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User:Headhitter/sandbox/RNIB

Coordinates: 51°31′54″N 0°06′53″W / 51.5317°N 0.1148°W / 51.5317; -0.1148
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RNIB
Royal National Institute of Blind People
Formation16 October 1868 (1868-10-16)
TypeRegistered charity
Headquarters154a Pentonville Road, London N1 9JE
Location
Coordinates51°31′54″N 0°06′53″W / 51.5317°N 0.1148°W / 51.5317; -0.1148
Region served
United Kingdom
Chief Executive
Matt Stringer
Key people
Anna Tylor (Chair)[1]
WebsiteOfficial website

RNIB (formally, The Royal National Institute of Blind People) is a charity in the United Kingdom that offers practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. It raises awareness of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people and campaigns for change to make UK society more accessible for people with sight loss.[2]

Organisation

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Anna Tylor has been RNIB's Chair since 2020.[1] Matt Stringer was appointed Chief Executive in 2019.[3]

King Charles III is the charity's Patron.[4] His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was RNIB's Patron from the start of her reign in 1952[5] until her death in 2022.[6]

History

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RNIB was first established on 16 October 1868 as the British and Foreign Society for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind.[7] The first meeting, which was held at 33 Cambridge Square, Hyde Park, London, involved founder Thomas Rhodes Armitage (a physician who was partially sighted) and Daniel Conolly, W W Fenn and Dr James Gale (all three of whom were blind).[7]

Later, the organisation became the British and Foreign Blind Association for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind and Promoting the Employment of the Blind – generally shortened to the British and Foreign Blind Association.[7]

In 1914, the organisation relocated to larger premises in Great Portland Street and changed its name to The National Institute for the Blind, or NIB, to reflect its status as a national body involved in all aspects of the welfare of blind people.[8]

The organisation was officially renamed the Royal National Institute for the Blind in 1953, having received a Royal Charter in 1949.[9] In 2002, the organisation was renamed the Royal National Institute of the Blind ("of" rather than "for" blind people) when it became a membership organisation.[10] To coincide with the launch of the UK Vision Strategy in 2008, it was renamed the Royal National Institute of Blind People.[8]

In October 2008, RNIB and Action for Blind People agreed in principle to combine some services across England. The new arrangement began in April 2009, resulting in Action for Blind People becoming an associate charity of RNIB.[11] It merged with RNIB in 2017.

From 2000 until 2023, RNIB operated from premises on Judd Street, in Bloomsbury, London, which it shared with Guide Dogs.[12] The Duchess of Edinburgh opened the organisation's new headquarters in the Grimaldi Building on Pentonville Road, London in 2023.[13][14]

Since its foundation there have been discernible trends in both the methods and content of RNIB’s work. While the method of direct service delivery to blind and partially sighted people has remained a priority, from the mid-1970s onwards, campaigning and pressure group work has become increasingly important.[15] This recognises that RNIB cannot meet need alone and that society’s institutions and practices need to be persuaded to change.[16] From 2020, this has been extended to concerted persuasion of the general public to change their attitudes and behaviours towards people who “see differently”.[17]

RNIB's remit has always included reading and writing (e.g. Braille), education and employment.[18][19][20] From the 20th century, welfare/social support has been important.[18][19][20] However, it was not till the late-1980s that eye health became a major focus.[20]Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Programmes and services

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RNIB provides a range of services and support for blind and partially sighted people, friends and family, and carers and support workers. Key services are offered at the point of a sight loss diagnosis and beyond; the focus is on giving practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people.

