RSBC’s annual Christmas Celebration filled with laughter, music, and generosity

On Tuesday 5th December 2023, the Royal Society for Blind Children held its annual Christmas Celebration at the Life Without Limits Centre (LWLC) in London. Blind and partially sighted children and young people, accompanied by their families and friends, as well as our dedicated volunteers and trustees, and staff members came together to celebrate this very festive time of year. We also welcomed fantastic partners, supporters, and some of RSBC’s 2024 London Marathon team to our celebration.

Celebrating young people’s talent and creativity

It is always wonderful to come together and hear from the musical and creative talents of young people. The ambiance of the festive LWLC with Christmas lights twinkling, added an extra layer of enchantment.

We were privileged to have Jon Culshaw, a dedicated and longstanding ambassador for RSBC, as the host for the celebration event. Jon brought comedy, song and so many laughs to the young attendees and our audience.

We also heard from RSBC’s new CEO, Julie Davis, who was welcomed by Chair of Trustees, Patrick Plant. Julie was absolutely delighted to be there and meet the young people and hear their amazing performances.

The highlight of the evening was the stunning performances by our talented young people. Rona, Lilly and Zaynab delighted us with their beautifully sung festive songs. Jude, Francis and Chapman wowed us with their musical talent on their choice of instruments and brought the spirit of Christmas alive. Jacob reminded us of some classic Christmas cheer with a superb reading. Malachi moved us with an original poem, offering insight into the challenges and emotions of sight loss—earning a standing ovation, along with our host, Jon Culshaw.

A young man playing piano on with a Christmas tree in the background

Chapman, one of the talented young people, playing a Christmas song on piano.

A man with grey hair standing up on a stage with a micro facing an audience.

RSBC’s ambassador, Jon Culshaw, hosting our Christmas Celebration 2023.

Raising much needed funds for RSBC

We were lucky to receive many kind donations in the form of raffle and auction prizes, all aimed at raising funds for RSBC’s range of services dedicated to blind and partially sighted children, young people and their families. There were many winners on the night receiving a fantastic array of prizes including a Christmas Hamper and tickets for “Disney on Ice”. Our wonderful audience kindly made donations for the festive drinks and mince pies as they celebrated Christmas with us. These funds will play a crucial role in supporting our range of activities for children and young people in 2024.

A group of people standing around a table and wearing orange RSBC volunteer t-shirts.

RSBC’s volunteers helping with the raffle and auction.

A wonderful festive night

Everyone at the Life Without Limits Centre enjoyed a delightful Christmas evening, truly setting the stage for the approaching festive season. As we rounded off the night with everyone participating in “We wish you a Merry Christmas”, we can conclude that it has been a fantastic year for RSBC.

A young man wearing a christmas hat singing in front of an audience.

Jude, one of the talented young people, singing in front a captivated audience in the atrium.

Carla Rose-Hardman, Services Director said:

“Today’s Christmas Celebration really has been a highlight of the RSBC calendar. We were privileged to hear from so many talented young people this evening, and think everyone here will testify to how moved and impressed we have been by them. I’d like to thank everyone who joined us or performed for this wonderful celebration as we round off an amazing year at RSBC. I’d also like to thank our amazing volunteers, trustees, and supporters of RSBC for their dedication in 2023.”

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.

A small boy, on the stage of The Snowman, exploring the set. He's standing in front of an over-sized pink dressing table. Next to him is a staff member from the theatre, talking him through the set and props.

No categories January 13, 2025

Our adventure with The Snowman

In December we were invited to audio-described performance of ‘The Snowman’ at the Sadlers Wells, Peacock Theatre, along with a touch tour of the set, props and costumes.

Patrick, a light skinned man white grey/white hair and Julie, a light skinned woman with long brown hair standing and smiling next to each other with a RSBC photo frame around them

No categories January 9, 2025

Here’s to 2025: a year of hope and possibility

As the new year dawns, many of us will find ourselves reflecting on what we’ve accomplished so far, and what the future holds. As RSBC’s CEO, it’s certainly something that I’ve been doing in recent days. As I look ahead to the next 12 months, I feel so much hope for what this tremendous organisation […]

Family holiday activity. Top view of mother's and kid's hands making Christmas tree cookies on wooden table background.

No categories December 10, 2024

How to make Christmas accessible for blind and partially sighted children

There’s no more special time of year for children – whether they’re five or 50! – than Christmas. It’s a time when there’s magic everywhere, and it’s filled with colour and sparkle. But how can you make sure that children with vision impairment (VI) are able to enjoy the fun and laughter that’s part and […]

A group of young people stand in front of a wooden climbing frame.

No categories November 19, 2024

Boys Crew: why International Men’s Day matters

Each November 19th, the UK celebrates International Men’s Day. It’s not just about celebrating the contribution that men and boys make to our society – this special day also focuses on making a positive difference to their well-being and lives, raises awareness the support available to them, and promotes meaningful conversations about men, manhood and […]

No categories November 7, 2024

Narayan’s story

RSBC’s trustees have shared responsibility for governing our charity, and Narayan’s been a trustee since September 2024. We caught up with him to find out why he’d decided to take this step, and just what being a trustee involves.

Callum, a light skinned man with dark hair, wearing a grey long sleeved shirt with black buttons. He is standing behind a podium lecture desk, with a microphone attached to the top of the desk. Callum is standing in front of a white banner with RSBC written in large orange text, and Royal Society for Blind Children written in small text underneath, there is a thin orange line underneath this text. Underneath the orange line Dorton College is written in black medium sized text. In the bottom left hand corner there is a yellow shape similar to two halves of a flower petal.

No categories November 4, 2024

Callum’s Story

Callum’s been a trustee with RSBC since May 2021. He’s also the Chair of Governors of RSBC’s Dorton College, a specialist further education college for vision impaired young people aged 16-25. We spoke to Callum about what’s involved in being a trustee, why he does it, and what to consider if you’re thinking about becoming […]