Our team will be cycling from Southampton to Hereford (approximately 175 miles) between October 4th and 6th.  We have been training hard since February,

We want to raise as much money as possible to support the excellent work of the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.

About the RNC:

The RNC is the UK’s leading specialist residential further education and training provider for people aged 16+ with visual impairments.

The College has been in existence for almost 150 years and has a fantastic history and legacy of providing top quality education, training and life skills to students with visual impairments (VI) in the age range 16 to 25. Retraining programmes are also provided for adult job seekers with VI. It ia a unique national asset and is the last post-16 specialist provider for young people with VI.

About visual impairment

Visual impairment (VI) is a low incidence, high impact disability. RNIB estimates that there are approximately 10,000 young people in England aged between 16 and 25 with a VI severe enough to require specialist support. Department for Education statistics show that only 0.9% of school pupils requiring SEN support have VI. The proportion post-16 is likely to be lower as 38% of young people aged 16-25 with VI are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

VI can be congenital or adventitious and often presents alongside additional needs. Many young people with VI experience a deterioration in their sight in their teenage years. Preparation for adulthood requires specialist intervention to access education and to develop the independent living skills they will need to be employable and active in their communities.

Visual impairment is a neglected area of SEN because it is a low-incidence, high impact disability which is at the bottom of the pile for influence and funding.