Helpline

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RNIB’s helpline gives access to sight loss experts for questions and guidance.[21]

Eye health and eye care

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RNIB’s ECLO (Eye Care Liaison Officers) service aims to help patients understand the impact of a sight loss diagnosis and can give them direction to the support they need.[22]

Employment services

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RNIB offers employability skills and practical advice to people with sight loss who are seeking new roles or upskilling within an existing job. Resources include e-courses, preparation for interviews, and support with procuring government schemes and benefits, including Access to Work.[23]

Reading services

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RNIB offers an extensive range of reading services. They include RNIB Bookshare – a free library of over one million items, which supports students and others in education with a vast collection of accessible textbooks and materials[24] – and Talking Books,[25] which features more than 40,000 fiction and non-fiction audio books.[26]

RNIB shop

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The RNIB shop sells products designed to help make everyday life more accessible for people with sight loss, including canes and other mobility items, Braille readers, gadgets and smart technology.[27]

Business services

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RNIB works with businesses and organisations to help them meet the needs of blind and partially sighted employees and customers. Its services focus on embedding inclusive design and accessibility and include website and communications accessibility audits, user testing and staff training.[28][29]

Campaigning

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RNIB campaigns to change behaviours and perceptions around sight loss. It has been involved with several large-scale campaigns including calls for action to create a safer and more inclusive public transport system. In 2023, the charity played a key role[30][31][32] in the campaign to scrap plans to close ticket offices in train stations.[33]

In 2022, the charity launched its largest-ever advertising campaign, See the person, not the sight loss,[34][35] to raise awareness of sight loss and the support that people who have visual impairments might need.

Along with other leading health charities, RNIB lobbied throughout 2023 for better disability support across the National Health Service (NHS).[36]

Fundraising

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RNIB organises fundraising events in the UK and overseas, as well as providing other ways to support – including raffles, recycling schemes, gifts in wills, online fundraising and corporate partnerships.

Sooty collection boxes

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Since the 1950s, the children's fictional puppet character Sooty is an exclusive feature on the charity's collection boxes.[37]

Radio

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The RNIB runs RNIB Connect Radio, Europe's first radio service for blind people.

Controversy

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Between 2015 and 2018 RNIB had some very serious failures in one of its schools and in its general governance and management. These became clear through an OFSTED report[38] and a report by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the latter of which revealed “comprehensive failures in governance that placed the safety of young people in its care at risk and allowed harm or distress to be suffered by some”.[39]

The Charity Commission concluded that “there were systemic shortcomings at RNIB between 2015 and 2018, exacerbated by the 2017 charity reorganisation, in respect of:

  • RNIB’s capability to manage complex and specialist care needs at the RNIB Pears’ Centre for Specialist Learning, a school and children’s home for young people who are blind or partially sighted and who also have multiple disabilities or complex needs. The school, which was run by RNIB, was based just outside Coventry;
  • the safeguarding governance and management of RNIB’s regulated activity estate of specialist care and educational centres;
  • RNIB’s broader corporate governance, which did not adequately address the complexity, scale, nature and associated risks of the charity’s activities and disparate group structure”.[39]

Matt Stringer, chief executive of the RNIB, said that “It is important to acknowledge that things did go very, very badly wrong at the RNIB, we accept all the Commission’s findings in full.”[40] The failings identified in the report, he said, “represent the low point in our 152-year history” and added that “We fully accept the Charity Commission’s recommendations. It is clear that we seriously let down the children and their families, staff, volunteers, supporters, and blind and partially sighted people who make up the RNIB community. We are sorry to every one of them.”[41][42]

A recovery Action Plan was required and, as of 25 June 2020, the Charity Commission report said: “RNIB has made good progress in completing the Action Plan agreed with the Commission and it is part way through the transfer of care homes, schools and college to new specialist providers.”[39]

