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Season’s Greetings from all of us at RSBC and highlights from 2022

February 2022

View of the Atrium inside the Life Without Limits Centre

We moved into the Life Without Limits Centre (LWLC). The Centre, which had been an ambition of the Society for some years, was made possible through the generosity of individuals, including the businessman Richard Desmond, as well as companies and other organisations.

March 2022

Three people recording a podcast in a media room

Children, young people and their families were able to start coming along to the Centre and enjoying all it has to offer such as the wide range of technology and all our musical equipment.

April 2022

A family including 2 young girls seating on a sofa and smiling at camera

We held the first Friends and Family Day at the LWLC on 9th April welcoming many to the Centre for the first time. We were entertained by the talented young people and there were activities for everyone to appeal to everyone.

May 2022

RSBC Major Donors walls which shows the names of the major donors in colourful rounded shapes on a green background.

In May we celebrated the support of our fabulously generous philanthropists. It was an absolute pleasure to show them around the completed Life Without Limits Centre – without them, the LWLC would still be a dream.

June 2022

2 photos of the different designs visible on the walls of the RSBC Life Witout Limits Centre

EPR Architects, who designed the space, showcased the Centre during the London Festival of Architects on 18^th June.

July 2022

A man standing up with a white cane holding a certificate

On 8^th July we celebrated as 5 students graduated from RSBC’s Dorton College.

August 2022

Two young men performing a song, one is singing and one is playing the guitar

Over the school holidays the children and young people took part in our summer programme of activities including a 3-day musical workshop in partnership with Handel & Hendrix and a Website creation workshop over 2 days.

September 2022

A tutor and student sat at a table working on a project.

Dorton College started the new College year with 16 students from 14 local authorities across London and South East.

October 2022

A young man with partial sight, looking closely at a pile of lego. A young lady with a carved pumpkin, sat at the end of of table, with other young people in the background carving pumpkins. A group of young people sat at the front seat of a concert, with young man holding his saxophone. A group of young people in a hall, holding up their certificates and smiling.

The LWLC was transformed for our Autumn Festival on 27th October with autumn leaves adorning our staircase and pumpkin carvings decorating the atrium.

On 29th October we celebrated the great achievements of the young people at our annual AQA Awards event which took place, for the first time, as the LWLC. Our trustee, Callum Russell presented the Pamela Wright Award. We were entertained by some of the recipients of the awards.

December 2022

Two toddlers playing in a sensory ball pit with a slide. Some young people sat at a table making facial scrubs. Two young ladies in a kitchen talking to a young man about what they are learning to bake. A group of young people chatting around a table.

We brought the year to a close with our Winter Festival on Dec 17th. We welcomed families with children of all ages and there were creative and festive activities as well as sensory play making sure the day was memorable for everyone.

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 […]

Snapshot of a Dorton College activity. A young VI light-skinned man wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts and black & white trainers is in the centre of the picture. He is having fun kicking a football. Other Dorton College students are sat in the background behind him. On the left side of the picture is a Dorton College Staff member lady smiling and holding a football under her left arm. She is wearing a white t-shirt, a black and white pattern midi-skirt and black & White Nike Dunks. On the right stands Atrix, Dorton College's Learning Support Advisor holding a cane and looking at the young man. They are wearing an oversized bright orange RSBC t-shirt, skinny jeans and brown low Dr Martins shoes.

No categories October 25, 2024

Atrix’s story

Originally from the USA, Atrix (pictured above right) has a background in theatre. They’ve directed productions in New York and London, and taught modern dance and choreography to young children and teenagers. They moved to the UK in 2019 to take their Masters degree.

Owain from the RSBC team and a young person standing outside, exploring one of the percussive play outdoor instruments. The two people are standing either side of the instrument. The instrument is made of a series of steel grey tubes, which the young person is tapping to make sound.

No categories October 22, 2024

Owain’s Story

Fun, rewarding and never a dull moment – all ways that Owain would describe his role! But what led him to RSBC, and what does being a Senior Community Support Worker actually involve?

No categories October 13, 2024

Marking Blind Awareness Month: Making play areas more accessible

To mark Blind Awareness Month and World Sight Day this October, RSBC worked with Percussion Play and The Amber Trust to make some noise! Find out more here.

Lauren, a light-skinned young person with short reddish-brown hair and matching lipstick wears a black top and a necklace as they look into the camera with a steady gaze. The background of the image has been edited with a dark navy tint over the image, in the left hand corner there is a graphic yellow RSBC branded 'R'.

No categories October 11, 2024

Lauren’s braille journey

I’m Lauren, and I’m 17 and severely sight impaired/blind. I’ve been visually impaired for a couple of years, and previously needed large print from the age of 10.

Dad Joe with his two boys Noah and Lyle. Joe is standing with the two young boys on either side of him. Joe is medium-light skinned and buzzed-short black hair. Noah aged 9, on the left, is medium-light skinned with red glasses. Lyle aged 3, on the right, medium-light skinned with blue glasses. All three are smiling at the camera brightly.

No categories September 26, 2024

Meet Joe: An RSBC family story

Meet Joe. Joe has vision impairment, caused by congenital cataracts (cloudiness in the lens of the eye) and nystagmus (where the eyes make uncontrolled movement). And he’s Dad to two young sons, Noah, aged 9, and Lyle, 3, who have the same eye conditions.

A father holding his newborn baby baby. The man is medium-light skinned with short hair and stubbed facial hair. The baby is sleeping blissful on his chest.

No categories September 23, 2024

Eyes on the Future

As a new parent, you’ll meet many professionals in the first weeks and months after your baby’s born, and one of the most important people who’ll be supporting your family is your Health Visitor.