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The Royal London Society for Blind People

The Royal Society for Blind Children

The Royal Society for Blind Children supports blind and partially sighted children and young people, and their families.

We offer a range of services including emotional support and practical advice for families, opportunities for children and young people to build confidence and skills through activities, and a specialist further education college.

Please find below a summary of the five different types of service we provide.

 

1. RSBC Live Life, Go Further Programme (aged 0-25)

The RSBC Live Life Go Further programme includes a wide range of different activities for young people aged 8-25 that are delivered across England and Wales, all of which contribute to reducing isolation, building friendship groups, and learning new skills whilst having fun.

We work in partnership with local organisations across the country to help everyone find something that interests them in their area. Sessions are delivered face to face and online.

We’re always adding new activities to our Live Life Go Further programme but here are some recent examples:

- Health and Wellbeing activities including sports, fitness workouts and healthy living workshops.

- Social and Independence activities, which include Supper Clubs, Sisterhood sessions (for young women and girls) Creative sessions, Audiobook Club, Sensory Story Time, Assistive Technology sessions (for both Parents and Young People)

 

2. RSBC Families First

RSBC offers interventions providing emotional and practical support for any family with a vision impaired member who is between the ages of 0-25 across England and Wales. Working with the whole family, we aim to improve coping, support positive parenting, and build emotional resilience. As a result, the family develops the skills and confidence to optimise the life chances of their child.

RSBC Family Practitioners work holistically with families, bringing a nondirective, therapeutic approach to their interventions, focusing on the emotional and psychological needs of a family. They work closely with the professional networks around the family and provide information and support to help families to build their own professional and social support networks.

RSBC Families First is available throughout England and Wales. Practitioners can meet families face to face in the home/a convenient location, or via telephone/internet.

 

3. RSBC Dorton College of Further Education

 

We promote best-in-class, inclusive education and learning at all levels at our 16 – 25 years further education facility, Dorton College, where students follow an individual programme of academic learning and skills development. We work in partnership with South East London Colleges to provide vision impaired students with further education and bespoke, wrap around support from our VI Provision base in Orpington, including support from a QTVI and help with specialist technology.

 

4. RSBC Information and Advice Service

 We understand that it’s not always easy to access the extra help that is available for vision impaired children and young people.

RSBC Information and Advice Service is 100% free and is designed to provide parents/guardians of vision impaired children (aged 0-25) or vision impaired young adults aged 16-25 with clear information and advice in areas such as:

-             Welfare Benefits

-             Disability Rights

-             Transport & Travel including Freedom Pass, Blue Badge and Motability applications

-             Grants

-             Accessing other RSBC services

 

We can also offer confidential, practical support for:

-             Form filling

-             Written and online applications

-             Mandatory reconsideration and appeals

 

Please note RSBC Information and Advice Service does not provide Housing Advice. If you need Housing Advice, please contact www.shelter.org.uk or your local Housing Advice Centre.

 

5. RSBC Employment Service

We know that looking for work can be a daunting prospect, where do you start?! Luckily, our free employment course for blind and partially sighted young people (up to 25 years old) will prepare you for what to expect from the job-hunting process and beyond and give you the skills you need to succeed. From CV writing and technology skills right through to mock interviews, work experience and meeting potential employers, our programme will guide you through the skills you’ll need to feel job ready and confident to succeed independently in the workplace.

Whether you are just starting out and aren’t sure what kind of job suits you, or whether you want a fast-track into work, our 1:1 bespoke service will meet your needs. We advise and support with:

-             Goal setting and motivation,

-             CV and career planning,

-             Cover letter and applications, Job search skills,

-             Interview preparation

-             and using assistive technology.

We also advise on training, further education and self-employment.

 

Who to contact

Contact Name
RLSB
Telephone
020 3198 0225 : London office
01959 569 848 : Westerham office
E-mail
enquiries@rlsb.org.uk

Where to go

Address
R L S B, 52-58
Arcola Street
London
Postcode
E8 2DJ
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