In the light of further progress, on 27 June 2022 the Charity Commission withdrew their adverse decision.[43]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b White, Peter (15 December 2020). The RNIB's New Chair Of Trustees Anna Tylor. BBC (In Touch broadcast on Radio 4). Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  2. ^ "About us". RNIB. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  3. ^ Weakley, Kirsty (25 April 2019). "RNIB appoints Matt Stringer as new chief executive". Civil Society. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ McCormick, Emily (29 May 2024). "RNIB appoints King Charles as royal patron". Optometry Today. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Charities pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II". Cause. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  6. ^ RNIB 2022/23, pp.8–9
  7. ^ a b c Thomas, p.113
  8. ^ a b "Royal National Institute of Blind People 1868". Science Museum Group. London. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  9. ^ Thomas, pp.142-43.
  10. ^ Bruce, p.229
  11. ^ Little, Matthew (24 October 2009). "RNIB and Action for Blind People announce 'associate' deal". Third Sector. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  12. ^ Wait, Sam (23 January 2023). "Guide Dogs moves out of RNIB office share after five years". Civil Society. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  13. ^ "HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh opens the RNIB's new London office". Greater London Lieutenancy. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  14. ^ Pearson, Andrew (6 November 2023). "RNIB's new HQ becomes exemplar in designing for blind and neurodiverse people". Royal Institute of British Architects. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  15. ^ Bruce, pp.245–256
  16. ^ Bruce, pp.206–226 and 245–256
  17. ^ Stewart, Rebecca (10 September 2018). "How the sight loss community helped RNIB redesign its 'old fashioned' brand for the future". The Drum. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  18. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Thomas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Bruce was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ a b c Rose
  21. ^ Hemmings, Beth (27 June 2023). "In Touch: The Support Hub; The RNIB's Helpline Services". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  22. ^ "CarePlace directory – Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLO) – support for blind and partially sighted people". London Borough of Hounslow. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  23. ^ RNIB 2022/23, p.16
  24. ^ "Accessibility: RNIB Bookshare". University of Exeter Library. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  25. ^ "RNIB talking book service – Visual impairment support". Scottish Borders Council. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  26. ^ RNIB 2022/23, p.11
  27. ^ "RNIB". Manage At Home. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  28. ^ RNIB 2022/23, pp.16-17
  29. ^ "RNIB – Inclusive Business Services". EAHealthWell. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Train firms plan mass closures of ticket offices". BBC News. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  31. ^ Topham, Gwyn (5 July 2023). "Plans for mass closure of railway ticket offices in England confirmed". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  32. ^ Simone, Carlo (5 July 2024). "Why could train station ticket offices be shut in England?". The Standard. Chester. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  33. ^ Munro, Craig (5 July 2023). "Almost every rail ticket office in England to be closed in next three years". Metro. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  34. ^ "RNIB launches new campaign to dispel myths and encourage people to 'See the person, not the sight loss'". Eye News. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  35. ^ Mahtani, Nisna (8 November 2022). "Why the RNIB Wants You to 'See the Person, Not the Sight Loss'". Little Black Book. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  36. ^ Pickover, Ella (6 February 2023). "Concern over lack of progress supporting people with communication needs in NHS". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  37. ^ Dickenson, Andy (28 February 2022). "Volunteers needed to collect 'Sooty boxes' as blind charity's takings fall". ITV News. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  38. ^ "RNIB Sunshine House School and Children's Home Ofsted Reports and Inspections: Ofsted Report". Ofsted. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  39. ^ a b c "Decision – Charity Inquiry: The Royal National Institute of Blind People (226227) and RNIB Charity (1156629)". Charity Commission for England and Wales. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  40. ^ Whitehead, Harriet (28 April 2023). "RNIB avoided confrontation with regulator during investigation, says CEO". Ofsted. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  41. ^ Rosa Royle, Orianna (25 June 2020). "Serious mismanagement at RNIB exposed vulnerable people to risk, regulator finds". Third Sector. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  42. ^ Lepper, Joe (25 June 2020). "Regulator criticises RNIB for "catalogue of serious" safeguarding failings". Charity Times. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  43. ^ "Decision – Charity Inquiry: The Royal National Institute of Blind People (226227) and RNIB Charity (1156629)". Charity Commission for England and Wales. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2024.

Sources

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