunteer and what her experience has been like so far.

A young boy with short ginger hair and red glasses expresses joy as he holds a tall glass of chocolate milkshake with whipped cream and a cookie. To the right, a woman with long, curly brown hair and a black and grey striped sweater smiles back at him while holding a yellow cocktail in a stemmed glass. The table is set with silver utensils and a marble surface, and there are decorative plants in the background, contributing to a warm and inviting café atmosphere.

No categories January 30, 2025

George and Nicola’s story

George is an energetic and confident eight-year-old boy who lives in a bustling household with his mum, Nicola, his dad, and his baby brother Ted. It’s a home that’s filled with love and resilience as the family faces the challenges and celebrates the triumphs that vision impairment brings.

The picture features five young individuals walking on a textured cobblestone pathway with a brick and stone backdrop. Two of them are positioned on the right, while three occupy the left. On the centre right is a young man using a white cane. He has short brown hair and is dressed in a blue jacket and jeans. He links arms with a curly ginger-haired young woman wearing all denim. On the centre left stands a young woman in a green shirt and jeans holding a football, a young man holding a binder and another young woman wearing a pink shirt. They are all smiling and looking at the young man with the cane as if he had just said a joke, creating a dynamic composition. The lighting is bright, suggesting it's a sunny day, adding a lively atmosphere to the scene.

No categories January 27, 2025

Preparing for uni: student finance and DSA

Mark Wright, RSBC’s Futures Coordinator, talks about how you can make sure your finances are up and running before you head off to university.