The Royal National College for the Blind

After 10 days trying to get my computer onto the college network I am finally free to write a post about the college I am attending.  Before I post anything about my time here I will give you a brief history of the place.

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC or RNCB) is the UK's leading college of further education and training for people with sight loss.  A residential college, it offers academic qualifications or vocational training in a wide range of award winning courses for people from the ages of 16 to 65.  As well as aiming to help the blind and visually into the workplace it also offers courses on independent living, mobility  and basic everyday skills.  It is also home to the UK's first academy of football for the visually impaired and the England Blind Football team, hosting this years World Blind Football Championship and being on of thge training venues for the 2012 Paralympics.

Relocations:

Having a number of homes before settling in it's current location in Hereford, Herefordshire, the RNC was founded as the "Royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind" in London in 1871 by philathropist and physician Thomas Armatage and the American anti-slave campaigner,  Joseph Cambell, who himself lost his sight at an early age.  Unhappy that British schools didn't provide skills for thbe blind they set up the college to train students to become piano tuners and music teachers.

The college was seen as very progressive and experimental and quickly outgrew it's original premisis in  Anerley Hill near Crystal Palace so moved to larger accododation in Upperf Norwood.  Campbell was the first Principal of the college, bing knighted for services to the blind.  Queen Victoria was it's oroginal patron.

During the Second World War the college was relocated to tempory accomodation, first in Kent then Dorton, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.  The London site was used as a hospital during the war and was bombed in the Blitz, meaning a new permanent lolcation was needed, so they bought Roqton Castle and other buildings near Shrewsbury, Shropshire.  Before the war the college accepted students aged 11 to 15 year old but after the war a college in Worcester took the secondary student whilst RNC would retain students over 16.

The college remained in ther Shrewsbury area until 1978 when it moved to it's current location in Hereford, taking over the former Hereford College of Education teacher training college, which had the advantage of having the teaching and residential accomodation on one campus.  It was officially opened by Prince Charles in 1979.

Through the 2000's the accomadtion was completely referbished and new modern halls of residence were built, along with an outdorr sports pitch,  sports and complimentary therapy building added.  In 2009 "thePoint4" complex opened, with sports development fudning, a venue for the 2010 World Blind Football Championship which includes conerference facilities, gym and bistro.

Learning and training:


Over the years the college has changed it's courses depending on the nature of the times.  Piano tuning, once seen as a stable job for the blind, has been reduced with more vocational courses coming in to help students cope and navigate the modern world.  Training in computers and other skills for the working office sit alongside courses such as music technology and media, business, art and design, performance art, massage and complimentary therapy.  Basic English amd Numeracy are also offered for students who struggled with learning in conventional schools.

AS and A Levels, BTEC and ITEC qualifivations can  be gained, though many students train in purely vocational subjects to gain valuable experience for the workplace.  In fact the college's goal is to help people into the work place, offering help, advice and encouragement at the end of the course eto find work placements either at the colloege itself or at the students home area.

College life and accomodation:

Students stay in accomodation on cumpus, either an en-suite room in halls of residence or sharing a "lodge" with 3 others.  Lodges are chalet style buildings for the more with more independent living skills, with two bathrooms, living room and kitchen.  Warden's check on students everyday, sorting out any problems encountered.  Cleaners visit every day and clean bedding provided every fortnight.  Staff are on hand at all times for xourse related or everyyday problems.  There are even nurses on site.  Everything needed for the blind and visually impaiered is catered for as well as provision of other disabilities.

Cooking facilities are available at the accomodation but the refectory serves three meals a day, offering a few choces of hot meals and sandwiches, all funded by the student's local authority, (as are the courses the accomodation).

The college has a Student Union subsidised bar (The Dog and Cane) with students DJing most nights and a pool table.  Activities such as an art club and creative writing are available and students can use the spa and gym facilities so there is plenty going on.  Students can also take advantage of travel warrents paid for by the college to return home at weekends every two weeks if they want to keep in touch with their home life.  And of course there's always the city of Hereford to explore.

Visit the RNC web site for more details by clicking here